Soon after this disposition was made, the British van appeared in sight.  Confident of a cheap victory, Tarlton formed his line of battle, and his troops rushed forward with great impetuosity, shouting as they advanced.

After a single well directed fire, M’Dowell and Cunningham fell back on Colonel Pickens, who, after a short but warm conflict, retreated into the rear of the second line.[57] The British pressed forward with great eagerness; and, though received by the continental troops with a firmness unimpaired by the rout of the front line, continued to advance.  Soon after the action with the continental troops had commenced, Tarlton ordered up his reserve.  Perceiving that the enemy extended beyond him both on the right and left, and that, on the right especially, his flank was on the point of being turned, Howard ordered the company on his right to change its front, so as to face the British on that flank.  From some mistake in the officer commanding this company, it fell back, instead of fronting the enemy, upon which the rest of the line, supposing a change of ground for the whole to have been directed, began to retire in perfect order.  At this moment General Morgan rode up, and directed the infantry to retreat over the summit of the hill, about one hundred yards to the cavalry.  This judicious but hazardous movement was made in good order, and extricated the flanks from immediate danger.  Believing the fate of the day to be decided, the British pressed on with increased ardour, and in some disorder; and when the Americans halted, were within thirty yards of them.  The orders then given by Howard to face the enemy were executed as soon as they were received; and the whole line poured in a fire as deadly as it was unexpected.  Some confusion appearing in the ranks of the enemy, Howard seized the critical moment, and ordered a charge with the bayonet.  These orders were instantly obeyed, and the British line was broken.

[Footnote 57:  Some of them formed afterwards, and renewed the action on Howard’s right.]

At the same moment the detachment of cavalry on the British right was routed by Washington.  The militia of Pickens, who rode to the ground, had tied their horses in the rear of Howard’s left.  When the front line was broken, many of them fled to their horses, and were closely pursued by the cavalry, who, while the continental infantry were retiring, passed their flank, and were cutting down the scattered militia in their rear.  Washington, who had previously ordered his men not to fire a pistol, now directed them to charge the British cavalry with drawn swords.  A sharp conflict ensued, but it was not of long duration.  The British were driven from the ground with considerable slaughter, and were closely pursued.  Both Howard and Washington pressed the advantage they had respectively gained, until the artillery, and great part of the infantry had surrendered.  So sudden was the defeat, that a considerable part of the British cavalry had not been brought into action; and, though retreating, remained unbroken.  Washington, followed by Howard with the infantry, pursued them rapidly, and attacked[58] them with great spirit; but, as they were superior to him in numbers, his cavalry received a temporary check; and in this part of the action he sustained a greater loss than in any other.  But the infantry coming up to support him, Tarlton resumed the retreat.[59]