Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution Part 19

The patriots of '76 proved the purity of their motives in the pursuit of emanc.i.p.ation more by _acts_ than _words_. They were a united band of brothers who aimed at the general good of their _whole_ country--pledged to make her free or perish in the effort. No local interests--no sectional jealousies--no fire-brands of discord could _then_ disorganize the phalanx of sages and heroes who struck for LIBERTY. Under the guidance of Heaven they were crowned with victory. They purchased FREEDOM with torrents of blood and millions of treasure. That sacred boon they transmitted to us in pristine purity. Do we _all_ fully appreciate this priceless legacy? Far from it. For years it has been the foot-ball of reckless demagogues--the neglected nursling of our people.

Many _talk_ loud and long of their patriotism--sing the paeans of our FREEDOM--laud the dear sovereign people to the skies--whose _acts_ too plainly show that they look upon our UNION as a mere rope of sand and not as an invaluable treasure to be preserved at all hazards. They look upon the people as a ma.s.s of hood-winked worshippers at the shrine of party spirit--not as those who can, should and _must_ banish them from our councils or be plunged into the vortex of fearful destruction.

People of America! open your eyes to our true position! Look at the mighty struggles, the herculean labors, the gigantic efforts of the few pure patriots in our national council who have n.o.bly warded off the lightning thunderbolts of the disorganizers. See the upheaving throes of the volcano that is rocking us in the consuming cradle of civil discord!

Ponder well the danger of concentrating men in Congress whose boiling pa.s.sions cannot be restrained by the safety-valve of reason--men who do not prize our UNION above all other considerations--whose burning zeal for local measures--party success and self interest would be their ruling pa.s.sion amidst the smoking ruins of the temple of our LIBERTY.

People of America! it is for you to perpetuate this expanding Republic.

You _can_ and _should_ preserve it. Banish all questions that can place it in jeopardy--permit all agitators to remain at home--let the people of each state strictly observe the eleventh commandment--then we may fondly hope that our course may be onward and upward for centuries to come.

Among those who acted a n.o.ble part in the American Revolution and exemplified patriotism by his acts--was Francis Marion who was born in 1733 near Georgetown in South Carolina. His early inclination led him to embark on board a vessel bound for the West Indies at the age of sixteen. During the voyage the vessel was upset in a gale and nothing saved but the boat in which the crew and a dog took refuge. They had no provisions but the raw flesh of Carlo and were out a week during which time several of them died. The sufferings and perils then endured cured Marion of his partiality for Neptune. As soon as possible he planted himself on terra firma and devoted his time to agriculture until 1759 when he received the commission of a lieutenant under Capt. Moultrie who was engaged in the expedition against the Cherokee Indians conducted by Gov. Lyttleton. Two years subsequent Marion was raised to the post of captain and served under Col. Grant in a second attempt to chastise the Cherokees. At the commencement of the Revolution of Independence he was on hand and ready for action. He was soon raised to the rank of major and served under Col. Moultrie in his gallant defence of the fort named in honor of that officer. He was then promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and commanded a regiment at the siege of Charleston.

In the early part of the siege one of his legs was fractured which saved him a journey to the Spanish Castle in Florida where all the unwounded prisoners were sent.

On his recovery he proceeded to North Carolina and was commissioned a Brigadier General of the militia and became one of the severest scourges the enemy had to encounter. He was enthusiastic in the cause of freedom and imparted this enthusiasm to all who rallied under him. He was remarkably shrewd, bold, energetic and persevering. With a small chosen band around him he retired to the intricate retreats in the low grounds of the Pedee and Black rivers, from which he would suddenly emerge and strike a sanguinary blow into the ranks of the enemy at an unexpected moment and retreat so quickly that they knew not from what direction he came or where to follow him. Even his friends were often ignorant of his location for days. He became a terror to the British army and led detached parties into many a quagmire where they frequently surrendered at discretion--knowing him to be as humane and generous as he was brave and wary. Col. Horry relates the following pleasing incident of Marion.

"About this time we received a flag from the enemy in Georgetown S. C.

the object of which was to make arrangements about the exchange of prisoners. The flag, after the usual ceremony of blindfolding, was conducted into Marion's encampment. Having heard great talk about Gen.

