Page:The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war.djvu/292

 266 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, 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