The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-05-31


Americana. II was now toe aeai Of wiz ter
The roads to day We're fiiiei deep with mud
ana to- morrow fTozea harG, presenting mass
u rugged points ~ the Soidiers' sse;, through
which Or over which they were conpei,en to
drag themselves, urged on by the FEAR Of as :
snuction. In the meantime tornwsihs, ap ,
prised OF his error. began tt, pursuit In sona
earnest. but that gallant rear guard OF WI
liams kept between the two armies, sio WY
retrsating, but still presen lever bending
like bow OF wrath on the advancing enemy.
The fats of the American army rerted on its
trmnsss and skill, and every oHcer In ~
seemed to feel the immense trust committed
to his care. There were Less gallant
ed, desperate horssmen, heroes every
one. Vigilant, unsiring, brave. they how
cred with such threatening aspect
around the advancing columns, that they were
compelled 10 march In close ora sr TO prevent
an attack The least negligence, the least
ovsrsigh ht. and the blow would fall like light.
ming. Never did rear guard behave more
EalIs ntiy The men were allowed only three
houra' sleep out OF the twenty-four, and but
one meal day. BY starting and pushing for.
ward three hours before daylight, they were
enabled to Eeta breakfast, ana this was the
last repast tn next morning Yet the braye
after night, and day after day, presented the
ssme determined front to the enemy. Corn
wallis, bslieving for awhile that he had the
wh ole American force in ffont, reloicsd In ,ts
proximity, knowing that when Ii reached the
river 1t must psrish-then Virginia would lie
open TO his victorious arms, and toe whole
South be proatrate. But when he at length
discovered his mistake. he strained forward
with desperate efforts.
1n the meanwhile, the Assiuk army pre-
sented most hesrt-rendinS spectacle. Half
clad, and many OF them barefoot, with only
Que blanket for every four men, they toiled
through the mIrs. or left their blood On the
frozen ground-prsssing on through the win.
try storm and cold winds In the desperate
struggle for life. At night when thsy snatch
cd q few moments rspose, three soldiers
would stretch Themselves On ths damp ground
under one bianEst, and the fourth would
watch. and happy were those who he'd even
this scanty covering. over hills, through
forests, across streams, they held their anx.
ious way, drenched by the rains, aud chilled
By the water through which they we sded--and
unpro tected and uncovered, were compelled
TO dry their clothes by the heat OF their own
bodies. Greene saw their distress with bit
ter grief, bat il could not he helped--his
cheering words and bright example were
all he could give them. Now hurrying
along hts exhausted columns, and now anx
iously listening TO hear the sound OF the
ensmy's guns in the distance he became a
prey to the most wasting anxiety. From the
time he had act out for this camp of Nor.
gan, on the banks OF the Oatawba, he had not
taken off his clothes; while lot an oflcsr in
the army WAS earlier In the ssddls, or later
out Of 1t. than he. But undisnayed-- his
strong soul Iuliy resolved yet to conQuer-he
iNSySu Win blcFu eye, Tue hangers
that thichened around him. should the rear
guard fail, nothing but & Niiracls could save
him-but 1t should not fail Every dsep- laid
p an was thwarted, every surprise disconcsrt.
ca, ana every sudden movement to crush 1t
eIuded by its tireless, slespless leaders Often
Within musaet shot OF the enemy'a van guard
the excited soldiers wished to return the fire;
gu the s.eTn orders TO desst were obeyed and
the Two tlreo armies toiied on. 1t was fear
fui race for life. and right nobiy was it run
At Length the main rmy rrived Within
forty miles OF the ferry boats which were TO
place deep riyel between them and the foe
and hope qucsened ed every step All night
long they sTept onward through tue gloom
cheersd by the thought thar another day
would place the otjsct tor which they strug
gled within their grasp On that same cold
and slippery night, the noble rear guard,
slowly retreGting. suddenly saw at twelve
O'Clock, watch-f fires bla sing IN the distance
There then lay the army for which they fad
struggled so LObly and suffered SO much
overtaken at lost, and sure to TALL Ii this
fearfi crisis, tuat gallant band paused and
held shout consultation ana then resolved,
with ole accord TO throw themselves in au
oVeT|heimtn& cnaFEe on the English arm ~ ,
and rolling IL oack oE itself, by O. sacrifice as
great as IL was glorious: secnre q few moro
naurs OF safety to those they were protecting.
