General Nathaniel Greene
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, the territory now lying on and near the eastern base of the Blue Ridge or Alleghany chain of mountains constituted the borders of civilization and suffered frequently from marauding bands of Cherokee Indians, the great scourge of Western North Carolina.Battle of Cowpens
After the unfortunate battle of Camden, on the 16th of August, 1780, where General Gates lost the laurels he had obtained at Saratoga, Congress perceived the necessity of appointing a more efficient commander for the Southern army. General Washington then selected from his well-tried and experienced officers. After that, the commander-in-chief appointed General Nathaniel Greene, late the Quartermaster General, on the 30th of October, 1780, who, a few days afterward, set out for his field of labor. As he passed through Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, he ascertained what supplies it was likely could be obtained from those States, and leaving Baron Steuben to take charge of the defense of Virginia, he proceeded to Hillsboro, then the temporary seat of government for North Carolina. Gov. Nash received him with much joy, as the safety of the State was in imminent danger. After a short stay in that place, he hastened on to Charlotte, the headquarters of the Southern army. General Gates there met him with marked respect, without displaying any of those feelings which sometimes arise from disappointed ambition, and immediately set out for the headquarters of Washington, then in New Jersey, to submit to an inquiry into his conduct, which Congress had ordered.General Greene took charge of the Southern army in Charlotte on the 3rd of December, 1780. After surveying his troops and supplies, he found himself at the head of about two thousand men, one-half of whom were militia, with only a sufficiency of provisions for three days, in an exhausted country, and with a scanty supply of ammunition. With the quick eye of military genius, Greene determined to divide his small army and provide needed supplies in different localities. Relying upon General Davidson's militia as a central force, Greene camped on Hick's Creek, opposite Cheraw, about seventy miles to the right of Lord Cornwallis, who was then at Winnsboro, South Carolina. While encamped at this place, he was joined by the legionary corps of cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Lee, more familiarly known as " Light Horse" Harry, and father of the late distinguished General Robert E. Lee, of the Confederate army, whose memory the Southern people and an impartial world will ever delight to honor! The other detachment of the military, about one thousand strong, under Brig. General Morgan was about fifty miles to the left to disperse bands of Tories and protect the country between the Broad and Pacolet Rivers. General Morgan's division, near the close of 1780, consisted of four hundred Continental infantry under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard of the Maryland line, two companies of the Virginia militia under Captains Triplett and Tate, and about one hundred dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel William Washington. This force was augmented by the North Carolina militia under Major McDowell-Mountain Boys, ever reliable, and some Georgia militia under Major Cunningham. General Morgan encamped on the northern bank of Pacolet River near Pacolet Springs. From this point, Colonel Washington frequently sallied forth to disperse bodies of Tories who assembled at different places and plundered the Whig inhabitants. He attacked and defeated two hundred of them at Hammond's store, and soon afterward, a section of his command dispersed another Tory force under the " bloody " Bill Cunningham.
Cornwallis, who was still at Winnsboro, was alarmed and, fearing an attack upon his important post at Ninety-Six, determined to disperse the forces under Morgan or drive them into North Carolina before he should rally the Mountain Men in sufficient numbers to cut off his communication with his post at Augusta. He accordingly dispatched Tarleton with his legion and a strong infantry force, with two field pieces, to compel Morgan to fight or hastily retreat. Tarleton's entire force consisted of about eleven hundred well-disciplined men, and in every respect he had the advantage of Morgan.
It is related to Tarleton that when he heard that the forces of General Morgan were near the post of Ninety-Six, he begged Lord Rawdon the privilege of attacking the American officer. " By Heaven, my lord, said he, I would not desire a finer feather in my cap than Colonel Morgan. Such a prisoner would make my fortune. " Ah, Ban, (contraction of Banastre, Tarleton's Christian name) replied Rawdon, " You had better let the old wagoner alone." As no refusal would satisfy him, ge immediately set out with a strong force in pursuit of Morgan. At parting, Tarleton said to Rawdon with a smile, " My lord, if you are so generous as to wait for dinner, the day after tomorrow, till four o'clock, Colonel Morgan shall be one of your lordship's guests."
" Very well, Ban, said Rawdon. We shall wait, but remember, Morgan was brought up under Washington."
Tarleton commenced his March from Winnsboro on the 11th of January, 1781, Cornwallis following leisurely in the rear with the main army. He crossed Broad River near Turkey Creek and advanced with all possible speed toward the camp of General Morgan. That officer was at first disposed to dispute Tarleton's passage of the Pacolet River. Still, being informed of the superiority of his numbers and that a portion of the British army had already crossed above him, he hastily retreated northward. He took post for battle on the north side of Thickety Mountain, near the Cowpens. Tarleton pressed eagerly forward in pursuit, riding all night and making a circuit around the western side of the mountain. At eight o'clock in the morning, he came in sight of the advanced guard of the patriots, and fearing that Morgan might again retreat and get safely across Broad River, he resolved to attack him immediately, notwithstanding the exhausted condition of his troops. Tarleton was disposed to view Morgan as " flying game," and he therefore wished to " bag him " while clearly within the scope of his vision. The sequel will show how sadly he was mistaken.
