細節
HEATH, William (1737-1814), Major General, Continental Army. Letter signed ("WHeath") TO MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR JOHN HANCOCK, West Point, N.Y., 13 February 1781. 1½ pages, folio, address panel on page 4 in Heath's hand, with recipient's docket in Hancock's hand and remains of wax seal, partial fold separation.
HANCOCK RECEIVES FIRST NEWS OF MORGAN'S TRIUMPH AT COWPENS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Heath, commanding the American forces in the Hudson Highlands, passes on important news of the decisive American victory at Cowpens: "I have this moment received an account from the southward on the 17th ult. An action happen'd near Pee Dee [River] between a body of American Troops under the command of General [Daniel] Morgan and about one thousand of the Enemy under the command of Lt. Col. [Banastre] Tarl[e]ton. The Enemy were totally defeated and pursued upwards of twenty miles. Our loss was inconsiderable--not more than 12 killed and sixty wounded. The Enemy had 10 commissioned Officers and 100 rank & file killed, and 200 wounded--29 officers and 500 rank & file taken prisoner; 2 pieces of artillery [grasshopper cannon], 2 standards, 800 muskets, 1 travelling Forge, 35 baggage Waggons, 70 Negroes, 100 dragoon Horses with all their music [the regimental band] are trophies of Victory. This is a most fortunate circumstance at this time." As postscript, Heath adds: "It is said not more than 800 Americans were engaged."
At Cowpens, Daniel Morgan's astute use of untrained militia, seasoned cavalry and Continental troops soundly defeated the experienced British regulars under the aggressive Tarleton, seriously undermining Cornwallis's strength. More important, the victory came at a time when American morale was quite low. "The victory sent a wave of hope through the Carolinas and Georgia. It also changed attitudes in Congress toward the southern states" (Thomas Fleming, Cowpens: "Downright Fighting," 1988, p.84). Heath's accurate list of the men and supplies captured from the British includes Negroes probably serving as batmen to British officers. According to Boatner, the "substantial but not fatal British tactical reverse at Cowpens led Cornwallis into strategic errors that were fatal to the British at Yorktown."
HANCOCK RECEIVES FIRST NEWS OF MORGAN'S TRIUMPH AT COWPENS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Heath, commanding the American forces in the Hudson Highlands, passes on important news of the decisive American victory at Cowpens: "I have this moment received an account from the southward on the 17th ult. An action happen'd near Pee Dee [River] between a body of American Troops under the command of General [Daniel] Morgan and about one thousand of the Enemy under the command of Lt. Col. [Banastre] Tarl[e]ton. The Enemy were totally defeated and pursued upwards of twenty miles. Our loss was inconsiderable--not more than 12 killed and sixty wounded. The Enemy had 10 commissioned Officers and 100 rank & file killed, and 200 wounded--29 officers and 500 rank & file taken prisoner; 2 pieces of artillery [grasshopper cannon], 2 standards, 800 muskets, 1 travelling Forge, 35 baggage Waggons, 70 Negroes, 100 dragoon Horses with all their music [the regimental band] are trophies of Victory. This is a most fortunate circumstance at this time." As postscript, Heath adds: "It is said not more than 800 Americans were engaged."
At Cowpens, Daniel Morgan's astute use of untrained militia, seasoned cavalry and Continental troops soundly defeated the experienced British regulars under the aggressive Tarleton, seriously undermining Cornwallis's strength. More important, the victory came at a time when American morale was quite low. "The victory sent a wave of hope through the Carolinas and Georgia. It also changed attitudes in Congress toward the southern states" (Thomas Fleming, Cowpens: "Downright Fighting," 1988, p.84). Heath's accurate list of the men and supplies captured from the British includes Negroes probably serving as batmen to British officers. According to Boatner, the "substantial but not fatal British tactical reverse at Cowpens led Cornwallis into strategic errors that were fatal to the British at Yorktown."