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Jackson to Morgan-A Hero of Cowpens Complains of Injustice Senate Chamber U. States Philadelphia, January 20th, 1795. Dear General-Since I last saw you in Philadelphia, which I think was in 1791, a gentleman has undertaken to write the history of Georgia. Your address to the Georgia Refugees, published at Pacolet, in South Carolina, being in my hands, I gave it to him amongst other material for insertion. The same gentleman, a Mr. Longworthy, has applied to me for other documents, and particularly to know if any Georgians were at the Cowpens? None of the authors who have written have mentioned them in that action, nor did the account given by your aid-de-camp, Major Giles, to Congress, notice them or any officer belonging to the State although the officers of the other States were generally mentioned and their militia applauded. The Georgians have imputed this to the loss of your despatches, and not to any intention of yourself, who have always been one of their favorite commanders, but they think hard of the silence respecting them in that celebrated action, and which did you the honor of turning the tide of affairs in favor of the United States. My object of writing at present is to request, if you see no Impropriety in it, your giving a certificate under your hand of there being present three companies. The detachment was small, but if you recollect you placed them in front of the whole, and they strictly obeyed your orders in keeping up a warm fire and gradually retreating. I could wish your expressing that they behaved as well as the other militia in the field. The officers commanding, if you choose to say anything of them, were Major Cunningham and Captains Samuel Hammonds, George Walton and Joshua Inman, who all behaved well, and the latter was peculiarly serviceable to you in advertising you of the Enemies approach and skirmishing with their advance. The detachment was under my immediate command and direction, altho I acted also as Brigade Major to all the Militia present. It is with difficulty I mention myself, but having the honor of introducing Major McArthur, the commander of the British Infantry, a prisoner on that occasion taken by myself, and having run the utmost risque of my life in attempting to seize the colours of the 71st Regiment in the midst of it, on their attempt to form after they were broken, being saved by an exertion of Colonel Howards, and for which I had the honour of your thanks on the Field of Battle, I think it a duty to my children, as the History of the State is to be told, to have some insertion even of my conduct in that well fought battle. You, Sir, were rendered immortal by the action, my ambition is to let my descendants and the citizens of Georgia know that I was present and contributed my mite to your glory. General Pickens has already certified to the requests of this letter fully, but whilst you are alive his certificate is not the best evidence, and your testimony will be grateful to the citizens of Georgia. I am sorry to break in on the important business of your present command, and should have waited until the next session of the Federal Legislature, when we hope to see you a member, but for the pressing request of Mr. Longworthy to have the necessary papers. I am, dear General, with the highest esteem and respect, yr old fellow soldier and most obed't serv't, JAS. JACKSON. If you could favor me with an Answer previous to the rising of Congress, about the 1st of March, it would highly oblige me. (From Cowpens Papers: Being Correspondence of General Morgan and the Prominent Actors, from the collection of Theodorus Bailey Myers, pp. 45-46) Document ID: Myers, p. 45 Date: 1/20/1795 |
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