Winchester Gazette

Personal Recontre at the Battle of the Cowpens.

"The affair thus occurred: Whilst col. W. Washington was engaged with the artillerists, col Tarleton, at the head of all the cavalry who could follow him, hastened to their relief.—
Washington, perceiving his approach, ordered his men to charge and dashed forward himself. Tarleton prudently commanded a retreat. Being of course in the rear of his men, and looking behind, he perceived that Washington was near him and full thirty yards ahead of his troops.—Attended by two of his officers, he advanced to meet Washington. One of his officers led, and parrying a blow aimed at him by Washington, the sword of the latter proved of inferior temper and broke midway.—The next effort must have brought Washington to the ground.—
But a little horseman, not fourteen years old, who was devoted to his master, and carried no other weapon but a pistol at his saddle bow, had pressed forward to share or avert the danger that threatened his beloved colonel, and arrived in time to discharge the contents of his pistol into the shoulder that brandished the sword over Washington's head. It fell powerless, but the other officer had already raised his sword to inflict the wound, when Sergeant Major Perry reached the side of his commander just in time to receive the sword arm of the officer upon the edge of his extended weapon. The wound also broke this blow." But Col. Tarleton in the meantime was secure by aiming another from his pistol.—
The noble animal that bore Washington was destined to receive the ball that had rather discourteously been aimed at his rider. Poor Perry's destiny was bound up with that of his commander, for at the battle of Eutaw, when the latter was made prisoner, Perry by the same discharge fell under five wounds. We are informed, but believe that he never recovered from them."
—Johnson's Life of Greene.