The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [302]
50. CORNWALLIS
JANUARY 18, 1781
THE REPORT CAME IN BY THE HAND OF A GREEN-COATED HORSEMAN, but the shame on the man’s face showed him more of what had happened than Tarleton’s words on paper. Nearly eleven hundred of Cornwallis’ finest soldiers had engaged Morgan’s rebels, and less than three hundred had come away. He didn’t know the exact casualty count, but Tarleton’s report made clear that most of the British troops engaged at Cowpens were now Morgan’s prisoners.
As word of the disaster raced through the camps, Cornwallis began to hear the hot words against Tarleton. It came mainly from the veteran officers, outraged that this boy should have had such a command, should have been allowed the opportunity for such a spectacular failure. Cornwallis expected the criticism, knew it was just one more part of any defeat. If Tarleton had crushed Morgan’s army, the same critical old men would have climbed over each other to be his champion.
He had not yet written his official report to Clinton or Germain. That would come later. He would wait for Tarleton himself to arrive, to offer more details and, perhaps, some acceptable explanation how such a disaster could have occurred. But he knew Tarleton well enough, knew that the young man possessed that one ugly trait so common to men of ambition. His priority would be the high-sounding excuse, that no matter the judgment Cornwallis would hold, Tarleton would be more focused on the response of King George, on how his exploits would read in the London papers. Such men always dream of titles, medals, proclamations in Parliament. Rarely did such men seem to understand that, first, they had to win a war.
Cornwallis only had seven hundred troops around his headquarters, was desperate for Leslie to arrive from Ninety-Six with the reinforcements. The added strength would give Cornwallis enough of a force to make a serious pursuit of Morgan’s rebels. It was the only reasonable strategy, the strategy Clinton would insist upon. No enemy who had inflicted such a deadly strike should simply be allowed to wander off. It mattered little if Morgan intended to pursue some further assault, or if he was content to retreat and rejoin his army to Greene’s. The only possible disruption to Cornwallis’ plan could come from Greene himself, if the rebels showed some sign of launching a two-pronged attack on the British outposts. But Cornwallis had heard nothing of an advance by Greene. Thus Morgan was the target. Whether it was sound strategy mattered less than pride. The army would expect it, Clinton would expect it. It didn’t even have to make sense. It was simply the rules.
OUR ASSAULT WAS PLANNED WITH COOLNESS, AND EXECUTED WITHOUT embarrassment. I had thought, sir, that the main body of the army would have come to our support.”
Cornwallis stared at Tarleton with no expression, thought, So that’s the best you can do? Of course, I cannot be surprised. I did not launch an all-out assault to assist you. Never mind that my total command here was two-thirds the size of yours.
Tarleton stared past him, his usual pose, seemed not to care if Cornwallis responded or not.
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
“General Leslie’s men have arrived here only this morning. We will pursue the rebels as soon as those men have rested. I will require your eyes on the march, therefore I am hopeful we will succeed in gathering the remnants of your Legion.