I am your obedient servant,
Daniel Morgan
The crowd cheered wildly as Ben looked out at them. Ms. White handed him a plaque with his full name engraved on the front.
When the clapping stopped, Ben saw his Uncle Charles hurrying up the steps toward him with his briefcase in his hand. His uncle took the microphone from Ben and said, “Folks, because of Ben Henderson, I am able to tell you today that we have found the original letter written by Daniel Morgan himself four days before the Battle of Cowpens. It has been referenced in history books, but it has been missing for years! Ben’s bravery allowed me to get an injunction from the state historical association to stop the demolition of the Johnson House in Cheraw, South Carolina, because there was an original artifact inside. The letter was hidden in a box in a secret panel there. Ben found the letter and told us about it.”
The crowd cheered. Ben was stunned. He didn’t know what to do.
“And that is not all,” his uncle continued. “The owners of the property intend to donate the letter to the South Carolina State Museum so that all the citizens of this great state can share it!”
Another cheer went up from crowd. Ben just smiled. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing!
The photographer from the newspaper had been frantically taking notes. He snapped Ben’s picture and hurried over to get a quote.
“How did you find the letter?” the reporter asked.
Ben just smiled and said, “Daniel Morgan’s spirit led me to it. And I had a lot of help from my friends.”
“Care to elaborate on that?” the reporter continued.
“Nope, I have to go keep on ‘spiriting up the people,’ sir.’” Ben smiled and walked away.
He walked through the crowd with everyone cheering for him. When he got to Grammy May, he stopped dead in his tracks.
“Ben, I am proud of you for telling the truth, writing a beautiful speech and saving the day, but the fact remains that you lied and took some incredible risks. However, I think you have learned your lesson,” Grammy exclaimed.
“You can say that again, Grammy! I will never go on people’s property without permission. I will work hard never to tell another lie!” Ben promised.
About that time, his cousins all crowded around him.
“Hey, why didn’t you tell us you found the letter?” Kara asked.
“Especially me!” Sam interjected. “I was right there with you!”
“I’ll talk with you later about your part in this,” Grammy warned Sam.
“The letter is going to be housed near where I live at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia!” Tonya exclaimed. “Way to go, Ben!”
“Let’s go get some refreshments with the other folks,” Grammy smiled at her troop.
Jen hung back, and Ben asked, “You haven’t said anything. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking Sal and Amanda had something to do with this!” Jen smiled. “Where are they?”
“Who knows,” Ben answered with a smirk. He took off his hat to see if they were still there, but they were gone.
Just then, Ben and Jen heard familiar laughter. They glanced up to see Sal and Amanda heading out the gate toward the river.
Sal called back, “Daniel Morgan’s spirit is free!”
And then, as they started floating down the river on a log, the twins chorused, “We have to go now, but we won’t say goodbye, we’ll say, ‘See you in the next South Carolina adventure, y’all!’”
Appendix
Daniel Morgan’s Letter
The letter is dated January 13, 1780. It was addressed to “Genl. [Nathanael] Green[e] at Head Quarters” and franked “DMorgan” at “Camp Buiss Mill on Thicheteké.” It reads:
Your letters of the third and eight instants came to hand Yesterday just as I was preparing to change my position, was therefore obliged to detain the Express untill this Evening.
The accounts I have transmitted to you of Lt. Colonel Washington’s Success accords with his opinion—The Number of killed and wounded on the Part of the Tories muse Depend on Conjecture, as they broke on the first Charge, scattered thro’ the Woods and were persued in every Direction—The Consequences attending this defeat will be fatal to the Disaffected they have not been able to embody since.
Possible of the importance of having magazines forage and previsions established in the county, I have left no means in my power unessayed to affect this Business. I dispatched Capt. Chitty (who I have appointed as Commissary of Purchases for my Command) with orders to collect and store up all Provisions that would be obtained between the Catawba and Broad Rivers—I gave him directions to call on Colonel Hill who commands a Regiment of Militia n that Quarter to furnish him with a proper number of Men to assist him in the Execution of this Commission but he to my great surprise has just returned without effecting anything—He tells me that his failure proceeded from the Want of Countenance and assistance of Colonel Hill who assured him that General Sumpter directed him to obey no orders from me unless they came thro’ him.