The Americans were rested and refreshed after they retreated from the Pacolet River. And, now expecting the enemy, they were drawn up in battle order. Tarleton was somewhat disconcerted when he found that Morgan was prepared to fight him, for he desired to overtake him on a flying retreat. It was now about nine o'clock. The sun shone brightly over Thickety Mountain's summits and imparted a glowing brilliancy to the martial array in the forests below. On the crown of the eminence were stationed two hundred and ninety Maryland regulars, and on their right were the two companies of Virginia militia under Major Triplet. These composed the rear line of four hundred and thirty men under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard. One hundred and fifty yards in advance of this line was a body of about three hundred militia under Colonel Andrew Pickens, all experienced riflemen and burning with a spirit of revenge because of numerous cruelties previously inflicted by the British and Tories. This brave officer had arrived with his followers during the night, joining Morgan. About one hundred and fifty yards in advance of this first line were placed the best riflemen of the corps under McDowell and Cunningham. The action soon commenced. At a signal from Tarleton, his advance gave a loud shout and rushed furiously to the contest under cover of their artillery and a constant discharge of musketry. The riflemen under McDowell and Cunningham delivered their fire with terrible effect and then fell back to the flanks of the first line under Pickens. The contest was close and severe, with alternate wavings of the British and American lines under successive bayonet attacks. Suffice it to say, Tarleton here met a " foeman worthy of his steel; " and the Americans, at the Cowpens, on the 17th of January, 1781, gained one of the most triumphant victories of the Revolutionary War. Almost all the British infantry, except the baggage guard, were either killed or taken. Two pieces of artillery, eight hundred muskets, two standards, thirty-five wagons, and one hundred dragoon horses fell into the hands of the Americans. Notwithstanding the cruel warfare that Tarleton had waged against the Americans, not one British prisoner was killed or even insulted after surrendering. In this decisive battle, the Americans lost twelve killed and about sixty wounded. The British lost ten officers and ninety privates killed, and twenty-three officers and five hundred privates taken prisoners. At the close of the action, Washington, with his cavalry, pursued Tarleton, who now had become a flying game. In his eagerness of pursuit that officer, Washington had dashed forward considerably in advance of his squadron when Tarleton and two of his aids turned upon him, and just as an officer on Tarleton's right was about to strike him with his saber, his sergeant dashed up and disabled the assailant"s sword arm. An officer on Tarleton's left was about to hit at the exact moment when Washington's little bugler, too small to wield a sword, wounded the assailant with a pistol ball. Tarleton, who was in the center, then made a thrust at him, which Washington parried and hurt his enemy in the hand. Tarleton wheeled and, as he retreated, discharged a pistol, wounding Washington in the knee. During that night and the following morning, the remnant of Tarleton's forces crossed Broad River at Hamilton's Ford and reached the encampment of Cornwallis at Turkey Creek, about twenty-five miles from the Cowpens.
This hand-wound of Tarleton, inflicted by Washington, gave rise, on two different occasions, to sallies of wit by two American ladies, daughters of Colonel Montford of Halifax County, North Carolina. When Cornwallis and his army were at Halifax on their way to Virginia, Tarleton was at the house of an American citizen.
In the presence of Mrs. Willie Jones, Tarleton spoke of Colonel Washington as an illiterate fellow, hardly able to write his name. "Ah! Colonel, " said Mrs. Jones, " you ought to know better, for you bear on your person proof that he knows very well how to make his mark! " At another time, Tarleton was sarcastically speaking of Washington in the presence of her sister, Mrs. Ashe. "I would be happy to see Colonel Washington," he said with a sneer. Mrs. Ashe instantly replied: " If you had looked behind you, Colonel Tarleton, at the battle of the Cowpens, you would have enjoyed that pleasure." Stung with this keen wit, Tarleton placed his hand on his sword with an inclination to use it. General Leslie, who was present, remarked, " Say what you please, Mrs. Ashe; Colonel Tarleton knows better than to insult a lady in my presence. " The victory of the Cowpens gave great joy to the friends of liberty throughout the country. Congress received information of it on the 8th of February following, and on the 9th of March, voted an award of a gold medal to Morgan, a silver medal to Howard and Washington, a sword to Colonel Pickens, and a vote of thanks to the other officers and men engaged in the battle.
At this time, Cornwallis was advancing triumphantly toward North Carolina, having placed South Carolina and Georgia, as he thought, in submission at his feet.
The defeat and death of Colonel Ferguson, one of his most efficient officers at Kings Mountain and now of Tarleton, his favorite partisan, greatly withered his hopes of solid cooperation. His last hope was the destruction of Greene's army by his superior force, and, with that design in view, he broke up his encampment near Turkey Creek and, like Saul, breathed out threatenings and slaughter against Morgan's little army, he commenced that pursuit of the hero of the Cowpens, who burdened with his five hundred prisoners, under various Providential interpositions, made good his retreat into Virginia, constituting one of the most thrilling and successful military achievements of the American Revolution.
Sketches of Western North Carolina, Historical and Biographical by C. L. Hunter; The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution by L. Carroll Judson
Stories of General Greene by Jeannette Holland Austin, published on Medium.com