9. The chase was now renewed and General Greene was again in great danger. When he reached Salisbury he was so dejected at the condition of affairs that a good woman named Mrs. Elizabeth Steele sought to cheer him by words of hope. He explained to her his almost desperate condition, and that though in command of the Southern army, he was wholly without friends and without money. She generously pressed upon him a purse of gold, and, with hope revived by such an exhibition of womanly sympathy and generous patriotism, he resumed his retreat.
10. A rise in the waters of the Yadkin River, after the Americans had crossed, repeated the scenes witnessed on the Catawba; and thus, while General Greene was enabled to reach the forces from Cheraw that had been ordered to meet him at Guilford Court House, Lord Cornwallis was compelled to make a wide detour up the river to get across.
11. Again, in a few days, the Americans, still retreating, found their enemies once more close up in the rear. For several days on long stretches in the road, the two armies could see each other.
12. General Greene was so hotly pursued that he found it necessary to check the enemy in some way, and the gallant Colonel Otho H. Williams, of Maryland, with a corps of light troops numbering seven hundred men, was detailed to cover the retreat. This detachment most faithfully performed its duty. Taking but one meal each day, and six hours' sleep in forty-eight, they retarded the progress of the enemy so much; by frequent collisions, that Greene was enabled to considerably increase the distance between the two armies.
[NOTE—While General Greene was in the house of Mrs. Steele, at Salisbury, he caught sight of a picture of King George III. hanging upon the wall. The picture recalled many unpleasant memories and hardships to the General. He took it from the wall, and, with a piece of chalk, wrote upon the back: "O, George, Hide thy face and mourn." He then replaced the picture with its face to the wall and rode away. This picture, with the writing on the back still visible, is now thought to be in the possession of Mrs. Governor Swain. [Rumple's History of Rowan County. ]
13. At last, on February 13th, Dan River was reached; and Lord Cornwallis came up only in time to see the last boatloads of the Americans safely landing on the other side of the wide stream which was too deep for the British to ford. Thus ended this famous retreat, extending more than two hundred miles. It gave General Greene great reputation, and the struggling Americans took fresh heart, for they knew they had at last a general in command who could provide wisely and well amid all the dangers so thickly environing him.
QUESTIONS.
1. What great trouble did General Greene foresee? How did he dispose of the forces?
2. At what place were the Americans attacked?
3. Describe the battle of Camden. Where is Camden?