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

my in such position that he could crush
him at once; but Green quickly Withdrew
10 the lower Dan, where he ordered boats
to be congregated, in which he could trans
port his troops over. His objc1 in thiss.as
two-fold. First, to place deep instead of
a fordable river between him and his for
midablc adversary; and secondly. to be in
a situation to effect junction with the re-
he expected in Virginia. Dis
covering at once the error under which
Cornwailis labored, he added to it by
sending large detachment to maneuver
in front, as if the upper fords were indeed
the object of his efforts. Col. Williams COM
manded this chosen body of men, and
marched boldly against the entire British
army. The British commander, thinking
it to be the advance guard cfthe Americans,
began hastily to contract his lines, and
make preparations Cor fierce resistance.
This detained his march, and allowed
Green to get start, without which he must
inevitably been lost. The English were
without baggage; indeed, the whole army
had been converted into infantry, which en-
abled them to move with much more alac-
rity than the Americans. 1t was now the
dead of win,cr;; the roads of to-day were
filled with deep mud, and tomorrow irO=
zen hard, presenting mass of rugged
points to the soldiers feet, over which they
were compelled to drag themselves on by
the fear of destruction. In the meanwhile,
CORVALLIS, apprised of his error, began
the pursuit in good earnest But that gal
liant rear guard Of Williams kept between
the two armies, slowly retreating, but still
present-cver bending like a low of wrath
on the advancing enemy. The fate of the
American army depended on it's irmness
and skill, and every officer in it seemed to
feel the immense trust committed to his
care. There was Lees gallant legion, and
Washington's heavy mounted desperate
horsemen-herocs, every one. Vigilant,
untirnS, brave, they lowered with such a
threatn.ng aspect around the advancing
columns, that they were compelled to march
in close order to prevent an attack The
least negligence, the least oversight, and
the blow would fall like lightning. Never
did a rear guard behave more gallantly.-
The men were allowed three hours sleep
out of the twenty-four, and but one meal a
day! BY starting and pushing forward
three hours before daylight, they were en-
ablcd to get breakfast, and this was the
last repast until next morning. Yet the
brave fellows bore all without murmur, and
night and day presented the same deter
mined front to the enemy. CORVALLIS be-
lievcd for while that the whole American
force was in front, rejoicing in its proxim-
ity, knowing that when it reached the riv-
er it must pcrsh-then Virginia would be
open to his victorious arms, and the whole
would be PROSTATE. And when he at length
discovered his mistake, he strained forward
with desperate energy.
In the meanwhile, the fleeing army pre-
sented a most heart rending spectacle
Half-clad, and many of them barefoot, with
only one blanket for every four men, they
.c;d .c;ind through the mire or left their blood
on the frozen groun,1 pressing on through
the wintry storm and cold wii.".ds, In the
desperate effort for life. At night, w.nei
they snatched moments repose, three sol
diers would stretch themselves on the damn
ground, under one blanket, and the fourth
keep watch; and happy were those who
had even this scanty covering.
Green saw this distress with bitter grief
but it could not be helped-his cheering
words and bright example were all he coule
give them. Now hurrying along its exhaust
ed columns, and now enxiously listening t.
hear the sound of the enemy's guns in TIN
distance, he became prey to the mos
wasting anxiety. From the time he ha,
set out for the camp of Morgan, on tn
Catawba, he had not taken off his clothes
while not an officer in the army was Garlic
in the saddle, or later out of it than he
But undismayed, his strong soul resolves
yet to conquer; he surveyed with calm
stern eye the dangers that thickened aroun
him. Should the rear guard fail, nothin
but miracle would save him; but it shoul
not fail Every decp-laid plan was thwar'
ed, every surprise Disconnected and ever
sudden movement to crush 1t, eludcd b
its tireless, hopeless leaders. Often witt
In muskct shot of the enemy's vanguard
the excited soldiers wished to return tn
; fire, but the stern orders TO desist WEI
: obeycd, and the two tired armies rolled ol
Ii was n fearful race for life, and right II,
blv was it won.