The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-11-18

his march for GuilOrd, where he resolved
to make II stand, and strike this bold BriIor
to The heart. But on reaching Guillord ht
learned, TO his disnay,th0 the renforccmcnr
promised him had not arrived. The Englisl
army was nearly double that Of his own, unt
all well-tried, disciplined soldiers: and he
knew it would he madness 10 give battle on
such dsadvnnagcous terms. There was
therefore, no remedy but retreat, mud this had
now become difficult matter. In the hope
of heing able TO sustain himself ut GuliOrd
he had suffered his enemy TO approach SO neat
aud block him in so cflecually, that there
was but one possible wuy of escape. Corn.
wallis nj last deemed his prey secure.
On the 10Th of February, this battle of
mnuUuyrcs again comcnCed,nn the two mr.
mics, now only twenty-five miles apart
stretched forward. Cornwalis supposed his
adversary would make for the upper fords of
the Dan, az there was nothing but ferries he
! low, and hence put his army in such posi-
ton that he could crush him nj once; but
Greene quietly Withdrew towards the Lower
| Dan, where hc ordered boats to he Congrc-
gated in which he could transport his troops
over. His object in this was two-Iosd; first,
to place n deep instead Of n iordabe river
between him and his formidable adversary,
and secondly 10 be in situation to effect IA
junction with the rrHiOrccncuts lie c%pcc-
ted from Virginia. Discovering at once the
error under which CORVALLIS lahorod, he
added 10 it 10y sending Il large detachment to
uunuuvrc i'm frout,os the upper iurds were
Indeed the object his efforts. Cob VIII
Iinns commanded this chosen body Of men,
and marched boldly against the entire En-
alsh army. The British commander, think
ing it to he the advanced guard Of the Amer
leans, began hastily TO contract his lines, and
make preparations for fierce resstuucc.-
This detained his march, and allowed Green
10 get start, without which he must iueyita-
bly, have been lost. The English were with
out baggage indeed the whole army had
been converted into ligh,nianlry, which en-
abled it to move with much more aacrity
than that ofthc Americans. 1t was now the
dead Of winter--ihe roads to-day were filled
deep with mud, aud tomorrow frozen hard,
presenting mass ofrugged points TO the sol
diers' feet, through which or over which they
were compelled to drag themselves. urged on
Ivy the fear of destruction. In the meantime
Corvallis apprised of his error, began the
pursuit in good earnest. But that gallant
rear-guard of Williams kept between the
two armies, slowly retreaiing, bat still pres
cnt--ever bending like brow of wrath on
the advancing enemy The fate ofthe Amer
lean army rested on its tirmness and skill,
and every officer in it seemed to feel ihe i'm
mense trust committed TO his care. There
were Lees galent legion, aud Washington's
heavy mounted, desperate Iorsemen, heroes
every one. Nigilunt, umtirng, brave, they
lowered with such threatening aspect ar
ound the advancing columns, thnt they were
10 march in close order 10 prevent
nh attack. The least negligence, the least
oversight, and the blow would fall like light
ming. Never did rear-grrnrd behave more
gnlantly. The men were allowed only three
hours sleep out of the tweniy-tour, and but
one meal n day. BY starting and pushing
forward three hours before daylight they
were enabled to get breakfast, aud this was
brave fellows bore all without a murnIur; and
night after night. and day after day, present
ed the same determined front to the enemy.
CORVALLIS, believing for while that lac had
the whole American force IN front, reioiced
in its proximity knowing that when ii reach
ed the river it must perish - then Virginia
would lie open TO his victorious arms and the
whole South be PROSTATE. But when he at
length discovered his mistake, he strained
forward with desperate efforts.
In the meanwhile, that fleeing array pre- {,
Sented Il most heart rendmg speciacIe.-I
Half clad, and many of them bare foot with
only one blanket for every four men, they
toiled through the miro, or left their blood on
the frozen ground-prCssiug on through the
wintry storm and cold winds III the desper
ate struggle for life. At night when they
snatched few moments repOse, three sol
diers would stretch themselves on the damp
ground under one blanket. s; the fourth keep
watch: and happy We're those who even had
this scanty covering. Over bills, through
forests, across streams, they held their miN,
ious way, drenched by the rains, and chilled
by the water throHgI which they waded-
nj cd nd uncovered com I
PEELED to dry their clothes by The heat of their
own bodies Greene saw their distress with !
bitter grief bu: it could not be heped--his |
words and bright example were all
lie could give them. Now hurrying along
his exhausted columns, and now anXIously
listening to hear the sound OF the encnys
guns in the distance, he became prey TO the
most wasting anxiety. From the time lie
had set out for the camp of Morgan. on the
banks of the Catawba, he had not taken oil
his clothes; while not an officer in tho army
was earlier III the saddle, or later ont OF It
than he. But undismaycd-his strong soul
fully resolved yotto Conquer--hc surveyed
with calm, stern eyethe dangers that Tuck
cned around him. Should the rear guard
fail, nothing but miracle could save him
but it should not fail. Every deep laid plan
was thwarted, every surprise Disconnected,
aud every Sudden movement 10 crush II eiil-
ded Nv its tireless, sleepless leaders. Olten
within musket shot Of the enemy's vanguard,
the excited soldiers wished to return the fire;
but the stern orders 10 desist were obeyed,
and tho two tired armies toiIed on: II was
a feurtj! race for lifo, and right nobly was 1t
run.
AT length the main army arrived WITHIN
forty miles of th" ferry bouts which TO place
a deep river between them and the foe, and
hope quickeacd every step. All night long
they swept onward through the glooun, cheer-
ed by the thought that another day would
plnce the object for which they struggled