The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-01-23
Miscellaneous.
Scenes of the Revolution.
uEBATTLE OFTHE COIVPENS

,he victory more signal and complete, than that of
Il. Cowpens The British Army was superior in
hers in discipline in arms, land in every thng,that
constitute an army, the soul and spirit of the
,,r.r and the noble daring ofthe officer. In nran-
rhere were as five to four, and in cavalry three
coe The American army under Gen. Morgan,
.o rstreating detachment, without artillery, with
NJ, ,roper arms and without baggage and provisions
tho language of distinguished historian of that pc
o5the earth was their bed the heavens their COW
i,r and the ryuIets which they crossed, their only
rink . ..
rhe battle ground # the Cowpens is in Spartan
,,,rl District, about seventeen miles north of Court
rogs and four or five miles from the North Carolina
me- The surrounding country is beautiful and al
INST a perfect plain, with fine surrounding growth
rtall pines, oaks and chestnut. On the memorable
-h Of january, 1871, the entire country for miles
r,rnd the butte ground, was one vast untouched
forest The inhabitants Of the low part Of the Dis
r had been in the habit Of driving their cattle into
s7 Of the country for the purpose Of grazing and
lad sectcd pens in the neighborhood for the purpose
sailing and marking them Hence the origin Of
d, name Of the battle ground The field Of battle is
nul tuo miles distant from the Cowpens, but mas
much as there was no other or known place in
he nerhborhood il was called the battle Of the Cow
pens The night previous to the battle, the Ameri-
can army had encamped on the ground. The posi-
ion was Il favorable one, and lay immediately be-
tween the head waters Of Suck Creek, and branch
Of Buck Creek which not than two or three
hundred yards apart The forces under General Nor
Ir,,, bou Iox Erht on, the ridge
ending from one Of these spring branches to the 9TH
g. These branches, at that time, were well lined
with cane and small reeds, which made it extremely
IEcalt to pass over them. Gen Morgan was retreat
rg INTO North Carolina and had determined 10 give
ION the other side of the Broad River, but Cen
Haai Informed him that il they crossed the river
tie 4aa could not be kept together A large portion
atleM had joiHed the army the day previous, and
yga under no regular discipline This determined
Commanding General TO wait for Tarleton, whose
wees hid been marching u night TO overtake the A
ercan army before they could get Broad river
THE North and South Carolina militia, under the com
rand Of General Picllens, were posted one hundred
Pd frty or two hundred yards i'll advance of the con
nenll troops under Colonel Howard Colonel bron
Inns regiment was placed on the left of the road
leading from the Union District into North Carolina;
and the regiments of CoIonels hcmas and Roebrck
On the right. They ordered to stand the fire OF
he enemy as long possible, and then retreat and
form again to the right and left of the continental
troops
About sun rise the British army appeared in sight
and marched within one or two hundred yards Of the
American lines, and then displayed to the right and
4 eN with corps Of cavalry each wing, General
Hcaens ordered the militia not to fire until the enemy
\ CAME within thirty PAGES of them. They were also
femttod'to shelter themselves behind trees, which
y was at least Il prudent, if not scientific mode OF
4 lighting. At the celebration OF the anniversary oil
This battle in 1885 the writer Of these sketches was
shown, by several of the old soldiers, the identical
ices from behind which they fred during the engage
ment The British then formed rushed forward with
shout and huzza if in anticipation OF an easy VIC
n ory. The horse'pr Colonel Brondon was shot down
WdeGm, and his regiment Immediately fired upon
tie enemy, in violation Of their orders to wait until
within thirty PAGES The regiments of Colonels 1hom
Us and Roebuck soon commenced also brisk ana DE
0uctvC fire. The enemy now made charge WIN
Ied bayonets and the militia rallied in the rear and
renewed the engagement Three hundred oil Inc
british were killed and wounded and FIVE hundred ia
4 Ken Prisoners The remnant of Tarleton's cavalry
Vas pursued by ColoneI Washington fifteen or TWEEN
niles to Goude!ock's where hs was Informed the
British were ont Of his reach This, however was
'idIse statement made by Mrs Goudeock in order to
save the life of her husband whom Tarleton just
pressed into his service to pilot him across the Parco
n e'' This good lady supposed that if Colonel wash
~s'0n overlook the British, engagement woaId ne
q 'ssSaFIy ensue and her husband might be killed II
~e action. She therefore suffered the feelings OF
Vile to prevail over those ofpatriotism and morality
4" the fact was that Tarleton had just got out o
B "s"t as Washington rode up. Had the American
ta'a'y continued their pursuit fifteen minutes ionse
|e remnant Of the British troops would have nee'
'Nner captured or killed.
'ne next day after the batte,a potion OF the mill
was despatched to bury the dead. Three place
Ou'ying are now to be distinctly seen. The iarges
4sdF the chimney or a cabin some hundred yard
"A 1--WE the battle ground The second is hfty or on
'aaFed yards distant, and the third the spot vher