"The Tories," says history further, "stood very much in dread5 of him; and well they might, for never had they a more, formidable foe6." Here, then, is the hero and the wanderer combined in one person, and that person fighting for the holiest cause in which man can take up arms,—the rights and liberties of the people. What more could be asked?
Curious as we may be to know something of the personal history of Robert Sallette, it is not to be found chronicled in the books. The French twist to his name makes it probable that he was a descendant of those unfortunate Acadians who, years before, had been stripped of their lands and possessions in Nova Scotia by the British, their houses and barns burned, and they themselves transported away from their homes. They were scattered7 at various points along the American coast. Some were landed at Philadelphia, and some were carried to Louisiana. Four hundred were sent to Georgia. The British had many acts of cruelty to answer for in those days, but none more infamous8 than this treatment of the gentle and helpless Acadians. It stands in history to-day a stain upon the British name.
Another fact that leads to the belief that Robert Sallette was a descendant of the unfortunate Acadians was the ferocity with which he pursued the British and the Tories. The little that is told about him makes it certain that he never gave quarter to the enemies of his country.
His name was a terror to the Tories. One of them, a man of considerable means, offered a reward of one hundred guineas to any person who would bring him the head of Robert Sallette. The Tory had never seen Sallette, but his alarm was such that he offered a reward large enough to tempt9 some one to assassinate10 the daring partisan11. When Sallette heard of the reward, he disguised himself as a farmer, and provided himself with a pumpkin12, which he placed in a bag. With the bag swinging across his shoulder, he made his way to the house of the Tory. He was invited in, and deposited the bag on the floor beside him, the pumpkin striking the boards with a thump13.
The Head of Robert Sallette 066
"I have brought you the head of Robert Sallette," said he. "I hear that you have offered a reward of one hundred guineas for it."
"Where is it?" asked the Tory.
"I have it with me," replied Sallette, shaking the loose end of the bag. "Count me out the money and take the head."
The Tory, neither doubting nor suspecting, counted out the money, and placed it on the table.
"Now show me the head," said he.
Sallette removed his hat, tapped himself on the forehead, and said, "Here is the head of Robert Sallette!"
The Tory was so frightened that he jumped from the room, and Sallette pocketed the money and departed.
On one occasion Robert Sallette is known to have spared the lives of two Tories, at least for a little while. Once when he and Andrew Walthour (for whom Walthourville in Georgia is named) and another man were riding along a narrow trail late in the afternoon, they met three other riders whom they suspected to be Tories. The plan that Sallette and his companions adopted to capture the men was very simple. Andrew Walthour, who was riding in front, was to pass the first and second men, Robert Sallette to pass the first. As Walthour came to the third man when Sallette had come to the second, and their companion to the first, the Liberty Boys seized the guns of the three simultaneously14. The men had no opportunity either to fight or escape.
"Dismount, gentlemen!" said Sallette. Then he addressed himself to the leader. "What is your name?"
In reply to this, a fictitious15 name was given, as Sallette and his companions afterwards found out.
"Where is your camp?" asked Sallette.
"We are from over the river," answered the man, meaning the Altamaha.
"Where did you cross?"
"At Beards Ferry." This was where the Whigs and the Liberty Boys were most numerous.
"That is not true!" exclaimed Sallette.
Then he turned to the second man, asked the same questions, and received the same replies. He turned to the third man, asked the same questions, and received the same replies.
"If you do not tell me the truth," exclaimed Sallette to this last man, "I'll cut off your head!"
The man persisted, and Sallette was as good as his word. The others begged for their lives, and declared that they would guide Sallette straight to their camp. This they did; and Sallette, aided by his prisoners, captured a large party of Tories.
Once when Robert Sallette and Andrew Walthour were marching with the advance guard of the American troops, they suddenly met the advance guard of the British. A short but sharp skirmish followed, during which a very large man of the British guard was killed. Observing that the dead man wore a pair of good boots, Sallette determined16 to get them. While he was pulling them off in the midst of a furious fire from the enemy, his companions called out to him to come away or he would surely be killed. "I must have the boots!" cried Sallette to his companions. "I want them for little John Way!"
Here was fun in the midst of tragedy; for it is said that little John Way could have put both his feet and his fists into one of the boots.
