delight to honor! The other detachment of the army, about one thousand
strong, under Brig. Gen. Morgan was placed about fifty miles to the
left to disperse bands of Tories and protect the country between the
Broad and Pacolet rivers. Gen. Morgan's division, near the close of
1780, consisted of four hundred of Continental infantry under
Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, of the Maryland line, two companies of the
Virginia militia under Captains Triplett and Tate, and about one
hundred dragoons under Lieutenant-Colonel William Washington. This
force, at the time just mentioned, was considerably augmented by North
Carolina militia under Major McDowell--"Mountain boys," ever reliable,
and some Georgia militia, under Major Cunningham. Gen. Morgan encamped
on the northern bank of Pacolet river, and near Pacolet Springs. From
this point Col. Washington frequently sallied forth to disperse bodies
of Tories who assembled at different places and plundered the Whig
inhabitants. He attacked and defeated two hundred of them at Hammond's
store, and soon afterward a section of his command dispersed another
Tory force under the "bloody Bill Cunningham."

Cornwallis, who was still at Winnsboro, perceived these successes with
alarm, and fearing an attack upon his important post at Ninety-Six,
determined to disperse the forces under Morgan or drive them into
North Carolina before he should rally the Mountain Men in sufficient
numbers to cut off his communication with his post at Augusta. He
accordingly dispatched Tarleton with his legion and a strong force of
infantry, with two field pieces, to compel Morgan to fight or hastily
retreat. Tarleton's entire force consisted of about eleven hundred
well-disciplined men, and in every respect he had the advantage of
Morgan.

It is related of Tarleton that when he heard of Morgan's forces being
encampted near the post of Ninety-Six, he begged of Lord Rawdon the
privilege of attacking the American officer. "By Heaven, my lord, said
he, I would not desire a finer feather in my cap than Colonel Morgan.
Such a prisoner would make my fortune. Ah, Ban," (contraction of
Banastre, Tarleton's Christian name) replied Rawdon, "you had better
let the old wagoner alone." As no refusal would satisfy him,
permission was given, and he immediately set out with a strong force
in pursuit of Morgan. At parting Tarleton said to Rawdon with a smile,
"My lord, if you will be so obliging as to wait dinner, the day after
to-m