Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-04-24

of the TYar in the Southern DEPARTMENT. Of
the United StateS.
CHAPTER I.

ouish the soft scenes OF tranquil life Tor the
rough adventures of war, is generally attend
ed with the conviction that the act is laudable;
and with wish, that its honorable exertions
should be faithfully transmitted to posterity.
These sentiments lead to the cultivation of
virtue and the effect of the one is magnifed
by the accomplishment of the other. In
usefulness to society, the degree is incon-
siderable between the performer Of great
achievements, and the recorder of them;
for short must be the remembrance, and
circumscribed the influence, of patriotic
exertions and heroic exploits, unless the pa
tent historian retrieyes them from oblivion,
ane holds them up conspicuously to future
aees. Sape audiyi, Q. Maximum, P. Sci
pionem, preterea, civitatis nostre preclaros
yiros, selitos tia deere, cum malorum ina
pines intuerentur, vehementisslme sibi ami
mum ad yirtutem accendi. Scilicet non ceram
liam, neque hguram tantam vim in sese ha-
bere sed memoria rerum. gestarum cam
flamnlam egregiis yiris in prectore crescere,
nedue prius sedari, guam ylrtus eorum tamam
atque gloriam adaquayerit. Sail, Bell. Ju-
CUR
RegrettiDg, as we all do, that not one of the
chief actors in our camp or cabinet, and In
deed very few of our fellow citizens, have at
tempted to unfold the rise, or to illustrate the
progress and termination of our revolution,
have been led to this my undertaking with
hope of contributing, In some degree, to re-
pair The effects Of this much lamented indif-
ference. With this view, am about to write
memoirs of the southern campaigns, being
that part of the war with which am best &C
ouainted, s which in Its progress s issue ma
terially contributed to our final success, and to
the enlargement of our military fame. Desi-
roas OF investing the reader with full and
clear understanding of the operations to be
described, shall commence these memoirs
at the beginning of the third year of the war;
as the principal events which occurred there
after, laid the foundation of the change IN the
enemgss conduct, and turned the tide and fury
of the conflict from the north to the south.
When engagedin this undertaking, many
of nv military comrades, capable and willing
TO contribute their aid to the ful6lment of my
design, were living; whose minute knowledge
Of various scenes, all of which they saw, In
some of which they led, would have rendered
ii peculiarly interesting and valuable. Alter
postponing, as is common TO man, what Tor
various reasons ought not TO have been delay
ed, have experienced in my progress album
dant cause for self-reproach since in many
instances, have been deprived OF this impor-
tapt assistance, which no effort or application
has been able fully to supply. Discouraged
by this priYation, should, though reluctant
", have receded from my purpose, had not the
injurious cons squences OF my dilatoriness been
in some measure repaired by the animated &
friendly exertions of the few survivors among
nv martial companions To these individuals
i owe a heavy debt Of personal gratitude; and
should the following sheets be deemed worthy
Of general appreciation, to their ready and un-
wearied assistance, more than to the author's
care and diligence, may be justly aseribed the
Pleasing result. have, nevertheless, been
compelled to abridge considerably my FIRST
design not having been able to obtain the
documents necessary to Its full accomplish
nlent.
twas my intention to present the public,
not with narrative of the southern operations
only, butwith the life Of major general Greene,
our distinguished leader. The two subjects
appeared to be closely connected; and the
latter is strongly ck.imed by my intimate
Often have heard,'' says Sallust, C that
Quintus Maximus, Publius Scipio, and other
reaowned men of our commonwealth, used
to say that whenever they beheld the images
of their ancestors, they felt thcif, minds vehe-
menly excited to virtue. 1t could not be the
wax orthe marble which possessed this pow
err; but the recollection Of their great actions
kindled generous fame in. their breasts, no,
TO be qaelled, till they also by virtue had &C.
quircd equal fame and glory