New-Hampshire gazette, or, State journal and general advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1781-02-26 00:00:00, page 1

PHILADELPHIA, February FO.
Thursday morning last arrived from the
southward, Major Giles, aid de camp to Ge
neral Morgan, with dispatches to Congress,
containing the following GLORIOUS IN
TELLIGENCE.
Camp ( South Carolina ) on Fee Dee,
January 24, 1781,
SIR,
^^ HAVE the honour to inclofe for
. < the information of Congress, the
> 1 ^ c °py ° f m y letter to his Excellen
k^'^^ cy General Wafliington, with the
inefofures, announcing the DEFEAT of a
detachmentof the BRITISH ARMY, under
lieutenant colonel Tarleton. Ihe action was
important, and reflets the highest honour on
General Morgan, and the troops under his
command.
Major Edward Giles will deliver the dif
patchcs, and have the honour to give Con
gress such further information as they may
r^quefl. s
The deputy commissary general of priso
ners will, as soon as possible, transmit a par
ticular return of the prisoners taken on the
17th, by which conveyance I will forward the
fiandards, to be laid at the feet of Congress.
I have the honour to be, with sentiments
of the greatest esteem and refpe&, your Ex
cellency's most obedient servant,
NATHANIEL GREEN.
His Excellency the President of Congress.
General Morgan's Letter to General Green.
Camp, Aear Cane Creek, Jan. 19, 1781.
Dear SIR,
"CT'HE troops I have the honour to com
-1 mand, have gained a complect VIC
TORY over a detachment from the British
army, commanded by Lieut. Col. Tarletons
The action happened on the 17th instant
about funrife,at a place called the Cowpens,
near Pacolet River.
On the 14th, having received intelligence
that the British army were in motion, and
that their movements clearly indicated their
intention of dislodging me, I abandoned my
encampment at Grendales Ford, and on the
16th in the evening, took poffeffior^of a poll
about seven miles from the Chrokee Ford,
on Broad River. My former position fubjeft
ed me at once to the operations of Lord Cor
nwallis and Col. Tarleton, and in case of a
defeat, my retreat might easily have been cut
off. My situation at the Cowpens enabled
me to improve any advantages that I might
gain, and to provide better for my Security,
Ihould Ibe unfortunate. These reasons in
duced me to take this post, notwithstanding
it had the appearance 'of a retreat.
On the evening of the 16th the enemy
occupied the ground we removed from in the
morning. An hour before day light, one of
my scouts informed me that they had advan
ced within five miles of our camp. On this
information, the necessary dispositions were
made, and from the alacrity of the troops,we
were' soon prepared to receive them.
The light-infantry, commanded by lieut.
colonel Howard, and the Virginia militia,
under major Triplet,were formed on a rising
ground. The third regiment of dragoons,
confiding of about eighty men, under the
command of lieut. colonel Wethington, were
so polled in the rear, as not to be injured by
the enemy's fire,and yet to be able to charge
them, should an occasion offer. The volun
teers from North -Carolina, South-Carolina,
ate Georgia, under the command of colonel
[ Vol. XXV. ]
THE
New - Hampshire Gazette ;
O R,
State Journal, and General Advertiser.
MO NDAY, February 26, 1791
The enemy were entirely routed, and the
pursuit continued upwards of twenty miles.
Our lots was inconsiderable, not having more
than twelve killed and sixty wounded. The
enemy's loss was ten commissioned officers,&
upwards of one hundred rank and file killed,
two hundred wounded, twenty nine commis
sioned officers, and above five hundred pri
vates prisoners, which fell into our hands,
with two pieces of artillery, two standards,
eight hundred muskets, one travelling forge,
thirty-five baggage waggons, seventy ne
groes, and upwards of one hundred dragoon
horses, with all their music.
They detiroyed most of their baggage,
which was immense.
Although our success was compleat, we
fought only eight hundred men, and were
opposed by upwards of one thousand chosen
British troops.
Such was the inferiority of our numbers,
that our success must be attributed,underGod,
to the justice of our cause, and the bravery
of our troops. My Wishes would induce me
to mention the name of every private centi
,al in the corps.
