St. Mary's beacon., 1858-07-22
SELECTED MISCELLANY.
Battle Of COWpsns.

|.
the pOsit taken for this battle was not we'll
selected, ia reflect na Gen. NJ rgan for having
retired th hIy before to this from better sit
ua;ion. 4Aey were not aware of his reason for
this movement. la the "MlgnIiA," Of Jan.
1913, p. 38, II Is fully explained by Mi. Nc
Junkin, uf Cnipn District, with minutia that
cIIld only be relatSd by an eyewitness. He
had been detached under CJl. VIM. Washing
TON by Mrsln, against IN: Tories assembled
at HImmond's store. Having dispersed them,
he was returning t. " fgan's encampment, at
Grendalra Saul, on the PiIcolet. He now
learned that Tarleton was advancing OH the
- i leading to the Easterwood Shoal, above
fiiN position, intending TO attack the rear ol
Murgali's detachment. Washington haSteGcl
with the Information and communicated it at
midnight to Morgan. the rctroga6e move
nlcnt was ma lie the next day to coluItcract
Tarlet ,n's intention. This was confirmed 10y
Capt. tn IS. YTng, Of Union District, who
WAS alive ~ latn ~ 1917. (sec Jvhnsnn's Ira
tli.ion, p. 449,l alSo by Ch. James SimpnS, "a
ther of CI. Jam: IS Siinons Speaker of tn,
HJnsc, who at the time held a E;cutrnant's
clSnmi&saDa ub,ler Washington, (See tue same
Traditions, p. 3D.. The iol!owi ~ d S:rption
OF that battle l. c.picd from Ms. nf Col. Sam
uci Hammond, and published in the same work,
p. OPS: -..--....-
On the evening If the 10th Of January, 1881
General Morgan cucampal near place called
The G. .wre Il. Tine at or of the seremarks, tCoi
s. Hammond, being then out with a detacl-
mcnt,l lid not t'n the camp until o'clock III
the evening, when he was Informed by the gem
etal that be intended to give the enemy battle
next mMniug, il Inc shouil press hard upon
him. The ground Un which the troops were
placed was small ridge, crossing the road
nearly at right angles. similar ridge. nearly
parallel with this lay between three hundred
aud five hundred yards in his rear The val
ley between was made by q gentle slope; it
was, of course, brought within range of the
eve passing from one To the other ridge, the
laiul was thickly COvered with red oak and
hickory, with little if any underbrush. The
valleys extending to the right of the
generals camp, terminated in a small glade or
1avanns.
Orlcrs have been issued 10 the militia to have
twenty-sour rounds of ball prepared and ready
for Use, before they retired to rest. il general
Or,lcr, forming the disposition Of the Troops, In
case Of coming 10 action, had also been pre-
pared, and was read to Colonies Pickens and
Mccall, Major jackson and the author of these
notes in the Course of the evening. No coliy
was ever afforded to either Of these officers be-
fore the battle, and the author Of these notes
has never since seen them. but in the course o:
the same evening he made the following notes
upon them then fresh in his memory, aud
which were shown to Major jackson and Con-
onel Mccall, and approved by them As correct
as far as they went. To show those concerned
what would be their stations, the author drew
out u rough sketch of the disposition set forth
i'm the general order. and after the action, the
Rough sketch of the enemy'S position was adde,l.
No perfect or accurate sketch OF the enemy's
4,l.a
b. tie eve, not mathematical instruments; and
yet no opportunity has been afforded of correct
Ing it,. Nevertheless, this gives you 4 still bet
Ser idea Of the affair than could be obtained
wtshout it. -....s .-..-.. ..-...
The order commenced in substance thus
AS the enemy seemed resolved 10 force us
into action, the numbers and spirit Of this little
band Of patriot soldiers seem to Justify the gen
eral in the belief that they may be met with
confidence, defeated and driven back. To pre-
pare for which, the following order will be OBJ
served. s- - .-.--@ ..... -
The front line will be composed of that part
Of Col. McCalI's regiment rf South Carolina
Stale troops who have not been equipped as
dragssops, under the command of Major Ham
mond the Georgia volunteers, commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel Cunningham, and the NORTH
Carolina volunteers. under the command Of
Major McDowal. Cd. Cunningham wiii take
post on the right, Mai. McDowal OH TIE left of
the line, southwest Of She road, upon the rising
ground beyond the valley in front, three hun
dred to three hundred aud fifty yarls In rear
OF tnlS cantonment or camp, with the left rest
ing upon the road. Major Hammond will take
post On the left Of the Foad, IN line with Colonel
Cunningham, slipporteds Upon thc left by Cap
tain Donoly, Of the Georgia refugees a.i 8
The second line will be Composed of the con-
tinental regiment. of Maryland troops, com
manted by lieutenant Colonel Howard on
the left Of 4he second line, falling back ssne
hundred yards in its rear, cUhtinuatan al he
second line, or third hne will Be IaaEnsz, I'd
vancing its left wing towards the enemy, 20 as
20 bring It nearly parallel with the left Of the
Continental troops, npon the second line. The
Virginia militia, commanded by Major Tdplct,
with the South CAyoliua militia, comrnandedI
By Captain Beatty, viii kfn 70 the right Of the
second line, the left nearly opposite TO the right
Of the second lne one hundred yards in It's rear;
tAe sght extending tow'sFds She enemy, 70 as %
- EF@s 60 gf,,g