“Ah! never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of her brave— Gushed, warm with hope and valor yet, Upon the soil they fought to save.” —“The Battle-Field,” Bryant. “It is not true,” burst from the English girl. “It can’t be. Met Colonel Tarleton and utterly routed him? Impossible!” “It doth indeed seem too good to be true,” cried Peggy. “Impossible or not, it hath really happened,” answered Drayton, laughing gleefully at their amazement. “I was detailed, at my own request, to bring the news to Congress. I wanted to see if you were in truth safe in your own home, Peggy. Another express riding at speed hath gone on to General Washington with the tidings. The victory hath gladdened every countenance and paved the way for the salvation of the country.” “Begin at the beginning and tell all and everything,” commanded Peggy. “But first let the lad make himself comfortable,” interposed Mrs. Owen. “He is tired and weary, I doubt not. Take his hat and cloak, Peggy, while I bring him a chair. Harriet, tell Sukey to hasten with the dinner.” “Has thee become a macaroni[[2]], John, that thee has such a fine cloak?” queried Peggy as she relieved Drayton of his beaver and roquelaure. “With these clothes?” asked the youth quizzically. For the removal of the cloak exposed a very shabby uniform to view. “That roquelaure became mine by what you might call impressment, and ‘thereby hangs a tale’ which you shall hear anon. But now for Cowpens.” “Yes; let us hear about Cowpens,” cried Peggy eagerly. “Oh! I can scarce wait the telling.” “It happened after this fashion,” began Drayton settling himself with a sigh of satisfaction in the chair Mrs. Owen had brought. “Lord Cornwallis began again his march toward North Carolina with the first of the year. So General Greene detached Brigadier-General Morgan to harass the left flank of the British, and to threaten Ninety Six. We annoyed Cornwallis so much that he sent Colonel Tarleton with the light infantry and some cavalry to push us to the utmost. “Colonel Tarleton advanced up the west side of the Broad River, while his lordship proceeded up the east side; the plan being for him to fall upon us should we attempt to recross and retreat into North Carolina. Well, I am bound to say that Colonel Tarleton did press us hard. So much so that we fell back before him until we reached the Cowpens, so called because the cattle are here rounded up and branded. It lies about midway between Spartanburg and the Cherokee Ford of the Broad River. The position was both difficult and dangerous, and though General Morgan didn’t want to fight, he knew that the time had come when he had to.