Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-11

Morgan's were militia. Military men.
perhaps would have advised Morgan
not to risk battle. One Of the char
acteristics of Morgan was that he al
ways depended upon his own judgr
ment Tarleton concluded that the only
reason that Morgan had determined to
risk q battle, was the fact that he was
so closely pursued that he could not do
otherwise than fight. Such however,
was not the case. Morgan had con-
templated fighting at the Pacolet on
the 18th, but retreated that he might
gain some advantage.
When the British force came In sight
Morgan's men. had breakfasted and
were ready for the conflict. On the
evening before, Morgan had ordered
each rifeman to get twenty-four
rounds Of powder and ball prepared be-
fore he retired to rest. The order in
which the troops should be arranged
for battle was also written out and
read to the officers on the evening be-
fore. The troops were marshalled In
accordance with the following order:
The Georgia and Carolina militia, in
front. These were commanded by Nc
Dowell. Cunningham, Hammond and
Donneliy. Immediately In the rear of
the militia, was Colonel Howard's COM
mand. which consisted Of the conti-
mental infantry and two companies of
Virginia militia. These last were COM
manded by Taite and Triplett. On
the left Of Howard, was Pickens COM
mand; on the right Triplett and Beatty.
Colonel Washington with the cavalry
was stationed in the rear The horses
belonging to the infantry were tied at
IA convenient distance in the rear Of
the whole.
Tarleton's vanguard advanced and
deployed across the road, with ravine
between them and the American front
line The artillery was placed on the
road short distance in the rear of the
advance guard. The cavalry was d.
vlded and stationed In the rear to the
right and left of the road. In the rear
and in line parallel with the cavalry.
was placed the seventy first regiment,
under Major Macarthur as reserve.
Before the battle commenced, Nor
gan spent few moments in exhorting
his men to do their duty and the VIC
tory was sure. About nine O'clock Tar
Teton, who was In the front line Of the
British, gave the order to advance.
With shout the column rushed for
ward, expecting the American militia
to break and flee In confusion. In this
they were disappointed. The militia
stood firm and when the British came
within range, discharged well aimed
volley which thinned the ranks OF the.
enemy. The British pressed forward,
shouting and firing necessarily. The
militia fell back to the ranks Of the
line commanded by Pickens. The Britt
ish now rushed forward with bayonets..
The militia now fell back to the Sec
ond line and those under Mccall fed
to the horses. This however, produced
no disturbance for Morgan thinking
that the militia would give way, had
declared 1t as a part Of his plan that
the militia were to fire and fall back.
Tarleton seeing the militia giving way,
ordered general charge. The Amer
leans met him with a frmness which
would have done credit to any troops.
The contest was fearful and the result
doubtful Soon the line Of the ene-
my began to bend. Macarthur now
brought up his reserves. This animat-
ed the yielding British and the contest
was renewed. Never did men fight
harder Everything was done by both
parties that could be done and the con-
test was in fearful doubts. Macarthur
attempted to gain Howard's flank.
Howard ordered his first company to
charge the British. The company mis-
taking the command to charge for an
order to fall back, the whole line now
began to retreat in disorder. Morgan
with the greatest presence of mind or
dered It to fall fack behind the caval-
ry and halt. This checked the retreat.
Tarleton ordered another charge.
When the British had approached
within short distance of Howard's
men they were ordered to face about
and fire. This they did and literally
covered the ground with wounded and
dead British. The living were brought
to halt. Howard seeing this, ordered
his men to charge them with the bayo-
net. This decided the day in favor of
the Americans. The British infantry
were in the utmost confusion.
Some Of Tarleton's cavalry had gain
ed the rear and were slaughtering Nc
Calls militia by the wholesale. Colonel
Washington saw the condition in which
things were and dashed in upon the
cavalry of the enemy and put them to
flight The British infantry and cav
airy were now so mixed up that it was
impossible to rally them. The few Of
the British who were not wounded or
killed fed In every direction, each man
for himself.
The history of the Revolutionary
war contains no more wonderful battle
than that of the Cowpens. The advan-
tages at the outset were all on the side
IF the British and yet the gains in the
end were all on the side Of the Ameri-
cans. The American loss was twelve
killed and forty-eight wounded. The
British loss, by their own account was
one hundred killed and five hundred
and twenty-three taken prisoners. The
spoils which fell into the hands OF the
Americans were all the enemy's bag
gage, thirty-fiv baggage wagons, eight
hundred horses, two standards, two
pieces of artilley and eight hundred
muskets. The victory was just as
complete as any victory could be.
Tarleton filled with sorrow, fed from
the battlefield and never stopped until
he crossed Broad river at Hamilton's
ford.
TO BE CONTINUED.
MORE INDIANS THAN EvER.-The
facts of the official record completely
disprove the popular notion that the