320 The Winning of the West 



rabble. Fortunately Hill and Lacey prevailed, word 

 was sent to the mountaineers, and the Flint Hill 

 bands marched in loose order to join them at the 

 Cowpens. 32 



The mountain army had again begun its march 

 on the afternoon of the third day of the month. 

 Before starting the colonels summoned their men, 

 told them the nature and danger of the service, and 

 asked such as were unwilling to go further to step 

 to the rear; but not a man did so. Then Shelby 

 made them a short speech, well adapted to such a 

 levy. He told them when they encountered the 

 enemy not to wait for the word of command, but 

 each to "be his own officer," and do all he could, 

 sheltering himself as far as possible, and not to 

 throw away a chance; if they came on the British 

 in the woods they were "to give them Indian play," 

 and advance from tree to tree, pressing the enemy 

 unceasingly. He ended by promising them that 

 their officers would shrink from no danger, but 

 would lead them everywhere, and, in their turn, 

 they must be on the alert and obey orders. 



When they set out their uncertainty as to Fer- 

 guson's movements caused them to go slowly, their 

 scouts sometimes skirmishing with lurking tories. 

 They reached the mouth of Cane Creek, near Gil- 

 bert Town, on October 4th. With the partisans 

 that had joined them they then numbered fifteen 

 hundred men. McDowell left them at this point 



33 Gates MSS. Letter of Gen. Wm. Davidson, Oct. 3, 1780. 

 Also Hill's Narrative. 



