The battle of the Cowpens, altho hardly more than a skirmish
when tried by modern standards, was in its day, according to the
British historian Stedman, “a very principal link in the chain
of circumstances which led to the independence of America.” To
draw up an inferior force for a pitched battle directly in front
of a broad river has always seemed to the military critics very
imprudent. But this very act showed the daring and the foresight
of Morgan. When blamed he afterward answered: “I would not have
had a swamp in view of my militia on any consideration; they
would have made for it, and nothing could have detained them
from it.... As to retreat, it was the very thing I wished to cut
off all hope of. I would have thanked Tarleton had he surrounded
me with his cavalry.” Braver and shrewder words never were
spoken by a military commander.--THOMAS W. HIGGINSON.
(2765)