The Winning of the West 



of ground as long as possible, and when forced back 

 to rally and return at once to the fight. Cleavland 

 gave much the same advice; telling his men that 

 when once engaged they were not to wait for the 

 word of command, but to do as he did, for he would 

 show them by his example how to fight, and they 

 must then act as their own officers. The men were 

 to fire quickly, and stand their ground as long as 

 possible, if necessary sheltering themselves behind 

 trees. If they could do no better they were to re- 

 treat, but not to run quite off; but to return and 

 renew the struggle, for they might have better luck 

 at the next attempt. 52 



So rapid were the movements of the Americans, 

 and so unexpected the attack, that a loyalist officer, 

 who had been out reconnoitring, had just brought 

 word to the British commander that there was no 

 sign of danger, when the first shots were heard ; 

 and by the time the officer had paraded and posted 

 his men, the assault had begun, his horse had been 

 killed, and he himself wounded. 53 



52 Ramsey ("Revolution in South Carolina"), writing in 

 1785, gives the speech verbatim, apparently from Cleavland 

 himself. It is very improbable that it is verbally correct, 

 but doubtless it represents the spirit of his remarks. 



53 "Essays in Military Biography," Col. Charles Cornwallis 

 Chesney. London, 1874. O n P- 3 2 3 begins a memoir of "A 

 Carolina Loyalist in the Revolutionary War." It is written 

 by the loyalist himself, who was presumably a relation of 

 Col. Chesney's. It was evidently written after the event, 

 and there are some lapses. Thus he makes the war with the" 

 Cherokees take place in 1777, instead of '76. His explanation 

 of Tarleton's defeat at the Cowpens must be accepted with 

 much reserve. At King's Mountain he says the Americans 



