St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-02-21

win the4lveiy delight such testimony Of
aheisf vsIlTa hbd excitvd in his mind. i theu
towering n she shasloHy cs,i6nes Of d ssti.
lInrtI,is 8 orsng article. hes ooa,pliaent-
I'd Iie6 mel s Vaughansr and the
| DciawsF pessi, and de artillery be-
longing III division. beth efstwhich
..repsl = "a IL fhe glory of that dis
,lssfxss FeslSns the pressure. of
slcatlf ld itot hisquiseriug hand
10 lSip ~ zBuyseatss pnend of his
tI-sas.4 sa iresHAl h;a-i.zs
III benedictiais on his faithful, brave di-
vision '--Ises's Memoirs. sl.-.. -.s. ,.f
Wenext find the Old Maryland Line
-ttndeir-Aorgan at the Cowpens. .'Mrr-
gan arruyeds his ,l,en with consul,la,.ate
skill. The Marylanders. with two COM
panies of Virginia militia. all Old soldiers.
composed his n,ain aud second line un-
der the command of Colonel Howard, and
were posted upon an elninence covered
with open wood, with Wsshington's caval-
ry in their rear as reserve. The first
line consisted entirely Of militia uEdrr
tren. Pickeu>; while shor, dis; nee iu
their front, two parties of North Carolina
aud Heorgia militia were stationed ss
sk'rmishers. As the enemy began to adj
vance. Morgan addressed his soldiers
briefly. but cnefgeticaliy. lie directed
the militia to deliver but two or three vol
ieys, and then retire aud forin b.hind
the main line. The MarylandeEs he re-
mainded of their past glory. Of the conf
d-iiee he had always repo,ed in sheir
skill! al,d Courage, ANA assured thrm that
victory WAS certain if they acted well
their part" Lees Memoirs)
The British pressed Oh with loud
shouts upon the first .lnr, which however.
maintained an undi>luayed front. and
poured in ,t,se and destructive fire. but
the enemy continued to advance with the
bayonct, and the militia being mostly
armed with rifles. retired. Already b.
Living the victory in their grasp, the
cnemy charged upon the cou;incn;a,s.
Thry were inet with un>hakeu hrnlless.
The Conflict became desperate, tor time
nti,hcr tue assailants nor the assaiIcI
seemed to give ground. But the uncon-
au-r.h!c spirit Of the Marv's"t--s al
icagth prevailed, aud the enemy b,gl"
t. talter. Tarleton immediately oricreu
up hlss reserve. ami his !:ae. thus rrat,i-,
nHsted. again advanced, extending its
frontso as TO enda"ger Howard's right.
Morgan at once ordered him to retreat to-
wards the cavalry and assume a new po-
sition; a ,,ianocuvre which was executed
with Goodness ana precision. and which
eiiectu,liy relieved the menaced flank.
''FLc British nistaking the movement
for the precursor. of flight, rushed for
ward with great inpetuosity and in disor-
der to complete their triumph. I'erceiv-
ing their condition, Howard. not YET hav-
ing reached the position marked out by
Morgan. su idenly faced about and poured
in upon the astoaiished enemy close aud
m,lrderoas fire. Their trout ranks rccoilcd
under the shock; and. seixing the happy
u,umeut, Howard. cheering Oh his men.
broke ia upon them with the bayone,. The
charge was terrible and decisive, and
the day was won. Dearly was the
slaughter OF Csanden repaid the whole
British infantry was killed or taken.
Never was there more complete or more
Curious victory The force Of Morgan
did not much exceed eight hundred men
while .ha, of Tarletou reached a thou-
sand, and all chosen men, the very sim
ews of CORVALLIS army. This splendid
force was entirely annihllated. Although
the militia did good service. ''the weight
Of the battle fell upon Howard; who sus-
taiued himself admirably in th"se trying
| circumstances, and seized, with decision.
the critical moment 70 complete with the
hayonet the advantage gained by his
fire." Yet he won the battle without Or
ders; and after he had swept the field by
his glorious charge. Morgan rode up to
hiua and said severely. You have done
weal-for~ yoa are successfui-had you
tailed | would have shot yuu' At one
monisit Howard held in his hands the
swords Of SEVEN British officers who bal
surrendered y him'"--(M>Sherry. Lee, 3
, Memoirs.) n, ,s9f-.i -ss Ea -ara.
The ncxt battle in which the Maryland
line was engaged was that of Gailfor,l
Court House.. We have only space for y
descripsioh of the charge of the Mar, lsa-
ders he'd on by Gdl. q anby and Howard
ibis (siunby's) horse was shot under him.
ami the command fell upon Col. Howard.
who, with his CHARACTERISTIC inpetuosity.
led forward the regin,en. with such rapisil-
ty that Gunby could not again .,vertake it.
Like torrent. the old Maryland regiment
broke through their ranks. driving them
headlung frcIn the field with terrific
slaughter. their lea,lcr falling under the
swosd Of Capt Smith; and the rea,ains of
that splendid corps we're only saved fron
utter annihilarioa by desperate expe.li-
cnt Of CoTnwsllis. determined to arrest
the progress of Washington and Howard.
be brought up his srtiiicry aud epeasd
upon iileu. although every dischsrgs
sweeps through the flying guards. stayiiAg
alike bath Pursuers aud pursued The
resasdy was efectual. and Hossrd ss-
sainsd the position fora,ly occupied by ihe
secsnd regiment under F"rd."-McSher-
". This s.co,,d regimen, was c.,npes.d
=; s&w Eeseuisz, asa MIS- .snws Anss 81.