Greene’s predecessor, General Gates, had reorganized the army’s light troops–about 800 Continental and militia infantry and dragoons–into a “flying army” commanded by Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan. Known as the “Old Wagoner” for his time with the British army during the French and Indian War, an experience which had left him with a whip-scarred back and a visceral hatred for British officers, Morgan had acquitted himself well in the Quebec and Saratoga campaigns. Greene ordered Morgan into the South Carolina backcountry to protect Patriot sympathizers, threaten the strategic outpost of Ninety Six. and deprive the enemy of supplies. The major general would meanwhile march the remaining Continentals to Cheraw Hill to restore his troops with food gathered from Loyalist farms. By dividing his force, Greene presented Cornwallis with a dilemma: turn to fight one element and the other was left free to raise havoc on British supply lines.
"Sir, you are appointed to the command of a corps of Light Infantry, detachment of militia, and Lt. Col. Washington's Regiment of Light Dragoons...you will proceed to the West side of the Catawba River, where you will be joined by [North & South Carolina militia]. This force...you will employ against the enemy on the West side of the River, either offensively or defensively as your own prudence and discretion my direction, acting with caution, and avoiding surprizes by every possible precaution...The object of this detachment is to give protection to that part of the country and spirit up the people--to annoy the enemy in that quarter---collect the provisions and forage out of the way of the enemy"
Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene to Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan, 16 December 1780Greene, Nathanael. “The papers of General Nathanael Greene.” Vol. VII. Chapel Hill: Published for the Rhode Island Historical Society [by] University of North Carolina Press, 1976, p. 154.