The command of the North Carolina militia devolved 1780. on brigadier Davidson, brigadier Smallwood having ob tained leave to go home. Gen Marion was engaged in ftimulating his countrymen in the lower parts of South Carolina; in keeping the tories in awe; in watching the enemy at their posts of Charlestown, George-town, and neighbouring places; and in gaining intelligence.

Dec.

General Greene with the remainder of his army, confifting of the continental brigade under col. O. Williams, and the Virginia militia brigade under gen. Stevens, with the artillery and a very few horfe, marched from Charlotte on the 20th, and arrived at Hicks's Creek on the east side of the Peedee on the 26th, where 26. he remained for fome time. Here the fpirit of plundering which prevailed among the inhabitants added much to his difficulties. The whole country was in danger of being laid wafte by the whigs and tories, who pursued, destroyed and killed each other, wherever they met, with as much relentless fury as beafts of prey. He regretted, that most people appeared to be in purfuit of revenge, private gain, or perfonal glory *.

Morgan on the 27th detached Washington with his dragoons, and about 200 militia, who marched 40 miles on the 28th, and the next day furprised a body of tories in Ninety Six, about 150 of whom were killed and wounded, and 40 made prisoners, and a number of horses taken, without any lofs on the part of the Americans. Major M'Dowal, with 190 North Carolina militia, and col. Pickens with about 70 South, joined the light troops. Pickens had lately escaped from captivity in Ninety Six, where his great worth and popularity influenced many

* General Greene's letters.

Jan.

12.

1781. to adhere to the American cause. On the 8th of January Greene fent word to Morgan, that the enemy had a movement in contemplation; and eleven days after, forwarded fome advice which will foon be mentioned. Greene had in camp at Hicks's Creek, prefent and fit for duty, 650 continentals, a detachment of 303 Virginia troops, and 157 Maryland'state troops, in all 1110. The next day col. Lee's partizan legion arrived from the northward. The corps confifted of about one hundred horfemen well mounted, and one hundred and twenty infantry. On the 13th the legion was detached on a fecret expedition. To take off the attention of the enemy and favor the enterprife, major Anderfon was fent with a fmall command down the Peedee. Lee pushed on for George-town, which he furprised the 24th at night. Lieut. col. Campbell was taken in his quarters and paroled; feveral other officers alfo were made prisoners and paroled. Major Irwin and a number more of the garrifon were killed; but the principal part fled to the fort, which Lee was not in a condition to besiege. While this enterprise was carrying on, the enemy aimed a blow at Morgan. Greene before he heard of Morgan's fuccefs, wrote to him on the 19th of January— "The Peedee rofe 25 feet the laft week in 30 hours. Put nothing to the hazard. A retreat may be disagreeable, but is not difgraceful. Regard not the opinion of the day. It is not our business to risk too much."

General Leslie in compliance with his orders, left Virginia, and arrived at Charlestown with his troops on the 13th of December: on the 19th he began his march up the country with about 1530 men, to join lord Cornwallis, which was effected without difficulty. On

the

the 11th of January his lordship advanced toward North 1781 Carolina. He wished to drive gen. Morgan from his station, and to deter the inhabitants from joining him. The execution of this bufinefs was intrufted to lieut. col. Tarleton; who was detached with the light and legion infantry, the fufileers, the first battalion of the 71ft regiment, about 350 cavalry, two field pieces, and an adequate proportion of men from the royal artillery, upward of a 1100 in the whole. This detachment, after a progrefs of fome days, by fatiguing marches, at about ten o'clock on the evening of the 16th of January, reached the ground which Morgan had quitted but a few hours before. The purfuit recommenced by two o'clock the next morning, and was rapidly continued 17. through marshes and broken grounds till day light, when the Americans were discovered in front. Two of their videttes were taken foon after, who gave information that Morgan had halted and prepared for action, at a place called the Cowpens, near Pacolet river. The Bri tish, befide their field pieces, had the fuperiority in infantry, in the proportion of five to four, and in cavalry of more than three to one. Befide, nearly two thirds of the troops under Morgan were militia. Morgan had obtained early intelligence of Tarleton's force and advances; and had drawn up his men in two lines. The whole of the North and South Carolina militia prefent was put under the command of col. Pickens, and formed the first line; which was advanced a few hundred yards before the fecond, with orders to form on the right of the fecond when forced to retire. The fecond line confifted of the light infantry under lieut. col. Howard, and the Virginia riflemen. Lieut. col. Washington, VOL. IV.

D

with

1781. with his cavalry, and about forty-five militiamen, mounted and equipped with fwords, under lieut. col. McCall, were drawn up at fome distance in the rear of the whole. The open wood in which they were formed, was neither fecured in front, flank or rear. Without the delay of a fingle moment, and in despite of extreme fatigue, the light legion infantry and fufileers were ordered to form in line. Before the order was executed, and while major Newmarsh, who commanded the latter corps, was pofting his officers, the line though far from complete, was led to the attack by Tarleton himself. The British advanced with a fhout, and poured in an inceffant fire of mufketry. Col. Pickens directed the militia not to fire till the British were within forty or fifty yards. This order, though executed with great firmness and fuccefs, was not fufficient to repel the enemy. The American militia gave way on all quarters. The British advanced rapidly, and engaged the second line. The continentals, after an obftinate conflict, were compelled to retreat to the cavalry. Col. Ogilvie, with his troop of forty men, had been ordered to charge the right flank of the Americans, and was engaged in cutting down the militia; but being expofed to a heavy fire, and charged at the fame time by Washington's dragoons, was forced to retreat in confufion. A great number of the British infantry officers had already fallen, and nearly a proportionable one of privates. The remainder being too few and too much fatigued, could not improve the advantage gained over the continentals; and Tarleton's legion cavalry ftanding aloof instead of advancing, lieut. col. Howard feized the favorable opportunity, rallied the continentals, and charged with fixed bayonets, nearly at

3

the

the fame moment when Washington made his fuccefs- 1781. ful attack. The example was inftantly followed by the militia. Nothing could exceed the astonishment of the British, occafioned by these unexpected charges. Their advance, fell back, and communicated a panic to others, which foon became general. Two hundred and fifty horfe which had not been engaged, fled through the woods with the utmost precipitation, bearing down fuch officers as oppofed their flight; and the cannon were foon feized by the Americans, the detachment from the train being either killed or wounded in their defence. The greatest confufion now followed among the infantry. In the moment of it lieut. col. Howard called to them to lay down their arms, and promifed them good quarters. Some hundreds accepted the offer, and furrendered. The firft battalion of the 71ft regiment, and two British light infantry companies laid down their arms to the American militia. The only body of infantry that escaped, was a detachment left at fome distance to guard the baggage. Early intelligence of their defeat was conveyed to the officer commanding that corps by some royalists. What part of the baggage could not be carried off he immediately deftroyed; and with his men. mounted on the waggon and spare horses, he retreated to lord Cornwallis. The British had 10 commiffioned officers, and upward of 100 rank and file killed. Two hundred wounded, 29 commiffioned officers, and above 500 privates prisoners, fell into the hands of the Americans, befide two pieces of artillery (firft taken from the British at Saratoga, then retaken by them at Camden, and now recovered by the Americans) two ftandards, 800 muskets, 35 baggage waggons, and upward of 100 dra