Battle of Cowpens: Revolutionary War in the South

General Nathaniel Greene was appointed by Commander-in-chief General George Washington to command the Southern army after Gate's defeat at Camden.

Greene sent a strong force under Daniel Morgan to keep down and restrain, the brutal atrocities being committed in that area by the Loyalists in the western extremity of South Carolina..

Morgan, shortly after his arrival in that quarter, sent a lieutenant colonel with a regiment and two- hundred cavalry, to attack a body of Tories who had been plundering the Patriot inhabitants. They came up on them near Hammond's store, charged them vigorously and defeated them.

A General Cunningham, with a battle detachment of British militia, about one hundred and fifty in number, was also dispersed by a lieutenant and his troopers from this same command.

These and other successes, seriously excited the apprehensions of General Cornwallis and he ordered Banastre "Bloody Ban" Tarleton to throw himself at once across the path of Morgan.

After the defeat of the Scottish commander Patrick Ferguson and his Tories at the Battle of King's Mountain by the Over- the- mountain- men, Cornwallis was desperate to regain the initiative in the back-country part of the Carolinas.

Tarleton was known as a brave but ruthless leader of the English and Tory cavalry forces. He would present to the American commander General Morgan a dangerous foe.

With a force of twelve hundred men- five hundred of whom were the formidable legion which had been carrying terror and conquest through every part of South Carolina, for so long a time- 'Bloody Ban'- who got the moniker after massacring surrendering Americans after the British victory at Charleston in the Waxhaws - prepared to obey with his usual celerity.

That there should be no escape of his prey, who lay on the west side of the Broad River, it was agreed that Cornwallis should advance to the north as far as King's Mountain, that Morgan's retreat might be cut off, and he compelled to fight and be defeated.

That Morgan himself should desire to fight either of them, the British commanders do not seem to have suspected at all. Instead of flying from Tarleton, General Morgan advanced to the Pacolet River to meet him.

On the evening of Jan.15th, 1781, Tarleton put his troops in motion towards the head of the stream, as if with an intention to cross it above the position which Morgan had taken, and thus place his adversary between his own and the main army under Cornwallis, which was only a day's march distant on the right.

His stratagem took effect. Morgan made a corresponding movement, while Tarleton, silently decamping in the night, passed the river before daylight, at a crossing place a few miles below.

Morgan then retreated and before night regained a favorite position on Thicketty Creek, where he determined to await the approach of the enemy. Tarleton, supposing that his foe was resolved on flight, hurriedly resumed the pursuit on the following morning.

About 8 o'clock in the morning he came in sight of the Americans, and instead of overtaking them in the fatigue and confusion of flight, he found them drawn up and ready to fight. Morgan's army had rested, eaten, and were refreshed.

The British, on the other hand, had been five hours on the march; but this difference was deemed unimportant to one who up till now, knew nothing but success. Tarleton, satisfied by the spirit and alacrity of his troops, prepared at once for battle.

Morgan had taken ground on an eminence which ascended gently for about three hundred fifty yards, and was covered with an open wood. On the crown of this eminence were posted two hundred and ninety Maryland regulars, and in line on their right, two companies of Virginia militia and a company of Georgians-making his rear line consist of four hundred and thirty men.

This was commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel Howard. One hundred and fifty yards in advance of the line, the main body of the militia, about three hundred in number, all expert riflemen, and most of them burning with a strong sense of revenge, were posted under the command of Colonel Pickens.

In advance of the first line about one hundred and fifty yards, were placed as many picked riflemen, scattered in loose order along the whole front. Those on the right were commanded by Colonel Cunningham of Georgia; those on the left by Major McDowal of South Carolina.

No particular order was given these men, but they knew their duty. "Mark the epaulets men," were the words of counsel which they whispered to one another.

In the rear of the second line the ground descended, and then again rose to a height sufficient to cover a man on horseback. Behind this, the American reserve was posted consisting of one hundred and twenty- five cavalry.

The advanced party were ordered not to deliver their fire until the British were within fifty yards, and this done, to retire, covering themselves with trees and loading and firing as occasion offered.

When Tarleton beheld his enemy ready to receive him, he advanced to reconnoiter, but was prevented from doing so by the picked riflemen who were scattered along the entire front of the line. On this occasion they gave the cavalry a few discharges, which made them tremble at the deadly aim of the Southern rifle.

The Brits were formed when within three hundred yards from the front of Morgan's force, and soon after firing off their artillery, they poured in an incessant crackle of musketry as they came on. At the assigned distance the militia delivered their fire with unerring aim, and "here," says Colonel Howard, "the battle was gained."

The assertion was justified by the spectacle of dead and wounded, officers and their men who sank down under the deliberate and fatal discharge which first followed the advance of the Brits. But this was not enough to repel them under the excitement of battle and the goading of their leaders.

The retreat of the militia quickened the advance of the British, who rent the air with shouts, as they fondly believed the day was already won. But the second line renewed the punishment which had followed from the fire of the first, and at this moment the fearful havoc which the riflemen had made among the officers rendered itself apparent in the confusion of the troops.

Still they advanced, yet obviously with such hesitation, that Tarleton ordered the 71st regiment into line on his left. His cavalry at the same time descended upon the American's right. Morgan perceived this movement, and the necessity of covering his flank.

In this crisis of the battle, the American cavalry engaged with the British cavalry as this fight began, Morgan commanded to "give them but one more fire and make the victory secure;"- the bayonets of Howard's Continentals then interlocked with those of their foe;-and the day was won. The concerted action of Morgan's whole force at the most important moment, was the defeat of the British.

The enemy was within thirty yards, tumultuously shouting and advancing, when the final fire of the Americans was delivered. The survivors of the terrible discharge threw down their weapons, and fell upon their faces.

Over three hundred of the British forces were killed or wounded, over seven hundred were captured along with eight hundred stand of arms, two cannon, and thirty-five baggage wagons taken. American casualties numbered a hundred and fifty men killed and wounded.

Never was victory more complete than this. Not a corps of the British retired from the field under command, except the remains of the cavalry who accompanied Tarleton himself.

These were pursued by a Lieutenant Colonel Washington with a rapid movement- a speed which sometimes placed him in perils, when greater prudence, might have been wiser.

Excited by the prospect of capturing the formidable cavalry officer, who had done such damage to Carolina, Washington pressed forward so fast as to separate himself from the main body of his command.

'Bloody Ban' beheld this, and turned upon his pursuer. He was supported by two of his officers, one of whom crossed swords with the pursuing American. The blade of the latter, being of an inferior grade, broke in the encounter, and left him at the mercy of his foe.

At this moment, when a second blow would have brought him to the ground, a little black servant, not fourteen years old, who was devoted to Washington, and carried no other weapon other than a pistol at his saddle, rode up and discharged his piece into the shoulder of the Briton.

The arm of the assailant fell powerless at his side; but the other officer occupied his place. His sword was already lifted above the head of his pursuer, when the blow was broken by the interposition of the sword of the American Major Perry, who had caught up.

A bullet from the pistol of Tarleton, aimed at Washington, brought the noble horse that bore him to the ground. More approaching Americans caused the Brits and their leader to disengage and resume their successful escape. Thus concludes the Battle of Cowpens.

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