PREFACE
TO THE
FIRST EDITION.
The events narrated in the following pages, came to my
knowledge in the progress of my researches into the personal
history of some of the characters who figure in the story. I
thought them worth being embodied into a regular narrative, for
two reasons:—
First, because they intrinsically possess an interest that may
amuse the lovers of adventure, and
Second, because they serve to illustrate the temper and character
of the War of our Revolution.
As yet, only the political and documentary history of that war
has been written. Its romantic or picturesque features have been
left for that industrious tribe of chroniclers, of which I hold
myself to be an unworthy member, and who have of late, as the
public is aware, set about the business in good earnest. It shall
go hard with us if we do not soon bring to light every remnant
of tradition that the war has left!
An opinion has heretofore prevailed that the Revolution was too
recent an affair for our story-telling craft to lay hands upon it.
But this objection, ever since the fiftieth anniversary, has been
nullified by common consent,—that being deemed the fair poetical
limit which converts tradition into truth, and takes away all right
of contradiction from a surviving actor in the scene. The pension
roll is manifestly growing thinner, and the widows—married
young after the peace—make a decided majority on the list.
These are the second-hand retailers of the marvels of the war;
and it is observed that, like wine which has descended to the
heir, the events have lost none of their flavor or value by the
transmission. This is all so much clear gain to our fraternity;
and it is obvious, therefore, that we must thrive.
My reader will perceive that I have been scrupulous to preserve
the utmost historical accuracy in my narrarive: and I hope, when
he has finished the perusal, that he may find reason to award me
the commendation of having afforded him some pleasure, by the
sketch I have attempted of the condition of things in the south
during the very interesting period of the “Tory Ascendency.”
