New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-12

rian to tell how the battle ragged viii
varying fortunes until Towards gallan
Marylanders taught the British regular
that the despised provincials had learne,
the trick Of the bayonet, and decides
the issue OF the day. Up to this momen
the cavalry, which had been posted in re
serve behind slight wooden eminence
had been chatting for q hand in the fray
As has been stated these troops consisted
OF McCall's mounted militia and Wash
ington's Light Dragons. The latter wer,
all mounted and armed, for their frequen
successes in skirmishes with the enemy
horse kept them we'll supplied: The,
were crack corps, and well had the
earned their reputation. just as Howard
regulars turned savagely on their disor
derby pursuers and put them to rout, ,
squadron Of British light horse made dasl
at Mccall, whose men were unused to tn
sabre, and had been demoralized by thu
first bayonet charge Of the enemy, which
they had sustained on foot. Now wal
Washington's chance.
care you ready, men? Charger' Tht
words were scarcely off his lips ere The
noble mare which he rode shot forwar d,
touched by her riders spur. With wi
yell, which drowned the regular cheer Of
the Englishman, the men dashed aftel
their brave and impetuous leader, who
was ever the first to cross sabre with
the enemy. Rising in his stirrups as the
| gallant chestnut answered the spur, Wal.
ter Peyton looked backward at the men
as he raised the light staff of his little
banner and shook its folds to the breeze,
ND $1,n L. - l.
the side of his chief in the very thickest
of the melee. For moment all was dust
and confusion, for Tarleton's veterans
were not the men to break at the
first onset and they met the furi-
Gus charge of the Virginians with de-
termination which promised bloody and
doubtful struggle. One stout fellow,
mounted on powerful horse, singled
out the young ensign as his special quar-
~, not noticing, in his ardor to capture
the daring little rebel flag, that the troop
er who rode next to it was the gallant
colonel himself. Refining back his horse
almost upon its launches, lie had raised
his sabre in the very act to strike when
that of Washington came down with tre-
mendous force, severing the upper mus
cles Of his sworm-arm, and at the same
instant Peyton, for the first time observ-
ing his danger. dropped his rein, and
graspi1g tbs flagstaff with both hands,
swung it full in the face of his assailant.
The mans horse SHE'D violently as the
fold of the little banner tapped across
his eyes, and as his rider fell heavily from
the saddle, dashed at full speed through
the British line. Already this had begun
to waver, and in another moment the
panic-stricken troopers were flying in
wild confusion toward their reserve, To
rally body of frightened cavalry is no
easy matter under any circumstances, but
when determined pursuing force is
pressing holly in the rear. it becomes a
simple impossibility. The entire COM
mand gave way as the fugitives ap-
preached, and in little while was in full
retreat. Colonel Washington, as usual,
far in advance of his men, caught sight of
the British commander, who, with two of
his aids, was endeavoring to rally favor
ite regiment, and without a thought of
support, pressed toward the group, &C.
companied only by Peyton. with Jane
Elliott's flag and a little bugler, a mere
boy, who carried no sword, but who had
drawn pistol from his holster and kept
close to the colors all through the day.
Tarleton was not deficient in personal
courage, and turned to meet his old enc
my in a hand-to.hand encounter. The Of
ficer nearest him struck at Washington as
he passed, but missed his blow and re-
ceiyed bullet in his side from the young
bugler's pistol.
Garter" cried Tarleton to the other
aide, who rode near him, "a captains
brevet if you take that woman's petit
coat" pointing with his sword to the
saucy little flag, the story Of which had
reached the British camps.
But it was no woman's hand which
was there to defend it, and as the Eng
lishman wheeled his horse for the attack,
Peyton's pistol flashed almost in his face,
and he fell forward on his chargers neck,
ran wildly forward unguided toward the
American lines. Meanwhile the two COM
manders had crossed swords, and as both
were good fencers, a duel q [o,ttrdnce
seemed imminent. But Tarleton had no
time for chivalrous encounters. His op-
ponent beat down his guard, and with a
sudden thrust wounded the British colo
mel in the hand. The latter drew pistol,
and as he wheeled to follow his flying
squadrons, discharged it at his adversary,
the ball taking effect near the knee. The
battle now was really at an end, and the
pursuit was abandoned at this point.
As Walter Peyton lay down beside his
camp fire that night it was with body
worn down by excitement and fatigue,
but with heart beating high with pride
as he looked at the flag he had so CALAMITY
defended, and remembered his colonel's
words of commentator, which he more
than hoped meant promotion to a cap
tain S commission.
In the city of Charleston all was gloom
society which boosted of its loyalty to the |
Crown. Scarcely family but had some
in the Continental ranks,
md as all intelligence reached the city |
through British channels, the darkest |
side of every encounter between the |
armies was the first which the imprisoned |
patriots saw. The non-combatant men,
oers of all the planters families had moved |
nto the city before its capitulation, and |
while the ladies permitted the visits and |
of the English officers, they |
never lost an opportunity to show them
low hateful they esteemed the royal cause.
1t was nearly month after the victory |
It the Cowpens that Miss Elliott was sit
ing with her mother one evening in the |
,arlor Of their city residence. Conspicu-
JUS among the furniture was large and
comfortable arm chair, upholstered in
leavy crimson silk damask, but while
else in the room was neat and
ven elegant, this chair appeared to be
more fit for the lumber closet, the entire
quare of silk having been cut from the
Jack, leaving the undermining Of coarse
tripod cotton exposed to view. The tones
{ the curfew or tfirst bell, which NAV