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MEMOIRS OF TARLTON BROWN

EDITOR'S PREFACE

HE late Mr. Charles I. Bushnell of New York was an indefatigable writer on our history, and we owe to him. the extended biographies of a number of our Revolutionary patriots, whose stories would otherwise have been either entirely lost, or at best found only in the form of long-forgotten pamphlets, known only to the zealous antiquary.

One such is the story of a South Carolina soldier, whose baptismal name of Tarlton would almost signify a Briton. Like all of Mr. Bushnell's monographs, it was published in a very small editionless than one hundred copies—and for that reason we are justified in calling it very scarce, and now re-issuing it, for the first time since its appearance half a century ago.

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PREFACE

OWHERE has there been so little contributed to the literature of our Revolutionary history, as in the Southern States. The deeds, valor and sufferings of their patriots have been but little credited, because little known. While almost every Northern town has had its historian and almost every Northern hero some one to perpetuate his memory, the South, though equally worthy of attention has unfortunately had but few chroniclers; her writers have been limited, her historians few and far apart.

The little that has appeared is eminently worthy of attention and its value to the historian is greatly enhanced from the fact of its scanty representation in the common stock. Every effort ought therefore to be made, not only to preserve what has already appeared but to add, as far as lies in our power, to the store.

It is with these views and to further these objects that we present the following narrative. Appearing originally in the Charleston Rambler, a paper of limited circulation, it would in the course of human events, soon have become extinct: in fact, even at the present time, (1865) it would be almost impossible to procure a copy. We have therefore determined to reprint it, and it is accordingly presented in the present form, with notes, &c.

The author was a respectable inhabitant of Barnwell District, S. C., and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all. He died at ninetytwo, in 1846.

New York, 1865

C. I. BUSHNELL

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