Battle of Cowpens a turning point in the American Revolution

The American victory at Kings Mountain on Oct. 7, 1780, over a large Loyalist Militia force under Colonel Patrick Ferguson, was a turning point in the British Southern Campaign.

This battle caused Cornwallis to abandon Charlotte and withdraw back across the border to Winnsboro, S.C. Cornwallis’ left flank was now exposed.

A change of command in the Continental Army soon followed as General Gates was replaced for his dismal performance and defeat at the Battle of Camden earlier that August.

General Nathanael Greene, the new leader of the Southern Army, had full confidence of General Washington. Greene was joined by General Daniel Morgan.

Morgan was the veteran of many early campaigns in the war, left home while recovering in Virginia to get back into the war.

These two leaders devised a risky plan to split the Southern Army and take advantage of the exposed left flank of Cornwallis.

What followed was the pivotal Battle at Cowpens on Jan. 17, 1781. Patriot forces were led by General Daniel Morgan, (Morganton’s namesake) with about 1,900 troops under his command were mixed Continental and Militia troops.

They would meet on this battlefield the feared Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton’s British Force of about 1,200. Tarleton had developed his feared reputation at Waxhaw, defeating a Virginia continental regiment that was moving to reinforce Charleston.

His brilliant use of Cavalry, Dragoons, Mounted infantry put fear into many men and led to the cry of “Tarleton’s Quarter,” no prisoners. Cornwallis tried to take advantage of Green’s decision to split his forces.

Tarleton had been covering Cornwallis’s right flank fighting the famous “Swamp Fox” Francis Marion. Tarleton was confident his style of fighting would be the defeat of Morgan and his force.

However, Morgan’s stunning example of military prowess and skilled leadership resulted in 900 British casualties and prisoners at the expense of 25 patriot losses.

Morgan’s successful use of Militia, Rifleman, and Continentals stunned and shocked Tarleton. The battle tactics from Cowpens are still taught today at the Military Academy at West Point.

This battle was a critical American victory in the Revolutionary War in that it further weakened British attempts to wrest the Southern colonies from American control.

But it was to be Morgan’s last battle of the war. Wracked with illness and severe back pain he returned home one last time.

After Cowpens, Major General Cornwallis gives up on his efforts to win in South Carolina and pursue General Greene’s force into Eastern North Carolina.

Burning his wagons and unnecessary supplies at Ramsour’s Mill in Lincolnton, Cornwallis needed to travel fast and light to catch up to Green. This chase came to be known as The Race To The Dan.

Cornwallis would eventually defeat Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781, but with very heavy losses of his troops of about 25% killed or wounded.

Charles James Fox declared to Parliament in London upon hearing of this, “Another such victory would ruin the British Army.”

These losses along with the men lost at Kings Mountain, and Cowpens weakened British forces too much. Cornwallis withdrew southeast to Wilmington to rest and refit his tired and depleted army and be resupplied by the Royal Navy.

Abandoning the Carolinas, he marched his army about 250 miles to Yorktown, Va., so he could be nearer to New York, shortening his supply lines.

General Washington seized the opportunity to trap and defeat Cornwallis on Sept. 18, 1781, at the Battle of Yorktown just eight months after the Battle of Cowpens.

It is said that the Battle of Kings Mountain followed by the success at Battle of Cowpens set up the fall of the Southern Campaign Strategy by the British. Yorktown would become the last major conflict of the Revolutionary War.