Show r FIGHTING AND RUNNING he that fights and runs away lives to I 1 fight ht another day he that inn is in battle slain never mever lives to fight again old mime it la is not often that in time of war the army that fights aud and runs rune away 0 alis es in tor for any share of admiration its bravery yet albere are in in the history of our own nation where maneuvers of this nature have zero added led for sublime courage and determination and where a preference ft for being acin 1 I battle slain I rather than to beat a hasty retreat would have been looked upon as anything but wisely Arki one such occasion Is mind and tic in the experience of the revolutionary hero bero general nathaniel areene jagt no hundred and twelve years not C one luro A this WO month jtb in the dead of winter the american army of the south warly equipped and numerically pawed passed through its dark days in the tee allotted task of preserving the carolinas from 00 complete u subjection to british rule to risk a decisive en gement lOuz ement and place itself within reach powerful force under lord cornwallis ofte of the meant never to fight again consequently dismal failure to sra and aure and leave the foe undisturbed have been an abandonment almost auld bould as disastrous and less glorious there was only one course uncertain its practicability and that wm was kato to Z ft keep up the fight retiring mean leit e if 13 need ee d be into virginia and alj preserve rose itself intact to harass and d eventually beat back the enemy alza ta the th a month of january the 1781 81 colonel morgan had bad routed the chiew bif the dashing british colonel and lord cornwallis determined t ter r mine mined to cumish the victors and re the prisoners burned his bag 1 put dur DID bis troops OOPS into light march ass order ider and started in hot haste e americans who were on their VMS to join the mal main a army under gen 11 greene now crossing the ca n J three aree large rivers rise in the northwestern parts of nor norh and south carolina land and flow southeasterly to writhe atlantic the first or most moat Bit berB one is the catawba empties into the santee a at is the yadkin badkin jw the pedee and the most northern is in the danwin dan win ing back and forth over oler toe the virginia line and emp lauia aft into the roanoke Boa noke A retreating ammy my between a deep river and a powerful fOW erful antagonist Is in a very peril while one between two andee effectually separates them for ome time morgan having joined amene sad passed safely aver the the great effort of lord cornwallis was now to overtake his bis weak Ave reary somewhere between the gmt rivers while general greeneway greene Green was ewaa making every effort to keep a stream hi a and his foe heavy rain stame had swollen the river so 80 as to te prevent the british commander from bowing wing fo but after a couple of days douy delay he decided by a night march to private ford to deceive the patriots and cross the river without opposition in this ibis however he be was disappointed for the ever vigilant greene had stationed tinned a body of militia there to dispute am passage before daybreak the british column had reached the river the rain was filling falling in torrents and ithe the turgid foaming stream whose roaring bro broke kethe the solemn stillness of all else around seemed indeed uninviting in the gloom cornwallis Curn wallis reined his steed on the he bank and gazed long and anxiously through the misty darkness all seemed quiet but the soldiers keen eye bye detected occasional flashes of camp fires in the forests forest showing shoving too well that his foe was not to be caught t napping the order to advance was given and the troops boldly entered the channel holding their muskets lubove their heads beads and steadying each oth other or on the slippery bottom th the e cavalry plunged through though many a horse and rider was borne down by the rapid stream the head of the column had scarcely reached the center of the river when the sentinels on the opposite shore gave a warning signal and a few moments later five h hundred dmd red americans poured in a destructive volley thinning the ranks of the advancing foe cornwallis horse was shot under him but the noble animal struggled onward bringing his bis rider safe ode to shore the intrepid troops moved quickly toru form ard and the militia were compelled to give way bere before superior force the british commander was now on the same side as an his adversary and determined to follow him up and crush bimal him at a blow greene had bad no sooner learned of his successful movement than he be was on his way to the yadkin badkin for three days the worn and ragged patriots dragged themselves through deep mud and drenching rain stopping but a few hours to eat and rest by midnight on the evening of fob feb auary 3rd ard the last of the american army were embarked thu the british ad vanoe guard being so close as to give them a parting volley not a boat was loft left behind and the heavy rains had made mabb the river compelling the british to halt next morning saw the two twe armies encamped within view of each other the yadkin badkin surging and threatening between tweeD be as 4 if guarding the patriots and bidding defiance to the invader furious at this second escape of