The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-04-22
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From the Spartanburg Expire,
A VISIT TO COWPENS.

IL NlS11 III W w < EUo.
A few days since, in company with a
couple Of friends, we paid visit to the
battle field Of Cowpens, and gathered up
some things which may prove interesting
TO our readers.
The road, as it nears the battle field,
reminds the traveller forcib!y Of the low
country. The country through which it
runs is level, the soil sandy, and the pines
are abundant and of unusual size. We
remember hearing some Of the members
of the Washington Light Infantry last
spring speaking OF this, and saying what
an agreeable surprise it was, coming as it
did at the end Of their long march
They felt themselves connected with the
place 10y one more pleasing association.
Arrived at the ground, we of course
paid our first respects to the monument.
The CLEAN Of the surmountlng eagle catch
es the eye from afar through the trees, and
awakens and prepares the heart of the ap
preaching pilgrim. Finished, chaste and
appropriate the monument rises firmly
and proudly among the waving pines, and
the man who can stand by its side with
heart untouched by the many associations
that cluster around it, must surely be des
ttute of all sensbility.
a tree which stood very near the mon
ument has recently fallen down, aud in
so doing has slightly displaced one Of the
loose slabs laid around the base Most
of the trees which were near enough to
fall on il have been cut down, and we
wonder that they are not all removed, for,
although they seem firm and green now,
they are so tall as to make them liable to
be blown over by the wind of the re
quent storms which We have during the
summer. We hope that some one in the
neighborhood will see that they are spec.
dily removed. We noticed too, with pain
and dispeasure, several names inscribed
upon the white marble. This silly and
disgusting practice is as common through.
ont our country as it is disagreeable.-
Whenever our attention is called to it we
are reminded at once of Burns
"oh, wad some pow'r the giftie gle us
To see ourselves as ithcrs see us.
If those who have thus thonghtlessy de-
faced with their pencils the iair tablet
could know how ridiculous iheir names
appear to an unprejud ced eye in juxta.
position with those Of Morgan, Washing
ton, Howard, &c, we are quite sure they
would be in no little hurry to efface the
record of their ill.advised efforts after i'm
morality. We are glad to know, how.
ever, that the monument will soon be en-.
closed with an iron railing, which will add
to its appearance, and, in some degree,
protect it from such insults as we have
just noticed.
At some distance from the monument
there is a place which the tradition of the
neighborhood assigns as the burial place
Of the slain, and it has been said that
this should have been the honored spot
The two advantages possessed by the pres.
ent position, OF elevation above the sur
rounding country and proximity TO the
road, justify, we think, the choice Of the
Light Infantry. The spot referred to how
ever, should be examined-ipterestinp
relics may be discovered, and it will Ger.
taiuly add to the interest Of the battle
ground to have this tradition verified.
After satisfying our ewes with the mon
ument, we traversed the battle field, en-
deavoEiRg, With the MD Of hooks we had
brought with us, to gather material for
correct conception Of the memorable fight.
But returning from our tramp, with little
satisfaction, we were fortunate enough to
meet with Mr.. Roberi Scruggs, who lives
about half mile distant from the field,
and acknowledge ourselves very much in.
debted 10 him, for the kindness and
urbanity with which he impaired to
us his large and interesting store of
traditionary Information. lie has lived
from early childhood in the vicinity, and
has shown commendable and well di.
rected zeal in collecting the traditions Of
the Deighborhood, concerning the battle.
He has visited the field with many Of
those who were engaged in and listened
to their accounts. He says land we have
no doubt Of his correctness, since the sc-
counts given by all who have written on
the subject seem to justify the belief that
within his own recollection the ground, on
which the battle was fought, has under
gone very great changes; that the branch
which now takes It's rise some two hun
dred yards 10 the left Of the Road as YOU
approach the field, once ran across, or at
least took its rise Immediately from the
left side OF the road that the ravine was
much deeper than at present, and when
a boy be remembers 10 have gathered