One day Sallette dressed himself up as a British officer and accepted an invitation to dine with a party of the enemy. Suddenly, in the midst of the toasting and drinking, Sallette drew his sword, killed the men who sat to the right and left of him, sprang on his horse, and rode off unhurt, though he was in such a hurry that he had no time to throw the bridle17 reins18 over the horse's head.
At the White House, near Sunbury, Major Baker19, of the patriot1 army, with thirty men, attacked and defeated a party of Tories under command of Captain Goldsmith.
Among the slain20 was Lieutenant21 Gray, whose head was almost severed22 from his body by a stroke of Robert Sallette's sword.
On many occasions, when a battle was in progress, Sallette would detach himself from the American army, gain the rear of the enemy, and kill many men before he was discovered. If this brave man was indeed a descendant of the Acadians, he avenged23 the wrongs of many of his countrymen.
Another character who attracted attention during the War of the Revolution was Patrick Carr, whose hatred24 of the Tories made his name celebrated25 among the Liberty Boys of Georgia. Paddy Carr, as he was called, lived and died in Jefferson County. He was born in Ireland, but came to Georgia before the Revolution. When the independence movement began, he threw himself into it with all the ardor26 of his race. Owing to the cruelty of the Tories, he conceived a special hatred against them. He showed them no quarter. History gives but a word or two to his achievements, but tradition still keeps his name alive in the region where he operated. Like Sallette, he was an independent partisan; but, unlike Sallette, his operations were among those who could remember well enough, but who would not take the trouble to preserve the particulars of even the least of his exploits. We know that Patrick Carr lived. We know that he became famous where recklessness and daring were common. But that is nearly all we know. It is said of him that during the war he killed one hundred Tories with his own hands. Once, when praised for his bravery, he smiled and shook his head, saying that he would have made a very good soldier, but the Lord had given him a heart that was too merciful. He no doubt remembered the atrocities27 of the Tories in the section that is now Jefferson, Columbia, Burke, and Wilkes counties. The cruelties they committed in that region during the Revolution have no parallel in civilized28 warfare29.
Among the adventurous30 characters of that time, on the side of the British, Daniel McGirth stands easily first. The history of his career during the war is a strange one. He was born in South Carolina, and entered into the struggle against the British with the utmost enthusiasm. He was a brave man, a hard fighter, and one of the most active of those who took up arms against the King. He was an expert woodsman, and was at home in the saddle. He was assigned to duty as a scout31, and was better equipped for that service, perhaps, than any man in the American army. The ease with which he secured information of the enemy's movements and plans, and the energy that marked his movements, made his services of great value to the patriot cause. This was not thoroughly32 appreciated by some of the officers under whom McGirth acted.
He brought with him into the army a mare33 which he called "The Gray Goose." She is said to have been an elegant animal, and McGirth was very proud of her. With this mare under him, he always felt safe from pursuit. One of the American officers, who was a good judge of horseflesh, and who probably wanted to "cut a dash," as the saying is, saw this beautiful mare, and coveted34 her. Finding that McGirth scorned all offers to sell her, the officer adopted various means to obtain her. These efforts were resisted by McGirth, mainly on the ground that the mare was his own private property, and that she was essential to the duties he was called on to perform. Failing to gain his ends in this way, the officer continued to worry McGirth in other ways. He no doubt did something to rouse the ire of the scout, who was an irritable35 man, and who felt the importance of the service he was rendering36 to the cause. It is not now known how McGirth insulted the officer,—whether in a moment of passion he struck him, or whether he merely used rough language to him.
Whatever the offense37, McGirth was placed under arrest, tried by a court-martial, found guilty of violating the articles of war, and sentenced to be whipped. He received this punishment, and was placed in confinement38 again, where he was to remain until he received another whipping. While thus held, he saw his mare picketed39 near the camp, and he immediately resolved to escape. He was successful in this. Once free, he secured The Gray Goose, leaped into the saddle, turned around, and, in the face of his pursuers, pronounced threats of vengeance40 against all the Americans for his ill treatment.
