The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 19

No. 8. (p. 040) PLATE VIII.

_January 17, 1781._

Danieli Morgan duci exercitus Comitia Americana. [Rx]. Victoria libertatis vindex.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN.

[_Victory of the Cowpens._]

DANIELI MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to General Daniel Morgan._) America, personified as an Indian queen, standing, places with her right hand a crown of laurel upon the head of General Morgan, while her left rests on a bow. To the left are seen trophies of the enemy's arms; against a cannon is the American shield, upon which lies a branch of laurel; to the right is a forest.

DUPRe, F. (_fecit_).

VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX. (_Victory, the vindicator of liberty._) General Morgan is leading his troops, who advance with colors flying, and put to flight the British army; in the foreground, a combat between an Indian and a dismounted cavalry soldier. Exergue: FVGATIS CAPTIS AVT CAESIS AD COWPENS HOSTIBVS XVII. JAN. MDCCLx.x.xI. (_Fugatis captis aut cAEsis ad Cowpens hostibus, 17 Januarii, 1781: The enemy put to flight, taken, or slain at the Cowpens, January 17, 1781._) DUPRe INV ET F. (_Dupre invenit et fecit_).[40]

[Footnote 40: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xi, xii, xiii, xvii, xx, xxi, xxii, x.x.xv; B, x.x.xvi; D, xli; E, xliv; and F, xlv.]

The legend of the exergue of this medal, as originally proposed by the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, was CAESIS AUT CAPTIS AD COWPENS HOSTIUM * * SIGNIS RELATIS * * 17 JAN. 1781. The change was made at the suggestion of Jefferson.

AUGUSTIN DUPRe was born in St. Etienne, France, October, 1748. (p. 041) He began life as a workman in a manufactory of arms. In 1768 he went to Paris as apprentice to an engraver, and became one of the most distinguished medal engravers of the latter part of the 18th century.

Among his works are the celebrated five franc piece known as "a l'Hercule," the five centime and one decime pieces, on which the head of Liberty is the profile of Madame Recamier, and seven medals relating to America: John Paul Jones, General Morgan, General Greene, Libertas Americana, the Diplomatic medal, and two of Franklin. Dupre was engraver-general of the Paris Mint from July, 1791, to 1801, when he was dismissed by General Bonaparte, then first consul. He died at Armentieres, January 31, 1833.

DANIEL MORGAN was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 1736. In early life he served as a teamster in General Braddock's army, and afterward settled in Frederick (now Clarke) County, Virginia. In 1775 he was captain of a rifle company, and served under Washington. He accompanied General Arnold to Canada, and was made prisoner at Quebec; he served again under Washington, as colonel of a rifle regiment, in 1776, and greatly distinguished himself under General Gates at Saratoga. He was brigadier-general in 1780, served in the South under Generals Gates and Greene, and won the brilliant victory of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781, for which Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. Soon afterward he resigned from ill health, and retired to his plantation. He was a member of Congress from 1795 to 1799. In 1780 he removed to Winchester, Virginia, where he died July 6, 1802.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to General Morgan and to Lieutenant-Colonels Washington and Howard, etc._

BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS a.s.sEMBLED.

Considering it as a tribute due to distinguished merit to give a public approbation of the conduct of Brigadier-General Morgan, and of the officers and men under his command, on the 17th day of January last, when with 80 cavalry and 237 infantry of the troops of the United States, and 553 militia from the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, he (p. 042) obtained a complete and important victory over a select and well appointed detachment of more than 1,100 British troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton; do therefore _resolve_:--

That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled be given to Brigadier-General Morgan, and the officers and men under his command, for their fort.i.tude and good conduct displayed in the action at the Cowpens, in the State of South Carolina, on the 17th day of January last:

That a medal of gold be presented to Brigadier-General Morgan, and a medal of silver to Lieutenant-Colonel Washington (William), of the cavalry, and one of silver to Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, of the infantry of the United States; severally with emblems and mottoes descriptive of the conduct of those officers respectively on that memorable day:

That a sword be presented to Colonel Pickens, of the militia, in testimony of his spirited conduct in the action before mentioned:

That Captain Edward Giles, aid-de-camp of Brigadier-General Morgan, have the brevet commission of major; and that Baron de Glasbuch, who served with Brigadier-General Morgan as a volunteer, have the brevet commission of captain in the army of the United States; in consideration of their merit and services.

_Ordered_, That the commanding officer in the southern department communicate these resolutions in general orders.

Friday, March 9, 1781.

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_General Morgan to General Greene._

To Camp, near Cain Creek, General GREENE. January 19, 1781.

Sir: The troops I have the honour to command have been so fortunate as to obtain a complete victory over a detachment from the British army, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton. The action happened on the 17th instant, about sunrise, at the Cowpens. It perhaps would be well to remark, for the honour of the American arms, that although the progress of this corps was marked with burning and devastation, and although they waged the most cruel warfare, not a man was killed, wounded, or even insulted, after he surrendered. Had not the Britons during this contest received so many lessons of humanity, I should natter myself that this might teach them a little. But I fear they are incorrigible.

To give you a just idea of our operation, it will be necessary to inform you, that on the 14th instant, having received certain intelligence that Lord Cornwallis and Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton were both in motion, and that their movements clearly indicated their intentions of dislodging me, I abandoned my encampment on Grindall's Ford on the Pacolet, and on the 16th, in the evening, took possession of a post, about seven miles from the Cherokee Ford, on Broad river. My former position subjected me at once (p. 043) to the operations of Cornwallis and Tarleton, and in case of a defeat, my retreat might have easily been cut off. My situation at the Cowpens enabled me to improve any advantages I might gain, and to provide better for my own security should I be unfortunate.

