General Daniel Morgan
The hero of Cowpens, Gen.
Morgan used creative tactics
to hand Banastre Tarleton a
major defeat.
The Battle of Cowpens - Gaffney, South Carolina
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - The Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - The Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina
The Battle of Cowpens
Heavy fighting took place here on January 17, 1781.
The scene is now part of Cowpens National
Battlefield in Gaffney, South Carolina.
Cowpens National Battlefield
On January 17, 1781, General Daniel Morgan
turned the tide of the American Revolution at
the Battle of Cowpens. Morgan's victory in
South Carolina started the British on a road
that would end with their monumental
surrender at Yorktown, Virginia.

The battle took place as everything was
going wrong in America's fight for
independence. George Washington's army
was bogged down in the North and the
British had taken Charleston and then
handed the Americans a devastating defeat
at Camden, South Carolina. Banastre
Tarleton and his dragoons were riding rough-
shod over South Carolina, and had just
massacred a force of American soldiers at
the Waxhaws.

Command of the American army in the South
now fell to General Nathaniel Greene. Using
an unexpected strategy, he sent Morgan into
South Carolina to try to delay the British
campaign.

Tantalizingly appearing and then falling back
before Tarleton's oncoming legion, Morgan
stretched the British officer's supply lines
while giving his own force time to receive
reinforcements. On January 17, 1781,
however, he turned to fight.

Knowing Tarleton's reputation for rashness
and the American militia's reputation for
running under fire, General Morgan came up
with an ingenious plan. He formed his men
in a series of lines, militia in the front and his
seasoned Continentals in the rear.

Moving from campfire to campfire speaking
to his men, Morgan explained his plan. The
men in the front had only to fire a couple of
times and then they could head for the rear.
This seemed reasonable to the militiamen
and they agreed to the plan.

The strategy worked. Morgan's front lines
weakened the oncoming British with a volley
fire and then headed for the rear. Tarleton,
believing Morgan's men were breaking and
running, ordered a charge. By the time the
British reached the American regulars, they
believed the Patriots were in full retreat.

Tarleton ordered his men to charge and they
surged forward, but again ran into heavy fire,
this time from Morgan's Continentals. A fierce
firefight erupted, the Continentals standing
toe to toe with the British while the militia
forces reformed to the rear.
The critical moment came when part of
Morgan's main line confused orders and
began an organized retreat. Rushing forward,
the general picked his moment then ordered
his men to wheel and fire directly into the
faces of the oncoming British.

The British assault collapsed. Sensing the
moment of victory, the American militia
rejoined the battle and suddenly the British
were in full retreat. The retreat became a
disaster. By the time the smoke had cleared,
Tarleton's legion had been destroyed. British
losses totaled 110 killed, 200 wounded and
another 630 captured.

The Battle of Cowpens inspired the American
armies with new hope. Morgan had defeated
the most feared British force in the South.
Cowpens was an important step on the road
to Yorktown and American independence.

To learn more, please click here to read an
online copy of an excellent book on the battle.

Cowpens National Battlefield is located on
Highway 11 in Gaffney, South Carolina. The
park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There
is no charge to visit. Please click here to visit
the park's website for directions and more
information.
Cannon at Cowpens
Patriot forces captured two
small cannon like this one
when they overran the British
lines at the Battle of Cowpens.
Cowpens National Battlefield
The U.S. Congress erected
this monument on the site of
the battle.
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Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox
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