Sal and Amanda Take Morgan's Victory March to the Battle of Cowpens Read Online Free PDF Page A

wasn’t from South Carolina!” Jen interjected.
    â€œOK, back to the story. It was late in December. Cornwallis told Tarleton that there was no rush to carry out his orders,” Sal explained.
    â€œBoy, that was a mistake!” Ben laughed. “He must have forgotten about Morgan!”
    â€œI thought you weren’t a fan of Morgan!” Jen teased Ben.
    â€œI was just saying…” Ben muttered.

    â€œA spy came into Cornwallis’s camp and told him that Morgan and Washington were going to unite at Ninety Six with three thousand men. About the same time, another rider came in with the news that Morgan’s men were within fifteen miles of Ninety Six. Of course, it was William Washington’s men who had done this. Cornwallis believed the false reports and sent word for Tarleton to go after Morgan immediately,” Sal concluded.
    â€œWow! Where was Morgan?” Ben asked.
    â€œHe was still at Grindal Shoals trying to get the troops together so he could fight Tarleton if he did attack. Morgan wrote a letter to Colonel William Hill of Sumter’s brigade asking him to send men to assist with gathering forage and provisions. Hill refused, saying General Sumter had instructed all his colonels not to obey any orders from Morgan.”
    Amanda piped up, “It’s a wonder Morgan didn’t go find that Gamecock himself because he was furious at such disobedience to a commanding officer. But he had heard how General Greene had already tried to appeal to Sumter to help with no success.”
    â€œSumter was used to doing things his own way. He had been a shining star at the beginning of the war. When all seemed lost after the fall of Charleston, he blazed across the Lowcountry and contributed greatly to the cause. But he was not a team player,” Sal paused.
    â€œThat makes me mad. I love our state, and now I’m ashamed of Thomas Sumter!” Jen said dejectedly.
    Amanda smiled. “Now, Jen, you have to remember these superheroes were human! They were just like all of us. They had their good and bad sides. He was still a great soldier who did much for the cause, and we honor him.”
    â€œI bet Morgan never did anything like that. I don’t think he had a bad side!” Ben said with conviction.
    Sal picked up the story again. “Tarleton and Cornwallis agreed on a plan. Tarleton would destroy Morgan or push him to Kings Mountain, where Cornwallis would be waiting. Both men had to travel north to accomplish this goal. On January 12, Tarleton learned that his scouts had located Morgan’s camp at Grindal Shoals. He took off after Morgan, but the rain made it almost impossible to cross the river.” Ben and Jen listened intently, waiting to see how Morgan got out of this mess.
    â€œOh no, I don’t know how Morgan got out of there, but I know he did!” Ben screeched.
    â€œShh! You want to hear the rest of the story, don’t you?” Amanda chimed in.
    â€œOh, sorry!” Ben looked embarrassed.
    Sal began again. “On January 14, scouts informed Morgan that Tarleton had crossed the Enoree and Tyger Rivers the same day. On January 15, Tarleton approached the Pacolet, where Morgan had scouts covering all the fords to inform him of the British crossing. He knew Tarleton was hot on his trail!”
    â€œOh no, he’s not gonna get Morgan!” Ben interrupted again.
    â€œMorgan knew he did not need to be caught between Tarleton and Cornwallis, so he abandoned his camp at Grindal Shoals and retreated to Burr’s Mill on Thicketty Creek just a few miles west,” Sal continued.
    â€œWe cross Thicketty Creek every time we go to Spartanburg,” Jen exclaimed.
    â€œMeanwhile, Tarleton was shocked that he had not found Morgan at Grindal Shoals. Cornwallis was still only forty miles north of Winnsboro because he had been waiting for troops from Charleston to join him,” Sal explained.
    â€œThank goodness for good