[53] The author received this account both from General Morgan and Colonel Washington.
[54] Letter of Lord Cornwallis.—Stedman.
[55] Letter of Lord Cornwallis.—Stedman.
[56] These reasons for his conduct were given to the author by General Morgan soon after his return from the southern campaign.
[57] Some of them formed afterwards, and renewed the action on Howard's right.
[58] In the eagerness of pursuit, Washington advanced near thirty yards in front of his regiment. Three British officers, observing this, wheeled about, and made a charge upon him. The officer on his right aimed a blow to cut him down as an American sergeant came up, who intercepted the blow by disabling his sword arm. The officer on his left was about to make a stroke at him at the same instant, when a waiter, too small to wield a sword, saved him by wounding the officer with a ball from a pistol. At this moment, the officer in the centre, who was believed to be Tarlton, made a thrust at him which he parried; upon which the officer retreated a few paces, and then discharged a pistol at him, which wounded his horse.
[59] The author has received statements of this action from General Morgan and from Colonels Howard and Washington.
[60] The author received this fact from Colonel Carrington.
[61] The western militia had been engaged in a war with the Cherokee Indians, who, neglected by the United States, and incited by the British, had determined once more to take up the hatchet. The militia from the western parts of Virginia and North Carolina entered their country, burnt their towns, containing near one thousand houses, destroyed fifty thousand bushels of grain, killed twenty-nine men, took several prisoners, and compelled the nation to sue for peace.
[62] Letter of Lord Cornwallis.—Stedman.