Battle - Of Cowpens

The , fought on January 17, 1781 , was a decisive tactical victory for American forces that fundamentally altered the course of the Revolutionary War in the South . Conducted on a 500-yard-wide pasture in the South Carolina backcountry, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan utilized a brilliant "defense in depth" strategy to nearly annihilate the elite "British Legion" led by the aggressive Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. No reviews Directions Tactical Brilliance: The Triple Line Defense

Commanded by Andrew Pickens, these roughly 300 men were ordered to fire two volleys and then retreat behind the main line. battle of cowpens

The battle culminated in a rare . As the British infantry lost cohesion while chasing the retreating militia, American regulars turned and unleashed a devastating volley at close range. Simultaneously, Lieutenant Colonel William Washington’s cavalry struck the British right flank while the rallied militia hit from the left. The Battle of Cowpens - National Park Service The , fought on January 17, 1781 ,

Tarleton mistook the planned militia retreats for a rout and ordered his tired, malnourished troops to charge headlong into the trap. The Turning Point The battle culminated in a rare

Roughly 150 skilled riflemen were tasked with firing two well-aimed shots, specifically targeting British officers, before falling back.

This line consisted of seasoned Continental Army regulars under John Eager Howard, positioned on a slight rise to absorb the final British charge.

General Morgan, nicknamed "Old Waggoner," famously understood the limitations of his militia and the predictable aggression of Tarleton. He arranged his 2,000 troops in three distinct lines to trap the British: