The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-12
The Battle OF CoWpens

The condition of South Carolina was
truly lamentable in the latter part of the
year 1880. In the .outhern part Of tho
State there was no organized force of
Americans. The followers of Marion
and Sumter would come from their homes
and hiding place and make an assault
on some unguariod Iost or some small
detachment &c the enemy. They kent
them har.a.sed aud uneasy. Camden
and Ninety Six were the strong places of
the British from which they sent out
marauding parties. The tories, now
thinking the cause Of liberty on tho
wanc, became very bold and cruel.
CORVALLIS had moved to Winnsboro,
where his headquarters were for time.
Ills object was to finish up the subjection
of this State and then move into North
Carolina, driving his opponents before
him. Lato i'll December, Gen. Morgan
was sent to operate between Pacolett and
Broad rivers aud strike where he could
do most good. He intended to make an
attack on the fort Mt Ninety Six, but
learning of Tarleton's forces between
him and that point, he concluded to re-
trace his steps. He was in camp at
Grlndall Shoals. Tarlcton advanced
against him and crossed the river higher
up at the Easterwood Shoals, perhaps
From Grindall Shoals, AIorgan's forces
may have taken the direct road up by
Gaftneys Cross Roads OH to Cowpens.
Tarleton's troops may have followed up
the same road, or they may have gone
up the Green River road passing where
Macedonia Church now stands. Some
of the older people of that section ought
to be able to give the traditions of that
march.
"From "Tarleton's Campaigns" a book
published in London in the year 1887.
we take the following account of the
battle. We are sure our readers will
tahe great pleasure in reading the re-
port written by our enemy:
Patfoles and spie were Immediately
dispatched to observe the Americans
The dragons were directed to follow the
enemy Ii: dark, and the other emissa-
ries to continue their inquiries till morn
ing, if some material incident did not
occur. Early in the night the patroles
reported that General Morgan had struck
into ways tending towards Thickle creek.
A party of determined loyalists made an
American Colonel prisoner, who had
casually left the line of march, and con-
Quoted him TO the British camp. The
examination of the militia Colonel, and
other accounts soon afterwards received,
evinced the propriety of hanging upon
| General Morgan's rear, to impede the
junction of reinforcements said to be ap-
preaching, and likewise to prevent his
passing Broad river without the knowl-
edge Of the light troops who could per-
plex his design, and call in the assistance
of the main arm if necessity required.
| Other reports at midnight Of corps of
mountaineers being upon the march from
Green. river, proved the exigency of
moving to watch the enemy closely, in
order to take advantage of any favorable
opportunity that might offer.
Accordingly, ut three o'clock in the
morning on the 18th, the pickets being
called in, the British troops, under the
command of Lieut-Col. Tarleton, were
directed to follow the route the Amer
leans had taken the preceding evening,
and the baggage and wagons were or
dered to remain upon their ground till
| daybreak, under the protection of n de-
| tachment from each corps. Three ~
panics of light infantry supported by the
legion infantry, formed the advance; !;
the 7th regiment, the guns, and the 1st
battalion Of the list, composed the CEN
tre, and the cavalry and mounted in
fantry brought up the rear. The ground
which the Americans had passed being
broken, and much intersected by creeks
| and ravines, the march of tho British
troops during the darkness was exceed
ingly slow, on account of. the time en-
| ployed in examining the front and nanks
as they proceeded. Before dawn, Thick
| ellie creek was passed, when an advance
guard of cavalry was ordered to the
front. The enemy's patrole approach.
ing, was pursued and overtaken. Two
troops Of dragons, under Capt. Ogilvie,
of the legion, were then ordered to rein
fore the advanced guard, and to harass
the rear of the enemy. The march had
not continued long in this manner, be-
fore the commanding officer in front
reported that the American troops were
halted and forming. The guides were
| Immediately consulted relative to the
ground which General Morgan then oc-
cupied, and the country in his rear.
These people described both with great
perspicuity. They said that the woods
were open and free from swamps that
| the part of Broad river, just above the
place where Kings creek Joined the
| stream, was about six miles distant from
| the enemy's left flank, and that the river,
by making curve to the westward, ran
| parallel to their reeI
Lieut. Col. Tarlcton having attained a
| position which he certainly might deem
| advantage, on account of the vulnerable
situation of the enemy, and the supposed
vicinity Of the two British corps on the
east and west of Broad river, did not
hesitate to undertake those measures
which the instructions of his command
ing officer imposed, and his own jude-
ment, under the present appearances,
equally recommended. He ordered the
legion dragoons, to drive in the militia
parties who covered the front, that Gen
eral inorganic disposition might be con-
veniently and distinctly inspected. He
| discovered that the American commander
had formed front line of about one
thousand militia, and had composed his
| second line aud reserve of Eve hundred
cont,a entail light infantry, one hundred
and twenty of Washington's cavalry,
aud three hundred backw0odsmen. THIS
accurate knowledge being obtained,
Tarleton desired the British infantry to
disencumber themselves of everything,
except their arms and ammunition. The
light infantry werc then ordered to file
to the right till they became equal to the
flank Of the American front line. The
legion infantry were added to their left
and under the fire of three FOUNDER,
this part of the British troops was in
structed to advance within three hun