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guilt, and they immediately conducted him to Colonel Jameson, their commanding officer.

Andre was tried by a board of general officers of the American army, and executed as a spy, at Tappan, New York, October 2. He was a young officer, highminded, brave, accomplished, and humane. He suffered with fortitude, and his fate excited the universal sympa thy of all parties.*

82. Battle at King's Mountain.

"It had been the policy of the British, since the general submission of the inhabitants of South Carolina, to increase the royal force by embodying the people of the country as British militia. In the district of Ninety

Major Andre had many friends in the American army, and even Washington would have spared him, had duty to his country permitted. Every possible effort was made by Sir Henry Clinton in his favour; but it was deemed important that the decision of the board of war should be carried into execution.

When Major Andre was apprised of the sentence of death, he made a last appeal in a letter to Washington, that he might be shot rather than die on a gibbet.

The letter of Andre roused the sympathies of Washington, and had he only been concerned, the prisoner would have been pardoned and released. But the interests of his country were at stake, and the sternness of justice demanded that private feelings should be sacrificed.

Upon consulting his officers on the propriety of listening to Major Andre's request, to receive the death of a soldier, (to be shot,) it was deemed necessary to deny it, and to make him an example.

As a reward to Paulding, Williams, and Van Wart, for their virtuous and patriotic conduct, congress voted to each of them an annuity of $200, and a silver medal, on one side of which was a shield with this inscription-"fidelity," and on the other, the following motto-" vincit amor patria,"-the love of country conquers.

Arnold, the miserable wretch, whose machinations led to the melancholy fate Andre experienced, escaped to New York, where, as the price of his dishonour, he received the commission of brigadier general, and the sum of ten thousand pounds sterling!

This last boon was the grand secret of Arnold's fall from virtue, his vanity and extravagance had led him into expenses which it was neither in the power nor will of congress to support. He had in volved himself in debt, from which he saw no hope of extricating himself; and his honour was therefore bartered for British gold.Goodrich's Hist. U. S.

six, Major Ferguson, a partisan of distinguished merit, had been employed to train the most loyal inhabitants, and to attach them to his own corps. That officer was now directed by Lord Cornwallis to enter the western part of North Carolina, near the mountains, and to embody the loyalists in that quarter, for co-operation with his army. Cornwallis, in the mean time, commenced his march with the main army from Camden, through the settlement of the Waxhaws, to Charlotteville, in North Carolina. About the same time, Colonel Clark, of Georgia, at the head of a small body of men, which he had collected in the frontiers of North and South Carolina, advanced against Augusta, and laid siege to that place. Colonel Brown, who with a few loyal provincials held that post for the British, made a vigorous defence; and, on the approach of Colonel Cruger, with a re-enforcement from Ninety-Six, Clark relinquished the enterprise, and made a rapid retreat through the country along which he had marched to the attack. Major Ferguson, receiving intelligence of his movements, prepared to intercept him. The hardy mountaineers of Virginia and North Carolina, collecting at this time from various quarters, constituted a formidable force, and advanced by a rapid movement towards Ferguson. At the same time, Colonel Williams, from the neighbourhood of Ninety-Six, and Colonels Tracy and Banan, also of South Carolina, conducted parties of men towards the same points. Ferguson, having notice of their approach, commenced his march for Charlotteville. The several corps of militia, amounting to near three thousand men, met at Gilberttown, lately occupied by Ferguson. About one thousand six hundred riflemen were immediately selected, and mounted on their fleetest horses, for the purpose of following the retreating army. They came up with the enemy at King's Mountain, October 7, 1780, where Ferguson, on finding he should be overtaken, had chosen his ground, and waited for an attack. The Americans formed themselves into three divisions, led by Colonels Campbell, Shelby, and Cleaveland, and began to ascend the mountain in three differ

