TARLETON DEFEATED AT COWPENS. pursuit of Morgan, still they were eager for battle.* When the action commenced, the British rushed impetuously toward the front line of American marksmen, which, after a single fire, retired toward the militia under Pickens. The British then furiously attacked the militia, who were finally compelled to give way and seek shelter with the reserve behind the hill. Tarleton considered the battle almost won, and his troops eagerly pressed forward, but the reserve met the onslaught with great firmness, and an obstinate conflict ensued. Tarleton immediately ordered up his infantry and cavalry reserves and almost succeeded in breaking the American line. To protect the right flank, Colonel Howard at this time ordered a retrograde movement, and the British, thinking this the beginning of the American retreat, rushed forward to begin the rout. On reaching the top of the hill, however, Howard ordered his men to wheel about and face the enemy, who now encountered a welldirected and deadly fire. The British were thrown into utter confusion by this wholly unexpected and destructive fire, and observing the disorder in their ranks, Howard ordered a bayonet charge. His troops promptly obeyed and the British line was soon broken.† About the same time, the * Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., p. 385. Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, p. 544; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 434–435, 245 vented the troops from taking vengeance on the British now in their power.* Tarleton and a portion of his force escaped,† but more than 200 Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., p. 385. It was to this redoubtable colonel that Mrs. Ashe, a spirited North Carolina lady, made a keen reply, when, at a later date, Tarleton said he had a great desire to see Colonel Washington. He was calling with Cornwallis, at the time, at Colonel Ashe's residence, when he ventured to say what he did. "If you looked behind you, sir, at the battle of the Cowpens, you would most certainly have seen him! 246 CORNWALLIS FAILS TO CAPTURE MORGAN. of the British were killed and wounded, and about 600 captured. The American loss was 12 killed and 61 wounded.* This victory seriously crippled Cornwallis' movements during the remainder of the campaign. Meanwhile Cornwallis had been waiting favorable news from Tarleton at Turkey Creek, about twentyfive miles distant from Cowpens. At this time he was between the two American armies under Greene and Morgan, and it was highly important that he prevent their junction, and absolutely necessary that he annihilate one or the other that he might not be crushed between the two. He had therefore marched up the Broad River and had instructed General Leslie to proceed along the banks of the Catawba so as to keep the Americans in a state of uncertainty concerning the route he intended to pursue. The unexpected defeat of his detachment, however, made it necessary for him to move quickly lest he were himself caught in the trap prepared for the Americans.† In his present position, Cornwallis was nearer the fords of the Catawba than Morgan, and he hoped that by mak Fiske, American Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 254255; Hildreth, vol. iii., pp. 341-343; Tarleton, The Campaign of 1780-81, pp. 221-227, 255-258; Bancroft, vol. v., pp. 480-485; Myers, Cowpens Papers; Lee's Memoirs, vol. i., pp. 255-266; F. V. Greene, pp. 16-190; Johnson, Life of Greene, vol. i., pp. 368-387; G. W. Greene, Life of Greene, vol. iii., p. 147; Graham, Life of Morgan, pp. 290312; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iv., p. 33 (ed. 1788). † Greene, Life of Greene, p. 186. ing a forced march he would be able to overtake Morgan before he could pass the river. He therefore joined his forces with those under Leslie and started in pursuit of Morgan, destroying all superfluous baggage and retaining only those wagons which were necessary to transport provisions, ammunition, etc.* Nevertheless, his exertions were in vain, for Morgan was not to be thus easily caught, and had displayed as much prudence and sagacity after the victory as he had before. After defeating Tarleton, Morgan lost no time in setting his army in motion. Sending off the prisoners, and leaving behind the wounded, he crossed the Broad River and on January 28 reached the Catawba, which was safely passed the next day. Hardly had the last of his men gained the opposite bank when the van of the British army appeared. As the night was now approaching, Cornwallis was obliged to postpone the passing until the next morning. This was most unfortunate for him, as during the night a heavy rain fell, rendering the ford impassable, and before the water had subsided sufficiently for him to cross three days had passed.† General Greene had been extremely anxious as to Morgan's fate, and had determined to ascertain for himself the exact conditions. Leaving his * Bancroft, vol. v., p. 486. See Greene's letter in Sparks, Correspond. ence of the Revolution, vol. iii., p. 225. CORNWALLIS ADVANCES BUT IS AGAIN HALTED. army under command of Huger* to follow him with all possible dispatch, he set out, accompanied by but a few attendants, to join Morgan.† On January 30, but a day or so after Morgan had succeeded in eluding the pursuit of Cornwallis, Greene arrived at Morgan's camp and took full charge of the army. At this time the river had subsided sufficiently for Cornwallis to attempt the passage, and he accordingly did so. He was attacked by a body of militia under General Davidson, but succeeded in effecting a passage of the river. In the skirmish between the two armies General Davidson was mortally wounded.]] * Greene gives a good idea of the condition of the army at this time in a letter to General Sumter. He says: "More than half our members are in a manner naked; so much so that we cannot put them on the least kind of duty. Indeed there is a great number that have not a rag of clothes on them except a little piece of blanket, in the Indian form, around their waists.”— Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, p. 547. F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 193-194. ‡ Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, p. 551; Gordon, American Revolution, vol. iv., p. 39 (ed. 1788); G. W. Greene, Life of Greene, vol. iii., p. 155; Johnson, Life of Greene, vol. i., p. 416; Stedman, American War, vol. ii., p. 328; Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. iii., p. 226; F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 195– 196. An anecdote illustrative of the patriotism of the women of the Revolution deserves to be told here. General Greene, greatly grieved at the loss of Davidson, was retreating toward Salisbury. He had ridden all day through rain and storm, and, wearied and exhausted, his garments soiled with mud from the road, he alighted at the door of the principal hotel, kept by Mrs. Elizabeth Steele. In reply to the greeting of Dr. Reed, who anxiously inquired after his 247 The race between the retreating Americans and the pursuing British was now becoming exciting. So rapidly did General Greene march that by February 3 he had crossed the Yadkin; but his march was no more rapid than that of the British, for many times the British van was in sight of the American rear, and skirmishes between the two frequently occurred. Not far from the ford at the Yadkin, a skirmish took place between a body of American riflemen and the advance guard of the British. General Greene had secured all the boats on the south side of the river so as to hamper the British as much as possible in their operations. Again Greene was favored by the fates, for when the British arrived at the river, the rain fell in torrents and the river suddenly rose so that the British were unable to effect the passage and pursue the flying Americans.* health, Greene could not refrain from exclaiming that he was tired out, hungry, and penniless." The good landlady overheard the remark, and while Greene was obtaining refreshment, she entered the room, carefully closed the door, and producing two small bags of specie, the earnings of years, and particularly valuable at that day, she urged them upon the desponding general. "Take these," she said, "you need them; I can do without them." We may well believe that encouragement like this, of the deep hold which our country's liberty had upon the hearts of the people, was appreciated by such a man and such a patriot as Greene. * F. V. Greene, Life of Greene, pp. 195-196; Bancroft, vol. v., pp. 486-487; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 394395; Greene's letter in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. iii., p. 226. |