Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/447

 COWPER 443 between the Broad and Pacolet rivers, and Cornwallis despatched Tarleton with 1,100 choice troops, with two pieces of artillery, to force Morgan either to fight or retreat into North Carolina. Tarleton reached the Pacolet on the evening of Jan. 15. Morgan had in- tended to dispute the passage of the river, but being inferior in cavalry retired toward' Broad river. Tarleton pressed on in pursuit, and on the morning of the 17th came up with Morgan in an open wood known as Hannah's Cowpens, being part of a grazing establishment belonging to a man named Hannah. The American troops, about 1,000 in number, were drawn up in two lines, the first composed of Carolina militia, with an advance corps of volunteer riflemen under the command of Col. Pickens, and the second of Maryland regulars and Vir- ginia riflemen under Lieut. Col. Howard. In the rear was a reserve of cavalry, consisting of Lieut. Col. Washington's troop, 80 strong, and about 50 mounted volunteers under Major McCall. The British advanced to the charge, receiving an effective fire from the American riflemen, who in obedience to Morgan's orders fell back upon the first line. The latter stood firm until within bayonet thrust of their oppo- nents, when they also fell back upon the sec- ond line. Col. Howard attempted to change his front to the right, the order for executing which was misinterpreted into one for a re- treat, and the whole line was thrown into some confusion. At this moment Morgan ordered them to retreat to an eminence behind which the cavalry were posted. The British rushed forward in some disorder, when they were met by a charge from Washington's dragoons. At the same time Howard's troops facing about gave them a volley of musketry, which was followed up so eifectively with the bayonet that in a few minutes the British line was bro- ken and put to flight. Tarleton, with a small band of horsemen, made a precipitate retreat, hotly pursued by Col. Washington. . The Brit- ish loss amounted to 300 killed and wounded, and between 500 and 600 prisoners. The Americans had 12 men killed and 60 wounded. COWPER, William, earl, an English judge, born at Hertford in 1664, died in 1723. He was called to the bar in 1688, and led a com- pany to welcome the prince of Orange. He entered parliament in 1695, and in 1705 was made lord keeper of the great seal. The next year he was raised to the peerage, and was a commissioner for the union of England and Scotland. In 1707 he was made lord high chancellor, and in this office abolished the cus- tomary gifts which had produced to the chan- cellors some 3,000 a year. He resigned in 1710, but was reappointed in 1714, at the accession of George I., and was efficient in the settlement of the difficulties of 1715. In 1716 he was made lord high steward, in 1717 Vis- count Fordwich, and in 1718 earl. He re- signed finally in 1718, but was active in parlia- ment as long as he lived. A story, circulated on the authority of Voltaire, that he lived at the same time with two wives and defended the practice, although apparently unfounded, gave him the common nickname of " Will Bigamy." His wife was lady of the bedcham- ber to the princess -of Wales, afterward queen. Her " Diary of Mary, Countess Cowper," was published in 1864. COWPER, William, an English anatomist, born in Hampshire in 1666, died in 1709. His pro- fessional life was passed in London, where he made several communications to the royal so- ciety, which appeared in the "Philosophical Transactions." In 1694 he published Myoto- mia Reformat^ an anatomical work on the muscular system ; and in 1697 the " Anatomy of Human Bodies." His name is given to the two small lobulated mucous glandules, known as Cowper's glands, connected with the mem- branous portion of the male urethra, directly behind the bulb. He was accused of plagia- rism in using for illustrations to his work on anatomy plates belonging to the Dutch anato- mist Bidloo. COWPER, William, an English poet, born at Great Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, Nov. 15, O. S. (26, N. S.), 1731, died at East Dereham, Norfolk, April 25, 1800. His father was one of the chaplains to George II. and nephew to the lord chancellor Cowper, and rector of the parish where the poet was born. His mother died when he was but six years of age, and the touching lines in which he recalls her mem- ory show the deep impression she had left on his mind. His health was insecure, and he was for two years under the care of an oculist. At the school in his native town, and after- ward at Westminster, his extreme timidity ex- posed him to the tyranny of older and stronger boys. At 18 he began to study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1754, but his chief at- tention was given to literature and society. He formed an attachraent for his cousin Theodora Cowper, sister of Lady Hesketh ; but their union was forbidden by her father, first for prudential reasons, and then because of their consanguinity. In 1763 he was appointed reading clerk to the committees of the house of lords, but his morbid timidity made him shrink from appearing before the lords, and in his excitement he sought to commit suicide. He soon became actually insane, and was re- moved to an asylum, and during the remainder of his life was subject to returns of mental alienation. He fancied himself destined to eternal woe, and shunned the society of his kindred to find relief among strangers. His relatives, however, watched over him and pro- vided for his support. His reason returned in 1765, and he went from the asylum to Hunting- 'don, where he met the Unwin family and be- came a lodger in their house. In 1767 Mr. Unwin died suddenly, and Cowper removed with the widow to Olney in Buckinghamshire, attracted by the residence there of the Rev. John Newton. Here he passed many years,