much; but the necessity of the case gave no alternative. The continental army was too inconsiderable to make successful opposition to the superior numbers of Lord Cornwallis, without the most powerful co-operation of the militia of the country. To give them an opportunity of embodying it was necessary to cover both extremities of the State.

SECTION VIII.

Campaign of 1781.

After the general submission of the militia, in the year 1780, a revolution took place highly favorable to the interests of America. The residence of the British army, instead of increasing the real friends to royal government, diminished their number and added new vigor to the opposite party. In the district of Ninety-Six moderate measures were at first adopted by the British commanders, but the effects of this were frustrated by the royalists. A great part of those who called themselves the King's friends had been at all times a banditti, to whom rapine and violence were familiar. On the restoration of royal government these men preferred their claim to its particular notice. The conquerors were so far imposed on by them, that they promoted some of them who were of the most infamous characters. Men of such base minds and mercenary principles, regardless of the capitulation, gratified their private resentments and their rage for plunder to the great distress of the new made subjects, and the greater injury of the royal interest. Violences of this kind made some inen break their engagements to the British, and join the Americans. Their revolt occasioned suspicions to the prejudice of others who had no intention of following their example. Fears, jealousies and distrust, haunted the minds of the conquerors. All confidence was at an end. Severe measures were next tried, but with a worse effect. Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour, an haughty and imperious officer who commanded in that district, was more calculated, by his insolence and overbearing conduct to alienate the inhabitants from a government already beloved, than to reconcile them to one which was generally disliked. By an unwarrantable stretch of his authority he issued a proclamation by which it was declared," that every man who was not in his house by a certain day should be subject to a military execution." The British had a post in Ninety-Six for thirteen months, during which time the country was filled with rapine, violence, and murder. Applications were made daily for redress, yet in that whole period there was not a single instance wherein punishment was inflicted either on the soldiery or

tories. The people soon found that there was no security for their lives, liberties, or property, under the military govern ment of British officers, which subjected them to the depredations of a malicious mercenary banditti; falsely calling themselves the friends of royal government. The peaceable citizens were reduced to that uncommon distress, in which they had more to fear from oppression than resistance; they therefore most ardently wished for the appearance of an American force. Under these favorable circumstances Greene detached Morgan to take a position in the western extremity of the State. On his arrival the latter dispatched LieutenantColonel Washington, with his own regiment and two hundred militia-horse, to attack a body of tories who were plundering the whig inhabitants. Washington came up with them near Hammond's store-house, and charged them; on on which they all fled without making any resistance. Many were killed or wounded, and about forty taken prisoners.

On the next day Washington detached Cornet James Simons, with a command of eleven regulars and twenty-five militia, to pursue the fugitives and to surprise a fort a few miles distant, in which General Cunningham commanded about one hundred and fifty British militia. This fort was strongly picqueted in every direction; and, besides plunder taken from the whig inhabitants, was well stored with forage, grain, and provisions for the use of the British army. As soon as the Americans were discovered, General Cunningham and all his men abandoned the fort. Cornet Simons stationed his detachment, and, advancing with a flag, demanded their sur render. Cunningham requested time to consult his officers, and five minutes were given him for that purpose. In that short space the whole party of tories ran off, and dispersed themselves through the woods. Simons, after destroying the fort and all the provisions in it which he could not carry away, rejoined Washington without any molestation.

These successes, the appearance of an American army, a sincere attachment to the cause of independence, and the impolitic conduct of the British, induced several persons to resume their arms and to act in concert with the detachments of continentals. Lord Cornwallis wished to drive Morgan from this station, and to deter the inhabitants from joining him. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, at the head of a thousand regulars, was ordered to execute this business. The British had two field-pieces, and the superiority of numbers in the proportion of five to four, and particularly of cavalry in the proportion of three to one. Besides this inequality of force, two-thirds of the troops under Morgan were militia. With these fair prospects of success, Tarleton, on the 17th of January

men.

1781, engaged Morgan with the expectation of driving him out of the country. The latter drew up his men in two lines. The whole of the southern militia, with one hundred and ninety from North Carolina, were put under the command of Colonel Pickens. These formed the first line, and were advanced a few hundred yards before the second, with orders to form on the right of the second when forced to retire. The second line consisted of the light-infantry, under LieutenantColonel Howard, and a small corps of Virginia militia rifleLieutenant-Colonel Washington with his cavalry and forty-five militia-men, mounted and equipped with swords, were drawn up at some distance in the rear of the whole. The Americans were formed before the British appeared in sight. Tarleton halted, and formed his men, when at the distance of about two hundred and fifty yards from the front line of Morgan's detachment. As soon as the British had formed they began to advance with a shout, and poured in an incessant fire of musketry. Colonel Pickens directed the militia under his command not to fire till the British were within forty or fifty yards. This order, though executed with great firmness and success, was not sufficient to repel the advancing foe. The American militia were obliged to retire, but were soon rallied by their officers. The British advanced rapidly and engaged the second line which, after a most obstinate conflict, was compelled to retreat to the cavalry. In this crisis of the battle, Washington made a successful charge upon Tarleton who was cutting down the militia. Lieutenant

