Show S JV vi S 17 5 ca 1 fi ca vo eps ba illevia ther aro r 78 k kaa co joh aban z Z howard L 4 by ELMO SCOTT WATSON NU NE of the last sets acts of 0 the closing session ot of the seventieth congress was to pass a bill providing for the erection ot of a national monument on the cowpens coppens battleground in south carolina when this monument Is erected tardy recognition will be hl given ca to a famous victory one which Is perhaps little known to most americana american but which was one of the most important of all the revolutionary conflicts the story of the surrender of cornwallis Cornwall ls at yorktown rork town the crowning event of the revolution Is known to all but yorktown ml might lit not have been possible had it not been tor for two earlier ilc victories one of them took look place at kings mountain when the frontlet esmen of north carolina south carolina and virginia overwhelmed the british leader ferguson and the was the ille little battle of cowpens coppens Cow pens in connection with the action of congress providing for the cowpens coppens national monument the historical section of the army war college prepared a historical statement printed is as a house document which gives by far the best account of this battle that has yet been written the importance of that battle Is shown in the following statement from the document tarleton leader of the british at cowpens coppens Cow pens in his bis narrative commenting on the two disasters which the british suffered buffered in south carolina sat aall that the fall of ferguson Fer euson at kings mountain was a catastrophe which put an end to the first expedition tion into north carolina and that the battle of coppens cowpens overshadowed the commencement of the second expedition this comment taken in conjunction with the apprehension of george washington that the southern states will look upon this victory as much more decisive in its consequences than it really Is briefly summarizes the result of the battle of cowpens coppens the effect at t the time was to hearten greatly the patriotic cause and to distress the british army and their tory sympathizers beyond measure it was the second link in the chain of events soon to be followed by others which finally led to the surrender of cornwallis Cornwall ls army at yorktown to have a proper understanding of this battle and its importance it Is necessary to take into account the military situation in the south and komu of the previous events briefly these were as follows following the capitulation of charlestown Charles town on way it 12 1180 1780 all of south carolina was in a con of subjugation within a few months and la a september british headquarters were moved to charlotte town N C prior to this lieutenant colonel ferguson had been detached with a small force of provincials to organize the militia and operate on Cornwa llla flank on the seventh of october his entire command was lost at kings mountain following this disaster the british held field arm army y was withdrawn more than sixty miles to borough and there remained on the defensive while awaiting information relative to the rehabilitation of gates army armi which bad suffered buffered disastrous defeat at canden camden on august 16 dow cow commanded by greens greene lieutenant colonel tarleton the only officer remaining after fergusons Fergus ons death used by corneal ila tor for the command of roving troops was sent into the district north of ninety six to 0 oppose general morgan and somewhat later cornwallis Cornwall ls resumed his march northward tarleton and morgan met at coupens cowpens on the seventeenth of january and in a battle noted for the unusual tactics adopted by the americans the british were defeated with heavy losses by a force interior inferior in numbers a considerable portion of which was militia cornwallis Cornwall ls hoped to destroy or drive out of south carolina the corps corpa commanded by general morgan there was also hope that by rapid marches the british main army would get between greene and virginia and by that means force th the a americans to tight light without receiving any reinforcements from that state or tailing failing in this thin to oblige greene to quit north carolina with precipitation and thereby er courage the friends of the crown to make good their promises of LL a general rising to assist the british commander in establishing reestablishing re the royal government morgans purpose had been tc harass corn haills foraging nud and parties and being more than a hundred miles civay from greene at the time cornwallis Cornwall lg believed that tarleton could crush morgan before greene greane could come to his bis aid morgan knew that tarleton was coming in 0 after film but lie had no intention of engaging in a battle until lie he could do so on ground of LIs lils own the place where general morran moi fan established his camp the night of the sixteenth was year icar the be intersection ter of the mill gap cup road and lie ron road d from the present city of spartanburg running northeast into north carolina and crossin cross ln the hie broad river at island ford the position selected for or the action lay on both sides of the mill gap road sides of the camp the ground Is slightly undulating and at the time was wan covered wilh trees of red oak hickory and pine being used forthe grazing of ft cattle there was but little it if any ny underbrush two very slight elevations elevation col evia topped the ridge along which the mill gap cap road runs and theme were selected as lines of development for the american troops the main position was on the elevation just south of the ravine in which camp was established to its front fur for yards there Is a scarcely perceptible cep tIble slope downwards beyond this the slope Is greater dropping olt off into a shallow ravine yards from the main position to the rear of th the main position and just west of the camp site 1 Is an elevation slightly higher than that of the th main position this ridge continues across the road in a south and southwest direction but at a slightly loss less elevation from either side the terrain between the two was visible under and through tho the trees the ground offered no cover tor for either the attack or the defonse except such as was furnished by the trees the hanks flanks of both armies were exposed as the terrain was favorable in all directions for the operations of 0 mounted troops the ravine in which morgan camped and one on the opposite side of the road offered but little interference with the movement of foot or mounted troops troop morgans plan of battle was to use the marylard continentals Continent als and the he virginia militia of equal worth to the continentals Continent als as many had served in previous campaigns in his main position on the summit of the ridge and astride the mill gap road dragoons to the number of 80 augmented by the 45 militia under mccall were the main reserve posted in the rear of the northernmost ridge where ground cavor was sufficient clent to protect them from hostile oti ot atlon and fire and sufficiently near as to le ie able to charge the enemy should they be broken the militia were to form an interrupted