Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-01-24


side, and the latter determined. by a nigh:
march to private ford near Salisbury, to
deceive his antagonist, and cross without
opposition. But Green had been on the
alert, and stationed body Of militia there
to dispute the passage. At daybrcak, the
British column was seen silently approach
ing the river. A deep hue was on every
thing, broken only by the roar of the swOl-
len waters, and not living thing was to be
seen Oh shore. Twilight still rested on the
forest, and the turbid foam-cOvered stream
looked doubly appalling in the gloom. The
rain was falling in torrents. and the British
commander, as he reined up his steed on
the slippery banks, looked long and anx-
iously on the other side. There all was
wild and silent; but the flashes of the Amer
lean fires in the woods told too well that he
had been forestalled Still, the order of ad-
vance was given. and the column boldly
entered the channel With muskets pass
ed over their heads to keep them dry, and
leaning against each other to steady their
slippery footing, the grenadiers pushed for
ward. AS they advanced, the water deep
ened, until it flowed in strong current, up
to their waists. The cavalry went plung-
ing through, but the rapid stream bore
many Ofthem, both horses and riders, down
ward in the darkness
The head of the column had already
reached the center of the river, when the
voices of sentinels rang through the dark
ness, and the next moment their guns fiah
ed through the storm. The Amerlcans-
five hundred in number-immediately
poured in destructive volley, but the
British troops pressed steadily forward
Soldier after soldier rolled over in the food
and Corvallis horse was shot under him,
but the noble animal with desperate effort,
carried his rider to the bank before he fell.
The intrepid troops at length reached the
shore and routed the militia. CORVALLIS
was now on the same side with his antag-
onist, and prepared TO follow up his advan-
tagc with vigOr. But the latter no sooner
heard that the enemy had crossed the Ca
tawba, than he ordered the retreat to the
Yadkin. Through the drcnching rain and
deep lnud. scarcely hating to eat or rest,
the ragged troops dragged their weary way,
and on the third day reached the river and
commenced crossing. In the meantime
the recent rains had swollen this river also,
that by the time Green had safely effect
ed the passage, the current was level with
its banks. He had urged everything for
ward with the utmost speed, and at mid
night, ust as the last of the rear guard
was embarking, they were saluted with a
volley from the advance guard of the Brit
ish. When the morning light broke over
the scene, there lay the two armies within
sight Of each other, and the blessed Yad-
din surging and roaring in threatning ac-
cents between, as if on purpose to daunt
the invader from its bosom. Stung into
madness at this second escape of their enc
my, the English lined the shore with their
q. "....,iiery, and opened fierce cannOnaue e..
the American camp. But the army, pro-
tected by an elevated ridge, rested quietly
and safely behind it.
In little cabin, just showing its rooi
above the rocks, Green took up his quar-
tcrs, and while his troops were reposing
commenced writing his dispatches. The
enemy, suspccting that the American Gen
cral had established himself there, directed
their artillery upon it; and soon the rocks
rung with the balls that moked and bound
ed from their sides. 1t was not long before
the roof of the cabin was struck, and the
shingles and clapboards began to fly about
in every direction; but the stern warrior
within never once looked up, and wrot,
on as calmly as if in his peaceful home
Four days after, the British General tar
ried on the shore of the Yadkin; and then
as the waters subsided, again put his army
in motion. Moving lower down the river
he crossed over, and started anew after hi
adversary. But the latter ever vigilant
was alrsady on his march to Guilford, wher
he resolved to make stand, and strike tn
, bold Briton to the heart. But on rcachin,
Guilford, he learned to his dismay, that tn
rcinforcemcnts promised him had not arri
! we'd. The English army was nearly doubl
tha. Of his own, and all well tried, disciplin
ed soldiers, and he knew it would be mad
ness to give battle on such disadvantageou
terms. There was, therefore, no remcd
bur retreat, and this had now become diI
ficult matter. In the hope of being able t
sustain himself mt Guilford, he had sufiere
his enemy to approach so near that ther
/, was but one possible way TO escape
Cornwalis. mt last deemed his prey $,