Colonel Howard, almost at the same moment, rallied the continental troops and charged with fixed bayonets. The example was instantly followed by the militia. Nothing could exceed the astonishment and confusion of the British, occasioned by these unexpected charges. Their advance fell back upon their rear, and communicated a panic to the whole. In this moment of confusion Howard called to them "to lay down their arms," and promised them good quarters. Upwards of five hundred accepted the offer, and surrendered. The first battalion of the seventy-first regiment, and two British light infantry companies laid down their arms to the American militia. Previous to this general surrender, three hundred of the corps, commanded by Tarleton, had been killed, wounded or taken. Eight hundred stand of arms, two field-pieces, and thirty-five baggage-wagons also fell into the hands of the Americans. Washington pursued the British cavalry for several miles, but a great part of them escaped. The Americans had only twelve men killed, and sixty wounded. General Morgan, whose great abilities were dis- · covered by the judicious disposition of his force, and whose

activity was conspicuous through every part of the action, obtained the universal applause of his countrymen. And there never was a commander better supported than he was by the officers and men of his detachment. The glory and importance of this action resounded from one end of the continent to the other. It re-animated the desponding friends of America, and seemed to be like a resurrection from the dead to the southern States.

Morgan's good conduct, on this memorable day, was honored by Congress with a gold medal. That illustrious assembly, on this occasion, presented also a medal of silver to LieutenantColonel Washington, another to Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, a sword to Colonel Pickens, a brevet majority to Edward Giles, the General's Aid-de-camp, and a Captaincy to Baron Glasback, who had lately joined the light infantry as a volunteer. The British legion, hitherto triumphant in a variety of skirmishes, on this occasion lost their laurels, though they were supported by the Seventh regiment, one battalion of the Seventy-first, and two companies of light infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton had hitherto acquired distinguished reputation, but he was greatly indebted for his military fame to good fortune and accident. In all his previous engagements he either had the advantage of surprising an incautious enemy, of attacking them when panic-struck after recent defeats, or of being opposed to undisciplined militia. He had gathered no laurels by hard fighting against an equal force. His repulse on this occasion did more essential injury to the British interest than was compensated by all his victories.

Tarleton's defeat was the first link in a grand chain of causes which finally drew down ruin, both in North and South Carolina, on the royal interest. The series of victories which had followed the British arms in the first nine months of the year 1780, had been considered by the sanguine royalists as decisive with respect to the most southern colonies, and had led to the formation of extensive plans for the year 1781. These were defensive with respect to South Carolina and Georgia, which were considered as conquered countries, but offensive against North Carolina and Virginia. To favor the subjugation of these two latter States, the British commanders stationed troops in both. The tories under the protection of the royal army were encouraged to rise simultaneously. With their aid, and that of his army, Lord Cornwallis expected to destroy the American forces commanded by General Greene, or at least to drive them out of the country. As his lordship advanced from south to north, it was expected the tories, with a portion of regulars, would keep all quiet in his rear. North Carolina was scarcely considered in any other light than as the road to

Virginia. A junction with the royal forces stationed in the last named State, in the front of Lord Cornwallis, was expected at so early a day, as to give time for prosecuting further operations against Maryland and Pennsylvania. The expectations of some went so far as to count upon a junction with the royal army in New York, and the subjugation of every State to the southward of Hudson's river, before the close of the campaign. The year 1781 commenced with the prospect of accomplishing most, if not all of these objects. These sanguine hopes were founded on the reduction of Savannah and Charlestown, the subjugation of Georgia and South Carolina-the route of General Gates' army-the failure of the American paper currency, the general distress of the country, and the inability of Congress to carry on the war, from the want of the means necessary for that purpose. In this distressed state of American affairs, success, little short of a termination of the war in favor of Great Britain, was expected from a vigorous campaign, conducted with energy and advancing from south to north. The defeat of Ferguson at King's mountain, in October, 1780, and of Tarleton at the Cow Pens, in January, 1781, precipitated the projected system of operations. To recover the prisoners taken at the Cow Pens, the royal army was instantly put in motion. A military race commenced between the pursuing British and the fleeing Americans. North Carolina was therefore prematurely invaded before the tories were prepared for joining the royalists. Rising without order or system, they were separately subdued. General Greene, by rapid movements, saved his prisoners, but was compelled to retreat into Virginia. By avoiding engagements he preserved his army till he was joined by so many of his countrymen as enabled him to recross into North Carolina, and to risk a general action at Guilford. This, though called a victory by the British, operated against them like a defeat. Lord Cornwallis was reduced to the alternative of retracing his footsteps to South Carolina, or advancing to Virginia, while the country behind him was left open to the enterprising General Greene, at the head of a respectable force. The two armies, one of which for some weeks had been chasing the other, now turned back to back. Lord Cornwallis advanced northwardly, and seated himself in York Town, Virginia, where, in October following, he was reduced to the necessity of surrendering his whole army prisoners of war; Greene, southwardly to Carolina, and in the course of the campaign, recovered the country from its late conquerors. This was facilitated by the previous enterpises of Generals Sumpter and Marion. These distinguished partisans, though surrounded with enemies, kept the field and animated the