Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-11-30

across the road, with ravine between then
and the American front line. The artiller.
was placed on the road, a short distance il
the rear of the advance guard. The cavalr.
was divided and stationed in the rear to tn
right and left of the road. In the rear and il
line parallel with the cavalry, was places
the seventy first Regiment, under Major Nc
Arthur, as reserve. aEs5aas ,s.
Before the battle commenced, Morgan spen
few moments in exhorting his men to d
their duty and the victory was sure. Abou
nine o'clock, Tarleton, who was in the from
line of the British, gave the order to advance
With shout the column rushed forward. ez
pecting the American militia to break and ae
in confusion. In this they we're disappointed
The militia stood firm. and when the Britisl
came within range, discharged a we'll aimee
volley which thiuned the ranks of theenemy
The British pressed forward, shouting and fir
ing necessarily. Themilitia fell back to th'
ranks of the line commanded BY Pickens
The British now, rushed forward With bayo
nets. The militia now fel, back to the secont
line, and those under Mccall fed to the horses
Thia, however, produced no disturbances
for Morgan thinking that the militia woulc
give way, had declared it as part Of his plar
that the militia were to FIRE and fall back
Tarleton seeing the militia giving way, order
ed general charge. The Americans mel
him with frmness which would have done
credit to any troops. The contest was fearful
and the result doubtful. Soon the line oftht
enemy began to bepd.s Macarthur now brought
up his reserves. This animated the yielding
British and the contest. Was renewed. N>vel
did men 6ghtbarder. Every thing was tiont
by both parties that could be done, and the
contest was in fearful doubts. Macarthur at
tempted to gain Howard's flank. Howard or
dered his FIRST company to charge the British
The company mistakiug the command te
charge for IN order to fall back, the whole
line now began to retreat in disorder. Nor
gan, with the greatest presence Of mind or
dered it to fall back behind the cavalry and
halt. This checkedthe retreat. Tarleton or
dered another charge. When the British had
approached within short distance of How
ards men, they were ordered to face about
and fire. This they did, and literally cover
ed the ground with wounded and dead British
The living we're brought to halt. Howard
seeing this, ordered his men to charge them
with the bayouet. This decided the day in
favor Of thsAmericans The British. infan'
try were in the utmost confusion.
Some of Tarleton's cavalry had gained the
rear, and we're slsughtering McCall's militia
by the Wholesale. Colonel Washington saH
the condition in which things we're, and
dashed in upon the cavalry of the enemy
and put them to flight. The British infantry
and cavalry were now so mixed up that it was
impossible to rally them. The few Of the
British who were not wounded or killed, fec
in every direction, each man for himself.
The history Of the Revolutionary war con
tains no more wonderful battle than that ot
the Cowpens. The advantages at the outset
were all on the side of the British, yet tht
gains in the end were all on the side of tht
Americans. The American loss was twelve
killed and fity-eight wounded. The British
loss, by their own account, was one hundred
killed and five hundred and twenty.thret
taken prisoners. The spoils which fell intt
the hands of the Americans were all the enc
my's baggage, thirty.fve baggage wagons
eight hundred horses, two standards, two pieces
of artillery, and eight hundred muskets
The victory was just as complete as any vic
tory could be. Tarleton, filled with sorrow
fed from the battle field and never stopped
until he crossed Broad river at Hamilton
ford.