CORNWALLIS'S LAST INVASION.
A. D. 1781.
General Greene soon became aware that his great trouble would be
in obtaining food in sufficient quantities to feed an army large
enough to meet the British in open field. Generals Gregory and
Jones were ordered back to their homes, and their brigades were
disbanded because of this poverty of resources in that section of
the country. General Morgan was sent west of the Catawba River;
another camp was established at Cheraw, and the militia of Rowan
and Mecklenburg, under General Davidson, were allowed to await at
their homes for any call that might become necessary.
1781.
2. Such was the state of affairs in General Greene's command when
Lord Cornwallis was reinforced by the arrival of another division
of troops under the command of Major General Leslie. On January
17th, Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, with his famous Legion and the
first battalion of the Seventy-first Regiment, assailed General
Morgan at Cowpens. These men had so often cut to pieces such
American forces that they expected an easy victory on this
occasion.
3. They were received by the Americans with the utmost coolness
and self-possession. Their deadly fire emptied so many British
saddles that the boldest riders were thrown into confusion. Like
a thunderbolt, then came a charge of the American lighthorse,
under Lieutenant-Colonel William Washington. They rode down and
sabred the terrified Britons, chasing them many miles from the
field.
4. In less than an hour the eleven hundred British were so
thoroughly routed that they lost five hundred and two prisoners,
three hundred killed and wounded, with all their artillery and
stores. General Morgan had but eight hundred men, and though
flushed with victory, he remembered that the main army of the
enemy was at Turkey Creek, only twenty-five miles away. He
therefore prudently burned his captured stores, and leaving his
and the enemy's wounded under protection of a flag, at once began
his retreat through North Carolina.
5. He well knew that Lord Cornwallis would be enraged at
Tarleton's disaster and would seek the recapture of his
prisoners. During twelve days the victors fled from the scene of
their glory, while the British were pushing on close behind them.
At the expiration of that time, as the day was closing in, and
General Morgan had just safely crossed the Catawba River, at the
Island Ford, he looked back and saw the British vanguard on the
other bank of the stream.
6. The exultant pursuers had overcome the twenty-five miles of
start, and feeling sure of their prey, they encamped that night
with the utmost confidence that on the next day they could easily
overtake the fugitives. But they were doomed to disappointment.
Soon a heavy rain began falling, and when the night was past the
river had become a great and impassable flood.
7. The baffled foe was compelled to halt, for the passage of
the stream was impossible. The high water remained in the river
for forty-eight hours, during which time the British were unable
to effect a crossing. General Morgan sent his militia with the
prisoners on to Virginia, and with his Continentals kept down the
left bank of the river and joined General Greene at Sherrill's
Ford. There they unhappily disagreed as to future operations,
and General Morgan left the service.
8. During the two days that Lord Cornwallis was stopped by the
rise in the Catawba River, General Greene made arrangements to
dispute its passage. This was attempted at Cowan's Ford, and the
British, after some loss, forced a passage. Unfortunately, brave
General Davidson, who was in command of the militia, was killed,
and upon his fall his men retreated, from the field. They were
surprised by Tarleton at Torrence's Tavern, six miles away in the
direction of Salisbury.
9. The chase was now renewed and General Greene was again in
great danger. When he reached Salisbury he was so dejected at
the condition of affairs that a good woman named Mrs. Elizabeth
Steele sought to cheer him by words of hope. He explained to her
his almost desperate condition, and that though in command of the
Southern army, he was wholly without friends and without money.
She generously pressed upon him a purse of gold, and, with hope
revived by such an exhibition of womanly sympathy and generous
patriotism, he resumed his retreat.
10. A rise in the waters of the Yadkin River, after the Americans
had crossed, repeated the scenes witnessed on the Catawba; and
thus, while General Greene was enabled to reach the forces from
Cheraw that had been ordered to meet him at Guilford Court House,
Lord Cornwallis was compelled to make a wide detour up the river
to get across.
11. Again, in a few days, the Americans, still retreating, found
their enemies once more close up in the rear. For several days
on long stretches in the road, the two armies could see each
other.
12. General Greene was so hotly pursued that he found it
necessary to check the enemy in some way, and the gallant Colonel
Otho H. Williams, of Maryland, with a corps of light troops
numbering seven hundred men, was detailed to cover the retreat.
This detachment most faithfully performed its duty. Taking but
one meal each day, and six hours' sleep in forty-eight, they
retarded the progress of the enemy so much; by frequent
collisions, that Greene was enabled to considerably increase the
distance between the two armies.
[NOTE--While General Greene was in the house of Mrs. Steele, at
Salisbury, he caught sight of a picture of King George III.
hanging upon the wall. The picture recalled many unpleasant
memories and hardships to the General. He took it from the wall,
and, with a piece of chalk, wrote upon the back: "O, George, Hide
thy face and mourn." He then replaced the picture with its face
to the wall and rode away. This picture, with the writing on the
back still visible, is now thought to be in the possession of
Mrs. Governor Swain. [Rumple's History of Rowan County. ]]
13. At last, on February 13th, Dan River was reached; and Lord
Cornwallis came up only in time to see the last boatloads of the
Americans safely landing on the other side of the wide stream
which was too deep for the British to ford. Thus ended this
famous retreat, extending more than two hundred miles. It gave
General Greene great reputation, and the struggling Americans
took fresh heart, for they knew they had at last a general in
command who could provide wisely and well amid all the dangers so
thickly environing him.
QUESTIONS.
1. What great trouble did General Greene foresee? How did he
dispose of the forces?
2. At what place were the Americans attacked?
3. Describe the battle of Camden. Where is Camden?
4. What were the British losses? What was done by General Morgan?
5. Describe the events of the next twelve days.
6. What occurred during the night while the two armies were
encamped on opposite sides of the river?
7. How did the rise in the river benefit the Americans? Find the
Catawba River on the map. What occurred at Sherrill's Ford?
8. Give an account of the engagement at Cowan's Ford.
9. What happened to General Greene at Salisbury?
10. What river was next crossed?
11. Describe the retreat further.
12. What did General Greene find it necessary to do to cover his
retreat? Who commanded this detachment?
13. What river was crossed on February 13th, 1781? How many
miles had Greene been pursued by Cornwallis? Can you go to the
map and trace the course of this famous retreat?