The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-10-12

DC able to meet his decree without dis
may This, thank God, is my case
The happiness Of man is my wish, that
happiness | deem inconsistent with slave
ry. And to avert so great an evil from
an innocent people, will gladly meet the
British tomorrow, at any odds whatever
AS he spoke this, saw something in
his eyes, which at once demonstrated the
divinity of virtue and the Immortality of
the soul.
oh, my God" said Marion, as we rode
OF, 'whata difference docs education make
between man and man. Enlightened bv
her sacred ray, see here is the native of a
distant country, come to fight for our l:b
erty and happiness, while many of our
people, for lack of education, are actually
aiding the British to heap chains and cur.
ses upon themselves and children"
1t was on the morning of August the
18th, 1880, that we left the army in
good position near Rugeley's mills, twelve
miles from Camden, where the enemy Law.
About 10 o'clock that night orders were
gwen to march to surprise the enemy, who
had at the same time commenced their
march to surprise the Americans. To
their mutual astonishment, the advance of
the two armies met about two clock, and
commenced firing upon each other. The
h'ing, however, was soon discontinued by
both parties, who seemed to be willing TO
leave the matter to be decided by day
light.
a council Of war was called in which
Dekalb advised that the army should fall
back to Rugeleys mills, and there, in a
good position, wait to be attacked.
But Gates not only rejected this excel
lent counsel, but threw out suspicious that
it originated from fear. Upon which De
kalb called to his servant to take his
horse, and leaping on the ground, placed
himself at the head of his command ON
foot. To this indecent expression Of Gen.
Gates he also rctoried with considerable
warmth, We'll sir, a few hours will let US
see who are the braver
1t should be recorded for the benefit Of
our officers, mSny OF whose laurels have
been blasted by the fumes Of brandy, that
Gen. Gates was rather too fond of his noe
turnal glass.
81 wonder where we shall dine to NOR
row 2" said one Of his officers, ~ in the
dark they sat on their sleepy horses wait
ing for the day.
Dine, sir replied the confident Gates,
why at Camden, sir, TO be sure. Begad!
| would not give pinch Of snuff, sir, to
be insured becf-steak TO morrow in Cam
den, and Lord CORVALLIS at my table"
Presently day appeared, and as the
dawn'ng light Increased, the frightened
militia began to discover the woods red
dening over like crimson, with the long ex-
tended lines Of the British army, which
soon, with rrttling drums and laundering
cannon, came rushing on to the charge
The militia, scarcely waiting to give them
a distant fire, broke and fed in the utmost
precipitation. Whereupon Gen. Gates
clapped spurs to his horse, and pushed
hard after them, as he said to bring the
rascals back But he took care never to
bring himself back, nor indeed to stop un-
iii he had fairly reached Charlotte, eighty
miles from the field of battle. l remem.
Der it was comm m to talk in those DAYS,
that he killed three horses in his fight.
Gates and the militia, composing two
thirds Of the army, having thus shameful
ly taken themselves off, the brave old
DeKalb, and his handful of continentals,
were left alone to try the fortune of the
day. And never did MEN display a more
determined valor! For though out-num-
bered more than tWo TO one, they sustain
ed the shock of the enemy's whole force,
for upwards Of an hour. With equal fu-
ry the rank-sweeping cannon and musket
were employed on both sides, till the con.
tending legions were nearly mixed. Then
quitting this slower mode ofslaughter, with
rage-blackened faces and fiery eye-balls,
they plunge forward on each other, to the
swifter vengeance of the bsyoas.. Far
and wide the woods resound to the clash
of steel, while the red rocking weapon.,-
like stings Of Internal serpents, are seen
piercing the bodies Of the combatanb.-
Some, on receiving the fatal stab, let drop
their useless arms, and with dying fingers
clasp the hostile steel that is cold in their
bowels. Others, family crying out, "Ob
God, am slaiu !" sank pale and quivering
TO the ground, while the vital current had
gushed in Kissing streams from their burst
ed bosoms. Officers as well as men, now
mingle in the uproaring strife, and snatch
ing the weapons Of the slain, swell the hor-
rid carnage. Glorying in his continentals
the brave DeKalb towers before them like
a red star,guiding their destructive course
his voice as the horn that kindles the
young pack in chase Of blood. A British
grenadier, OF giant size, rushes on him with
a fixed bayonet. DeKalb parries the ft,-
rious blow, and plunges his sword in the
Brittoa's breast then seizing the falling
arms ofthe dying man, he deals death q
round him on q orowding foe. Loud rise
the shouts OF the Americans, but louder
still the shouts Of the more numerous en-.
emy. The battle burns anew along all
the fierce contendibg line. There,.h dis.
tant CornwilIis pushes on his ftesh rsai.
aents, like red clords, bunting their thun.