hese expeditions, are now the
ordinary avenues of the country. On starting, he almost invariably struck
into the woods, and seeking the heads of the larger water courses, crossed
them at their first and small beginnings. He destroyed the bridges where
he could. He preferred fords. The former not only facilitated the progress
of less fearless enemies, but apprised them of his own approach. If speed
was essential, a more direct but not less cautious route was pursued.

He intrusted his schemes to nobody, not even his most confidential
officers. He consulted with them respectfully, heard them patiently,
weighed their suggestions, and silently approached his conclusions. They
knew his determinations only from his actions. He left no track behind
him, if it were possible to avoid it. He was often vainly hunted after by
his own detachments. He was more apt at finding them than they him. His
scouts were taught a peculiar and shrill whistle, which, at night, could
be heard at a most astonishing distance. We are reminded of a signal of
Roderick Dhu:--

"He whistled shrill,
And he was answered from the hill;
Wild as the scream of the curlew,
From crag to crag the signal flew."

His expeditions were frequently long, and his men, hurrying forth without
due preparation, not unfrequently suffered much privation from want of
food. To guard against this danger, it was their habit to watch his cook.
If they saw him unusually busied in preparing supplies of the rude,
portable food which it was Marion's custom to carry on such occasions,
they knew what was before them, and provided themselves accordingly. In no
other way could they arrive at their general's intentions. His favorite
time for moving was with the setting sun, and then it was known that the
march would continue all night.

His men were badly clothed in homespun,--a light wear which afforded
little warmth. They slept in the open air, and frequently without a
blanket. Their ordinary food consisted of sweet potatoes, garnished, on
fortunate occasions, with lean beef. Their swords, unless taken from the
enemy, were made out of mill saws, roughly manufactured by a forest
blacksmith.

His scouts were out in all directions, and at all hours. They did the
double duty of patrol and spies. They hovered about the posts of the
enemy, crouching in the thicket, or darting along the plain, picking up
prisoners, and information, and spoils together. They c