Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-05-05


bhokwoodsmen. This accurate Knowledge
being obtainedj Tarleton desired the Brit.
'shlinfantry to disonoumbor themselves Of
everything, except their arms and ammu-
nitlon. The light infantry wore then orr
dered to lilo to tho right Till they became
equal to the flank of tho American front
line. Tho legion Infantry were added to
their left, aud under tho ire of three
FOUNDER, this part of the British troops was
instructed to advance within three hundred
yards OF the enemy. This situation being
acquired, tho 7th regiment was commanded
to form upon the left of the legion infautry.
and the other three FOUNDER was given to
the right division of the 7th. A captain.
with fifty diogoons, was placed on each
tlonk of corps, who formed tho British
front line, to protect their own and threaten
the hanhs of the enomy. Tho lst battal.
ion OF tho 7lst was desired to extend a
litt'o to tho left of tho 7th regiment, and
to rema,n ono hundred and fifty yards in
rear. This body Of infantry, and near two
hundred cavalry composed tho reserve.
during tho execution of these arrange
meDts, the animation of tho officers and
a!aorlty OF the soldiers afforded tho most
promising assurances Of success. The dis
position being completed, tho front limo
received orders to advance; fire from some
OF the recruits of the 7th regiment was
suppressed and the troops moved on 10 as
good II liue os troops could move at omen
files. Tho militia after short contest,
were dislodged, and the British approached
fol pbo G,,
was well supported and produced much
slaughter. The cavalry on tho right were
ordered to charge the enedy's left. They
executed the order with great gallantry,
but wero driven back by the fro Of tho re-
serve, aud by charge of Colonel Wash.
ington's cavalry.
AS the contest between tho British iu.
fantry in the front liue and The continentals
seemed equally balanced, neither rctrcatipg,
Lleut.'Col. Tarleton thought the advance
OF tho Z lst into line, aud the movement of
tho cavalry in reserve to threaten the enc
my.s right flank, would put victorious Pc
riod to tho action. No timo was lost in
performing this manmuvro The list was
desired to pass the 7th before they gave
their fire, aud wcro directed not to cntanglc
their right flank with tho left Of the other
battalion. The cavalry were ordered to
Incline to the left, and to form nlipc, which
would embrace the whole of tho cnemy's
right flank. Upon the advance of tho list
all the infantry again moved on. Tho con-
tlncntals aud backwoodsmen gavo ground.
The British rushed forward. An
order was dispatched to the cavalry to
charge. An unexpected fire at this in
slant from the Americans, who came about
as they were retrcating, stopped the British
aud threw them into confusion, Exertions
to make them advance were useless. The
part OF the cavalry which had not been
engaged fell likewise into disorder, aud an
unacconntablc panic extended itself along
the whole line. The Americans, who be.
fore thought they had lost the action, tax
ing advantage of the present situation, nd
vanccd upon the British troops, and aug
mcntcd their astonishment. a general
flight cnsued. Tureton sent directions TO
his cavalry to form about four hundred
yards to the right of the enemy, in order to
! check them, while he cndcavorcd to rally
the Infantry to protect the guns. The
cavalry did not comply with the order, and
the effort to collect the infantry was inef-
fectual. Neither promises nor threats could
gain their attention; they surrendered or
dispersed, aud abandoned their guns to the
artillery men, who defended them for some
time with exemplary resolution. In this
last stage of defeat Lieut.. COL Tarleton
made another struggle to bring his cavalry
to the charge. The weight tf auch an
attack might yet retrieve tho day, the
enemy being much broken ty their late
rapid advance; but all attempts to restore
order, recollection or courage, proved fruit
less. Above two hundred dragons for
sock their leader, and left the field of battle
Fourteen officers and forty horscmcn were,
however, not unmndful of their own rcpu
taslon, or the situation of their command-
ing officer Col. Wushington's cavalry
were charged aud driven back Into tho
continental Infantry by this handful OF
brave men. Another party Of the Ameri
cans who had seized upon tho baggage of
the British troops on tho road from the late
encampment, were dispersed, and this de-
tachment retired towards Broad River un
molcsted. On the routo Tarlctor heard
with Infinite grief and astonishrncnt that
the main array had not advanced beyond
Turkey creek. He therefore directed his
course to the Southeast, in order to reach
l1amilton's ford, near the month of Bullock
creek, whence he might communicate with
Earl Cornwallis.
The number Of the killed and wounded
IN the action at Cowpens amounted to near
three hundred on both sides, officers and
men inclusive. This loss was almost
equally shared, but the Americans took
two pieces of cannon, the colors of the
7th regiment, and near four hundred