THIS noble devotion wat spared such trigi !;
tne hres vera lcfeet tn sc Eirdied by r. cen =
soldiers, bat the tired columns had de.
parted, and staggering nom want Gf re-
pose ara fG0d, were now stretching forward
through the midnight, miles il advance
CoFnTalIiS. when he arrived a the sm uIter
ing camp. fires, believed himself almost up
W1tn traana, and allowing his tToous but a
lew moments repose. marched all night fonz
In sne fnoFning his van Was close upon ths rear
of that firm guard Now came the last pro-
uigious enorl OF the british hcomnnandeT-tnat
rear guard must fall, and with 1t, Greene, or
All E.s labor ana sacIiitcs world &c in vain.
On thS banks OK ths Dan he had resolved TO
bury the American army, and if human ef1or t
and hum an energy could effect il, 1t shouli De
done His steady columns closed more threat.
eninxiy ana rapidly on the guard, pushing 1T
nsrceiy Before them, and soorning all msaner
success, pressed forward ior the Rrsa ter prize
Still Lee s intrepid legion, and Washington IS
fearless horsenen, hung black aud wrathful
around tnsir path, striving desperately, hut
in Va1ns 70 ohecs their rapid advance. Ga,
Gu. like racers approaching the goal, they
swept over tns open country, dri vtnE every.
thing before them.
But st noon single horseman whs seen
coming III swift 9aiiop, up ths road along
which tresne had lately passed Every eve
watched him rs ne approe ched, aud az he
reined his painting stesd Up beside the Off GERS
OF that exhausted, but stlI resoluts band and
exclaimed, "Tas army to 0oey the Fiper." loud
Lu2za rent the air.
The main poi tion or the suaru was now
hastily dispatched by the shortest route TO the
fairy, while Les still nOvSred with his legion
III front OF CORVALLIS As the former ap-
preached the river, they sax frsels, wan and
anxiously up the road by which they were ex.
psc9sd 10 appear. His army was over, but he
hau remained benind 10 learn the fate Of that
nopis guard, aud II necessary, TO II 10 Its re-
neI. nis eye lightened with exal tation, as he
saw me column rush forward to the river
with SHOUTS which were echoed Ia deafsutpR
accents from the opposite shore 1t was now
| oaIk, ana ths troops Were crowded with ths
utmost dispatch into the boats, and hastensd
over scarcely were they safely landau before
the BANKS shook beneath the hurried heavy
tramp or Lees legion, as it came thuuderip0
on towards the ferry The next moment Ia .
shofes runE with tie clatter of armor al
those bold riders dismonnteu, and Ieaped In 20
the boats ready TO recaive :ham Their horsas
were pushed into the water after them. anL
tbs black mass disappeared tn tha gloom In
G Few moments. lights dancing along tne
farther shore, told OF their safe arrival and
h shout that made the welkin ring went np
In the American camp. Lee was the last nh
that embarked; hs would not stir until his
brave dragons were all safe and 81 th boa I
that bore him to uched the shore, the tread of
the britign van echoed along the banks he
had just LETT. The pursuing columns closed
rapidly In towards the river, but the prey
they thought within their &, asp had escaped
Not Il boat was left behind, and 'CornwaIiis
saw with the keenest nguish deep broad riv.
er rolling between him and his foe 1t was q
bitter disappointment; his baggage had all
bean destroyed in vain. And this terrible
march OF two huGdred and fifty miles made
only to bS r8tfaced.
But NO pen can describe the joy and e1ulta
tion that reigned in the Amsricsn camp that
night. The army received that Eallap rear.
guard with open arms, and hsiled them q,
their deltvereTS Forgot was ALI their lacera.
ted feet, ana stifTened limbs, and empty sto-
masos, and scanty ctothing-and even the
wintry wind swept by un needed Ia the JOY OF
their escape. Together the sat down and re.
counted their tolls, and asked, eacn of the