My hide is in the loft.

From The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan. Page 322. Masterful and succinct description of the Battle of Cowpens.

“Watching from the steady ranks of the Delaware Line was Lieutenant Thomas Anderson, who noted in his journal that the militia “Fought Well Disputing the ground that was between them and us, Flying from One tree to another.” He is supported by Sergeant Major Seymour: the militia “retreated in very good order, not seeming to be in least confused.” But some felt confusion, fear, and an overpowering desire to get as far away as possible. In the militia on the far right was young James Collins, who told what he did and in all candor what he intended to do. These men had the farthest to go to gain the protection of the Continentals: “We gave the enemy one fire, when they charged us with their bayonets. We gave way and retreated for our horses.” To Tarleton the militia withdrawal had all the beginnings of a rout. He ordered the captain commanding the fifty 17th Light Dragoons on his right flank to charge the retreating militia, and it was James Collins and his comrades who took the brunt of a cavalry charge “executed . . . with great gallantry,”8 wrote Tarleton. But Morgan was watching, and he had not forgotten his promise to the militiamen. He ordered William Washington to counterattack the British dragoons. Washington’s reaction was swift and dramatic. James Collins and Thomas Young participated in this action and described their respective roles.

James found himself in the middle of a whirlwind of action that took only minutes to complete: “Tarleton’s cavalry pursued us; now, thought I, my hide is in the loft. Just as we got to our horses they overtook us and began to take a few hacks at some, however, without doing much injury. They, in their haste, had pretty much scattered, perhaps thinking they would have another Fishing Creek frolic, but in a few moments Col. Washington’s cavalry was among them, like a whirlwind, and the poor fellows began to keel from their horses, without being able to remount. The shock was so sudden and violent they could not stand it and immediately betook themselves to flight; there was no time to rally, and they “appeared to be as hard to stop as a drove of wild Choctaw steers going to a Pennsylvania market. In a few moments the clashing of swords was out of hearing and quickly out of sight.” Thomas Young was one of the riders who came to the rescue of Collins and his comrades: “In a moment the order to charge was given. We made a most furious charge, and cutting through the British cavalry we wheeled and charged them in the rear. In this charge I exchanged my tackey for the finest horse I ever rode; it was the quickest swap I ever made in my life."