The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-02-20 00:00:00, page 2

offered them the promised gratuity. This, how 3
ever, they declined accepting, faying, that they
only obeyed the orders of their superiors the board
of sergeants. The hundred guineas were then
offered to the board of sergeants, who returned
this remarkable answer :—" Agreeable to the in
" formation of two fergeantsot our board, who
" waited on your excellency, that in confiderati
" on of the two spies they informed the remaind
" er of the board, that your excellency, has been
" pleased to offer a sum. of gold, as a compenfati
" on for our fidelity; but as it has not been for
" the, fake, or through any expectation of receiv
f' ing a reward, but for the zeal and love of our
'<' country,:that we fent,them immediately to ge^
', neral Wayne, we therefore do not conficler
'f ourselves intitled to any other reward but the
'[ love of our country, and' do jointly agree, that
"we fh'all accept of n'o'other.” ~
,The twb'fpies were tried by a court-martial on
the loth)'ana being duly convicted, were execu
ted onthe I ith, agreeable to their sentence, near
the great read leading from Thiladelphia to Tren
toh ferry? ,
. However unjustifiable the conduct of the Penn-'
fylvania line may and ought to be deemed in the
firft instance, it muff be acknowledged, that they
conducted themselves in.the business, culpable as
it, was, with unexpected order and regularity.
And their fidelity in refuting the large offers made
by the enemy, in delivering up the spies, and in.
refusing the hundred guineas they had so justly
merited, exhibits an indance of true patriotism.
and difintereltednefs, not to be found amongff
mercenary troops, who bear arms for pay and
fubfidance only, uninspired by their country's,
rights, or the justice of the cause which they have:
engaged to support.
In pursuance ofthe articles agreed to, and the
plan adopted, commissioners have been appointed,
to fettle with the difeontented soldiers, man by
man ; their terms of enliltment carefully enquir
ed into; their wants supplied, money advanced
on account of pay, and certificates given for the
remainder. The commissioners have already
made a considerable progress in this business, to
general fatisfaßion, and this disagreeable affair is
likely to have a better issue than could have been
expected from its firft appearance.
Daring the wh >le of this unhappy disturbance,
his Eccellency Governor Livingston exerted him
felf with great prudence and activity. The Jer
sey militia were cabled upon, and turned out in
great force, with a readiness, which has diftin
gpifhed them in all emergencies during the war.
The Hon. Colonel ATLE E, Brigadier
General POTTER, SAMUEL MOR
RIS, Esquire, and Mr. BLAIR M'CLA
NAC HAN, were appointed commissioners,
of whom the two firft have constantly attended,
and the latter alternately, and with great patience
and firmnefs, have nearly compleated this per
plexed and disagreeable service.
PHILADELPHIA, February io.
Thursday morning last arrived from the South
ward, M ijor Giles, Aid-de-camp to General
Morgan, with dispatches to Congress, contain
ing the following glorious Intelligence.
€am, (S. Carolina) on Pew Dee, January 24, 1781.
SIR,
" T HAVE the honour to enclose, for the in-
I formation of Congress, the copy of my letter
to his Excellency General Washington, with the
enclosures, announcing the DEFEAT of a de
tachment of the BRITISH ARM Y, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton.—The action
was important, and reflects the highest honour on
General Morgan, and the troops under his
command.
" Major Edward Giles will deliver these dis
patches, and have the honour to give Congress
fiich further information as they may request. #
" The Deputy-Commifl'ary-General of priso
ners will, as soon as possible, transmit a particular
return of the prisoners taken on the i7th,bywhich
conveyance I will forward.the standards, to be laid
at the feet of Congress..
“ I have the honour to be, with sentiments of
the greatest refpe& and esteem, .
" Your Excellency's most
Obedient humble servant,
NATHANIEL GREENE."
" His Excellency
The President of Congress."
Camp, near Cain-Creek, January 19, 1781.