In justice to the bravery and good conduct
of the officers, I have taken the liberty to
inclofe you a lift of their names ( which we
Pickens, were polled to guard the flanks ;
major M'Dowal, of the North Carolina vo
lunteers, was polled on the right flank, in
front of the line 150 yards ; major Cunning
ham, of the Georgia volunteers, on the left,
at the fame diftarice in front; colonels Bran
nons and Thomas's, of the South Carolina
volunteers, on the right of major M'Dowal ;
and colonels Hayes and M'Call,of the fame
corps, on the left of major Cunningham;
captains Tate and Buchanan, with the Au
gusta riflemen, were to support the right of
the line.
The enemy drew up in one line, 400 yards
in front of cur advanced corps. The firft
battalion of the 71st regiment was eppofed
to our right ; the 7th regiment to our left :
the legion infantry to our centre ; and two
companies of light troops of 100 each on our
flanks
In their front they moved two pieces of
artillery, and lieutenant col. Tarleton, with
two hundred and eighty cavalry, was polled
in the rear of his line. The disposition being
thus made, small parties of riflemen were
detached to fkirroifh with the enemy, on
which their whole line advanced with the
greatest impetuefuy, flouting as they ad
vanced : majors M'Dowal and Cunningbaril
gave them a heavy and galling fire, and re
treated to the regiments intented for their
support. The whole of colonel Picken's
command then kept up a fire by regiments,
retreating agreable to orders.
When the enemy advanced to our line,
they received a well directed and incessant
fire, but their numbers being superior to ours
they gained our flanks, which obliged us to
change our position ; we retired in good or
der about fifty paces, formed, advanced on
the enemy,and gave them a brisk fiie,which
threw them into disorder. Lieutenant col.
Howard, observing this, gave orders for the
line to charge bayonets,which was done with
such address, that the enemy fled with the
utmost precipitation. Lieutenant-colonel
Washington difeovering that the cavalry
were cutting down our riflemen on the left,
charged them with such firmnefs as obliged
them to retire in confufion.
LONDOM, November 2,
His Majesty's Speech from the Throne.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
It is with more than ordinary fatisfaCFen
that I meet you in Parliament, at a time
when the lateEle&ions may afford me oppor
tunity of receiving the most certain infor
mation of the disposition and the w flies of
my people, to which I am always inclined to
pay the utmost attention and regard.
The present arduous fituatjon of public
affairs r well knownphe whole ft r< & tacul
ties of the Monarchies of France and Spain
are drawn forth, and exerted to the utmost,
to support the rebellion of my Colonies in
North America, and, without the least pro
vocation or cause of complaint, to attack my
dominions ; and the undilguifed obje& of this
confederacy manifeftly is to gratify bound
less ambition, by destroying the commerce,
and giving a fatal blow to the power of
Great Britain.
By the force which the late Parliament
put into my hands, and by the bluffing of di
vine Providence on the bravery ot my fleets
and armies, I have been enabled to with-
Band the formidable attempts of my enemies
and to fruftrate the great expectation they
had formed ; and the signal successes which
have attended the progress of my arms in the
provinces of Georgia and Carolina, gained
with so much honour to the condu& and cou
rage of my officers, and to the valour and
intrepidity of my troops, which equalled
their highest character in any age, will, I
trust have important consequences in bring
ing the war to a happy conclusion. —It is my
most earnest desire to fee this great end ac
complished ; but I am confident you will a
gree with me in opinion, that weran only
secure fafe and honourable terms of peace by
such powerful and refpe&able preparations,
as shall convince our enemies, that we will
not submit to receive the law from any power
whatsoever, and that we are united in a firm,
resolution to decline no difficulty, or hazard,
in the defence of our country, and for the
preservation of onr effental interests.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
I have ordered vhe estimates for the ensu
ing year to be laid before you. I fee and
feel, with anxiety and cencern, that the va
rious Services of the war must, unavoidably,
be atttended with great & heavy expences ;
byt I desire you to grant me such supplies on
ly, as your own fecutity, and lifting welfare,
and the exigency of affairs shall be found to
require.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I repose an intire confidence in the zeal
and affections of this P^liament, conscious
are obliged to omit in this paper ) from 2
conviction, that you will be pleated to intro
duce such characters to the world.
Major Giles, my aid de camp, and captain
Brooks, acting as my brigade major, delerve,
and have my thanks, for their affiflance and
behaviour on this occasion. The Baron de
Glufbuck, who accompanies major Giles,
with these dispatches, fetved with me as a
volunteer, and behaved in such a manner as
to merit your attention.
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
DANIEL MORGAN.
By order of the brigadier General Morgan,
EDWARD GILES, Aid de Camp.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry:
No. 1269, ]