The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-12-26

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! guard of the Americaus, began hastil
to contract his lires, and make prepare
tions for fierce resistance. -
This detained his march and allowe,
Green to7get start, without which b
must inevitably have been lost. Th
English were without baggage, indeed
the whole army had been converted int
infantry, which enabled il toItravel will
much more alaerity than that of tn,
! Americans. It was now the dead O
winter the roads of to-day were filled
with deep mud, and Tomorrow frozer
hard-presenting mass of rugged
points to the soldiers feet, through
which, over which they had to drag
themselves on by the fear of destruction,
In the meantime Cornwallis apprised oi
his error, began the pursuis IN good en- u
est. But that gallant rear guard Of
Williams kept between the two armies,
slowly retreating but still present--ev-
er bending like bow of wrath on the
advancing enemy. The fate of the
American Army depended on its firm
ness and Skill and every officer in it
seemed to feel the immense trust COM
mitted to his care! There were Lees
gallant legion, and Washington's heavy
mounted, desperate hersemen-heroes
every one. VigiIant, untiring, brave,
they hovered with. such threatning as
pect around the advancing columns, and
they were compelled. to, march in close
order to prevent an att1ck. The least
negligence, the least oversight the blow
would fall like lightning. Never did a
rear guard behave more gallautly.
The men were allowed three hours sleep
out of twenty:four, and but one meal a
dnyl By starting and pushing three
hours before daylight, they were ena-
bled to get a breakfast, and this was
the last repast until next morning. Yet
the brave fellows bore all without mur-
mur and night after night and day af-
ter day, presented the same determined
front to the enemy. CORVALLIS, be-
lieving for while that tho whole Amer
lean force was in front, rejoicing in the
proximity, knowing that when it reach
ed the river, it must perish-then Vir-
ginia would open to lis victorious arms,
and the whole south be prostrate. And
when he at length diseoxefed his mis-
take, he strained forward with desperate
efforts. @ - s-
In the meantime the fleeing army pre-
sented a most heart-rending spectacle.
Half clad, and many of them barefoot,
with one blanket for every four men,
they toiled through the mire or left
their blood on, the frozen ground-press-
ing on through the wintry storm and
cold winds in the desperate effort for
life. At night when they snatched a
moments repose, three soldiers would
stretch themselves on the damp ground
under one blanket, and the fourth keep
watch; and happy were those who had
even this scanty covering, Over hills,
through forests, across streams, they
held their anxious way drenched by
rains, and chilled by the water through
which they waded-and uncovered, were
compelled to dry their own clothes by
the heat of their own bodies. Green
saw this distress with bitter grief, but
it could not be helped-his cheering
words and bright example was all he
could give them. Now hurrying along
his exhausted columns, and now anxious
ly ,stening to hear the sound of the enc
my's guns in the distance, he became al
prey to the most wasting anxiety. From
the time he had set out for the camp of
Morgan, on the banks of the Catawba,
he had not taken off his clothes; while
not an officer in the army was earlier in
the saddle or later out of it than he.
But undismayed-his strong gsoul resolv-
ed yet to conquer; he surveyed with a
calm, stern eye the dangers that thick
eaed around him. Should the rear
guard fail, nothing but miracle could
save him-but it shall not fail. Every
deep-laid plan was thwarted, every sur
prise Disconnected, and every sudden
movem ut to crush it, eluded by its
tireless, hopeful leaders. Often within
mask-shot of the enemy's vanguard, the
excited soldiers wished to return the
Ere, but the stern orders to desist were
obeyed, and the two armies rolled on
1t was fearful race for life, and right
nobly was it won. -. -
At length the main army arrived with
in forty miles of the ferry-boats, which
were to place deep river between them
and the foe, and hope quickened every
step. An night went on in the gloom,
cheered by the thought that another day
would place the object for which they
struggled within their grasp. On that
cold, slippery night, the noble rear
guard, slowly retreating suddenly saw
at twelve o'clock, watch fires, blazing in
the distance. There, then, lay the ar
my for which they had struggled SO no.
bly, and suffered SO much, overtaken at
last and sure to fail. In this fearful
crisis that gallant band paused aud held
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