The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-11-21
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY NOYEM
General Lee conquered so quickly! Impos-

General Lee conquered SO quickly! Impos-
sible! Hurry up the rear! Advance! On, at
haIf-trol! Maiden, ride by my side!'
Blanche rode beside the general and an
swered his anxious inquiries, in regard to the
disgracetul retreat with as much accuracy as
her knowledge of the facts and OF military tao
tics would enable her to. Her heart swelled
with pride, that she could thus render service
to her America, and be the companion and ad-
wiser of the father of his country. fz a1@3
| "Did he not strike single blow?'' asked
| Washington. @ ga
"Yes, but very feeble one! saw Wayne
called off in the middle of charged
| ''This is most strange. most rtprehensible!
Order up Stirling and Knox from the rear!
Maiden, you have this day rendered your coun-
try an invaluable service, you have perhaps
been the means of charging the destinies OF
America! What is your name?"
blanche RiversP' saaas5 ea& af
"Blanche, God bless your heroism! If you
ever require assistance. either for yourself or
yours, remember that you have a friend in
Washngton!'' -z gEs#
Blanche buried her face in her hands and
wept. The general rode to the front to give
orders. and make preparations for the recep-
tlon of Lees fugitive squadrons. Just as the
hurrying troops had arrived near Blanche Riv-
er's home, they met their retreating comrades,
who with some precipitation were falling back in
a disorderly manner. No soonerdid Washington
catch sight of them, than squirting his white
charger into headlong galop, he rode up to
general Lee, and uttered that passionate excla-
nation, more memorable for the manner in
which it was spoken, than for the language in
which it was clothed: fl g
"Sir, / desire to know what is the reason, and
whence arises this disorder and confusion!" And
at the same moment ordering the artillery of
Stirling and Knox respectively to the right and
left, he endeavored by the powerful influence
Of his personal exhortations, to stem the tide
of retreat. ela-:5,lsE g-I ..re .z z.-..a
After the general left her side, Blanche en-
deavored to extrcate herself from the troops,
in order to inform her parents of the dangerous
proximity of the English army. Scarcely had
she emerged from the lines, when she beheld
Edmund SANKEY'S horse plunging across the
road, directly opposite her fathers house. The
animal appeared in great terror-his eyes
flashed wildly, and his nostrils were distended
as if some excessive fear were urging him on
in his break-neck course. rE as.sa =m#.
'*That betokens no good" calculated Blanche.
Edmund Stanley would not easily be COM
PEELED to abandon his favorite charger! On,
Juno!' And applying her whip to the horse
rode, she stood in a moment; at the front door
Of her fathers mansion. The portal was open
But there were no indications of an unusual
commot;on. Everything looked as quiet and
peaceful as on an ordinary day. She listened
for moment, and the clashing Of steel in re-
mote part of the house was distinctly borne to
her ears. A moment more, and horrid yell
Of triumph awoke the echoes of the deserted
rooms. Snatching pistol from her belt, she
rode quickly round to a back entrance, and con-
cealing herself behind an angle of the wall, be
held, at a little distance, half a dozen soldiers
in scarlet uniforms, forcing An entrance into
side hall, against what appeared to be for
midable resistance. 49,.
II have it!'' she whispered. drawing he,
remaining weapon and dismounting. Hastily
fastening her horse, she softly stole round to the
veranda, and entering through window into
the drawing room, ascended into the second
story. Proceeding through several suits Of
rooms, in the direction Of the changing iron,
she finally arrived at the head of flight OF
stairs, at the foot Of which scene was presen-
ted that would have stirred colder blood than
hers. .-. -..-n -... a.
On the lowest step reclined her mother, life
less-she had tainted. Directly before her was
her father, old Hugh Rivers, bravely defending
his senseless wife, with dripping sabrss while
leaning back over the bansters, apparently
wounded and faint, though still brandishing his
sword in the faces of his enemies was Edmund
Stanley. ".t
''Stand back, ye ruthless desecrators of
peaceful fire. sides'' .~- ~. ..sa
A pistol report rang through the hall, and
soldier who was on the point of trans6xing
Stanley, fell dead. as if Frustrated by bolt
from heaven. Another shot was fired, and
another Briton fell weltering in gore. Blanche
looked the "Pytboness inspired" Like the
heroine Of the legend, an extract from which
we have placed at the head of our tale, her
large and glorious eyes were call light" and
her whole frame dilated with enthusiasm
Rushing down the stairs, after she had dis
charged her weapons, she seized a sword, and
with vehemencv that resembled inspiration.
beat back her foes. But three of the half
dozen remained. Two of them had fallen be-
fore her deadly. aim, and the other had yielded
his life to the impetuous Stanley.
yield! yield! Heaven lends me strength,
and assures ME that you are mine!'
Dismayed and terrified at her vehemence,
the soldiers threw down their arms and fed
into the road with the utmost precipitancy.
As soon as the enemy had vanished, Blanche
devoted herselfto the restoration of her sense
less parent, and to the examination of Stanley's
wounds. Her mother was soon recovered, but
her lover had been injured seriously by a deep
flesh wound in the shoulder. Edmund Stanley
did not return to the field that day. but lay in
darkened room. holland feverish; while the dis
Eant booming of the cannon and the sharp rat
lie of the musketry told what his comrades were
achieving for the freedom of his country, upon
The hot plains of Monmouth. q
"Blanche, burn to be in the field! The
sound of those guns is maddeningr'
"Be quiet, Stanley! You only increase your
ever! We have dispatches from the field every
'alf hour. Washington is conquering?'
Are you sure of it, Blanche exclaimed the
Invalid, rising in his couch 30, what heav-
My music is that laundering ordinance! Do
Eou hear any news from Wayne's cavalry"
.'They were charginp furiousiy and yictori-