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ent and opposite directions. Cleaveland, with his division, was the first to gain sight of the enemy's pickets, and halting his men, he addresed them in the following simple, affecting, and animating terms:-" My brave fellows, we have beat the tories, and we can beat them; they are all cowards. If they had the spirit of men, they would join with their fellow-citizens in supporting the independence of their country. When engaged, you are not to wait for the word of command from me. will show you by my example how to fight. I can undertake no more. Every man must consider himself as an officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can, and stand your ground as long as you can. When you can do no better, get behind trees, or retreat; but I beg of you not to run quite off. If we are repulsed, let us make a point to return, and renew the fight; perhaps we may have better luck in the second attempt than in the first. If any of you are afraid, such have leave to retire, and they are requested immediately to take themselves off." This address, which would have done honour to the hero of Agincourt, being ended, the men rushed upon the enemy's pickets, and forced them to retire; but returning again to the charge with the bayonet, Cleveland's men gave way in their turn. In the mean time, Colonel Shelby advanced with his division, and was in like manner driven back by the bayonets of the enemy; but there was yet another body of assailants to be received: Colonel Campbell moved up at the moment of Shelby's repulse, but was equally unable to stand against the British bayonet; and Ferguson still kept possession of his mountain. The whole of the division being separately baffled, determined to make another effort in co-operation, and the conflict became terrible. Ferguson still depended upon the bayonet; but this brave and undaunted officer, after gallantly sustaining the attack for nearly an hour, was killed by a musket ball, and his troops soon after surrendered at discretion. The enemy's loss on this occasion was 300 killed and wounded, 800 prisoners, and

Holmes.

1,500 stand of arms.

Our loss in killed was about 20, among whom was Colonel Williams, one of our most active and enterprising officers; our number of wounded was very considerable."

83. Battle of the Cowpens.

In the autumn of 1780 Gen. Greene was appointed to the command of the forces in Carolina. He was accompanied by Col. Morgan, a brave and active officer, who commanded a body of riflemen.

On the entrance of Morgan into the district of NinetySix, Lord Cornwallis detached Lieut. Col. Tarleton to drive him from his station, and to "push him to the utmost." Tarleton's force consisted of about 1000 choice infantry, and 250 hot with two field-pieces. To oppose this force, Morgan had but 500 militia, 300 regulars, and 75 horse, under the command of Colonel Washington. The two detachments met on the 17th of Jan., 1781, at the Cowpens. The ground on which this memorable battle was fought, was an open pine barren. The militia were drawn up about 280 yards in front of the regulars, and the horse some small distance in the rear. Just after daybreak, the British came in sight; and halting within about a quarter of a mile of the militia, began to prepare for battle. The sun had just risen, as the enemy, with loud shouts, advanced to the charge. The militia, hardly waiting to give them a distant fire, broke, and fled for their horses, which were tied at some distance. Tarleton's cavalry pushed hard after them, and coming up just as they reached their horses, began to cut them down. On seeing this, Col. Washington, with his cavalry, dashed on to their rescue. As if certain of victory, Tarleton's men were all scattered in the chase. Washington's men, on the contrary, advanced closely and compactly, and gave the British cavalry such a fatal charge, that they fled in the utmost precipitation. The Bri

Allen's Revolution.

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tish infantry now came up; and having crossed a little valley, just as they ascended the hill, they found themselves within twenty paces of the regular Americans, under Col. Howard, who at this moment poured upon them a general and deadly fire. This threw them into confusion. The militia, seeing this change in the battle, recovered their spirits and began to form on the right of the regulars. Morgan, waving his sword, instantly rode up, exclaiming with a loud voice, Hurrah! my brave fel lows! form! form! old Morgan was never beat in his life!-one fire more, my heroes, and the day is our own!"_ With answering shouts, both regulars and militia then advanced upon the enemy; and following their fire with the bayonet, instantly decided the conflict.

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The British lost in this engagement upwards of 300 killed and wounded, and more than 500 prisoners. The loss of the Americans was but 12 killed and 60 wounded.

84. Battle of Guilford.

After the disaster at the Cowpens, Lord Cornwallis determined to intercept Colonel Morgan, and retake the prisoners; but a heavy rain in the night, swelled the rivers so as to prevent his design. To enable his troops to march with more celerity, he destroyed all his heavy baggage. At length General Greene joined Colonel Morgan, with additional forces, and Lord Cornwallis having collected his troops, the armies met near the court-house in Guilford. The action was fought on the 15th of March, 1781. The Americans amounted to between 4 and 5000 men, but mostly militia, or inexperienced soldiers. The British force consisted of about half that number of veterans.* The Americans were drawn up in three lines. The front was composed of North Carolina militia, commanded by Generals Butler and Eaton; the second of Virginia militia, commanded by Stephens and Lawson; the third, of continental

* Webster.

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