Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Torch-Bearers was only ten miles below us. But our position was excellent. It commanded the ford and was backed up by an extensive area of swamp, through which ran several paths, each difficult to follow unless one knew the ground, and each easy of defense against greatly superior numbers. The general’s plan of battle, as briefly related by him to Horry, was to meet the attack with rifle-fire, which was sure to work terrible damage to the legion. He firmly believed the enemy could be repulsed as for once we had plenty of powder and ball. But if this victory be denied us then we were to fall back in three detachments, crossing the swamp and taking toll along the way if pursued. During the retreat the general believed Tarleton’s forces would be split up and could be reduced to numbers which would license us to take the offensive again. Tarleton would be whipped before he fired a gun. Unfortunately for our hopes Tarle- ton halted when some miles distant and re- fused to attack. Ever after that, it may be stated, Fortune frowned on him. He left his career behind him when he turned his back on Benbow’s Ferry. If Tarleton had had enough of the game Marion had not. He refused to return to Snow’s Island or take on any other enter- prise until he had made a smash at his old foe. To attack the legion in the open would be suicide. But no leader excelled the general in his technique in cutting off the tail of a superior force, making his kill and rushing prisoners away, before the head of the column could realize what had happened. » So when the scouts, including Shonts, began arriving and reporting the legion was retiring, we sallied out to work some mischief. This was the morning of our second day at the ferry. By a barely discernible path we cut across the swamp and went into hiding along the road the king’s men would follow. . There were some of the younger men who were eager to fire on the main column in an effort to demoralize the whole legion. General Marion did not care to risk a defeat, however. ‘To cut out audaciously a group of prisoners would do more to keep the people’s faith alive than any amount of heroic behavior in defeat. So word was passed that not a shot should be fired pre- maturely. In crossing the swamp—Ox Swamp, they 115 called it—we had followed the cord of a bow and were in hiding several hours be- fore midday. The sun was directly over- head when the whispered word was passed that the legion was coming. Along they swept, a gallant array, and I know the gen- eral must have itched to make a drive at his old antagonist who rode in the middle of his command. Such a maneuver, while it might have resulted in the death of Tarle- ton, could scarcely have permitted us to take him prisoner and would have engulfed us in no time. The men used their eyes in seeking Threll rather than the colonel, and many bloody oaths were muttered against the fellow. My dislike for him was based on a dif- ferent reason. He was obnoxious because he was he, not because he was a spy. Marion’s spies were risking their necks in Charleston and sending us news daily. Old Ambros, most active in behalf of the British, was human enough to attempt,saving my life for no reason except he was indebted to my uncle. No; Threll would have aroused my antagonism if I had met him in peaceful times. The two field-pieces passed, then more of the legion, and I was beginning to believe our venture was to end in sight-seeing when the column showed a break. Some fifty men were riding several hundred rods be- hind the main body. These were our victims. Marion whispered to Colonel Horry and there was a slight stirring along our line. On they carne, riding hard as if to over- take the main body. When fairly abreast of General Marion a shrill whistle rang out. The rifles cracked on either side ef me, emptying many a Saddle, and the men charged from cover. Inamoment the road was filled with a confused mass of cursing, struggling men and rearing horses. I was behind Colonel Horry and pistoled a dragoon who would have sheared his head off with a broadsword. The next moment a sword was over my head and one of the Witherspoons drove his musket-butt into the fellow’s head and I pressed on. Gen- eral Marion had charged the head of the de- tached band to turn it back and once I glimpsed. him thrusting ahd parrying with his small sword. — From the rear of the troops our men sent up a tremendous shout and all the fighting- spirit seemed to desert the enemy, and COmicloo CN Wp) C©