Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-08-21
THE SOUTH CAROLINA SEVEN.
BY WESLEY BRADSHAW, ESQ.

| Tue tories as ny TIE uHeu utrceudTieS Seut oy
despotic royalty to conquer and force them in-
to Submission to power which they hated
Soon after the Southern forces were placed
under the command OF General Greene, the
latter sent out General Morgan with one thou
sand men to cut off those Tories infesting the
western portion of South Carolina.
Scarcely had Morgan and his brave band
taken their Uarch, ere CORVALLIS, the British
commander became aware Of the movement,
and instantly dispatched the blood thirsty
Colonel Tarteton in pursuit. The indefatiga-
BILE Morgan soon learned of this aud he &c
cordingy halted and prepared for battle
The enemy appeared in such force. however,
that Morgan retreated as far as CowpenS,
| little town iu the northern part of what was
then Union County, where he determined to
meet the foe at ali hazards.
| The Sun of January 10th; was going down
as he entered the town, aud SO close was the
| pursuit that the dim shadows Of evening had
not yet deepened into the darker shades OF
night, before Tarleton came up. Of course it
was too late to commence battle; bat each
| commander spent most Of the night in issuing
| orders 10, aud arranging his troops for the
contest of the morrow. The greater portion
of Morgan'S band consisted Of the militia, who
though brave, were comparatively undlciplin-
ed, and of course, not likely to long withstand
the shock of charge of thoroughly trained
! troops.
! To the disposition of this part Of his com
mand, therefore, General Morgan directed his
/ particular attention. and eudeavored, by ap-
proprate addresses TO infuSe within their
breasts the same indomitabIe courage that
possessed his own heart.
! Among the militia were seven persons--a
father and bis six sons-whom General Nor
gan specially complimented. These seven
patriots soldiers were nicknamed, by their
comrades, THE LITTLE RsGiMENr," for a
reason which the reader will easily compre.
hend from the following description
John Hitler, sir, then some fifty years OF
age stood six feet five aud half inches, was
of fine proportion, aud weighed over three
hundred pounds while the youngest, John
Hitler, Jr., aged twehty- twD, measured six
feet three inches, and weighed two hundred
and fifty pounds. The five other brothers
varied il size ana weight between these two
In addition to those gigantic proportions, the
HIllIerS were possessed Of enormous courage
Though often before engaged in skirmiShes,
this was the first time they were to take part
in a regular pitched battle, and of course, the
rest OF the army were somewhat anxious to
| Know how they would behave.
John" said General Morgan to the elder
Hitler, who, with bis sons, was eating hasty
aud frugal meal from off fallen tree, " |
suppose that you eud your brave boys would
rather fight together than be separated 2"
Yes, General" replied the patriot, touch
ing his rough cap respectfully, and rising to
his feet, q think we would be of much more
service to you aud to our noble cause, when
united than when separated. You know
General that'c what " ashlngtCns all the time
telling US Americans-to %lck t0gether else
aceW get beat. Aud | tell yon what General
Washington knotoS achafs 1rhat."
well, John" rejoined General Morgan,
smiling at the h,ro's quaint expression of bis
opinion Of Washngtou's Judgment, " we'll have
some warm work in the morning, and | am
going to give you and your lads here the most
| dangerous position in the battle. Tomorrow
you shall bear the first standard into the
fight, and know that the glorious banners of
our country cannot be placed in better hands.
"Thank you, General, thank you, for the
compliment aud and my lads will promise
you this, that while we stand and fight, or
kueel and fight, or lay down and Eght, you'll
see them stars and stripes aoati g.
Then, as time is pressing. move up to the
front, answered General Morgan, gathering
up his rens and riding slowly away. And
remember" he continued as his steed pranced
along impatient of the curb, Il shall keep my
eyes upon The LITTLE REGIMENT I" Good
night"
"Gooi night, General" was the reply, ac
companied 10y the usual military salute; and
thus they parted.
The still hours of the night passed slowly,
solemnly on, and each patriot soldier, as he
watched the twhkIngs of the far away stars,
and listened to the frosty wind as it moaned
past thought, that perhaps those self same
shining worlds would, the next night, send
down Just such twinklings on his own bloody
corpse or roughly made grave. The stars,
however, gradually paled away, and then, faint
grey CLEANS IN the eastern sky told that day
was c5ning to light the war demon and oeath
angel to their work. Presently, as the SUI
came fully above the horizon, and streamed his
glowing beams over the icy hillocks and along
the snowy fields, the trumpet'S shrl nste
sounded tne enemy's advance, and the pa
trot band prepared for the onset.
In front, and little from the van of Nor
gan's force were John Hitler and his six
giant sons, the father himself bearing aloft
the fag, while The latter ranged themselves
three on each side ofhm as a guard.
"Well done, Little Regiment p exclaimed
the General, as he rode down the line encon-
raging his men to stand firm before the foe,
who We're now approaching.
On came Tarleton and lis mcrcess butch.
ers with that steady coolness and veteran de
termination which always have such a fatal
effect upon militia. Anxiously Morgan glauc
ed upon bis undiscipued force, which he
noticed was already beginning to sway from
side to side, and bach and forth. But even at
the critical moment, he was unable to repress