Tarleton ordered his infantry to disencumber themselves of every thing except arms and ammunition, to file to the right, till they became equal to the flank of the American front line; the legion infantry were added to their left, and under the fire of a three pounder they were to advance within three hundred yards of the enemy.
"A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion"
William Dobein James
Though you were to-morrow to give us the best tenures on earth-though you were to equalise Presbyterian, Catholic and Episcopalian-though you were to give us the amplest representation in your Senate-though you were to restore our absentees, disencumber us of your debt, and redress every one of our fiscal wrongs-and though, in addition to all this, you plundered the treasuries of the world to lay gold at our feet and exhausted the resources of your genius to do us worship and honour-still we tell you-we tell you in the name of liberty and country-we tell you in the name of enthusiastic hearts, thoughtful souls and fearless spirits-we tell you by the past, the present and the future, we would spurn your gifts if the condition were that Ireland should remain a province.
"The Evolution of Sinn Fein"
Robert Mitchell Henry
The Comtesse de Chantonnay breathed a little more freely, but no friendly hand could disencumber her of the mountains of flesh, which must have weighed down any heart less buoyant and courageous.
"The Last Hope"
Henry Seton Merriman