I find it impracticable to procure more Provisions in their Quarter than is absolutely necessary for our own immediate Cunsumption, indeed it has been with greatest Difficulty that we have been able to effect this—We have to feed such a number of Horses that the most plentiful country must soon be exhausted, nor am I a little apprehensive that no part of this State accessible to us can support us long. Could the Militia be persuaded to change their fatal mode of going to War much provision might be saved but the custom has taken such deep Root that it cannot be abolished.
Upon full and mature Deliberation, I am confirmed in the Opinion that nothing can be effected by my Detachment in this County which will balance the Risques it will be subjected to by remaining here. The Enemys Great superiority of numbers and our Distance from the main Army will enable Lord Cornwallis to detach so superior a Force against me as to render it essential to out safety to avoid coming to Actions, nor will this be always in my power. No attempt to surpirze us will be left untried by them and situated as we must be every possible precaution may not be sufficient to secure us. The scarcity of forage makes it impossible for us to be always a compact Body, and was this not the case it is beyond the art of man to keep the militia from straggling—these Reasons induce me to request that I may be recalle with my Detachment and that General Davidson and Colonel Pickens may be left with the Militia. N. Carolina, S. Carolina & Georgia—they will not be so much the subject of the Enemy’s Attention & will be capable of being a Check on the Disaffected, which is all I can expect—Colonel Pickens is a valuable deferent & attentive Officer & has the confidence of the Militia.
My Force is inadequate to the attempts you have hinted at 0 I have now with me only 260 S.C. & G[eorgia] & 140 N.C. Volunteers—nor do I expect to have more than a third of these to assist me should I be attacked it is impossible to keep them collected.
Though I am convinced that was you on the spot the Propriety of my Proposition would strike you forcibly. Yet should you think it unadvisable to recall me you may depend on my attempting wiry things to annoy the Enemy & to provide for the Safety of the detachment—I shall cheerfully acquiesce in you Determinations.
Colonel Tarleton has crossed the Tyger [River] at Misgrove Mills his force we cannot ascertain. It is more than Probable we are hi Object—Cornwallis by last accounts was at X Roads near Lee’s Old Place.
We have just learned that Tarleton’s Force is from eleven to twelve hundred British I am Sir. Yr Obt Servt. DMorgan
Discussion Questions
1. What was the role of drummer boys in the war and why was it important?
2. In Chapter 1, Sal and Amanda explain to Ben and Jen why the Spanish, French and English wanted to come to the New World. What were some of the reasons that they wanted to come to what would eventually become the United States of America?
3. What were three major tribes that fought in the French and Indian War? How did this conflict start, and how did thi
s war impact the colonists?
4. Why is South Carolina called the Palmetto State? What was the significance of the palmetto tree in South Carolina during the American Revolution? How has South Carolina honored this role?
5. What were the two groups called that supported the king and not their fellow colonists? Their titles are synonyms—explain what that means.
6. What were the three groups of opinions in the war? What did each group believe in?
7. What were some roles that women played in the war as young girls or older women?
8. How did Francis Marion get his nickname, “Swamp Fox”?
9. Name three important rivers mentioned in the book and why they were vital to both sides during the war.
10. Explain how letter writing was a major part of the war and why it was important to soldiers, soldiers’ families, war tactics and planning. Discuss how letters traveled and some of the dangers that the men delivering them might have faced.
11. Discuss the importance of Daniel Morgan getting the support of his troops before going into battle. Why would he want Ben to let modern-day society know that he, too, wasn’t perfect?
12. How did Grammy help her grandchildren mimic wartime around a campfire? What do you think some of the soldiers did to pass the time when they weren’t in battle?
13. As the children sit around the campfire, they discuss some of South Carolina’s most famous ghost stories and haunts. Do you know of any ghost stories from South Carolina (or your home state)?