There is no doubt that he was illtreated; but if he had not been an ignorant man, he would not have pronounced against the cause of liberty on account of the treatment he received at the hands of individuals. But the savage41 in his nature was aroused, and he carried out his fierce threats to the fullest extent. For the time being, he attached himself to another American command; but at the first opportunity he deserted42 to the enemy, and became the scourge43 and terror of those who opposed the British cause. He spared none. His field extended from the Florida line to the Savannah River, in what is now Elbert County, and far into South Carolina. He appeared when least expected, and carried destruction with him. His mare became as noted44 as her master. In what was then Upper Georgia, she was known as "The Bald-faced Pony45." On many an occasion he owed his life to the fleetness of his mare. But his vengeance was never satisfied: it was always active, and thirsting for the blood of the American patriot. The whim46 of the officer to possess McGirth's mare was a foolish one at best. It was the cause of great public and private suffering.
Mcgirth and his Mare 072
When South Carolina was rescued from the British, McGirth retreated into Georgia, and finally into Florida. When the Spaniards regained47 possession of that territory, he became subject to their laws. For some reason or other he was thrown into one of the dungeons48 of the old fort at St. Augustine, where he was confined for five years. When released, his health was broken, and it was with great difficulty that he managed to return to Sumter District, in South Carolina, where his wife lived.
A very queer and eccentric character in the Revolution was Captain Rory Mcintosh, of Mallow. Though Rory was a kinsman49 of General Lachlan and Colonel John Mcintosh, who were among the most active Liberty Boys in Georgia, he took up arms for the King, and a very devoted50 Tory he was. His eccentricities51 would have been called whims52 if he had not stuck to them with such constancy. He was a Highlander53 and a follower54 of the Stuarts. How and why he became loyal to the new line of British kings, history does not state; but his clan55 had a chief, and he no doubt thought that every government ought to have a monarch56. When the Revolution began, he was over sixty years of age, and was living comfortably on his plantation57 at Mallow; but he volunteered, and fought through the war.
A story is told of Rory Mcintosh that once when the Spaniards held East Florida, he carried to St Augustine a drove of cattle. He received payment in dollars, which he placed in a canvas bag behind him on his horse. When near his home, the bag gave way, and a part of the money fell out. He secured what was left and rode on, paying no attention to that which had fallen from the bag. When in need of money some years after, he returned to the place where the dollars had spilled, picked up as many as he wanted, and went back home. Whenever he could, he went about accompanied by a piper. Rory was a tall, finely formed man,'with bristling58 whiskers and a ruddy complexion59: consequently when he appeared on parade, he attracted great attention.
Captain Rory Mcintosh 074
In 1778 two expeditions were sent from St. Augustine for the purpose of attacking Savannah,—one by sea, and one by land under command of Lieutenant Colonel Prevost. This land expedition had been joined by Captain Roderick Mcintosh, in the capacity of a volunteer. He attached himself particularly to the infantry60 company commanded by Captain Murray. When the British laid siege to Sunbury and the fort, Captain Murray's company was in the line near the fort. One morning when Captain Rory had had a dram too much, he determined to sally out and summon the fort to surrender. His comrades tried to restrain him, but he was determined. Finally he strutted61 out, a drawn62 claymore in his hand, with his trusty slave Jim. He approached the fort and cried out,—
"Surrender, you miscreants63! How dare you presume to resist his Majesty's arms?"
Colonel Mcintosh, who commanded the fort, saw at once the condition of Captain Rory, and forbade the men to fire. Then he threw open the gate, and said,—
"Walk in, Mr. Mcintosh, and take possession."
"No," cried Rory, "I'll not trust myself among such vermin. I order you to surrender!"
At that moment a rifle was fired by some one in the fort, and the ball passed through Captain Rory's face from side to side under the eyes. He fell backwards64, but immediately recovered, and stood on his feet flourishing his claymore. Then he began to walk backward, his face to the fort. Several shots were fired at him, and Jim called out,—
"Run, massa, run! dey kill you!"
"Run!" cried Rory scornfully. "You may run, but I belong to a race that never runs!"
It was at the siege of Sunbury that Colonel Mcintosh, when summoned by Colonel Prevost to surrender the fort, sent back the reply, "Come and take it!"
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1
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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picketed
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| 用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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50
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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51
eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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52
WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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53
highlander
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| n.高地的人，苏格兰高地地区的人 | |
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54
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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55
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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56
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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58
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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59
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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60
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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61
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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miscreants
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| n.恶棍，歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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