These reasons induced me to take this post, at the risk of its wearing the face of a retreat.

I received regular intelligence of the enemy's movements from the time they were first in motion. On the evening of the 16th instant they took possession of the ground I had removed from in the morning, distant from the scene of action about twelve miles.

An hour before daylight, one of my scouts returned and informed me that Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton had advanced within five miles of our camp. On this information, I hastened to form as good a disposition as circ.u.mstances would admit, and from the alacrity of the troops, we were soon prepared to receive them.

The light infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, and the Virginia Militia, under the command of Major Triplett, were formed on a rising ground, and extended a line in front. The third regiment of dragoons, under Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, were posted at such a distance in their rear as not to be subjected to the line of fire directed at them, and to be so near as to be able to charge the enemy should they be broken. The volunteers of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, under the command of the brave and valuable Colonel Pickens, were situated to guard the flanks. Major McDowell, of the North Carolina Volunteers, was posted on the right flank in front of the line, one hundred and fifty yards; and Major Cunningham, of the Georgia Volunteers, on the left, at the same distance in front. Colonels Brannon and Thomas, of the South Carolinians, were posted on the right of Major McDowell, and Colonels Hays and McCall, of the same corps, on the left of Major Cunningham.

Captains Tate and Buchanan, with the Augusta Riflemen, to support the right of the line.

The enemy drew up in single line of battle, four hundred yards in front of our advanced corps. The first battalion of the 71st regiment was opposed to our right, the 7th regiment to our left, the infantry of the legion to our centre, the light companies on their flank. In front moved two pieces of artillery.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, with his cavalry, was posted in the rear of his line.

The disposition of battle being thus formed, small parties of riflemen were detached to skirmish with the enemy, upon which their whole line moved on with the greatest impetuosity, shouting as they advanced. McDowell and Cunningham gave them a heavy and galling fire, and retreated to the regiments intended for their support. The whole of Colonel Pickens' command then kept up a fire by regiments, retreating agreeably to their orders. When the enemy advanced to our line, they received a well-directed and incessant fire; but their numbers being superior to ours, they gained our flanks, which obliged us to change our position. We retired in good order about fifty paces, formed, advanced on the enemy, and gave them a fortunate volley, which threw them into disorder. Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, observing this, gave orders for the line to charge bayonets, which was done with such address that they fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving their field pieces in our possession. We pushed our advantages so effectually, that they never had an opportunity of rallying, had their intentions been ever so good.

Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, having been informed that (p. 044) Tarleton was cutting down our riflemen on the left, pushed forward, and charged them with such firmness, that, instead of attempting to recover the fate of the day, which one would have expected from an officer of his splendid character, they broke and fled.

The enemy's whole force were now bent solely in providing for their safety in flight--the list of their killed, wounded, and prisoners, will inform you with what effect Tarleton, with the small remains of his cavalry, and a few scattering infantry he had mounted on his waggon horses, made their escape. He was pursued twenty-four miles, but owing to our having taken a wrong trail at first, we never could overtake him.

As I was obliged to move off the field of action in the morning, to secure the prisoners, I cannot be so accurate as to the killed and wounded as I could wish. From the reports of an officer whom I sent to view the ground, there were one hundred non-commissioned officers and privates, and ten commissioned officers, killed, and two hundred rank and file wounded. We have now in our possession five hundred and two non-commissioned officers and privates prisoners, independent of the wounded, and the militia are taking up stragglers continually. Twenty-nine commissioned officers have fallen into our hands. Their rank you will see by an enclosed list. The officers I have paroled, the privates I am conveying by the safest route to Salisbury.

Two standards, two field pieces, thirty-five waggons, a travelling forge, and all their music are ours. Their baggage, which was immense, they have in a great measure destroyed.

Our loss is inconsiderable, which the enclosed return will evince. I have not been able to ascertain Colonel Pickens' loss, but know it to be very small.

From our force being composed of such a variety of corps, a wrong judgment may be formed of our numbers. We fought only eight hundred men, two-thirds of which were militia. The British, with their baggage guard, were not less than one thousand one hundred and fifty, and these veteran troops. Their own officers confess that they fought one thousand and thirty-seven.

Such was the inferiority of our numbers, that our success must be attributed to the justice of our cause and the bravery of our troops. My wishes would induce me to mention the name of every sentinel in the corps I have the honour to command. In justice to the bravery and good conduct of the officers, I have taken the liberty to enclose you a list of their names, from a conviction that you will be pleased to introduce such characters to the world.

Major Giles, my aid, and Captain Brookes, my brigade-major, deserve and have my thanks for their a.s.sistance and behaviour on this occasion.

The Baron de Glasbuch, who accompanies Major Giles with these despatches, served with me in the action as a volunteer, and behaved in such a manner as merits your attention.

I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, Daniel MORGAN.

P.S. Our loss was very inconsiderable, not having more than twelve killed and about sixty wounded.

The enemy had ten commissioned officers and upwards of one (p. 045) hundred rank and file killed, two hundred rank and file wounded, and twenty-seven officers and more than five hundred privates which fell into our hands, with two pieces of artillery, two Standards, eight hundred stand of arms, one travelling forge, thirty-five waggons, ten negroes, and upwards of one hundred dragoon horses.

Although our success was complete, we fought only eight hundred men, and were opposed by upwards of one thousand British troops.

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