14. Daniel Morgan is a hero in the story who must overcome challenges to reach a goal. What was General Morgan’s goal, and what challenges did he face?
15. At the end of the story, Ben learns several lessons. What does he take away from this whole experience?
16. The children in the story have access to technology and use it regularly. Explain some of the ways that people living during the time of the American Revolution worked and played without the help of technology.
17. Read the letter Daniel Morgan wrote to Nathanael Greene four days before the Battle of Cowpens.
What was Morgan’s purpose for writing the letter?
Did Morgan make any mistakes in the letter? Why do you think he had misspelled words and made punctuation errors?
Write your own letter for your hometown newspaper announcing that Morgan’s letter is on display as an original artifact at the South Carolina State Museum. Use the 5 Ws to focus your article (who, what, where, when, why).
18. After the Revolution, the Patriots had to set up a government for the new country, the United States of America. Use the Internet or a resource book to find the three branches of government South Carolina and the United States established. Explain what each branch did. Do you think this form of government is better than being ruled by a king or queen? Why or why not?
Printable learning activities to accompany each chapter of the text and a resource guide can be found at www.salandamanda.com.
Bibliography
Book Finder. “Daniel Morgan.” Accessed September 23, 2013. www.ilabdatabase.com/php/detailindex.php3?booknr117343774&source=bookfinder.
Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.
Huff, A.V. The History of South Carolina in the Building of a Nation. United States: Alester G. Furman III, 1991.
National Park Service. “Cowpens Battlefield.” Accessed September 23, 2013. www.nps.gov/archive/cowp/batlcowp.htm.
Script from Illustrated Map Program at Cowpens Battlefield (National Park Service), 2013.
Solesbee, Mary Ann, PhD. Cool with Sal and Amanda. Columbia, SC: R.L. Bryan Printing, 2010.
———. Sal and Amanda Visit Walnut Grove Plantation. Columbia, SC: R.L. Bryan Printing, 2010.
South Carolina. United States: Scott Foresman-Pearson Education, 2005.
South Carolina Instructional Television. “Know It All.” Accessed September 23, 2013. www.Knowitall.org.
South Carolina State Library. “Study SC.” Accessed September 23, 2013. studysc.org.
South Carolina State Museum. Accessed September 23, 2013. www.museum.state.sc.us.
About the Author
Dr. Mary Ann Solesbee has cherished children’s books since she “read” Little Golden Books on her mother’s lap. Having deep South Carolina roots dating back to the beginnings of the backcountry, she has always loved history. She has shared her love of books with preschool to graduate school students throughout her career. Dr. Solesbee taught elementary school, served as dean of education at North Greenville University, wrote and directed a million-dollar Teaching American History Grant for the Spartanburg County School Districts and is now an instructional coach for Landrum Middle School.
Dr. Solesbee’s PhD is in elementary education from the University of South Carolina. Sal and Amanda Visit Walnut Grove Plantation and the accompanying activity book, Cool with Sal and Amanda, were her first children’s books in the Sal and Amanda series. Sal and Amanda Take Morgan’s Victory March to the Battle of Cowpens brings Sal and Amanda back with a delightful mystery based on the Battle of Cowpens and its hero, Daniel Morgan.
Dr. Solesbee is available for teacher in-service and student book signings. She helps teachers understand the joy of teaching history as a story that happened “right under our feet” while also connecting it to the standards. She also enjoys teaching students how to bring their stories to life through a writers’ workshop approach. You may reach her at [email protected] and on facebook at Sal and Amanda Visit.
About the Illustrator
A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Tony Waters has illustrated ten children’s books, including Cinnamon’s Busy Year and The Moon Smiles Down, which he wrote as well. He has also contributed numerous illustrations for Ladybug and Cricket magazines and more recently for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. Working on the Sal & Amanda books has given him the opportunity to combine his love of drawing animal characters with his interest in history. The illustrations in this book were created with watercolors and art markers.
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