their enemy the british planted their artillery along the banks of the river and began a heavy cannonade on the american camp but the latter rested in security behind an elevated ridge A small cabin almost bidden by the rooks rocks wab wa chosen by greene as his bis headquarters this was a special object for the british marksmen and it was not long be fore the roof of the cabin was struck but the stern warrior within wrote on peacefully while his troops were en the repose so hardly won four days passed before cornwallis was able to move forward crowing crossing the river a few miles below he be advanced to where the americans had e camped only to find them on the march for guildford court house where oreene greene had bad directed a large body of troops to meet him and where he had bad determined to turn on his pursuer but to his great disappoint menton reaching guildford he be learned that the reinforcements promised had not dot arrived here was now a serious difficulty the english army was composed almost entirely of well disciplined veterans and numbered nearly double that of he americans who at best beat were but bui baw raw troops under such circumstances it boull be madness for the patriot forces to risk a battle while retreat was now next to Ida impossible possible in the hope of obtaining sufficient additions to his bis army to bonab a him to hold the too foe in check greene had suffered bred cornwallis to approach so close that there seemed scarce a hope of escape and the british commander deemed his bis prey at last secure but greene was not to be daunted on the of february the americana were again to in motion the armies armice were now liow about twenty five miles apart the next dext river the dan was deep and had to be ferried over except it at a ford a considerable distance up the stream this cornwallis kne kneland erand and expected greene to make for the ford he therefore placed his army which could move inore more rapidly than the americans who had their baggage to carry in a position to assure a oom corn pleto victory greene at once divined the intention of his wily antagonist and gave orders for idl au the boats to be congregated on the rower dan where he be expected to meet the reinforce ments from virginia and at the same mine place his army in safety it was now necessary to deceive the British in order to follow out this pl plan anFor for this purpose and to better cover the retreat colona colonel williams with a large detachment of chosen troops was sent to keep the foe in check williams immediately marched boldly against the entire british army with the evident intention of riving giving battle cornwallis believing this to be the advance guard of the Amer america loat i army resolved on a desperate struggle to escape formed his bis troops in line of battle and made preparations for a determined resistance this successful ruse detained the british long enough for thu the patriots to get a start on their road read without which they must have failed the roads which a few days ago were deep mud were now frozen hard and rough dougli and over these the weary halt half clotha clothed and almost barefooted soldiers were compelled to drag themselves to avoid avald destruction cornwallis discovering bis bier error again began the pursuit in good earnest but there were now obstacle obstacles in his bis path for williams with his gallant rearguard rear guard kept between the two armies slowly retreating and striking a blow at every opportunity the fate of ermy depended on their skill and courage and every officer and man main realized this fact there were jee lees s gall gallt gallant t legion and heavy mounted horsemen hor neu heroes every one with increasing vigilance th these brave men hovered around the advancing columns so close as to compel them to keep in close marching order to protect themselves from attack the rhe least negligence and the blow would come like a thunderbolt no rear guard could behave better than this one the men were weft allowed but one meal a day and three hours sleep out of the twenty four by starting three hours before daylight and pushing forward they obtained rest for breakfast the last food until the next morning yet these brave follows fellows bore all without murmuring and day after day night after night presented the same bold threatening front to the enemy by their action they deluded cornwallis Cornwall ls into believing the whole american army to be in front and he rejoiced to think that when it reached the river liver it must perish having no time to cross the retreating army presented at this time a most moat heartrending spectacle with but little elot clothing bing many without shoes and but one blanket to every four men they struggled through the mire or left their blood on the frozen ground and at night when a little rest was afforded them three men would lie on the damp ground with one blanket over civer them while the fourth did duty as sentinel een tinel many perished from exposure over hills bills across st reald through forests in the storm and piercing wind having to dry their clothing by the heat beat of their own bodies the they toiled onward Im their brave commander mander graved at their great distress and faring no better than man his men did all he could to encourage