The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-05
CHAPTER XLVII.
ARMS AND THE MAN.


Tarleton in a most gentlemanly manner for
his ill-success at the Cowpens, and would
charge to his account personal the failure of
triot army of the South.
Now little as 1 love- or have cause to love.
Sir Banastre Tarleton-they tell me he has
been knighted and now wears a major
generals sword-knot-'tis but the part of
outspoken honest enmity to say that we
owed the victory at the Cowpens to no re-
missness on the part Of the young legion
commander who, if he were indeed the most
brutal, was also the most active and enter
prising of Lord CornwalIis's field officers.
No, IL was no remissness nor lack Of brav-
cry on the part of the enemy. Twas only
that the tide had turned. Kings mountain
had been fought and won and there were to
be no more Camdens for us.
In the affair at the COW pastures, which
followed hard upon Richards and my re-
turn from our flying visit to WinEsborough,
the very elements fought for us and against
the British. AS, for instance; Tarleton, with
his famous legion of horse, and infantry
enough to make his numbers exceed ours,
began his march on the 18th and was rained
on and mired for four long days before he
had crossed the Broad and had come within
scouting distance of us.
Left to himself, Dan Morgan would have
locked horns with the enemy at the fording
of the Pacolet: but in the council of war,
our colonel and John Howard, of the Mary
landers. were for drawing Tarleton still
deeper into the wilderness, and farther from
the British main. which was by this moved
Ii 60 we ol<p
camp hastily and fell back into the hill
country; and the night of the 18th took
post on the northern slope of low ridge be-
tween two running streams.
For it's backbone our force had some three
hundred men of the Maryland line and two
companies of Virginians. These formed our
main, and were posted on the rising ground
with John Howard for their commander A
hundred and fifty PAGES in their 'front.' part
ly screened in the open pine, oak and chest
nut wooding of the ground, were Pickens' s
Carolinians and the Georgians; militiamen,
1t is true. but skilled rifiemen, and every
man of them burning hot to be avenged on
Tarleton's pillagers.
Still farther to the 'front.' disposed as right
and left wings of outliers, were Yeates and
his fellow-borderers and some sixty of the
Georgians set to feel the enemy's approach;
and in the reserve, posted well to the rear of
the Marylanders and Virginians. was our
own colonePs troop guarding the horses of
the dismounted Georgians.
Twas when we were all set in order to
await the suns rising and the enemy's ap-
proach that Dan Morgan rode the lines and
harangued us. He was better at giving and
taking shrewd blows than at speech-mak-
ing; but we all knew his mettle we'll by
now, and think there was never a man of
us to laugh at his unwonted grandiloquence
and solemn periods. In the harangue the
two battle lines had their orders to be
steady; to aim low; and above all to hold
their fire till the enemy was within sure
killing distance.
"'Tis brave old Daniel" said Dick
the benefit of the South Carolinians Twill
not he his fault if we fail. But you are older
at this business than any of US, Jack; what
think you of our chances?"
/ laughed. and the laugh was meant to be
grim. L knew the temper of the British reg
ulars, and how, when we'll led they could
play the hammer to anybody's anvil
ANY raw recruit can prophesy before the
fact, said L. I'VE have Tarleton his legion
the Seventh, a good third of the Seventy.
first, and two pieces of artillery in our front
If they do not give good account of them.
selves, twill be because Tarleton has
marched them leg-stiff to overtake u.s."
Dick fell silent for the moment, and wher
he spoke again some of Dan Morgan's sol
emnity seemed to have got into his blood
II have sort of coward inpricking thai
/ shan't come out of this with whole skin
mayhap you can take off. You have hat
Madge to yourself a dozen times since tha
day last autumn when / asked her for tn,
hundredth time to put me out of misery
through; but she gave me a look as 1 hat
struck her with whip. Can you tell m,
why?"
The morning breeze heralding the sunris,
was whispering to the leafess branche:
overhead, and there was nothing in al
dame natures peaceful setting of the seen,
to hint at the impending war clash. Yet th'
war portent was abroad in all the peaceful
morning, and my mood marched with tn,
lads when 1 gave him his answer
Truly, could tell you, Richard; and it II
your due to know IL from no other lips thar
mine Mayhap. little later. when restitu
tion can go hand in hand with repentanc,
and confession"
mo. no." he cut in quickly Tell mt
late-for me. Does she love you?-has sh
| said she loves you?
Nay, dear lad; she despises me well an,
! truly, and has never missed the chance @
| saying Wait but little longer and
| pledge you on the honor of a gentleman yo,
| shall have her for your very own. Will tha
content your
At my assurance his mood changed and 1,
| a twinkling he became the dauntless soldie
| who fights, not TO die, but to win and live
with that word TO keep me shall not b
| killed to-day, / promise you. Jack; an,
! that in spite of this damned queasiness tha
| was showing me the burying trench" An,
then he added softly: God bless her,''
1 1 could say amen TO that most heartily
did II. and would have gone on 10 add
benison of my own, but at the momen
/ there were sounds .of galloping horses on ou
| front. and presently three relocated off
| GERS, one of them the redoubtable Colone
| Tarleton himself, rode out to reconnoitre n
| most coolly.
| | doubt If he would have been so rash ha
| he known that Yeates and his borderer
were concealed in easy pistol shot; but tn
simultaneous cracking of a dozen rife
warned and sent the trio scuttling back (
| cover
Dick swore piteously, with the snapsho
| skirmishers for a target "The fumbiers /,
| ne ragged. Twas the chance of a lifetim,
| and they all missed like a lot of BOYS a
their first deer stalkingi'
''They will have another chance and tha
speedily" ventured: and, truly, the chanc
| did not tarry.
From our view point on the rising groun
we could see the enemy forming under COY
! er of the wood; and as We looked the tw
/ pieces of cannon were thrust to the front
below out the signal for the assault.
Twas a sight 10 stir tila blood when RI
I enemy broke cover into the opener Woodin
OF the field to the tune OF the roaring car
non. the volleyings of small arms and III
defiant huzzaings OF the men. The sun wa