Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-01-25
BATTLE OF COWPENS
Glorious Event In Revolutionary
Struggle.
Interesting Review Of a Notable
Achievement Of Which Americans
Have Always Been roud-old Dan.
iel Morgan Was Too Many for Col.
onel Tarleton

Achievement Of Which Americans
Have Always Been roud-oid Dan.
ieI Morgan Was Too Many for Col.
onel Tarleton.
Gaffney Ledger.
| January 18th is the anniversary OF
the Battle OF Cowpcns. which WAS one
OF the most important battles fought
during the Revolutionary war The
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 a monument on Nor
gan Square In that city. to commem-
crate the victory; In this they were
assisted by the thirteen original
states. This monument was unveiled
in 1851. The Daughters OF the Amer
lean Revolution OF Gaffney and Spar
hamburg are the custodians OF Tn"
battlefield. and from time to time
they have had celebrations there. II Is
about twelve miles from Gaffney to
the scene OF the battle and the people
who live in the neighborhood are de-
lsccndants OF some OF those who
fought there and II is n pleasure for
them TO recount what has been hand
I'd down 10 them OF actual happenings
which took place while the battle was
being fought:
II is extremely interesting from
variety Of standpoints TO recall at
this time some Of the circumstances
ATTENDING the victory at Cowpens. The
world IL so used TO the tcrminology
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 Cowpcns 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-
gagged on both sides at the Battle OF
Cowpens.
Up TO the time OF the battle. which
took place i'm 1881. 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 al will. He hoped to increase
Tory sentiment, which had at first
been 80 strong that the continental
armies had had almost no support
in the south by the n. .rogance Of VIC
tory. In those days an army had to
live largely off the country and the
sentiment Of the people wa' an i'm
1purtant -farrUr:-bbue ''1erl.*a1rfs, al
stead Of adding sentiment in favor OF
England, destroyed all loyalty and
VOLUNTEERS for the continental arm
les and the cooperation heartened
Americans to begin again.
The immediate occasion Of the bat
tile was this: General Daniel Morgan
had been placed in command Of the
,llth Virginia infantry. and had been
Joined by several other bodies OF
Troops who had small success. Corn
wallis became apprehensive OF his
lpost at Ninety-six and dispatched
lTarleton with 1000 regulars to do
away with Morgan.
Morgan had slightly over 500 men.
ltwo-thirds of whom were militia, and
some of them were green. However,
he was able to plan his resistance
and arrange his troops. Col. Pickens
with the southern militia. formed the
first line. These were to form on the
fright of the second line. three hun
drcd yards behind. II forced to re-
treat. The second line was the light
Infantry. including Morgan's rifle
men. under Lieut.. Col. Howard. Lieut..
Col. VIM. Washington. who command
cd the cavalry and IS militiamen. was
some distance in the rear. This ar
arrangement was extremely wise.
Tarleton attacked with confidence,
Ihis men rushing forward with shouts
and hot musketry fire. Morgan or
ldered his men 10 wait until the en-
Iemy was within 40 to so yards, and
lthen to fire. The men were cool and
Iobeyed. but were unable to with
stand the onslaught. The second line
Ithen met the British and retreated
lalso. after an obstinate fight. Just
then, Washington charged. and How
lard, rallying his men, charged with
fixed bayonets. Nothing could exceed
1.-The astonishment and confusion OF the
British, says an eminent historian.
land they fed or surrendered inglo-
lrious. Their killed and captured
Iamounted to nearly as many as all the
lAmerican force, while Morgan lost
|only u men with so wounded.
The qualities Of bravery. coolness
land generalship exhibited by the
lAmerican forces were praised all over
the country. and Morgan was voted
gold medal and the thanks OF his
lcountry by congress. the other COM
nanders also receiving rewards.
The battle OF Kings Mountain a
little later. and the battle Of Guilford
lCourthouse. which. though not a
victory. operated like one, soon fore
led CORVALLIS into Virginia and to
yorktown. where he surrendered.
It is interesting to note that 1t was
intrepid and unyielding bayonet light
ing that turned the tide at Cowpens.
Another detail. interesting because "
Is 30 archaic. was that the British
counted greatly on the help OF two
field pieces. known as "grasshoppers."
These were captured by the Ameri-
cans. They had hrst been taken from
Burgoyne at Saratoga, retaken by the
British at Camden, and now fell into
the hands OF the Americans again.
,l Six hundred and fifty food dealers
of South Carolina have pledged them =
selves to give their customers the
, h.s.at ~ fair aod rnodarata nricas