Marion, his fancy had naturally enough sketched out for him some stout figure of a warrior, such as O'Hara or Cornwallis himself, of martial aspect and flaming regimentals. But what was his surprise when led into Marion's presence and the bandage taken from his eyes, he beheld in our hero, a swarthy, smoke-dried little man with scarcely enough of thread-bare homespun to cover his nakedness and instead of tall ranks of gay dressed soldiers, a handful of sun burnt, yellow legged militia-men--some roasting potatoes and some asleep, with their black firelocks and powder horns lying by them on the logs. Having recovered a little from his surprise, he presented his letter to Gen. Marion, who perused it and settled everything to his satisfaction.

"The officer took up his hat to retire. 'Oh no'--said Marion--'it is now about our time of dining and I hope, sir, you will give us the pleasure of your company at dinner.'

"At the mention of the word dinner, the British officer looked around him, but to his great mortification, could see no sign of a pot, pan, Dutch oven, or any other cooking utensil that could raise the spirits of a hungry man.

"'Well Tom'--said the General to one of his men--'come give us our dinner.' The dinner he alluded to was no other than a heap of sweet potatoes that were snugly roasting under the embers and which Tom, with his pine stick poker soon liberated from their ashy confinement--pinching them every now and then with his fingers, especially the big ones, to see whether they were well done or not.

Then, having cleansed them of the ashes, partly by blowing them with his breath and partly by brushing them with the sleeve of his old cotton shirt, he piled some of the best on a large piece of bark and placed them between the British officer and Marion on the trunk of the fallen pine on which they sat."

"'I fear sir'--said the General--'our dinner will not prove as palatable to you as I could wish--but it is the best we have.'

"The officer, who was a well bred man, took up one of the potatoes and affected to feed, as if he had found a great dainty--but it was very plain he ate more from good manners than good appet.i.te. Presently he broke out into a hearty laugh. Marion looked surprised. 'I beg pardon General'--said he--'but one cannot, you know, always command one's conceits. I was thinking how drolly some of my brother officers would look if our government were to give them such a bill of fare as this.'

"'I suppose'--replied Marion--'it is not equal to their style of dining.'

"'No, indeed'--quoth the officer--'and this I imagine is one of your accidental dinners--a sort of _ban yan_. In general, no doubt, you live a great deal better.'

"'Rather worse'--answered the General--'for often we don't get enough of this.'

"'Heaven!' rejoined the officer--'but probably what you lose in _meal_ you make up in _malt_--though stinted in _provisions_ you draw n.o.ble _pay_.'

"'_Not a cent_'--said Marion--'_not a cent_.'

"'Heavens and earth! then you must be in a bad box. I don't see, General, how you can stand it?'

"'Why, sir'--replied Marion with a smile of self approbation--'these things depend on feeling.'

"The Englishman said--'he did not believe it would be an easy matter to reconcile _his feelings_ to a soldier's life on Gen. Marion's terms--_all fighting, no pay and no provisions but potatoes_.'

"'Why sir'--answered the General--'the _heart_ is all and when that is much interested a man can do anything. Many a youth would think it hard to indent himself a slave for fourteen years. But let him be over head and ears in love and with such a beauteous sweetheart as Rachel and he will think no more of fourteen years servitude than young Jacob did.

Well now this is exactly my case. I am in love and _my_ sweetheart is LIBERTY. Be that heavenly nymph my champion and these woods shall have charms beyond London and Paris in slavery. To have no proud monarch driving over me with his gilt coaches--nor his host of excis.e.m.e.n and tax gatherers insulting and robbing--gloriously preserving my national dignity and pursuing my true happiness--planting my vineyards and eating their luscious fruit--sowing my fields and reaping the golden grain and seeing millions of brothers all around me equally free and happy as myself. This, sir, is what I long for.'

"The officer replied 'that both as man and a Briton he must certainly subscribe to this as a happy state of things.'