them by his cheering words and example to beaten on towards toward the promised rest prom from theotime the time chehad he bad cross crossed edthe the catawba bedad be bad not ta taken kenoff off his clothes and tone none were earlier in the saddle or later out of it than he with dangers gathering thick around him the heroic warrior was undismayed and resolved on victory he knew full well that if the rearguard rear guard fell ruin was certain but this would not be every stratagem was defeated every surprise disconcerted and every plan to destroy it successfully thwarted by the untiring resolute leaders often the men wished to return the fire of the vanguard but the strict orders never to fire but when directed were obeyed the race was for life and nobly grandly was it won at last lafit the army arrived within forty miles of the welcome stream that was to afford them protection and rest all night long they marched onward through the gloom hope giving now new life and energy another day would gain for them the wished for prize on that cold dreary night the rearguard rear guard as they were forced to slowly retreat be fore the advancing foe suddenly discovered at about ten camp fires brea blazing to in the distance diat anoe and aad hope sank within their breasts there then was the army for which they had suffered buffered so 0 o much and struggled so 0 hard overtaken at last and sure to fall A halt was waa ordered a brief con can Ful tation was waa held by the leads leaders who resolved to a man to throw their wable force in one desperate charge upon the enemy and thus thug gain a few h hours ours time for those they were striving to save lave but these noble men were saved the trial for although the fires were kindled by their comrad esthe latter were miles in advance weak and weary but with gladdening hearts at their increased prospects ot of escape lord cornwallis Cornwall ls when he reached the camp fires believed almost ulon u on the Americ americana aur and halting baiting buta but a few moments pushed on marching all night when daylight came the van was close upon the gallant rearguard rear guard and cornwallis Cornwall ls determined to strike the final blow preparatory to thip thin that rearguard rear guard must fall and then greene with his bis army or all the arduous labors of the past three weeks would be vain here he had resolved to destroy that army and regain virginia and the carolinas carolina if it 11 was within human power he would do it HIS hie veterans closed mure more steadily upon the guard as they pressed forward with greater energy but colonel williams with lee lees leeis Is legion and aad onla horsemen fearless and skilful ful strove desperately though with but little success to stay the rapidly advancing army which drove everything before foreit it those were hours of painful suspense and weary labor labar neither friend nor foe knowing the precise situation of greene and the main army at noon a single horseman was seen rapidly approaching along the road read so eo lately passed by greene areene reining his hie horse beside the commander of the heroic band he be exclaimed the rhe army is ov oatt r the river 1 I 31 A loud load rent the ibe air and many wept the joyful news dews colonel williams directed altes legion to remain and cover the retreat while the main portion of the guard hastened forward bing the river there alone worn and haggard gazing anxiously along the road by which they were expected they beheld the indomitable greenp greene he had seen his bis army safely over the river but had remained be hind himself to learn the fate ot of his noble guard and to give them any necessary aid As they neared their brave chieftain cheer lafter cheer went up and were re echoed from froin the opposite shore night had now come on and the troops were quickly crowded into the boats and to the other side the task was but just completed when lee lees leea a legion came thundering toward the ferry the british van being not far in the rear the former dismounted and sprang into the boats waiting the horses were pushed into the water wate after rafter them lire lee himself being the last to embark he would not move till his brav bra v s legion were all safe just as the boat which bore him touched the opposite shore the british reached the bank he had left and a joyful shout went up from the he american camp the pursuers rapidly formed along the river but they were too late not a boat remained and a dep deep broad river forbade any further farther advance great was the chagrin of lord cornwallis at the result without avail bad beet beao the destruction of all his baggage and a terrible march of nearly three hundred mies had been made only to be retraced it would be va vain lu to attempt to describe the joyous feelings which reigned in the patriot camp that night the gallant rearguard rear guard were hailed by the army as their deliverers the lacerated feet stiffened limbs and scanty clothing were forgotten anu the wintry blast almost unheeded eded in the time of general rejoicing merrily the troops chatted together recounting the dangers passed the hardships borne the perils escaped and talked of the near future when they themselves would pursue those from froin whom ki kind ad providence had delivered them m greene as he |