A HUGUENOT EPISODE OF THE REVOLUTION
A SCENE AT GENERAL WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS DURING THE LATTER PART OF FEBRUARY 1781
Republished from Transactions No. 37, 1932
L-R: Courier: John E. Gibbs, General George Washington: Isaac Marion Bryan, Marquis de Lafayette: Augustine T.S. Stoney, Sentinel: John Porcher Bryan
Author of Episode, Samuel Gaillard Stoney
Director, Samuel David Stoney
Assistant Director, Miss Elizabeth L. Porcher
Cast of Characters
General George Washington........... Isaac Marion Bryan
Marquis de Lafayette ............. Augustine T. S. Stoney
Courier .................................................... John E. Gibbs, Jr
Sentinel ...........................John Porcher Bryan
Scene in a house occupied as Headquarters, Gen. Washington seated at table, the Marquis de Lafayette studying a map pinned against the wall. A courier comes in, salutes and presents a sealed packet, salutes again and retires.
Washington opens it, looking worried, but after he has read a moment, breaks into a smile.
WASHINGTON: Good news from the southward, Monsieur de Lafayette!
LAFAYETTE (turning eagerly towards him): From General Greene, Sir? I was but this minute studying his last position upon this map!
WASHINGTON (A little regretfully): No, not yet from General Greene, but it is heartening news nevertheless, even if it comes within the enemies’ lines. A letter from Charlestown, where you have been. But I will read it to you!
LAFAYETTE: Ah, but if you will!
WASHINGTON (reading): ''Since last spring, when the enemy took this town and overran the state, we, in the Low Country, have suffered grievously in spirit. When General Gates marched towards us our hope flared up only to be quenched at Camden. When the word came this winter that Greene had taken command we hoped once more, but lost heart when it was known that he had retired to North Carolina. Even the forays and skirmishings of our partisans were far off from us, until we felt 'Whatever may be saved we are lost.' But now, in the first month of this new year, our own people have brought the war back to within a day's riding of Charlestown! It has stirred our apathy, has given us back our faith and our hope! It is the doing of Francis Marion, a gentleman of St. John's Parish, a colonel in the Continental line, and now a general in the service of South Carolina. By a most fortunate mischance he broke his ankle bone at the opening of the siege of this place, and was invalided to his plantation, so escaping capture." You know him, Marquis?
LAFAYETTE: I have seen him in Charlestown, a small, dark man with the quiet manner of an old-fashioned gentleman of the country, at home in France. He is a relation of Benjamin Huger, the first friend I found in this country, and one I shall never see again, for he died before Charlestown, nearly two years since. Read on, l pray you, Sir, I would gladly hear more of the good news.
WASHINGTON (Reads on): "Marion, after Gates' disaster, gathered about him a group of Low Country planters which has grown into a brigade of partisans. I know not the full list of his officers, but Peter and Hugh Horry are colonels” (Washington pronounces Horry English. fashion).
LAFAYETTE: Pardon, mon general, mais c'est un nom francais, and in Carolina, as in France 'tis called Horry.
WASHINGTON: "Horry, --Lewis Ogier, is a captain, James Postell, a colonel, and his brother John a captain. Pardon this catalogue, but it is a pleasure to write here the names of fellow countrymen who have taken up arms so bravely in this dark hour. And such arms! for, reversing the scripture, they have beaten no swords into plough shares, but have fashioned for themselves sabres of whipsaws!"
LAFAYETTE: Mais c'est bon, ca!
WASHINGTON: "With raw troop and little more than these same sabres Captain Postell has surprised and captured a detachment of British Grenadiers at his father's plantation near Georgetown."
LAFAYETTE: Ah! But I remember that plantation! You may know, sir, that it was near this same Georgetown that I landed in this country of my adoption.
WASHINGTON: ''The British had established themselves in the dwelling house, which Postell had threatened to burn if they did not surrender. Fortunately, he was not forced to offer upon the altar of his country the home of an ancient parent!"
LAFAYETTE: And one with his French name and blood would feel most deeply such a sacrifice!
WASHINGTON: "Marion and Colonel Lee made, together, a wild dash into Georgetown itself, a few days later, but only succeeded in capturing the British Colonel commanding there. On the same day though, the brothers Postell crossed the Santee destroying the red coats' depot of stores at Manigault's Ferry, and riding rapidly, surprised and captured a wagon train above Monks Corner, and but little more than forty miles from Charlestown! 'Twas a small thing in itself, but it has set all men here to thinking, for the wagons were on the long road to the Congarees, the line of communication with those inland by which our enemy had hoped to bring this state into subjection!
The encouraged men of the lower parishes are slipping over the river to join their countrymen in their camps in the swamps. General Greene, we hear has extended to the colonel and the captain his particular thanks for the spirit and address with which they acted, and the saying now goes in the country that to the Postells nothing appears difficult!"
LAFAYETTE: Most excellent news! How I wish our gallant young friend, John Laurens, were with us now to hear such an account of his country and his people!
WASHINGTON: I shall send him a copy of this letter in the next ship that sails for France. It will cheer the Carolinian in his honorable exile in your land!
LAFAYETTE: Oh General, I can but hope that he will reach those shores in safety! Should he, like his venerable father, fall into the hands of the British, 'twould be a terrible calamity when all depends on speeding help from France.
WASHINGTON: With all my heart I hope with you, Marquis! I only regret I could not spare you to plead with Colonel Laurens before our good and great friend, your king.
LAFAYETTE: Indeed, he will not need me! Every heart at Versailles must open to virtues such as his. Grace, youth, wisdom, valor and address, was ever a man so dowered! He has our language like a mother tongue to enhance them. I only fear the French will love him, so they'll never let him come away again!
WASHINGTON: And if they held him, or even if the British took his ship, he yet would aid us! Look at his father, President Laurens of the Congress, old, sick, kept in the Tower of London with all the closeness of an attainted Traitor, it seems he is still working manfully for the cause!
LAFAYETTE: And it would be small blame I could give my king should he wish to keep John Laurens. What land would not wish for such a man! Such men as these! Ces Laurens (he pronounces the names in the French fashion) Ces Huger, les frères Horry, Ogier, François Marion, Jean et Jacques Postell! All French, all lost to France by the mad persecution of a once great king! Would that the folly of that monarch might teach all others to respect the love of liberty which is in the very heart's blood of men! Sabres of saws the torch to his father's roof-to 'them nothing appears difficult'! France will soon cry out for such blood as this anti England regret that she has sacrificed so much of it to a despot!
WASHINGTON (Rising): Tis a strong blood indeed the Huguenot. I am happy that through Nicholas Martiau, a strain of it is in my veins.
LAFAYETTE (Bowing very low, hand on breast): I salute it, sir, in you! I had not known before the greatness of my country's loss!
WASHINGTON (Simply): I am but one of the many hundreds of Huguenot blood in these colonies, sir. But do not count us lost, rather a link between a great nation of the old world, and what will be, God willing, and France aiding, the greatest nation of the new! Consider Laurens, that very tie of blood in him may bring success in this most vital hour. God send it quickly for time fights against us!
LAFAYETTE: God will I know! (W. and L. clasp hands.)
WASHINGTON: Amen!
LAFAYETTE (With enthusiasm): He will! He must! For do not our two countries stand together today battling for the right He has taught us to love! He cannot let us fail but rather will keep us two bright beacons of liberty to enlighten the world! Sometimes their flames may grow dim sink, seem to die, but I feel, I sec, I know that whenever the day may come when human liberty is endangered, the one kindling the other, they will burst out again to warn, to guide, to save mankind with that heaven sent light!
~ End ~