Memoirs of the life and campaigns of the Hon. Nathaniel Greene, major general in the army of the United States, and commander of the Southern department, in the war of the revolution

CHAPTER VII.

The character of the^soldier, formed, by that of his officer — Grreene sensible of this, rejoices in the high qualities of the officers of his ar- my—takes great pains to acquire a knowledge of the force, and ca- pabilities of the ^emy — ^founds his estimate on the character of lord Comwallis, the commanding general, and the number oi bis troops — state of the country, in relation to parties— whigs— tones— neutrals or ineffectiyes— extreme difficidties of the mode of warfarCf necessary to be pursued, and the ocmsummate talents, its execution required — ^The positions of the rival armies — Greene opens the campaign — Tarleton detached, by lord Comwallis, against Moigan —retreat of the latter—battle of the Cowpens-rdescription of—

LIFE OF GENERAL GREENS. 163

battle of the Cowpens, will be stated hentafter

LIFE OP GENERAL GREENE. 171

His brightest laurel was gatibered at the Cowpens, where, assuming to himself the responsibility of the act, he charged, without orders, and, at the point of the bayonet, discomfited and scattered, a party of the enemy, superior in number to his own command, and consisting of the flower of the British army.

LIFE OF GENERAL GREENE. 191

This gave rise to a train of movements, which ter- minated in the celebrated battle of the Cowpens.

CHAPTER VII.

, subsequent movements of the two armies — Greene, leaving the main division of his army, under the command of general Hugher, joins Morgan, on the east bank of the Catawba— commences his celebrat- ed retreat — character of that retreat— compared with the retreat <^ Moreau — He passes the Tadkin — the two columns of bis army join at Guilford court house^-*retreat continued— the able disposition of his troops — ^pushes for the lower Dan — fortitude and good €M)tidact of his rear guard — ^passes the Dan— lord Comwallis gives up the pursuit, issues a proclamation, and erects, in Hillsborough the royai standard— various modes of warfare-r-disqutsition on the term victory -^wherein victory consists^Greene determines to recross the Dan-^ the legion under Lee, advances— goes in quest of Tarleton— cuts to pieces a large body of tones, under colonel Pyle— Greene foUows, with the main column — baffles all attempts of lord Comwallis, to forae him, prematurely, to battle^— receives reinforcements and supplies- Battle at Guilford court house— description of— Greene retreats, in order, from the field, but prepares to renew the combat— lord Com- wallis too much crippled to pursue— commences his retreat—- Greene becomes now, the pursuing party— recommends the wounded and sick, of both armies, to the humane attention of the inhabitants of New Garden, a wealthy settlement, of the society of Friends— gives iover the pursuit of lord Comwallis, and encamps at Ramsay's mill—*

APPENDIX.

I. — Greene's letter to the president of confess, preparatory to his resig- nation of the office of quarter-master general. 11.*— Official report of the battle of Guilford. in — Official report of the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill. IV. — Assault of Ninety-Six. v.— -Official report of the battle of Eutaw Springs. VI. — Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

CHAPTER VII.

. Moreau— He passes the Yadkin— the two columns of his army join at Guilford court house— retreat continued — the able disposition of his troops— pushes for the lower Dan — fortitude and good conduct of his rear guard — ^passes the Dan— lord Comwalliy gives up the pursuit, issues a proclamation, and erects, in Hillsborough the royal standard— various modes of warfare— disquisition on the term vic^tory -^wherein victory consists— Greene determines to recross the Dan— the legion under Lee, advances-^goes in quest of Tarleton— cuts to pieces a large body of tones, under colonel Pyle— Greene follows, with the main column — baffles all attempts of lord Comwallis, to force him, prematurely, to battle-^receives reinforcements and supplies — Battle at Guilford court house — description of— Greene retreats, in order, from the field, but prepares to renew the combat — lord Com-> wallis too much ci^ppled to pursue— commences his retreat — Greene

UFE OF OENERAL GREENE. , 201

On the part of the American commander, that re^ fireat, with his advance, manoeuvres, iand action at Guilford, which soon afterwards followed, may be , aefely pronounced, with the exception, perhaps, of « Hie retreat of the ten thousand Greeks, a succession