erved with Brigadier-General Morgan as a
volunteer, have the brevet commission of captain in the army of
the United States; in consideration of their merit and services.

_Ordered_, That the commanding officer in the southern department
communicate these resolutions in general orders.

Friday, March 9, 1781.

_____

_General Morgan to General Greene._

To Camp, near Cain Creek,
General GREENE. January 19, 1781.

Sir: The troops I have the honour to command have been so
fortunate as to obtain a complete victory over a detachment from
the British army, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton. The
action happened on the 17th instant, about sunrise, at the
Cowpens. It perhaps would be well to remark, for the honour of
the American arms, that although the progress of this corps was
marked with burning and devastation, and although they waged the
most cruel warfare, not a man was killed, wounded, or even
insulted, after he surrendered. Had not the Britons during this
contest received so many lessons of humanity, I should natter
myself that this might teach them a little. But I fear they are
incorrigible.

To give you a just idea of our operation, it will be necessary to
inform you, that on the 14th instant, having received certain
intelligence that Lord Cornwallis and Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton
were both in motion, and that their movements clearly indicated
their intentions of dislodging me, I abandoned my encampment on
Grindall's Ford on the Pacolet, and on the 16th, in the evening,
took possession of a post, about seven miles from the Cherokee
Ford, on Broad river. My former position subjected me at once (p. 043)
to the operations of Cornwallis and Tarleton, and in case of a
defeat, my retreat might have easily been cut off. My situation
at the Cowpens enabled me to improve any advantages I might gain,
and to provide better for my own security should I be unfortunate.
These reasons induced me to take this post, at the risk of its
wearing the face of a retreat.

I received regular intelligence of the enemy's movements from the
time they were first in motion. On the evening of the 16th
instant they took possession of the ground I had removed from in