Tales, Traditions and Romance of Border and Revolutionary TimesEllis, Edward Sylvester
History
Tales, Traditions and Romance of Border and Revolutionary Times
Ellis, Edward Sylvester
Frontier and pioneer life -- United States -- Anecdotes; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Anecdotes
At the head of his fusileers and legion, Tarleton pressed upon the
regulars and riflemen, who, notwithstanding their stern resistance, were
borne down by numbers, and forced to yield their ground. The British
regarded their victory as secured, and for a moment the hearts of the
republicans failed. But Morgan was everywhere, encouraging his men by
his voice and presence. At this time, when their very success had caused
some confusion among the fusileers, Washington, at the head of his
dragoons, made a furious charge, and dashing in among them, overthrew
them in a moment. His horses passed over the British infantry like a
storm, and the swords of his men hewed them down with resistless fury.
In this happy crisis Howard succeeded in restoring the Continentals to
order, while Pickens rallied the militia, and brought them again into
line.
"By the wind the smoke-cloud lifted lightly drifted to the nor'ward,
And displayed, in all their pride, the scarlet foe;
We beheld them, with a steady tramp and fearless moving forward,
With their banners proudly waving, and their bayonets leveled low.
"Morgan gave his order clearly: 'Fall back nearly to the border
Of the hill, and let the enemy come nigher!'
Oh, they thought we had retreated, and they charged in fierce
disorder,
When out rang the voice of Howard: 'To the right, about face! fire!'
"Then upon our very wheeling came the pealing of our volley,
And our balls made a red pathway down the hill;
Broke the foe, and shrunk and cowered; rang again the voice of Howard:
'Give the hireling dogs the bayonet!' and we did it with a will."
Struck with astonishment at finding themselves thus assaulted by men
they had just regarded as defeated, the English troops wavered and broke
in disorder. In vain their officers endeavored to rally them for a
renewed stand. The spirits of the patriots were roused, and pressing
forward with their bayonets, they carried every thing before them.
Nearly two hundred of Tarleton's horse, and among them the haughty
Tarleton himself, retreated in dismay from the field, riding over their
comrades and involving them in hopeless confusion. The Americans gained
the two field-pieces, and Colonel Howard, coming up with a large body of
infantry, and summoning them to surrender, they laid down their arms on
the field. The rout of the British was complete; a more signal victory
our forces had never obtained. Washington and his horse followed the
flying foe for several hours; Tarleton himself narrowly escaped falling
into the hands of his determined pursuer.
May we not safely conjecture that after this brilliant success Morgan
returned thanks to the Lord of victories as ardently as he had implored
him for aid?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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