DEAR SIR,
"THE troops I have the honor to command,
have gained a eompleat vinery ever a detach
faent from the British army, commanded by Lieu
tenant Colonel Tarleton. The action happened
on the 17th instant, about fun-rife, at a place cal
led the Cowpens, near Pacolet river.
" On the 14th, having received intelligence
that the British army were in motion, and that
their movements clearly indicated tlwr intenti
ons of dislodging me, I abandoned my encamp
ments at Grendale's Ford, and on the 16th in
the evening took possession of. a post about 7
miles from the Cherokee Ford, on Broad River.
My former portion fubje<fled me at once to the
operations oiLord Cornwallis and Colonel Tarle
ton, arid in case of a defeat, my, retreat might
easily have .been cut off. My fituatiop at the.
Cowpens enabled rive to improve any advanta
ges that I might gain, and to provide Better for
my security, Ihould Ibe unfortunate ; these rea^.
sons induced me to take this post, notwithstand
ing it had the^appearance-of a retreat.
," On the evening of the i6t'h, the enemy oc
cupied the ground we had removed from in the
morning/ An hour before day-light one of my
scouts informed, me,' that they had advanced,
within five miles of our camp. On this inform
mation the necessary dispositions were made,.and
from the alacrity of the troops, we were soon
prepared to receive them. . .§
" The light-infantry, commanded by Lieute
nant-Colonel Howard,, and the Virginia militia
under Major Triplett, were formed on a riling
ground.. The third regiment of dragoons, con
rifling of about eighty men, under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, were so poll
ed in the rear, as not to be injured by the enemy's
fir.e, and yet to be able to charge them, should
an occasion offer., The volunteers from North-
Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, under
the command of Colonel Pickens, were polled
to guard the flanks ; Major McDowal, of the
North-Carolina volunteers, was polled on the
right flank, in front of the line two hundred and
fifty yards ; Major Cunningham, of the Georgia
volunteers, on tiw left, at the fame diflance in
front ; Colonels Brannons and Thomas's, of the
South-Carolina volunteers on the right of Major
McDowal ; and Colonels Hugh and McCall, of
the fame corps, on the left of Major Cunning
ham ; Captains Tate and Buchanan, with the
Augusta riflemen, were to support the right of
the line.
" The enemy drew up in one line, four hun
dred yards in front of our advanced corps. The
firft battalion of the 71st regiment was opposed
to our right ; the 7th regiment to our left ; the
legion infantry to our centre ; and two compa
nies of one hundred each on our flanks.
" In their front they moved two pieces of ar
tillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, with
two hundredand eighty cavalry, was polled in the
rear of his line. The disposition being thus made,
final! parties of riflemen were detached, to skirm
ish with the enemy, on which their whole line
advanced with great impetuosity, Touting as
they advanced : Majors McDowal and Cunning
ham gave them a heavy and galling fire, and re
treated to the regiments intended for their sup
port. The whole of Colonel Pickens's command
then kept up a fire by regiments, retreating a
greeable to orders.
“ When the enemy advanced to our line, they
received a well directed, and incessant fire, but
their numbers bring fuperibr to our's they gained
our flanks, which obliged us to change our posi
tion ; we retreated in good order about fifty pa
ces, formed, advanced on the enemy, and gave
them a brilk fire, which threw them into disorder.
Lieutenant-Colonel 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-Co
lonel 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.
" The enemy were entirely routed, and the
pursuit continued upwards of twenty miles.—
Our loss was inconsiderable, not having more
than twelve killed, and sixty wounded. The
enemy's loss was ten commissioned officers, and
upwards of one hundred rank and file killed, two
hundred wounded, twenty-nine commissioned
officers, and above five hundred privates prisoners,
which fell into our hands, with two pieces of ar
tillery, two standards, eight hundred mulkets,
one travelling forge, thirty-five baggage wag
gons, seventy negroes, and upwards of one hun
, dred dragoon horses, with all their music.
