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


erals.
Major General Nathaniel
Greene.
/ MS SKILLFuL RETREAT THROUGH TIE CARO-
LINAs.
DO
Green had ordered the main army 10 rem
devious AT Guiltord, & lhithpr he now drcc-
ted his steps, closely watched by CORVALLIS.
70 understand The ground over which this
remarkable retreat was performed, il is nee
essary only TO glance at II map. Three large
rivers rise in the northwest parts of South
and North Carolina, and now in II south-cas-
terly direction into the Atlantic. The lower,
or more southern one, is tho Catawba, which
empties into the Sanee. Tho next, north
Of it, and nearly parallel, is the Yadkin, emp
tying into the PGdcc. The last aud more
northern, is the Dim, which soon leaves its
south-eastery direction, and winds bnck wards
and forwards across the Virginia line, and fl
nally falls into the Roanoke. Greene was
now on the Calawba, or most southern river,
and directed his steps norh--his line ofprog-
ress cutting the Yndkin aud Dan. TO place
n deep river between two armies eftectually
separates them for some time while n retreat
ing army between one and n powerful nd-
versury. is almost sure To be ruined. There
fole, the great effort Of Cornwullis was to
ovcriakc his weak enemy somewhere be-
tween the rivers, while the latter strained eve
~ nerve to keep n deep stream dividing him
and his foe. Greene was now across The
Calawha, which, swoon by the recent rains,
prevented CORVALLIS from crossing But ut
length it began to subsdc, and the latter de
termned. 10y uight-mnrch to private ford
near Salisbury, to deceive his antagonist,and
cross without opposition. But Greene had
been on the alert, aud stationed body Of
millin there to dispute the passage. At day
break the British column was seen silently
approaching the river. n deep hush was on
everything, broken only by the roar of the
swollen waters, aud not living thing was 10
be seem oil the shore. Twilight sill rested
on the forest, and the turbid foam.covered
stream looked doIbIy appalling in the gloom.
The rain was falling in torrents, and The Brit
ish comuundcr,ns he reiueG mp his seed on
the slippery banks, looked long s. anXiously
on the farther side. There all was wild and ST.
lent: hut faint flashes Of the American fires,
in the woods, that he had been forestalled.-
Still, the order To advance was given, and the
column boldly entered the channel. With
muskets poised above their heads to keep
them dry, and leaning against each Other to
steady their slippery footings The grenaders
pushed forward. AS they advanced the wa
ter deepcncd, until it flowed in Il strong,
ry went pIunging through, but the rapid
stream bore many of them, both horses and
riders. downward in the darkness. The
head of the column had already reached the
centre of the river, when the voices of the sen
tinels rung through the darRness,nnd the next
moment their guns flashed through the storm.
The Americans, five hundred in number,
Immediately poured n destructive volley, but
the British troops pressed steadily forward.
Soldier after soldier rolled over III the flood,
and CornwalIis's horse was shot under him
but the noble animal, with desperate effort.
carried his rider to the bank before he fell
The intrepid troops ut length reached the
shore, and routed the militia. CORVALLIS
was now on the same side of the river with
his antagonist, and prepared to follow up his
advantage with vigor. BIT tho latter no
sooner heard that the enemy bad passed the
Catawba, than hc ordered the retreat to the
Yadkin. Through the drencling rain and
deep mud, scarcely hating to eat or rest, the
ragged troops dragged their weary way, and
on the third day reached the river, and COM
mcnced crossing.
In the meantime, the recent rains had swol-
len this river also, so that Ivy the time Greene
had safely effected tho passage, the current
was foaming by on level with its banks--
He had urged everything forward with the
utmost spcet, and at midnight, gust as the
last of the rear guard were embarklng, they
were saIu;cd with a vo'ley from the advance
ed guard Of the British. When the morning
light broke over the scene, there lay tue two
armies within sight Of each other, and the
blessed Yadlln surgirg and roaring IN threat
enipg accents between, as if on purpose to
daunt the invaders from its bosom. Stung
into madness at this second escape of their
enemy. the English lined the shore with ar
tiIlery and opened q fierce ,cannonado on The
American camp. But the army, protected
by IN elevated ridge, rested quietly and safe
" behind it. IN little cabin, just showing
its roof above the rocks, Greene took mp his
quarters, and while his troops were rcposlng,
commenced writing his dispatches. The en-
envy suspccting the American general had
established himself there, directed his artil-
lery upon it, and soon the rocks rung with
the balls that smoked and bounded FROM their
sides. 1t was not long before the roof Of the
cabin was struck. and the shingles and clap
boards began to fly about in every direction
bit the stern warrior within never once
looked up, and wrote on as calmly us il Ip
his peaceful homo.
-Four days the British general tarried on
the shores of the Yadkin, and then, as the
waters subsidized, again put his army in mo-
ton. Moving lower down the river,he cross
ed over and started anew after his adversary.