The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-11-21
Blanche Of Monmouth.
Her bare right arm, uplifted high,
ALI light, her large and glorious eye,
And her whole frame-dilated-fired

Blanche! Blanche! We're on the eve of ar
action! l come to embrace you for the las
| time!'' .-z
| The speaker was horseman in the Ameri.
can cavalry. Enveloped in clouds Of dust he
was dashing up towards the veranda of a large
mansion, built in the colonial taste, and exhibi.
| ting all the evidence of colonial afluence, His
horse was fecked all over with foam, and his
manner was fearfuly excited The person
| whom he addressed was young girl of scarce
ly eighteen summers. Her form was round
perhaps too redundant, for those who deem
embonpoint inconsistent with beauty.-but
graceful as sylph's. About her expressive
face there played profusion Of nut brown ring
let's, and in her moist, dark eyes. there beamed
an earnest and meaning look, indicative at once
Of great force of character, and depth of pas
sion Her lips were full and slightly voluptu-
Gus in expression, her nose cassicaly regular
| in contour, and her chin indented with a little
dimple, which might have served as a nesting
place for thousand loves e-.s i. su
.sNot for the last time, l trust!', she rep)ied
with a sweet and encouraging smile. my
heart tells me that the American arms will be
triumphant! Who commands the forces?'
General Lee is at the head of the first di-
vision, and Washington follows close in his rear
with the remainder Of the army. l left my
command for a moment, and rode in advance
to take leave of you my Blanche. The army
will soon come up!'' ..s.--.- .-s... =
''Let US trust in the God of battles for the
issue! He will sustain our just cause! How
glorious it must be to fight for ones country!
And by the side of Washington Edmund
Stanley, were it not for you," continued the
lovely enthusiast, blushing to the temples,
"were it not for you, could wish that | were
a soldier, and might bear arms in the cause of
Americap' g. E
"The armyis approaching! must leave you!
God bless you my BlancheP' f--' .-
"God bless you, Edmund! would not coun
sci you to do anything unworthy of yourself,
but do not plunge into unnecessary danger! For
my sake, do not!' @
The dragon folded his betrothed in his arms
for moment but not daring to give full express
sion to his emotions, tore himself hastily away,
and remounting his dusty charger, plunged
down the road.
Blanche Rivers gazed after his retreating
form with streaming eyes. Her innocent bosom
heaving beneath its laced bodice, and for a
moment she stood the very picture of feminine
woe. But she was brave girl, and the re-
sounding tread of the advancing squadrons
stirred all that was heroic in her soul, and quick
ly chased her tears away. Leaving the veran-
da she placed herself at an open easement OF
the mansion, and silently awaited the appear
ance of the marching troops. To the stirring
strains of martial music, the glittering column
advanced, along the highway, headed by Lee
in person, attended by his suite. The day was
insufferably hot and many canteen was
pressed to weary soldiers lips, upon that
dreadful march. Infantry, cavalry and artillery
toiled quickly by, and clouds of dust rolled up
before, behind, and On either side of them, only
to settle in thick folds upon their shoulders, and
add to the parching thirst which devoured the m
Blanche gazed till she was weary upon the
passing host. Five thousand men packed into
the narrow highway, swept in an inconceivably
brief period before her eyes, on their way to
Monmouth. When the last struggling corps
had vanished from her sight, the heroic girl
left the window, and proceeded to her fathers
stables Ordering the groom to saddle, and
bring around her horse, she reentered the house
and after moments absence, appeared at the
front entrance, armed with pistols at her belt
perfect Clorinda, or Joan of Arc, all save the
gorget and morton. In a moment she had
mounted, and was flying up the road, upon the
heels of the American soldiers l1-f
Il will be an eyewitness of one struggle for
freedom!" said Blanche, as she checked her
horse, to prevent him from approaching too
near the American rear. ..r
Lee soon reached the plain of Monmouth,
and drawing up his soldiers under cover Of the
woods, went, forward to reconnoitre. The
broad field was covered with the glttering
squadrons of the British, while extending as
far in the distance as the eye could reach, was
an immense train of baggage wagons, with
stores for the support of ten thousand men.
Drums beat. bugles sounded the charge, and
the battle commenced. Protected by the shades
of the woods, Blanche witnessed in security the
various maneuvres of the contending armies.
She saw Wayne charge with resistless impetu
osity, and her heart beat with emotions of the
purest patriotism, AS she rejected that there
was one in that cavalcade in whom she had an
interest, whose arm would strike, that day,
many a blow for his country's cause. Not a
selfish thought in regard to her lovers peril
crossed her mind, her whole soul was intent
upon the issue of the struggle, and her whole
oeliS "IdPPeu up III INTENSE ueohe ioi VIC III
umph of the patriot cause.
They are breaking, ere the struggle is half
through!" said an officer by her side.
Just then an aid flew past them, in the di-
rection of Wayne's cavalry squadron, and ri
ding directly up to the blunt old soldier, com
his message, which was received
with scowl black as night.
"Sound a recall'' growled the sturdy old
veteran. and ere the battle had hardly begun
he American army was slowly retiring. a.
Blanche gazed with undisguised wonderupon
hese movements. Il came to see a battle land
only behold an inglorious retreat! But Wash
ngton shall know that he is to receive rabble-
out Of his own troops into his arms!'
Urging her horse at top-speed, she dashed
lown the highway, intending to give warning
o the rear division of the events which had
ranspired in front. On she few. and was soon
ar past the retiring soldiery, who drew backin
.ood order before the British, without any ap
earance of trepdation, or of having been
eaten. Away she sped-quick as the wind
ne hurried past the ancestral mansion her
teed painting with the intense heat, and reck-
,g with foam Like an arrow she shot past
amlets, and through forests, on her important