Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-13
THE RIVALS.
A Story of the Times of Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton.
BY JERE CLEMENS.

| der him. before the enemy were borne
back, rather than driven back to
morass where they promptly reformed
behind a supporting force.
The issue of the direct attack in front
had impressed upon the British officers
useful lesson, and they now endeav-
ored. by skillful maneuvering, to gair
his left flank. Here again they were
met, and again they were foiled
Throughout the whole Of that oppres-
sive day combat succeeded combat, and
when night put an end to the battle
Colonel Burr threw himself upon the
ground where he had fought, in the
midst of his men, with the dying and
the dead around him, and impatiently
awaited the temperance Of daylight
to renew the engagement. Sir Henry
Clinton, however, had Jared too badly
during the day to willingly risk anoth-
er struggle. If Washington's order had
been obeyed by Lee In the early morn
ing, he must have been totally routed;
as it was, his losses were terrible; and,
now that his baggage train had gained
days march, every prudential con-
sideration urged him 10 decamp, Sc
cretly, during the night, and follow
after them. The morning of the twen-
ty-ninth revealed to The Americans a
camp occupied by none but those whose
wounds had converted tn ari from enc
mics into objects of compassion.
The unremitted exer.ions of Colonel
Burr on the field of Monmouth, his ex-
posure to the burning sun at monday,
and the chilling dews at night, were
too much for his delicate organization
and he rose from the ground on the
morning after the battle, so cramped
and stiffened, that he was unable to
mount his horse without assistance.
Yet his physical sufferings brought no
abatement of his patriotic zeal. He re-
fused to let his name be entered on the
sick report, and cheerfully, in obedi-
ence to the orders of Washington,
marched to the neighborhood Of New
York, to watch the motions and obtain
information of the intentions of the
enemy. This duty was discharged to
the entire satisfaction of the comman-
der-in- chief; and when his services in
that vicinity were no longer needed, he
was ordered to proceed with his regi-
ment to West Point. At West Point,
the disease contracted at Monmouth
reappeared in an aggravated form. He
had' taxed his physical powers beyond
their strength, and was compelled to
seek repose. A few weeks, passed
among his old friends in Elizabeth
town, improved his health so much that
he was induced to believe respite
from labor, until the opening of the
next campaign, would restore it en-
tirely. The near approach of winter,
and consequent suspension of active
operations, took away much of his
reluctance to ask for a furlough; and
on the twenty fourth of October he
wrote to General Washington, giving
an exact account Of the state of his
health and requesting leave to retire
from pay and duty until the coming
spring. General Washington, always
severely just and upright, did not look
at the subject in the same light that
Colonel Burr did. He thought Burr'S
fears of the malicious insinuations of
enemies groundless, and believed his
feelings of delicacy at receiving pay
during a period of temporary inactiv-
| ity overstrained. He thought that an
officer was as much entitled to pay
during the period necessary for the
restoration of his health, broken in the
service of his country, as when he was
actually in the field, and he could not
understand how that country could
withhold compensation, under the cir
cumStances without discredit to itself.
Jealous of the honor of the Republic.
and decided in his own opinion of the
right, he replied to Colonel Burr's ap-
plication in a letter whose pointed
brevity is eloquent of the straightfor-
ward justice of the mani
"HEADQUARTERs. FREDERICKSBURG,
26th Oct. 177S.
DEAR SIR:
II have your favor of the twenty
fourth. You. in my opinion, carry your
| ideas of delicacy too far, when you
propose to drop your pay while the re-
covery of your health requires your alb
Sence from the service. 1t is not GUS
tomary. and il would be unjust. You
| therefore have leave to retire until
your health is so far re- established rs
| to enable you to do your duty. Be
| pleased to give the colonel notice of this
| that he may know where to call upon
you. should any unforeseen emergency
require II.
Il am your obcdient servant.
| c. WASHINGTON"
| Burr'S military conduct had thus far
escaped the misrepresentation of en-
Wy: but he was painfully conscious that
he had been Sorely wounded in other
respects. by false and malignant accu-
SatiOnS. Notwithstanding the unbrok-
en- silence he maintained, no man eveI
suffered more under the lash of calum-
my. He Shrunk from the venom of ar
evil tongue as timidly as blushine
girl He did not know how soon the
accuscr might enter the sanctuary OF
his military life. and he trembled at
the bare idea. Determined not To fur
niSh the slightest excuse for ill-natur-
Cd comments. he refused to accept the
proffered leave of absence except upor
his own terms. and Immediately re-
paired to his post.
Sir Henry Clinton eXaSperated by
his losses. and believing that a concil.
iatOry policy would only add to the ar
rogance of rebels who had arms il
their hands. determined hcncefOrth tC
carry on the war upon q system O
cruelty and plumber diSgraceful to him
self and the country which employed
him. Raylor'S Dragons were surprised
at night near Tappan. and indiscrim
inately slaughtered. PulaSkiS legiOl
met a similar fate at Egg Harbor. No
were these barbarities confined to mel
who had taken up arms in the caus'
of the colonies. Peaceful citizens Were
remorselessly butchered helpless fe
males were outraged, and little chill
dren driven out houScleSs in the wintr,
weather. No part of the country wit