Battle+of+Cowpens



By Mark Witten



The Battle of Cowpens took place January 17, 1781. This was during the later part of the American Revolution.Cowpens can be found in Northers South Carolina. American Patriots fought against the British and the loyalists.Between the Two Armies there was about 2,100 men, 1,000 on the Patriots side and 1,100 on the British, Loyalist side.



On The American side there was, [|Colonel Daniel Morgan]. He was born July 6th, 1736. He was believed to have been born in [|Hunterdon County, New Jersey]. He was one of seven children in his family. His parents were Joseph Morgan and Elizabeth Lloyd. At the age of 16 he had a fight with his father and moved out. He worked many different jobs in Pennsylvania, he eventually settled in Winchester, Virginia. He found a job there as a teamster for a wagoneer. Within six months he earned enough money to Buy his own cart and team. He then became a wagoneer on the [|Great Wagon Road]. Daniel Morgan Was known to be a big Man, Standing six feet tall and built like a rock.He was also considered a very tough man. He once got into a disagreement where a British officer hit him with the flat side of his sword. Morgan Responded with a solid punch that took down the officer. He was then sentanced to 500 lashes. Also while carrying a dispatch to Winchester,he and two others were attacked by Indians. The two who were with Morgan were shot and fell immediately. Morgan took a bullet through the back of his neck which exited through his left cheek. it knocked out all of the teeth on the left side of his mouth. He became a captain in 1775, he and his riflemen joined the [|continental army] outside Boston Massachusetts. He later volunteered his company for [|Benedict Arnold's Campaign in Quebec]. When Arnold was wounded Morgan took command. Morgans Rifleman were known as "Morgans Rangers". These Rangers Were feared by the British for their long range accuracy.Morgans Company of around 96 riflemen walked nearly 600 Miles from Winchester To Boston to help fight the Battle of Bunker Hill. After the war Morgan moved to Charles Town. He came back to service in the Military to suppress the [|Whiskey Rebellion]. He later ran for the United States House of Representatives twice. He was elected on his second try. He died in 1803 and was buried in Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Later he was moved to Mt. Hebron cemetery in Winchester.



On the British side there was, [|Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton]. He was Born August 21st, 1754. He was one of seven children born to John Tarleton. He went to [|Oxford University]where he studied to become a lawyer in 1771. When his father died in 1773, Banastre received £5,000. He spent most of this money on gambling and women. in 1775 he bought a [|commission] to be a cavalry officer in the [|1st Dragoon Guard]. He proved himself to be a gifted rider and leader. Tarleton rose through the ranks without having to buy any more commisions. He eventualy became a Leutenant Colonel. Tarleton Volunteered to come to America with [|General Cornwallis].He fought in the [|New York Campaign of 1776], which got him promoted to Major. Tarleton had A great career in the Military. In December 1776, while scouting, Tarletons patrol surrounded a house in Basking Ridge NJ. American Major General Charles Lee was staying in this house. Tarleton forced Lee to surrender by thretening to burn the house down. He Later Traveled South in 1780. There he helped in the [|Capture of Charlestown]where he commanded the British Legion. In May he and his Men discovered 350 Continentals from Virginia. Tarleton Slaughtered the enemy even though they tried to surrender. This was known as the [|Battle of Waxhaws]or the " Waxhaws Massacre". He Aided in the Battle of Camden, Helping win a victory for the British. He also helped in small battles such as Fishing Creek, and Blackstock Hill. In 1781 He was ordered to take down Daniel Morgan and his army. The Battle Was Known as the Battle of Cowpens. Tarleton Retreated to Cornwallis' army and Fought along with him at Yorktown. This Battle Was The end of his military career in the American Revolution. Tarleton Died on January 25,1833.



The Two Strategies of the Battle were quite different. [|Morgans] strategy was well thought out and devised while taking into account what [|Tarleton] would do. Morgan took the amount of time before tarleton arrived and the unique landscape of [|Cowpens] into account while planning his attack. Morgan knew his men and Tarleton, which was a huge advantage for him, considering Tarletons underestimation of the opposing force. He tossed the conventional strategy and placed himself between two rivers, the [|Broad] and [|Pacolet Rivers], eliminating an escape route. He did so for this reason, so that when the first signs of battle arose the militias wouldn't flee, as they typically did. Morgan deliberately left his [|flanks] open to his enemy. He believed Tarleton Would attack him head-on, which Tarleton did. Morgan had three lines, the first line was made of of sharpshooters or skirmishers, the second of militia, and the third were the regulars. The Militias were not reliable in battle so Morgan just asked them to fire two volleys before retreating back behind the [|regulars] he believed then the British would pursue into the third line, the British forces would be both physically and mentally damaged by this tactic. Morgan wanted to cut the cavalry and infantry down while they advanced up the hill then attack them. Historian John Buchanan wrote,"the only general in the American Revolution, on either side, to produce a significant original tactical thought.”

Tarleton took a very light and simple tactic to the battle. He underestimated Morgan, Believed that the forces opposing him were weaker then they actually were. Tarleton also didn't take into account the physical and mental state of his men. Tarletons brigade was malnourished and exhousted from little to no sleep and lack of food. Tarleton Was determined to battle right away despite the state of his men. Tarleton Sent two Tory scouts out who came back and gave him the news of Morgans chosen battlefield. He was sure of victory now, his opponent was caught between him and a flooding river. Tarleton went with a linear formation of attack. His plan was to have his [|infantry] move on Morgan in a line. The outside flanks would be [|dragoon] units, who would protect the infantry. they had a [|250-man reserve battalion of Scottish highlanders] under Major Arthur MacArthur.Also a 200 Man legion for when the Americans broke and ran. Tarletons plans relied on the American army being weak and unprepared, but they got the opposite of that.

Upon emerging from the woods Tarleton ordered his dragoons to fire on the Americans. Fifteen American dragoons dropped and the rest retreated. An infantry charge was ordered by Tarleton before many of his men could make it out of the woods.Tarleton didn't take any time to study the American lines resulting in the loss of many of his men from the Americans. The Skirmishers kept firing as they retreated. The British attack poured into the Militiamen who fired their two volleys and fled to the left. Almost 40% of the British casualties were officers, they became very confused. They reformed and continued their advance. Tarleton sent some dragoons in who were momentarily sprayed with musket fire from the militia. They continued foward while the Militia under [|Andrew Pickens']command fled to the left as planned. The British Mistook the two lines falling back as a retreat, and they continued into the third line of the trained regulars. A flank to the right was ordered to the 71st Highlanders. [|John Eager Howard]saw the flank and ordered the Malitia to face the Scots. His orders were misunderstood in the heat of the battle and they started to withdraw. The British saw the withdrawing malitia and beleived that the Americans were running. They at once broke into a chaotic charge. Morgan ordered the militia to fire. They made an about face and fired from around 30 yards into the British. The volley was deadly and caused so much confusion that the British stopped in their tracks. At that, Howard called out," CHARGE BAYONETS!" The British all either collapsed or just flat out ran. Howards Malitia moved forward and captured the British cannons. The Malitia were then ordered to attack the Scots from the back. The Shock of this charge coused both the right and center flanks to collapse, only a minority of the Scots were left still fighting the Malitia line. Tarleton saw what was happening and ordered his remaining cavalry to attack. They refused and left the battlefeild. Tarleton desperately tried to do something but was cought by [|Colonel William Washington]who attacked Tarleton. He shot Washingtons horse out from under him and fled. The Battle lasted about one hour long and was a total victory for the Americans. Morgan took 712 prisoners from the battle 200 of which were wounded. It was later Reported that when Cornwallis received News of the loss he broke his sword.



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