forced into the river, followed their fellows. In the last boat, the quartermaster-general, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Lee and the rear troop, reached the friendly shore.

In the evening Lord Cornwallis had received the unwelcome news of Greene's safe passage over the Dan; and now, relinquishing his expectation of annihilating a second army, and despairing of striking the light corps, so long in his view and always safe, he gave repose to his vainly wearied troops.

Thus ended, on the night of the 14th of February, this long, arduous, and eventful retreat.

No operation during the war more attracted the public attention than this did not only the toils and dangers encountered by a brave general and his brave army interested the sympathy of the nation, but the safety of the South, hanging on its issue, excited universal concern. The danger of this contingency alarmed the hearts of all, especially the more reflecting, who deemed the integrity of the Union essential to American liberty and happiness, and indispensable to our future safety and strength.

Destroy the army of Greene, and the Carolinas with Georgia inevitably became members of the British empire. Virginia, the bulwark of the South, would be converted first into a frontier, then into the theatre of war. Already drained nearly to the bottom, she would be committed in a contest for life with reduced means and broken spirits. All the country south of James River, so convenient to predatory incursions from the Southern States, would soon be ground to dust and ashes. Such misery, without hope, could not be long endured: and re-annexation to the mother country, presenting the only cure within reach, would be solicited and obtained. That part of the State north of James River, and west of the Blue Ridge, might continue united; and so far as its ability permitted, would be found a daring and destructive foe. But in this desperate condition of affairs, with the enemy's uncontrolled maritime superiority, and the facile admission into the bosom of the country presented by its fine rivers, its resistance could not be of long duration. The stoutest heart trembles lest the Potomac should become the boundary of British dominion on the east of the Blue Ridge.

Happily for these States, a soldier of consummate talents guided the destiny of the South.

Cordially supported and truly beloved by the august personage at the head of the American armies, the bosom of Greene, gratefully reciprocating feelings so honorable to his character, never was as

sailed by those degraded passions, envy and malevolence-which too often disturb the harmony of associated leaders, and generate deep disasters to the common cause.

The glory of Washington, next to the safety of his country, was the prime object of his wishes. Pure and tranquil from the consciousness of just intentions, the undisturbed energy of his mind was wholly devoted to the effectual accomplishment of the high trust reposed in him.

The difficulty of retreat from South Carolina with an inferior army, and that army acting necessarily in two divisions at a great distance from each other-the State of North Carolina, stored with faithful abettors of the royal cause, who waited with solicitude for a fit opportunity to demonstrate their unshaken loyalty-presented in themselves impediments great and difficult. When we add the comfortless condition of our troops in point of clothing,* the rigor of the season, the inclemency of the weather, our short stock of ammunition, and shorter stock of provisions-and contrast it with the comfortable raiment and ample equipment of the enemy, inured to service, habituated to daring enterprises, the very troops which had taken Lincoln and destroyed Gates, rendered capable of the most rapid movements by their voluntary sacrifice of baggage, provisions, and liquor, and conducted by a general always to be dreaded—we have abundant cause to honor the soldier whose mental resources smoothed every difficulty, and ultimately made good a retreat of two hundred and thirty miles (unaided, except occasionally by small corps of friendly militia) without the loss of either troops or stores. Nor can we hesitate in acknowledging, that the scene just closed, presented satisfactory displays of that masterly genius, which, in the sequel, unfolded itself with such utility and splendor.

The British army have also a clear title to praise. More comfort- « ably clad, the soldier was better able to bear the extremes of the season in every other respect he equalled his enemy-bearing in

*The shoes were generally worn out, the body clothes much tattered, and not more than a blanket for four men. The light corps was rather better off; but among its officers there was not a blanket for every three: so that among those whose hour admitted rest, it was an established rule, that at every fire, one should, in routine, keep upon his legs to preserve the fire in vigor. tents were never used by the corps under Williams during the retreat. The heat of the fires was the only protection from rain, and sometimes snow it kept the circumjacent ground and air dry, while imparting warmth to the body.

The

Provisions were not to be found in abundance, so swift was our progress. The single meal allowed us was always scanty, though good in quality and very nutritious, being bacon and corn meal.

cessant toil, courting danger, and submitting to privation of necessary food with alacrity; exhibiting, upon all occasions, unquestionable evidence of fidelity, zeal, and courage, in seconding the hardy enterprise of his admired leader.

General Greene, reviewing his army, at length safely enjoying wholesome and abundant supplies of food in the rich and friendly county of Halifax, bestowed upon all his commendation; distinguishing, by his marked approbation, Colonel Williams, and Lieutenant-Colonel Carrington, quartermaster-general; the first for his complete execution of the very difficult task assigned to him-exposed with his very inferior force to the daily and nightly assault of a sagacious and intrepid foe, he was never foiled himself, and seized the only opportunity presented of impressing the enemy with due respect for the corps under his orders; the last, for his multifarious services during the retreat. Lieutenant-Colonel Carrington had been detached with that portion of the Virginia regiment of artillery retained with the main army, when some of its companies had attended the Virginia line to the South, and had been taken with it at the surrender of Charleston, which loss was now supplied by some companies formerly attached to the Maryland line. On reaching North Carolina with De Kalb, Colonel Harrison, commandant of the Virginia artillery, unexpectedly arrived, and assumed command. In consequence of a misunderstanding with his colonel, Carrington retired, and was dispatched, upon Gates's arrival, to superintend the examination of the Roanoke River, to ascertain the readiest points of communication across it-not only for the purpose of expedition and celerity to his supplies coming from Virginia, but also with the view of insuring a safe retreat from North Carolina, should such a measure, then probable, become necessary. In this service Carrington was found by Greene, who pressed upon him the untried station of chief of the quartermaster's department, and dispatched him to hasten the execution of the various arrangements which he had formed as he passed through Richmond. Among those which, under this order, claimed the lieutenant-colonel's attention, was the examination of the Dan (the southern branch of the Roanoke), for the same purposes for which he had, by order of General Gates, explored the last-mentioned river; and with the further object of discovering whether the water of the Dan would admit of an inland navigation to be connected by a portage with the Yadkin; which mode of intercourse, in case of protracted war in the Carolinas, would be attended by the most beneficial conse

