The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-02-16

ted to the rank of Brieadier General
in the Continental service. across the
tatawba and Bread rivers; while he
himself led the main army to a point
opposite cheraw, On the Pedee, where
he was soon. after joined by the etlee-
tive leginnary corps Of Lieut. Colonel
Henry Lee, the author Of the ME
moirs Of the War in the South, subse.
quently Governor Of Virginia. and the
Funeral panegyr.st Of Washington by
the appointment Of Congress. By this
judiclous disposition he secured album
dant supplies Of provisions for his
troops. interrupted communications be-
tween the British army and the low
alists. and put il out Of the power of
Lord CORVALLIS again TO inv ade North
Carolina. without first driving back
Morgan. or leaving him in his rear.
Morgan, by concert, was strengthened
by accessions Of militia under General
Pickens ofSouth Carolina. and Majors
M'Dowell. Of North Carolina, and Cun-
ninghamc Of Georgia.
Large reinforcements. under Gen.
Leslie. having been received by Lord
tornwallis, in his position at Winns-
borough, he despatched a superior
force, under Lieut.. Col. Tarleton, TO
oppose Morgan, himself following with
the main army in the same direction.
The battle Of the cowpens. which i'm
mediately followed, and in which
Tarleton was triumphantly defeated
by Morgan, with the loss Of one hum
dred killed, and more than five hum
dred prisoners, with arms, artillery
and military stores, being fought in
South arolina, a few miles beyond
the border, is not within the immedi-
ate scope of our subject, but il brought
back the enemy into North Carolina,
maddened by this humiliation of his
arms, and eager for revenge. Forced
to retreat irUm his first entrance into
the State, with the sinecure royal Gov
ernor under his escort, by the unex-
pected reverse at Kings Mountain, and
now thwartcd by the sudden overthrow
of the elite of has army by an inferior
number Of the republican troops, a
great part Of whom were militia. his
'Lordship resolved upon vigorous pur'
suit, to rescue the prisoners Of the Cow
pens, and destroy Morgan.
In this manner commenced that
thrilling series Of military movements
which was continued with the activity
of a steeple chase for quite two month ;
The main British army lay at Turkey
Greek, some twenty FIVE miles south
of towpens, and Morgan may be con
sidered TO have had, BY so much, thu
start of his Lordship, in this trial o
speed. The latter moved Immediately
hoping to cut off Morgan, encumberee
with prisoners and baggage and stores
the fruits ofhis victory, before he shoult
reach the fords of the Cataw6a in NORTH
Carolina, for which it was presumed h,
would aim. Morgan, however, yigilani
and wary as his great adversary, ant
fully comprehending his danger. aban
doned his captured baggage, and leav
ing his wounded under the protection o
a flag, on the very evening Of the day o
battle, set out on his retreat; his prison
ers in advance, escorted by his militia
followed Immediately by the regulars
under his own command. This, it vii
be recollected, was on the 18th of Jan
uary, 1881. For twelve weary days
nee mora, nee requifs, the retreat ant
pursuit were continued without inter
mission. Near nightfall, on the eve
ming of the 29th, the vanguard OF th'
] royal army, under General Olara
: gained the Island Ford on the Cataw
J ba, ON the present road from States
) vile to Morganton, but discovered tina
, Morgan had crossed over with all IN
: prisoners and forces, about two hour
: before. Hating and encamping on tn
shore, with the purpose to renew tn
pursuit early in the morning, the Brit
: ish General was tantalized by the los
/. of his prize, at the moment he suppos
i ed he was about to clutch it IN hi
!. grasp. During the night the river wa
I; swollen BY heavy rains, was lmpassa
e bic in the morning, and so remained
: for two days, at the expiration Of which
!. Moruan's militia, with his prisoners
4 were far on their march towards iir
/. gina. He himself, with his regulars
d passing down the left bank Of the river
il to Sherlll's ford, there met Generi
e Greene, who, having been advise
/, of he movement of the enemy irol
i Winnsborough. and the victory OF tn
Il Cowpens, had hastened forward, wit
II an aid de-camp and a, few militia a
i tendants, from his caahp on the Pede'
to concert measures to secure ITS irult
), and to act against the adversary !
d means and opportunity might perm
,f The swell in the atawba, which tn
N pious feeling of the country could NJ
t but ascrlbe to providentlal interpos
y ton, and the consequent interruptlo
:. in the pursuit of the enemy, determlr
,e ed Gen. Greene to dispute his passag
+ across the river, and thus gain time t.
il the arrival of his army at sahsbur..
!, whittier he had ordered 1t to hastel
,e under Gen. Huger, OF South Caroi,n'