ably to their orders. When the
enemy advanced to our line, they received a well-directed and
incessant fire; but their numbers being superior to ours, they
gained our flanks, which obliged us to change our position. We
retired in good order about fifty paces, formed, advanced on the
enemy, and gave them a fortunate volley, which threw them into
disorder. Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, observing this, gave orders
for the line to charge bayonets, which was done with such address
that they fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving their field
pieces in our possession. We pushed our advantages so
effectually, that they never had an opportunity of rallying, had
their intentions been ever so good.

Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, having been informed that (p. 044)
Tarleton was cutting down our riflemen on the left, pushed
forward, and charged them with such firmness, that, instead of
attempting to recover the fate of the day, which one would have
expected from an officer of his splendid character, they broke
and fled.

The enemy's whole force were now bent solely in providing for
their safety in flight--the list of their killed, wounded, and
prisoners, will inform you with what effect Tarleton, with the
small remains of his cavalry, and a few scattering infantry he
had mounted on his waggon horses, made their escape. He was
pursued twenty-four miles, but owing to our having taken a wrong
trail at first, we never could overtake him.

As I was obliged to move off the field of action in the morning,
to secure the prisoners, I cannot be so accurate as to the killed
and wounded as I could wish. From the reports of an officer whom
I sent to view the ground, there were one hundred
non-commissioned officers and privates, and ten commissioned
officers, killed, and two hundred rank and file wounded. We have
now in our possession five hundred and two non-commissioned
officers and privates prisoners, independent of the wounded, and
the militia are taking up stragglers continually. Twenty-nine
commissioned officers have fallen into our hands. Their rank you
will see by an enclosed list. The officers I have paroled, the
privates I am conveying by the safest route to Salisbury.

Two standards, two field pieces, thirty-five waggons, a
travelling fo