"'_Happy_'--quoth Marion--'yes, happy indeed. I would rather fight for such blessings for my country and feed on roots, than keep aloof though wallowing in all the luxuries of Solomon. For now, sir, I walk the soil that gave me birth and exult in the thought that I am not unworthy of it. I look upon these venerable trees around me and feel that I do not dishonor them. I think of my own sacred rights and rejoice that I have not basely deserted them. And when I look forward to the long-long ages of posterity, I glory in the thought that I am fighting their battles.

The children of distant generations may never hear my name but still it gladdens my heart to think that I am now contending for _their_ freedom with all its countless blessings.'

"I looked at Marion as he uttered these sentiments and fancied I felt as when I heard the last words of the brave De Kalb. The Englishman hung his honest head and looked, I thought, as if he had seen the upbraiding ghosts of his ill.u.s.trious countrymen--Sidney and Hamden. On his return to Georgetown he was asked by Col. Watson why he looked so serious?

"'I have cause, sir, to look serious.'

"'What! has Gen. Marion refused to treat?'

"'No, sir.'

"'Well then, has old Washington defeated Sir Henry Clinton and broke up our army?'

"'No sir, not that neither--but _worse_.'

"'Ah! what can be worse?'

"'Why sir, I have seen an American General and his officers _without pay_ and almost _without clothes_, living on _roots_ and drinking _water_--all for LIBERTY! What chance have we against such men?'

It is said Col. Watson was not much obliged to him for his speech. But the young officer was so struck with Marion's sentiments that he never rested until he threw up his commission and retired from the service."

It would be well if more of our own countrymen were as deeply impressed with the sentiments of Marion as was that honest Briton. It would be a new and glorious era in the later history of our Republic if the unadulterated patriotism of Marion could be revived in the bosoms of the increasing millions of our land. Then our national council would not be disgraced by wrangling, pugnacious, reckless demagogues. They would be left to blow off their explosive gas in retirement instead of exerting their thunder for nearly a year at a time at the capitol at an enormous expense and with less sense and benefit than boys exhibit with fire crackers in the streets.

Gen. Marion continued in active service until that Liberty was won with which he was so deeply in love. He then retired to private life, had the good sense to marry an amiable lady and continued to enjoy the fruits of his toils in the camp until February 1795 when, an arrow from the quiver of death pierced the shining mark and consigned his mortal remains to the peaceful tomb. In life he was beloved by all who knew him--in death he was deeply mourned. His whole course had been marked by a stern integrity--an untarnished virtue--a lofty patriotism--that ever command sincere respect and merited admiration. He was small in stature but large in soul. Strong common sense guided him in every action. He rarely said or did what was not absolutely necessary and for the best. Few men have lived who were as free from all surplusage. Let every reader ponder well the useful career of the n.o.ble Marion and profit by his examples.

Then our UNION will be safe.

ARTHUR MIDDLETON.

A careful examination of the history of England--of her Magna Charta and Const.i.tution--of the rights by them secured and of the gross violation of those rights at various periods will show the reader why so many men of high attainments and liberal minds came to America. Disgusted with oppression at home they sought Liberty abroad. They fled from religious and political persecution as from a pestilence. The same cause that induced them to leave their native land prompted them to vigorous action when imported tyranny invaded their well earned privileges. The mind of every man and woman who came to this asylum of the oppressed for the sake of freedom was as well prepared to meet the crisis of the Revolution as were our native citizens. The feelings created by remembered injuries which drove them from the mother country rendered them as formidable opponents to the unjust pretensions of the crown as those who had never breathed the atmosphere of Europe. In tracing our own history back to the early settlements we find frequent struggles between the people and the officers sent by the king to rule them--the former claiming their inherent rights--the latter often infringing them.

The time finally arrived when forbearance was no longer a virtue.

Among those who espoused the cause of inalienable rights at an early period was Edward Middleton the great grandfather of the younger Arthur.

He came from England to S. C. near the close of the 17th century. He left a son Arthur who imbibed the liberal views of his father. In 1719 he headed an opposition that boldly demanded and obtained the removal of the insolent crown officers then in power. He left a son Henry, one of the same sort who was the father of the subject of this sketch and took an active part at the commencement of the Revolution by rousing his fellow citizens to action.

