The legion cavalry returned to camp without the loss of a man.
The defeat at Cowpens had a serious influence on the campaign. It
deprived Lord Cornwallis of the greater portion of his light
infantry, who were of the greatest utility in a campaign in such a
country, while the news of the action had an immense influence in
raising the spirits of the colonists. Hitherto they had uniformly met
with ill success when they opposed the British with forces even
approaching an equality of strength. In spite of their superior arms
and superior shooting, they were unable to stand the charge of the
British infantry, who had come almost to despise them as foes in the
field. The unexpected success urged them to fresh exertions and
brought to their side vast numbers of waverers.
General Morgan, who was joined by General Greene, attempted to
prevent Cornwallis passing the fords of the Catawba. It was not till
February 1 that the river had fallen sufficiently to render a passage
possible. Colonel Webster was sent with his division to one of the
principal fords, with orders to open a cannonade there and make a
feint of crossing, while the general himself moved toward a smaller
and less-known ford. General Davidson, with 300 Americans, was
watching this point, but the brigade of guards were ordered to
commence the passage and were led by their light infantry companies
under Colonel Hall. The river was five hundred yards across, and the
stream so strong that the men, marching in fours, had to support one
another to enable them to withstand its force.
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