quences. Captain Smith, of the Maryland line, was appointed to this service by Lieutenant-Colonel Carrington, and performed the duty with much intelligence.

So engaged was Carrington in accomplishing the orders of the general, that he only joined the army two days before its concentration at Guilford Court-House, where he assumed the direction of the trust assigned to him. We have before mentioned the judicious plan which he submitted to Greene for the passage of the river Dan, founded on the report made by Captain Smith of his examination.* In this most difficult crisis Carrington commenced his official duties; his subordinate officers habituated to expedients and strangers to system, his implements of every sort in a wretched condition, and without a single dollar in the military chest. Nevertheless, he contrived, by his method, his zeal, and his indefatigable industry, to give promptitude to our movements, as well as accuracy and punctuality to the supplies of subsistence, and to collect in due time all the boats upon the Dan, above Boyd's Ferry, at the two points designated for the passage of that river.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Cornwallis's head-quarters at Hillsborough.-Issues a proclamation.-Greene's army reposes in Halifax.-Volunteers tender their services.-Pickens and Lee recross the Dan and move toward Haw River.-Find they have been preceded by Tarleton; go in pursuit of him.-Tarleton retreats in the night.-Greene recrosses the Dan and moves to the head-waters of Haw River.-Cornwallis advances in the same direction.-Affair at Wetzell's Mill.-Cornwallis moves suddenly to New Garden.-Attempt of Lee to intercept his baggage and stores.-Battle of Guilford Court-House. Greene retreats to his old position on Troublesome Creek.-Cornwallis retires to New Garden.-Lee and Campbell detached to follow him.--Greene pursues. A cartel established.-Death and character of Colonel Webster.-Cornwallis arrives at Wilmington.--Endeavors to rouse the loyalists.-Examination (per note) of charge of cruelty toward them.

CORNWALLIS, baffled in every expectation, much as he deserved success (for certainly no man could have done more than he did), now turned his attention to produce solid advantage out of the éclat he had acquired in forcing Greene to abandon the State. Selecting Hillsborough as head-quarters, one of the principal towns of North

*As soon as Greene adopted the plan prepared by the quartermaster-general for crossing the Dan, Carrington detached the same Captain Smith, of the Maryland line, heretofore employed by him in the examination of the Roanoke River. The service was performed highly to the satisfaction of the general, and much to Captain Smith's credit.

Carolina, he, after one day's repose of his army, proceeded thither by easy marches. Here he erected the king's standard, and invited by his proclamation, judiciously prepared and opportunely promulgated, all liege subjects to prove their fidelity by contributing their aid in restoring the blessings of peace and order in their convulsed country. He reiterated his orders prohibiting the disorderly of his army from indulging their licentious passions, commanding the protection of the persons and property of the inhabitants, with threats of severe and prompt punishment upon all and every offender.

In the camp of Greene, joy beamed in every face; and as if every man was conscious of having done his duty, the subsequent days to the reunion of the army on the north of the Dan were spent in mutual gratulations; with the rehearsal of the hopes and fears which agitated every breast during the retreat; interspersed with the many simple but interesting anecdotes with which every tongue was strung.

Meanwhile, the indefatigable Greene gave his mind and time to the hastening of his long pressed, and much wanted re-enforcements: devising within himself, in the same moment, plans to augment his force through his personal weight, and the influence of those ready to co-operate with him. Brigadier Stevens, whom we have seen overwhelmed with distress and mortification, in consequence of the shameful conduct of his brigade at the battle of Camden, as soon as he had conducted his militia to Pittsylvania Court-House, for the purpose of laying up their arms, returned to the army, in the expectation of such accession of force as would enable the general to replace him in the line of service. He had shared with the army in all the toils and perils of the retreat until he was ordered to Pittsylvania Court-House; and he was now anxious to participate with it in the honors and dangers of advance.

The people of Halifax County received us with the affection of brethren, mingled with admiration of the brave devotion to coun

* Newbern and Hillsborough were the alternate seats of royal government in North Carolina; as were Burlington and Perth Amboy in the province of New Jersey. To the west of Newbern lies Wilmington, on the Cape Fear River, convenient to the Scotch emigrants' settlement on the waters of that river, whose inhabitants had for some years past, in the character of regulators, resisted the royal authority, but were now firm abettors of kingly government. It is one of the few towns convenient to ship navigation: consequently necessarily occupied by the British general. Here all his supplies of every sort were brought from New York and Charleston, and deposited till further orders, in care of the garrison.