His son Arthur was born at Middleton place on the bank of Ashley rivers S. C. in 1743. His mother was the daughter of Mr. Williams a wealthy planter and was faithful to her children. She lived until 1814, esteemed in life--lamented in death. Arthur was the eldest child and received the best advantages of an early education. At the age of twelve years he was placed in the celebrated seminary at Hackney near London and two years after entered the cla.s.sic school of Westminster. His industry was unremitting--his conduct unexceptionable. At eighteen he became a student in the University of Cambridge and at the age of twenty-two graduated. He was a profound scholar and untarnished in his morals.

Trivial amus.e.m.e.nts and dissipation had no charms for him. Although liberally supplied with money economy was a governing principle, wisdom his constant guide. Students of our country will do well to imitate his example. After the completion of his education he made the tour of Europe. Familiar with the Greek and Roman cla.s.sics he enjoyed great pleasure in visiting the ancient seats of learning. He was well versed in all the technicalities of sculpture and architecture and had an exquisite taste for poetry, music and painting. He took notes of all he saw--improved by all he learned.

After travelling for two years he returned to his native home and bosom of his family and friends. His education completed he took the next wise step of a young man about to enter upon business and married a worthy daughter of Walter Izard. The next year the happy pair visited their relatives in England--spent some time in France and Spain--returned in 1773 and took possession of the old paternal mansion which his father had conveyed to him placing him in affluent circ.u.mstances.

Possessed of an observing mind his knowledge of English policy and of the principles of monarchy was of a superior order. The effects of this policy and of these principles were painfully visible throughout the American Colonies. Rocked in the cradle of patriotism by his father--tracing its fair lines in the history of his genealogy--LIBERTY was to him an heir-loom. Everything around him prompted his onward course towards the goal of freedom. He boldly espoused the cause of the people which is uniformly the cause of RIGHT. The Middletons were the nucleus of the opposition to tyranny in South Carolina. Their influence reached over the entire province. Although wealthy, aristocracy found no resting place with them. They were Republicans of the first water. They freely and promptly pledged life, fortune and honor in behalf of rational liberty.

Arthur Middleton was upon the various committees of the people to devise means of safety. He was one of the committee of five that decided a recourse to arms and led the people into the royal magazine who removed the deposits in defiance of the threats and growls of the British lion.

This occurred on the 17th April 1775. On the 14th of June following the provincial Congress appointed a Committee of Safety composed of thirteen of which Arthur Middleton was one. This committee was fully authorized to organize a military force and adopt such measures as might seem most expedient to arrest the mad career of the royalists.

During the session of the first provincial Congress of South Carolina Lord William Campbell, the new governor, arrived fresh from the British office mint. He was to reduce the rebels at one bold stroke. At first he was all mildness and did not pretend to justify the oppressions of which the people complained. To prove the insincerity of which Mr. Middleton believed him guilty, Adam McDonald, a member of Council, was introduced to him as a Tory from the upper country who seemed anxious to have the rebels put down. The governor requested him to keep quiet a short time as troops would soon arrive to put a quietus upon the _new fangled_ authorities. When this report was made known to the Council Mr.

Middleton moved to have the governor arrested although nearly related to him by marriage. His colleagues were too timid _then_ for such a measure, but so rapidly did their courage increase that his excellency soon retired on board a sloop of war to avoid the popular fury. In a few days Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker arrived with an armed fleet and troops to enforce the authority of Lord Campbell and teach peace to the rebels. An immediate attack was made on Fort Moultrie which was a perfect failure. The governor was wounded and Sir Peter had the nether part of his silk unmentionables badly mutilated by an unpolished rebel cannon ball.

On the 11th February 1776 Mr. Middleton was one of the committee that drafted the first const.i.tution of his native State. Soon after he was elected to the Continental Congress and became a conspicuous member. He boldly advocated and by his signature sanctioned the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. He used but few words in debate briefly presenting the strong points of the subject under discussion. He was always heard with attention and had great influence. He stood at the head of the delegation of his State. He exemplified strong common sense--attending to the business of his const.i.tuents and the good of his country. He was an intimate friend of John Hanc.o.c.k who held him in high estimation.