The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-02-14
RATTLE OF COWPENS.
Glorious Event in Revolutionary
Struggle.

the DdlLlS VI W" pCho' "AihNhh "~N
of the most important battles fought
during the Revolutionary war. Ihe
winning of this battle, together WITH
the battle of Kings Mountain, made
possible the victory at Yorktown
which resulted in the surrender OF
Lord CORVALLIS, thus breaking the
power of the English government on
this continent. The people of Spar
tanburg erected monument on Nor
gan Square in that city. to commem-
orate the victory; in this they were
assisted by the thirteen original
States. This monument was unVell-
ed in 1881. The Daughters of the
American Revolution of Gaffney and
Spartanburg are the custodians OF
the battlefield, and from time to time
they have had celebrations there. It
is about twelve miles from Gaffney to
the scene of the battle and the peo-
ple who live in the neighborhood are
descendants of some of those who
fought there and it is pleasure for
them to recount what has been hand 4
ed down to them of actual happen
ings which took place while the bat
tie was being fought:
It is extremely interesting from
variety of standpoints to recall at
this time some of the circumstances
attending the victory at ,Cowpens.
The world is so used to the termin-
ology of world war that details of
one of the greatest battles of the
Revolution seem quaint and toylike,
and yet in its significance to the
United States the battle of Cowpens
is comparable to the significance of
the victory of Verdun for France.
There are twelve times as many
men at Camp Wadsworth as were en-
sased on both sides at the Battle Of
CoWpens.
Up to the time of the battle; which
took place in 1871, the British had
been entirely victorious in the South
and CORVALLIS had established him.
self at Ninety-six, and was allowing
his men to abuse and harry the peo
pie at will. He hoped to increase
Tory sentiment, which had at first
been so strong that the continental
armies had had almost no support
in the South by the arrogance of vic
tory In those days an army had to
live largely off the country and the
sentiment of the people was an i'm
portant factor But CORVALLIS, in
stead of adding sentiment in favor
of England, destroyed all loyalty and
volunteers for the continental armies
and the cooperation heartened Amer
leans to begin again.
The immediate occasion of the bat
tie was this: General Daniel Morgan
had been placed in command of the
11th Virginia infantry, and had been
joined by several other bodies of
troops who had small success. Corn
wallis became apprehensive of his
post at Ninety-six and despatched
Tarleton with, 1000 regulars to do
away with Morgan.
Morgan had slightly over 500 men,
two-thirds of whom were militia, and
some of them were green. However,
he was able to plan his resistance
and arranged his troops. Col. Pick
ems, with the Southern militia, form
ed the first line. These were to
form the right of the second line,
three hundred yards behind, if forced
to retreat. The second line was the
light infantry, including >Morgan's S
ri1emen, under Lieut.. Col. Howard,
Lieut.. Col. VIM. Washington, who
commanded the cavalry and 45
militiamen, was some distance in the |
rear This arrangement was eX-
tremely wise.
Tarleton attacked with confidence,
his men rushing forward with shouts
and hot musketry fire. Morgan Or
dered his men to wait until the en-
emy was within 40 to SO Yards, and
then to fire The men were cool and
obeyed, but were unable to with
stand the onslaught The second
line then met the British and re-
treated also, after an obstinate fight.
Just then, Washington charged, and
Howard, rallying his men, charged
with fixed bayonets. Nothing could
exceed the astonishment and con-
fusion of the British, says an eminent
historian, and they fed or surrender
ed ingloriously. Their killed and
captured amounted to nearly as many
as all the American force, while