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Washington's cavalry were charged and driven back into the continental
infantry by this handful of brave men。 Another party who had seized upon
the baggage were dispersed； and this detachment retired towards Broad
river unmolested。 The number of the killed and wounded at the Cowpens；
amounted to near three hundred on both sides； officers and men inclusive；
this loss was almost equally shared。 But the Americans took two pieces of
cannon； the colours of the 7th regiment； and near four hundred prisoners。〃
Thus far Col。 Tarleton。 Gen。 Moultrie received his account of this action of
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the Cowpens 〃from an officer of great veracity and high rank； who was
conspicuous on that day；〃 supposed to be Col。 Washington。 The substance
of his account shall now be given； that the two may be compared。 Gen。
Morgan drew up his men in an open pine barren； the militia of about four
hundred men； under Col。 Pickens； formed the first line。 The continentals
of about five hundred men； two hundred of whom were raw troops；
formed the second line； under Col。 Howard； two hundred yards in the rear。
Col。 Washington； with seventy…five continental cavalry； and forty…five
militia under Capt。 M‘Call； in the rear。 Pickens ordered his men to reserve
their fire till the enemy came within fifty yards； which they did； and fired
with great success； but they were soon obliged to give way and retreat
behind the second line； which received them warmly； at length the second
line began to give way。 Col。 Washington； perceiving this； rode up to their
rear with his cavalry； and told Howard； 〃if he would rally his men and
charge the enemy's line； he would charge the cavalry who were cutting
down the militia。〃 His riding so close to the rear stopped the British； and
Howard rallied his men in the mean time； and charged with fixed bayonets。
Col。 Washington charged the cavalry and routed them； the militia at the
same time recovered themselves and began to fire； and the whole threw
the enemy into the utmost confusion。 Howard called out to them； 〃to lay
down their arms and they should have good quarters。〃 Upwards of five
hundred men threw down their arms and surrendered。 Two hundred were
left dead on the field； and a great number wounded。 Besides the two field
pieces mentioned by Tarleton； six hundred men； eight hundred stand of
arms； and thirty…five baggage waggons； fell into the hands of the
Americans。 Col。 Washington pursued the British cavalry twenty…five
miles。
By this last account the disparity in numbers was not great； and as one
half the Americans were either militia or new levies； the superiority was
on the side of Tarleton； whose men； except two hundred； were veterans；
and he had two field pieces。 The ground too he acknowledges was
advantageous； so that every thing was in his favour； but ~an agency~
which he could not control。 But in the last account we can find no place
where he and his handful of brave men could encounter Col。 Washington。
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Life of Marion。
In his bewildered fancy perhaps it was some other object he encountered；
since for the space of five and twenty miles； not their faces； but only their
backs were to be seen。 The fact is； that never was victory more complete；
never was vanity more humbled； nor cruelty more justly requited than in
the defeat of this tyrannical man。 Its first effect was to raise the spirits of
the people； its ultimate consequence was the downfall of Cornwallis and
peace to the country。 But most severe trials are yet to be surmounted； and
patriotism the most exemplary remains yet to be recorded。
On the day the last letter of Greene； of the 23d Jan。 was written； Gen。
Marion and Col。 Lee projected a joint expedition to surprise Georgetown。
Capts。 Carnes and Rudulph； with ninety men； dropped down the Pedee
from Snow's island in a boat； to fall in on the back of the town by Winyaw
bay； while Marion and Lee were to come down with the main body by
land。 Carnes with his party went ashore at Mitchell's landing； and
marched over his rice…field bank into the town at day light。 The surprise
would have been complete； had they pushed up directly to the redoubt； but
they delayed too long on the Bay。 They took the commandant； Col。
Campbell； out of his bed； and killed Major Irvine and some others； but
Marion and Lee could not arrive in time to cooperate。 The redoubt was
alarmed and placed in a state of defence； and Carnes was obliged to retreat。
The great cause of delay was the inclination to take the commandant； by
which they lost the fort and the town。 Lieut。 Cryer killed Irvine； by whose
orders he had received five hundred lashes some time before； for
attempting to take away his horse from Georgetown。
On the 28th Jan。 Gen。 Huger transmitted an order from Greene to
Marion； to strike at the posts beyond Santee。 But this Gen。 Marion had
anticipated。 From Cordes' plantation； in advance； at the distance of one
hundred miles from Greene； and on the 29th Jan。 he had detached Col。
Postell and Major Postell on this important service。 The latter had but
thirty…eight men； and it is presumed from circumstances； the colonel had
about an equal number。 The colonel burnt a great quantity of valuable
stores at Manigault's ferry； and the major a great many more in its vicinity。
Thence the latter posted to Keithfield； near Monk's corner； and burnt
fourteen waggons loaded with soldiers' clothing； baggage and other
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Life of Marion。
valuable stores； and took prisoners about forty British regulars； without
losing a man。 To the Postells 〃nothing indeed appeared difficult。〃 They
received the thanks of Gen。 Greene。
About the beginning of this year； Gen。 Marion appointed two aids；
Thomas Elliott and Lewis Ogier； the first of whom conducted the most of
his correspondence。 He formed a mess of which Col。 Hugh