« They destroyed most of their baggage,
which was immense.
“ Although our success was compleat, we
fought only eight hundred mon, and were oppo
Tobe SOLD, at PUBLIC VENDUE,
to the highest Bidder, at the Dwelling-
House, of Mr. J OSEPHFLAGG, in
Hartford, on Ivednefday'the twenty-firft of
February Instant, at 4 o'Clock Afternoon ;
ON E certain Piece of L AN D, containing
about two Acres; choice for Mowing, with
an Orchard thereon—Lying about half a Mile
Weft of the State-House ; well situated for a
Building Place, on the Country Road from Hart
ford to Simfbury.
JOSEPH DAY.
Hartford, February 15, 1781.
" The Baron de Glafbuck served as a volun
teer in General Morgan's family, and Mr. An
drews with Col. Washington's battalion."
" Col. Pickens and all the officers in his corps,
behaved well ; but from their having so lately
joined the detachment, it has been impossible to
colled all their names and rank, so that the Gen
does not particularife any, left it should be doing
injustice to others.
By order of Brigadier General Morgan,
EDWARD GILES, Aid-de-camp.
Published bv order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.
Extras from General Orders, January 23,1781-.
AFTER ORDERS.
TH F. Gene al is happy to congratulate the
army on the glorious victory obtained by-
Brigadier General Morgan, commanding the
light troops and militia (on the 17th instant near
the Cowpens) over a superior body of British
troops, commanded by Colonel Tarleton: Where
in the enemy loft upwards of one hundred killed
in the field, between two and three hundred
wounded, and above five hundred British officers;
and privates taken prisoners, with two brass field
pieces, eight hundred Band of arms, two Band of
colours, thirty-five waggons, and all their bag
gage, with the loss only of ten men killed and.
Fifty five wounded.
In consequence whereof the General is pleased
to order a general feu-de-joy, which the Deputy
Adjutant General will dire— to be performed
to-morrow, at one o'clock, as an acknow
ledgment of the great sense he has of the
military abilities of Brigadier General Morgan^,
the soldierly and intrepid conduct of his officers,,
the disciplined bravery of the light troops, and
the spirited exertions of the victorious militia,
under his command.
fed by upwards of one thousand chose& Britifi
troops.
<" Such was the inferiority of our numbers,
that our success most be attributed, under God,
to the justice of out cause, and the bravery of
,our troops. My wishes would induce me to
mention the name of every private centinel 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, from a convi&ion that
you will be pleased to introduce such characters
to the world.
" Major Giles, my Aid-de-camp, and Captain
Brooks, adding as my brigade-major, deserve and
have my thanks for their assistance and behavi
our on this occasion. The Baron de Glafbuck,
who accompanies Major Giles wi'tli these dis
patches, served with me as a volunteer, and be
haved iirfuch agnanner as to merityour attention,
lam, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
DANIEL MORGAN?
A Lift of rhe commissioned Officers in the acti
on of the 17th of January, 1781.
Of the Light Infantry..
John Howard, Lieutenant Colonel Commandant.
Benjamin Brooks, Captain and Major of Brigade.
Captains, Robert Kerkwdod, Delaware.
Anderson, Maryland.
Dobfon, ditto.
Lieutenants, Ewing, ditto.
Watkins, ditto.
Hanson, ditto.
Barnes, Virginia.
Miller, ditto.
Ensigns, T. King.---Maryland, Dyer, Smith.
Of the third battalion of Dragoons, Virginia.
Lieutenant Colonel Washington,
Major Richard Call,
Captain Barret,
Lieutenant Bell.
Cornet, Simmons, of South-Carolina..
Of the Maryland State battalion.
Edward Giles, Major and anting Aid-de-camp.
Of the Virginia Militia.
Major Triplett,
Captains, Buchanan, Tate, Gilmore,
Ensigns, Combs, M'Corkill, Willfon.