The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-28
BATTLE OF THE COWPENS.
Graphic Story Of a Victory " on 118 \ ears
ago that Turned the Tide of War.
Spaytanburg Free Lance.
Majors jackson and Cunningham alst

Being in section that had long
been overrun by British and Tories
provisions were very scarce. Hence
it was necessary for Morgan to send
out foraging detachments at some dis
tance. A body Of some two hundred
Tories, whose headquarters were at
Hammond's store on Little river, ad-
vanced as far as Fair Forest creek to
embarrass these operations. Morgan
Immediately detached 200 mounted
militia and IS cavalrymen, under
Coils. Washington and Mccall, to
drive these Loyalists from the coun-
try. Hearing Of Washington's ap-
proach the Tories fell back to Ham
mond's store.
WASHINGTON ORDERED A CHARGE.
After marching some forty miles
Washington arrived at that point and
Immediately ordered charge. ltw
a flight instead of conflict. and one
hundred and fifty Loyalists were killed
and forty prisoners taken. Col.
Washington now determined to ad-
vance still further into the enemy S
country and attack body Of Tories
on Mudlick creek, near Williams
plantation, commanded by Col. Gun
ningham, but the Tories made their
escape to Ninety-Six which was near
by.
These bold movements on the part
Of the Americans made CORVALLIS
fear for the safety Of the garrison at
Ninety-Six. So on the 1st Of January,
1881, CORVALLIS ordered Tarleton, who
had already advanced as far as Brier-
!ey's Ferry, on Broad river, to move
towards Ninety-Six. with special in
structions that he spush Morgan to
the utmost" Tarletons corps con-
sisted of about l 100 men, 500 of which
! belonged to his dreaded legion, which
had carried desolation into every part
Of the State. In accordance with his
orders Tarleton moved towards the
west, but after proceeding twenty
miles he found that the order for the
light troops to move was an error, so
he halted in order to make more COM
plete arrangements. Here he found
that Morgan was quite distance from
Ninety-Six, and that that post was
comparatively secure: SO he proposed
to CORVALLIS that they make a Joint
movement against Morgan. The plan
was for CORVALLIS to march up on the
east side Of Broad river, in the vicinity
Of Kings Mountain, while Tarleton
was to move up to the westward and
head Morgan off.
"When I advance said Tarleton
in his message to CORVALLIS, II must
either destroy Morgan's corps, OF push
it before me over Broad river, towards
Kings Mountain TO this Corn
wallis readily consented. Hence, on
June 12, Tarleton resumed his march,
moving in westerly direction in
order that he might find the most
practicable fords for the passage OF
the Enoree and Tiger rivers. These
streams were passed on the 14th,
above the Cherokee road, and on the
18th he reached the valley Of the
Pacolet.
When Col. Washington was return
ing from Hammond's store to Grindal
Shoals he passed near where Gen.
Pickens was encamped in the Plumber
settlement, between Fair Forest and
Tygerriyer. Major Joseph McJunkin
obtained leave to stop at this camp
for awhile. Just at this time Geu.
Pickens heard of Tarleton's advance
upon Morgan. No time was to be lost
Feeling that it was unsafe to send a
written message Gen. Pickens chose
Major Joseph McJunkin to bear the
information verbally. In company
with James Park, Major McJunkin
set out about dusk for Gen. Morgan s
camp. Itwas perilous journey; the
night was intensely dark and the
streams very high, because of exces
siye rainfall. After swimming Fai,
Forest, Mill creek and Pacolet, he
reached the northern bank of thai
stream. where he was hailed by the
sentinel and kept in the edge of the
river until the corporal OF the guaro
could come when he was conducted te
Gen. Morgan tent. Here Maj. Nc
Junkin Informed him that Benny Tar
Teton was coming to give him a blast
that he had promised Lords Rawdor
and CORVALLIS, on leaving Winnsboro
that he would have the old Wagner
i. e., Morgan. to dine with him in