and marched against General Greene, who, at
Washington's desire, had been appointed Gates's successor.
The British army numbered about thirty-five hundred.
Learning that Morgan, with a separate force,[1] was on
the south side of Broad River, Cornwallis determined
to cut him off from Greene's main army. For this
purpose he detached Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with
about a thousand men. Tarleton was to attack
Morgan in front, while Cornwallis was to follow up the left
bank of Broad River and capture the fugitive
Americans. Tarleton came up with Morgan on the morning
of the 17th of January, 1781. Hardly waiting to form
his army, the gallant cavalry colonel rushed on his
despised enemy. The American militia forming the first
line gave way. The second line, formed largely of
Continentals, stood firm. Tarleton ordered up his
reserves. The Americans gave ground, then turned and
poured in a vigorous and well-directed fire. This
unexpected resistance threw the British into confusion.
They wavered. Two companies of Virginia militia
charged with the bayonet. The British gave way on
all sides. Tarleton rallied about fifty horsemen, and,
for a moment, checked the pursuit. Most of the British
infantry were taken, but the cavalry escaped, and
the baggage was destroyed. The Americans took
about five hundred prisoners, and about a hundred
Englishmen were killed. The American loss did not
exceed seventy-five. Two standards, two cannon,
thirty-five wagons, eight hundred muskets, and one
hundred horses fell into Morgan's hands. The cannon
had already been captured by Gates at Saratoga
- ↑ Morgan had from eight hundred to one thousand men.
