The Capture of the Posts.—For the account of the capture of Fort Watson, Marion's report (April 23) to Greene has been the main reliance (Simms, Marion, p. 231; Pol. Mag., ii. 548; Remembrancer, xii. 127, etc.). Lee's narrative of this period (Memoirs, ii. 50) is detailed, but it was written too long after the war to be accurate. This is unfortunate, as we have no other account of the taking of Fort Motte (Memoirs, ii. 73) by an on-looker, unless we accept the letter sent by Greene to Congress as an original source. It is not known when Greene arrived at Fort Motte, which was at some time before the surrender.[1169]
At this time Marion became discouraged, and wrote to Greene that he contemplated retiring. These letters are in Gibbes, p. 67-69. Rawdon presented a report covering this period.[1170]
The siege of Augusta was much better chronicled, as with it McCall (Georgia, ii. 321) again becomes useful.[1171] Another description, though from what source is not stated, is in Johnson's Traditions, 354. Lee's account is in his Memoirs, ii. 81-95 and 100-118. The first part refers more especially to the capture of Fort Granby and of Fort Galphin, an outpost of Augusta. The official correspondence between Lee and Pickens on one side and Brown on the other has been printed over and over again.[1172]
Siege of Ninety-Six.—Cruger[1173] presented no formal report of his defence—so far as I know; but there is a good account of the siege in Mackenzie's Strictures, pp. 139-164, written by Lieutenant Hatton, of the New Jersey Loyalist Volunteers: cf. p. 129. Mackenzie himself is very severe on Tarleton's account (Campaigns, 495). Greene's very meagre report is dated Little River, June 20, 1781 (Caldwell's Greene; Pol. Mag., Tarleton, 498, etc.).[1174]
Rawdon's report of his successful attempt to relieve the garrison is in Remembrancer, xv. 9.[1175]
Neither Greene nor Lee (Memoirs, ii. 119) intimate that the stockaded fort was abandoned before Lee's assault, though the English authorities assert it. Nor does Greene allude to the gallant sally of the defenders of the "Star", which compelled the assailants to retire from the ditch, with great loss to themselves.[1176]
Eutaws.—I should place first Greene's official report, though it is not as full as could be desired.[1177]
Williams has left two accounts: the first is a letter, dated Fort Motte, Sept., 1781 (Tiffany's Williams, p. 22). The important paper, however, is entitled: Account furnished by Colonel Otho Williams, with additions by Cols. W. Hampton, Polk, Howard, and Watt (when written is not stated), in Gibbes (pp. 144-157). It is a long and detailed description of the battle by men who actually took part, but as it may have been written long after the event, too much reliance should not be placed upon it. Still another description of the campaign, though not of the battle, is contained in two letters from Major William Pierce to St. George Tucker (Mag. Amer. Hist., vii. 435). Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart presented a report to Cornwallis, which has been widely reprinted.[1178]
It differs from the American accounts in many particulars, especially as to the disorganization of his own troops, which very likely has been described in too glowing colors by American writers. Lee was present at the battle, but his description (Memoirs, ii. 276-301) of the contest is sometimes hard to reconcile with the accounts of his fellow-soldiers. Greene, according to Williams, was hardly satisfied with the conduct of that partisan leader, and Lee soon after retired from the army, ostensibly for other reasons. Neither Johnson (Greene, ii. 219) nor G. W. Greene (Greene, iii. 384) have added much to our knowledge of this action, and the same may be said of the other writers on the war.[1179]
Greene's Later Campaigns.—There are many letters of this period in the third volume of Sparks's Correspondence of the Revolution, and in Gibbes's Documentary History (1781-1782). Many of those in the latter are of merely local interest, a large number of them relating more especially to a quarrel between Horry and Mahem, Marion's two subordinates. Lee, too, after his return from Yorktown became discontented, and many letters which passed between him and his commander are printed by Gibbes. Much of Lee's uneasiness was doubtless due to the prominence which Greene awarded to Laurens. Leslie's letter proposing a cessation of hostilities was enclosed by Greene in a letter to the President of Congress (Remembrancer, xiv. 324). A truce not being acceded to, he demanded provisions (Remembrancer, xv. 28). This too being refused, he endeavored to seize them. One of the expeditions resulted in the death of Laurens.[1180] Gist made a report of this action, and there is a note from Greene to Washington.[1181] Benjamin Thomson,—afterwards Count Rumford,—at this time lieutenant-colonel in a regiment stationed near Charleston, wrote many letters in Jan., 1782, which have been printed by the Royal Commission on Hist. MSS. in their Ninth Report, Appendix, iii. p. 118.[1182]