The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-10

country tor the purpose oil grazing, ana
had erected pens in the neighborhood for
the purpose Of sailing and marking them.
Hence the origin of the name of the battle
ground. The field of battle, however, is
about two miles distant from the Cowpen /;
but inasmuch as there was no other or
nearer known place in the neighborhood,
it was called "the Battle ofthe Cowpens. i"
The night previous to the battle, the Ame-
rican army had oncamped on the ground.
The position was a favorable one, and lay
Immediately between the head waters of
"Suck Creek" and branch of :" Buck
Creek" which are not more than two or
three hundred yards apart. The forces
under Gen. Morgan were drawn up about
daylight, on the bridge extending from
one Of these spring-branches to the other.
These branches, at that time, were well
lined with cane and small reeds, which
made it exceedingly difficult to cross over
them. General Morgan was retreating to
North Carolina, and had determined to
give battle on the other side of the Broad
River, but General Pickens informed him
if they crossed the river the militia could
not be kept together. A large portion Of
them had joined the army the day previ-
Gus, and were under no regular discipline.
This determined the commanding Gene
raj to wait for Tarlton, whose forces had
been marching all night to overtake the
American army before they could get over
Broad River. The North and South
Carolina militia, under the command of
General Pickens, were posted one hun
dred and fifty or two hundred yards in adj
vance of the continental troops, under
Col. Howard. Col. Brondon's regiment
was placed on the left of the road leading
from the Union District into North Caro-
lima, and the regiments of Colonies Tho
mas and Roebuck on the right.-They
were ordered to stand the fire ofthe enemy
as long as possible and then retreat and
form again on the right and lief! Of the con-
,incntal troops.
About sunrise the British army appear
ed in sight, and marched within one or
two hundred yards of the American lines,
and then displayed to the right and left,
with corps of cavalry on each wing.
Gen. Pickens ordered the militia not TO
fire until the enemy came within thirty
PAGES of them. They were also permit
ted to shelter themselves behind trees,
which was at least prudent, if not scen-
tiic mode of fighting. AT the cele-
bration of the anniversary of this battle i'll
1885, the writer of these sketches was
shown, by several Of the old soldiers, the
identical trees from behind which they
fred during the engagement. The British,
when formed, rushed forward with a
shout and n huzza, as if in anticipation of
an easy victory. The horse Of Colonel
Bronlon was shot down under him, and
his regiment Immediately fred on the
enemy. in violation of their orders TO wait
until he had approached within thirty pa
ces. The regiments of Colonies Thomas
ana hoeoucN soon co'n"'e.,ceu ''So I"
DISK ana destructive il,c' nc e"o'"y
now maze a charge VIII" n"e" o"y o'''S,
ana inc h''''''S gave way Nv o''"' %
'he oa'ue was now bravery oo'h uy INC
regular troops WINE 'ne n'''''a 'a'''eu III
tne rear ana renewed INC engagement, {,
ihree hundred Oh ,ne DF'',s" were N','ou
ana wouhueu. anu 1--WE '''no &c. 'aNen
PRISONERS nc fe,n"an, vi A ,. .
cavalry was pu'Sueu py oo'' " as,''''s,o''
n''ee" or '"en'y 'l'''o9 " no""p'ooN ;
where nc was ,'''o' ,n' '',o o''s''" wo'o
cu' Vi '''' 'e'o". "''' Wv, 'o"' $50, "'' =