The War in the Northwest 323 



in number. 34 In the afternoon they passed by sev- 

 eral large bands of tories, who had assembled to 

 join Ferguson; but the Hols ton men were resolute 

 in their determination to strike at the latter, and 

 would not be diverted from it, nor waste time by 

 following their lesser enemies. 



Riding all day they reached the Cowpens when 

 the sun had already set, a few minutes after the 

 arrival of the Flint Hill militia under Lacey, Hill, 

 and Williams. The tired troops were speedily en- 

 gaged in skinning beeves for their supper, roasting 

 them by the blazing camp-fires; and fifty acres of 

 corn, belonging to the rich tory who owned the 

 Cowpens, materially helped the meal. Meanwhile 

 a council was held, in which all the leading officers, 

 save Williams, took part. Campbell was confirmed as 

 commander-in-chief, and it was decided to once more 

 choose the freshest soldiers, and fall on Ferguson 

 before he could either retreat or be reinforced. The 

 officers went round, picking out the best men, the 

 best rifles, and the best horses. Shortly after nine 

 o'clock the choice had been made, and nine hundred 

 and ten 35 picked riflemen, well mounted, rode out 



34 MS. narrative of Ensign Robert Campbell (see also 

 Draper, 221) says seven hundred; and about fifty of the 

 footmen who were in good training followed so quickly after 

 them that they were able to take part in the battle. Lenoir 

 says the number was only five or six hundred. The modern 

 accounts generally fail to notice this Green River weeding 

 out of the weak men, or confuse it with what took place at 

 the Cowpens ; hence many of them greatly exaggerate the 

 number of Americans who fought in the battle. 



35 The official report says nine hundred ; Shelby, in all his 



