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BATTLE OF THE COWPENS 403
Early on.the following morning, January 17th, 1781, Tarleton put his
force in motion towards Morgan's position, the latter being apprised of the
enemy's approach, began preparations to receive them. The troops, after a
good night's rest, and having breakfasted, were promptly formed and led to
the Cowpens, a piece of ground about six miles from Broad River.1
Morgan placed Major McDowell, with about sixty picked men of the
South Carolina Militia, and Major Cunningham with a like number of
Georgians, about a hundred yards in front of his first line, to act as
skirmishers. In the rear of these were ranged in open order, on a line three
hundred yards long, and one hundred and fifty yards in advance of the main
body, three hundred and fifty Georgia and North Carolina militia. The first
was commanded by Major Cunningham, aided by Colonel James Jackson, to
the left; and the second, under Major McDowell, to the right. On the right
of Major McDowell, Colonels Brannan and Thomas, of the South Carolina
militia, took post; and on the left of Major Cunningham, Colonels Hays and
McCall also at the head of the South Carolinians, were stationed. In the
rear of these, and at the brow of a hill, Morgan posted his best troops.
Howard's Marylanders, two hundred and eighty strong, took position in the
centre of the line. The Virginia militia, under Major Triplett and Captain
Gilmore, formed on the left of the Maryland battalion, and the Augusta
riflemen, under Captains Tate and Buchanan, took post on their right. This
line, with the militia and riflemen, numbering four hundred men, was placed
under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Howard, and upon it Morgan
chiefly relied in the approaching conflict. In the rear of this main line,
about one hundred and fifty yards, was posted Colonel William Washington
with his own well-trained corps of eighty horsemen, and McCall's volunteers,
one hundred and twenty men in all.
While these arrangements were being perfected, the British appeared in
front, and advancing to within four hundred yards of the skirmish line, halted
and began the preparations for attack. Riding up to the skirmishers, Morgan
directed them to take the cover of the trees, and upon the advance of the
stances could be cited proving that such was and the day would be ours. Long after I laid
the case. He was indebted to this influence to down, he was going about among the soldiers
a number of causes, among which may be in- encouraging them, and telling them that the
eluded his large martial figure, his established ' Old Wagoner' would crack his whip over Ben
reputation for judgment and courage, his almost (Tarleton) in the morning, as sure as he lived,
unvarying success, and his easy, familiar man- ' Just hold up your heads, boys,' he would say,
ners. The officer who possesses all these quali- ' three fires, and you are free! And then, when
fications, seldom fails of subjecting to his will you return to your homes, how the old folks will
the minds and hearts of his soldiery. An anec- bless you, and the girls kiss you, for your gal-
dote is told by Major Thomas Young, a volun- lant conduct!' T don't think that he slept a
teer at the battle of the Cowpens, which wink that night."—Major Thomas Young, in the
illustrates one of the methods by which Morgan Orion, ii., p. 88.
inspired his men with a portion of his own cour- 2 In the early grants of land in that neighbor-
age and confidence. "The evening previous to hood, it was called "Hannah's Cowpens," it
the battle," the Major goes on to say, " he went being part of the grazing lands of a person
among the volunteers, helped them to fix their named Hannah. In time, it became known as
swords, joked with them about their sweet- "The Cowpens," and is now occupied by iron
hearts, and told them to keep in good spirits, works, in Spartansburg district, South Carolina.
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000440 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | BATTLE OF THE COWPENS 403 Early on.the following morning, January 17th, 1781, Tarleton put his force in motion towards Morgan's position, the latter being apprised of the enemy's approach, began preparations to receive them. The troops, after a good night's rest, and having breakfasted, were promptly formed and led to the Cowpens, a piece of ground about six miles from Broad River.1 Morgan placed Major McDowell, with about sixty picked men of the South Carolina Militia, and Major Cunningham with a like number of Georgians, about a hundred yards in front of his first line, to act as skirmishers. In the rear of these were ranged in open order, on a line three hundred yards long, and one hundred and fifty yards in advance of the main body, three hundred and fifty Georgia and North Carolina militia. The first was commanded by Major Cunningham, aided by Colonel James Jackson, to the left; and the second, under Major McDowell, to the right. On the right of Major McDowell, Colonels Brannan and Thomas, of the South Carolina militia, took post; and on the left of Major Cunningham, Colonels Hays and McCall also at the head of the South Carolinians, were stationed. In the rear of these, and at the brow of a hill, Morgan posted his best troops. Howard's Marylanders, two hundred and eighty strong, took position in the centre of the line. The Virginia militia, under Major Triplett and Captain Gilmore, formed on the left of the Maryland battalion, and the Augusta riflemen, under Captains Tate and Buchanan, took post on their right. This line, with the militia and riflemen, numbering four hundred men, was placed under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Howard, and upon it Morgan chiefly relied in the approaching conflict. In the rear of this main line, about one hundred and fifty yards, was posted Colonel William Washington with his own well-trained corps of eighty horsemen, and McCall's volunteers, one hundred and twenty men in all. While these arrangements were being perfected, the British appeared in front, and advancing to within four hundred yards of the skirmish line, halted and began the preparations for attack. Riding up to the skirmishers, Morgan directed them to take the cover of the trees, and upon the advance of the stances could be cited proving that such was and the day would be ours. Long after I laid the case. He was indebted to this influence to down, he was going about among the soldiers a number of causes, among which may be in- encouraging them, and telling them that the eluded his large martial figure, his established ' Old Wagoner' would crack his whip over Ben reputation for judgment and courage, his almost (Tarleton) in the morning, as sure as he lived, unvarying success, and his easy, familiar man- ' Just hold up your heads, boys,' he would say, ners. The officer who possesses all these quali- ' three fires, and you are free! And then, when fications, seldom fails of subjecting to his will you return to your homes, how the old folks will the minds and hearts of his soldiery. An anec- bless you, and the girls kiss you, for your gal- dote is told by Major Thomas Young, a volun- lant conduct!' T don't think that he slept a teer at the battle of the Cowpens, which wink that night."—Major Thomas Young, in the illustrates one of the methods by which Morgan Orion, ii., p. 88. inspired his men with a portion of his own cour- 2 In the early grants of land in that neighbor- age and confidence. "The evening previous to hood, it was called "Hannah's Cowpens," it the battle," the Major goes on to say, " he went being part of the grazing lands of a person among the volunteers, helped them to fix their named Hannah. In time, it became known as swords, joked with them about their sweet- "The Cowpens," and is now occupied by iron hearts, and told them to keep in good spirits, works, in Spartansburg district, South Carolina. |
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