04-09 Cowpens National Battlefield

From 04-09 Cowpens National Battlefield, SC

While having our Motor Home serviced at Freightliner, we visited the Cowpens National battlefield. It is only a few miles down highway 11 from the Service Center. This was a key victory for the patriots in the late stages of the war.

The patriots were lead by Daniel Morgan, one of the best generals of the Revolutionary War. He was opposed by infamous British General “Bloody” Banastre Tarleton, whose troops had previously massacred about 150 patriots who attempted to surrender at the Battle of Waxsaws (SC).

Cowpens was just what its name implied, an open area with scattered trees where locals brought their cattle to fatten before driving them to market.

From 04-09 Cowpens National Battlefield, SC

Morgan knew Tarleton was impetuous and had a low regard for militia. He used this to his advantage. He placed sharpshooters out front. Next a row of militia and, somewhat hidden in the background, the trained Continental Troops.

This is roughly the initial view for the British. In the distance across the open area would have been the sharpshooters with the militia in a row behind. Hidden in the background were the Continentals, mostly from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

From 04-09 Cowpens National Battlefield, SC

Knowing the militia were not trained to withstand a bayonet or cavalry charge from the British, he told the sharpshooters and militia he only needed three good volleys from them. The sharpshooters fired first, then withdrew back to the line of militia. The militia and sharpshooters fired two volleys and then withdrew back through the Continentals. The fire from the militia and sharpshooters killed about 2/3 of the officers who had been their main targets, but the British thought the patriots were fleeing and began a ragged charge.

The Continentals were standing their ground, but a troop of Scottish Highlanders pressed one flank. Orders were given to one Patriot company to turn and face the new threat. The orders were misunderstood and the other companies turned about and began to retreat backwards in an orderly fashion. Morgan and the other commanders quickly regained control, had them reload as they marched and then turn about and fire into the oncoming British at point blank range. Meanwhile the Patriot Dragons (or cavalry) moved around to one side and the reformed militia came around to the other side. They quickly enveloped (surrounded) the British. The battle was over in about 18 minutes with an American victory although Tarleton and about 250 of his Dragoons managed to escape. This is considered one of the most successful envelopments in military history.

Apparently women played a key role telling the men where to shoot.

From 04-09 Cowpens National Battlefield, SC

It also appears that women were good shoots and excellent in close combat keeping their purses close at hand to swing in a deadly fashion at the enemy.

From 04-09 Cowpens National Battlefield, SC

It was interesting to learn that the average American was 5’5’’ tall. So this statue beside Monique is about the right height for a Patriot soldier.

We stayed two nights at the nearby Kings Mountain State Park. It is next to the Kings Mountain National Battlefield, another key Patriot victory. There is much history to see in SC. Everyone knows about Fort Sumter and the Civil War battles, but few realize more Revolutionary War battles and skirmishes were fought in SC than any other state.