The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1843-04-08
SCENE IN THE REVOLUTION.
THE BATTLE OF cowpENs.

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CONTEXT more unequal or the victory more
signal and complete, than that of the Cow
pens. The British army was superior in
numbers, in discipline, and in every thing
that can constitute an army, having the
soul and spirit of the soldier, and the noble
airing of'he officer. In Infantry they
were Ave to four, and in cavalry as three
TO one! The American army under Gen.
Morgan, was a re.reating detachment,
without artillery, wi,hou. proper arms, and
without baggage or provisions.-in the
language Of distinguished historian Of ,ha,
perlod-the earth was their bed the heav
ems their covering, and the rivulets which
they crossed, their only drink.
The battle ground of the Cowpens is in
Spartanburg District, abou, IL miles north
of the Court House, and four or Eve miles
from the North Carolina line. The sur.
rounding country is beautiful and almos,
perfect plain, with a fine surrounding
growth of tall pines, oak and chesnut.
On the memorable l7lh of January, 1871
the entire country for miles around the bat.
!le.ground, was one vast untouched forest.
The inhabitants Of the lower par. ofthe dis.
tric!, had been in the habi, of driving their
cattle into this part Of The country for the
purpose of grazing, and hal erected pens
in the neighborhood for the purpose of
sailing and marking them. Hence the
origin OF the battle. ground. The field
of the battle ground, however, is a.
bout two miles distant from the Cow
pen; but in as much as there was no other
or nearer known place in the nighborhood,
il was called the Battle of the Cowpens.
The night previous 10 the battle. the Amer
lean army had encamPed on The grounds.
The position was a favorable one and lay
Immediately between the head waters ol
Suck Greek, branch of Buck Geek,
which are not more than two or three
hundred yards apart. The forces unde.
Gen. Morgan were drawn up.about day
light, on the bridge extending from one ol
these spring branches to the other. These
branches, at that time, were well lined with
cane and small reeds, which made it exceed
Iingly difficult to cross over them. !. General
Morgan was re,reating to North Carolina,
and had determined to give battle nm the 9th
er side of the Broad River, but General Pic
kens informed him if they crossed the river
The militia could not be ket together. A
large portion Of them bad joined the army
the day previous, and were under no regu
lar disci pline. This determined the CON-
manding General to wait for Tarlton, whose
forces had been marching all nigh. TO over
take the American army before they could
get over Broad River. The North ard
South Carolina militia, under the command
Of Gen. Pickens, were posted one hundred
and fifty or two hundred yards in advance oil
the continental troops, under Col. Howard.
Col'Brondon's regiment was placed on ,he
left of the road leading from the Union Dis.
trio. into n. Carolina, and the regiments OF
Colonels Thomas and Roebuck on the right
They we're ordered TO stand the fire of the
enemy as long as possible and then retreat
and form again on the right and left Of the
continental troops.
About sunrise the British army appeared
in sight, and marched within one or TWO
hundred yards of the American lines, and
then displayed on the right and left, with a
corps Of cavalry on each wing. Gen.
Pickens ordered the militia 10, TO fire until
the enemy came within thirty PAGES oil
them. They were also permitted to shell.
ter themselves behind trees, which was al
least prudent, if not scientific mode OF
fighting. AT the celebration OF the annver.
sary of this battle in 1895, the writer oi
these sketches was shown, by several oil
the old soldiers, the Identical trees from
behind which they fred during the engage
ment. The British. when formed, rushed
forward with shout and huzza, as If in
anticipation Of an easy victory. The horse