[Footnote 58:  In the eagerness of pursuit, Washington advanced near thirty yards in front of his regiment.  Three British officers, observing this, wheeled about, and made a charge upon him.  The officer on his right aimed a blow to cut him down as an American sergeant came up, who intercepted the blow by disabling his sword arm.  The officer on his left was about to make a stroke at him at the same instant, when a waiter, too small to wield a sword, saved him by wounding the officer with a ball from a pistol.  At this moment, the officer in the centre, who was believed to be Tarlton, made a thrust at him which he parried; upon which the officer retreated a few paces, and then discharged a pistol at him, which wounded his horse.]

[Footnote 59:  The author has received statements of this action from General Morgan and from Colonels Howard and Washington.]

In this engagement upwards of one hundred British, including ten commissioned officers, were killed; twenty-nine commissioned officers, and five hundred privates were made prisoners.  Eight hundred muskets, two field pieces, two standards, thirty-five baggage wagons, and one hundred dragoon horses, fell into the hands of the conquerors.

Tarlton retreated towards the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis, then about twenty-five miles from the Cowpens.

This complete victory cost the Americans less than eighty men in killed and wounded.

Seldom has a battle in which greater numbers were not engaged, been so important in its consequences as that of the Cowpens.  Lord Cornwallis was not only deprived of a fifth of his numbers, but lost a most powerful and active part of his army.  Unfortunately, Greene was not in a condition to press the advantage.  The whole southern army did not much exceed two thousand men, a great part of whom were militia.

[Sidenote:  Pursuit of the American army through North Carolina into Virginia.]

The camp of Lord Cornwallis at Turkey Creek on the east side of Broad River, was as near as the Cowpens to the fords at which Morgan was to cross the Catawba.  Of consequence, that officer had much cause to fear that, encumbered as he was with prisoners and military stores, he might be intercepted before he could pass that river.  Comprehending the full extent of his danger, he abandoned the baggage he had taken, and leaving his wounded under the protection of a flag, detached the militia as an escort to his prisoners, and brought up the rear in person with his regulars.  Passing Broad River on the evening of the day on which the battle was fought, he hastened to the Catawba, which he crossed on the 23d, at Sherald’s ford, and encamped on its eastern bank.

[Sidenote:  January.]

Lord Cornwallis employed the 18th in forming a junction with Leslie.  Early next morning he put his army in motion, and, on the 25th, reached Ramsay’s mills, where the roads taken by the two armies unite.  At this place, to accelerate his future movements, he destroyed his baggage; and, after collecting a small supply of provisions, resumed the pursuit.  He reached Sherald’s ford in the afternoon of the 29th; and, in the night, an immense flood of rain rendered the river impassable.