The daily gazette., 1881-05-20
THE BATTLE OF TMR COwPKNs.
Morgsp's Omefsl Rspers ts Gen.

THE RATTLE OF TMR CowPKNs
Rforgsn's OHaefal Rspers 70 Gen.
Greene.
The following venerable dooumsnt
ID Of decided interest In connection
with tho recent celebration at Soar
tansburg, 8. O., which has been fully
described In our special correspond
ence
| Scamp on Ccin Orssk on Psdse, JAN
uary 10, 1881. Dear Sir !: This troops
| have the honor to command have
have gained complste victory over. q
detachment from the British army
commanded by Lieut.. Col TArleton.
It ha opened ON the 17th inst, about
sunrise, at place called the Cowpens,
near Pacolet rive. On the 14th, hay
ing received intelligence that the Brit
ish army were In motion, and that
their movement clearly indicated the
intention OF disledging me, abandon
cd my encampment at Glendale Ford,
and on the 18th, in tho evening, took
possession OF post about seven miles
from Chroke, on Broad river. NY
| former position subjected me at once
to the operations Of Lord CORVALLIS
and Col. Tarleton, aud In case Of de-
feat my retreat might easily have besn 1
cnt OF. Ny situatlon at CoWpens ena-
bled me to provo Any advantage that
might gain and to provide better for
my security should ! be unfortunate.
These reasons induced me to take this
post notwithsiandi IL had the appear
ance Of Q retreat. On the eveniag Of
the 10th tho enemy occupied the
ground we had removed from in aho
morning. One honr before daylight
one Of nay scouts informed mo that |
they had advanced within Ave mile Of /
our camp. On this information the |
necesSary dispositions were made.
From the activity Of the troops We
were soon prepared - resolve them.
The light infantry commanded BY
Lieut.-Col. Howard, and the Virginia
Militia under Major Tnplest, were
formed on rising ground. The Third
Regiment Of Dragons, consisting of
about 80 men, under the couyehand Of
Lieut. Col. Washington, were 90 post
cd In the rear a. not 10 Be injured By
the opemy's fre, and Jet to b able to
charge them should an occasion offer:
the Volunteers from North Carolina,
South Oarolina and aeorRia, undsr
the command Of Col. Pickens, were
posted TO guard the tanks. Major
Mcdowell Of the North Carolina VOL
untecrs was posted on the right flank
in front Of The line 100 yards Major
Cunningham, OF the Georgia Volun-
teers, on the left, at the same distance
in front; 0olonels Brannon and
Thomas, Of the South Csrollsa yslun.
teers, on the right Of Major MsDowai,
and Ooloaels Hays and Mccall, of the
same corps, to the left Of Major Cum
ninRhAm. Capts. Tate and Buchanan
with the Augusta RiAemen, were 70
support the right OF the hne. The
enemy drew mp in one line four hun
dred yards In front Of the advanced
corps 30 * . iii5I ~ ~
The first battalion OF the seventy y-nrst
regiment was opposed 10 eur right, the |
seventh TO our left, the Legion Infantry
70 ourlcentre, and two companies Of the
light troops, 100 each, on eur tanks. In
their front they moved two pieces ef I
and Lieut.. Ool. TarIston, with I
$50 cavalry, was posted In the rear OF the |
line. The disposition being thus made.
smAll parties OF rifismen were detached
% skirinish with tina enamy, ON which !
heir whole line advanced with the great
sst impetuosing, shouting 40 they ad-
Eanced. Majors kcDowal and Gum.
nshAm gave them heavy and CALLING =
ire, and retreated to the rsgimsnts iIi-
ended for their support; the whole Of
Col. Pickens's command thsn kept up q / {
ire by regiments retreating agreeable 70
orders. Wnsn the enemy advanced on
,ur lines they received we'll directed | Z
and inccssant fire, but their numbers be- .
ng superior 70 ours they gained our
I Anks, which obliged rs 10 change our =
position. We retired In gvod order about
dry paees, formed and advanced ON the |
lnemy and gave thsm hrisk fire, which
brew them Into disorder. Lieut.. Col. !.
toward, observing this, gave orders for 3
he line to charge bayonets,, which was
lsns with such address that the enemy !,
led with the utmost precipitation Lieut..
jol. Washington discovering that the
svalry were cutting down eur rifismen q
~ the Ion, charged thsm with such b
lrmness as obliged them 70 retire In d
oDfusicn. The enemy were entirely
outed, and the pursuit continued mp
Yards Of twenty miles. Our loas was in- p
onsiderabls, not having more than p
we've Killed and sixty wounded. The
nemy's loss was 10 commissioned oazcsn y
nd over 400 rank and ale killed and P
90 wounded, 10 commissioned ofaesrs !.
nd about 500 priyatss prisoss1 which .
ell Int our hands, with tive pieces Af u
rtillery, two standards, 500 musksts, one p
ravelipg forge, thirts five ba9gage o
vagons, seventy negroes and upwards Of q
90 dragon horses, with all their muA q
lck They destroyed most Of the baggage, q:
'hich vas immenes. Although our suc- =
ess was complete, We fought only 800
hen and, were opposed BY upward of
ne thousand chosen British troops. Such
rs the inferiority Of cur nnmbsrs-that =
ar snecess must Be attributed, under
Fod, to the justice Of onr cause aad the
'syery q our treops. NJ Wishes would