line on the flanks in front which position was to be held only temporarily when they were to withdraw and reform on the flanks of the main position after reorganization bad been effected ani tend lend what assistance they could as an additional reserve at this time howards maryland and delaware continentals Continent als consisted of men they were P placed laced on the left of the line astride tho the mill gap road to their right were viere captain beatles and major triplets Trl Tri companies of virginia militia under the command of the latter and totaling about men captains tate and buchanan with about of the auguste augusta riflemen of virginia supported the right of the line in the advanced position which was to be abandoned early in the fight wore about militia from north carolina south carolina and georgia under colonel pickens these troops were situated to guard the flanks major mcdowell of the north carolina volunteers volunteer was posted on the right flank yards in front of howards line major cunningham of the georgia volunteers was on the left flank at the same fame distance in front of howards line to the right of major McD mcdowell oPell were posted the south carolina volunteers under colonels brannon and thomas to the left of major cunningham was posted the remainder of the south carolina militia under colonel colonal hayes and major hammond Ha romond the letter latter commanded major mccalls Mc CalIs Calls regiment he being with colonel washington from pickens line of militia small parties of riflemen were sent ISO yards farther to the front to skirmish with the enemy mcdowell commanded those in the right sector of the skirmish line and cunningham those in the left sector patrols covered the front and flanks to give warning of Tar tarletone Tarle letona tons approach Tar tarleton laton broke camp at 3 in the morning determined to engage the americans americana before they could cross the broad or in case they made an early march and continued their withdrawal to strike them when astride the river when the british corn commander mancer saw the disposition of 0 morgans troops lie was delighted tor for he bell believed eved that be could make short york work of them ue he had bad a force of about 1000 men and although lie he believed that morgans force totaled less than 1020 lie felt that hint he could ignore the value of the 1000 militia and backwoodsmen backwoods men in morgans army and make a quick job of tho the continent atals and cavalry deploying his troops along the line of morgans front lie he moved to the attack at about eight driving dili ing in the front line skirmishes under and mcdowell from whose ire fire tarletone Tarle tons infantry had suffered red but little lie he advanced against pickens line of militia which kept up a lire fire by regiments for a short time iline and then according to their orders retreated the british line had still suffered but little as it approached the hie continentals Continent als and virginians under howard As howards men opened ire fire the ia advance was temporarily checked at this moment tarleton sent tin the two troops of dragoons alch which be had posted on each end of ills his line to guard ills his flanks into fiction action lie he now had about infantry in ID line fine supported by two guns three tin ee and was opposed by less than infantry in howards live lire the militia lu which tied had withdrawn to the baika of howards line had not cot yet iet reformed and it was doubtful at the moment whether bether they would be of 0 uny any use tarletone Tarle tons dragoons charged upon them and were cutting them down when ft hen washington counter Z 41 1 cot win iafet alon charged with his cavalry on the left ot of howards line and relieved the pressure there somewhat it become became evident to howard that when tarleton should bring his reserves into action his exposed right flank might be thrown into contusion confusion and he ordered the flank company to change front to the right his orders were misunderstood and this company began to retreat the off officers leers along howards line seeing this and supposing that orders had bad been given for a retreat faced their men about and began to retire morgan who was engaged in reforming the militia was surprised to see his continentals Continent als who had fought so valiantly at camden in apparent retreat he quickly rode over to howard what are you retreating for lie he shouted simply a change of position to protect my right flank replied howard are you beaten asked morgan pointing to his men howard said wen men who are retreating in that order are not beaten morgan then ordered howard to continue his retiring movement until he be reached the rising ground in the rear and then rode back to select the position where they were to make their stand the british seeing this movement and believing victory within their grasp pressed forward with used bayonets tarletone Tarle tons cavalry was ordered to charge by this time not more alian tha n thirty yards separated the retreating americans and the victory flushed redcoats suddenly howard gave a sharp order his men wheeled right about face and from their guns poured a sheet of flame which stopped the british th in their tracks and threw them into great confusion howard then gave the order charge bayonets bayone tsi 1 rack back over the ground which they had just crossed swept towards howards marylanders Ma rilanders like a thunderbolt ing tons cavalry dashed down upon them the panic which caught the british infantry spread to tarletone Tarle tons dragoons and a general flight followed tarleton tried in vain to rally his men but it was useless within twenty minutes after the battle began it was over and the british were completely defeated tarleton had suffered a loss of killed wounded and taken prisoner the american loss was slight 12 killed and CO 00 wounded the spoils of their victory amounted to 2 standards 2 cannon stands of arms dragoon horses and 35 wagons it appeared to the british when howards line fell back writes the army war college historian that victory was at hand band and so BO it would have been had the line been composed of men less inured to battle than were the continentals Continent als of maryland and delaware there was no delay or hesitation when the order to halt face the enemy and fire was glien and there then occurred in n moment a scene of dumbfounded surprise contusion confusion and panic seldom witnessed in battle the outcome resulted in one of the most florl gloriously bously unexpected victories of the Revolution revolutionary itry war As a result of this brilliant victory morgan margan and ills his men were given the thanks of the united states for their fortitude and good con conduct duct displayed in the action at Cow coppens cowpens pens under a n resolution of congress march 9 1781 the resolutions further provided that a gold medal lie be presented to general morgan silver medals to colonels washington and howard and a sword to colonel pickens tarleton in his report to cornwallis Cornwall ls attributed ills his defeat to the bravery or good conduct of the americans to the loose manner of forming which had always boon been practiced by the th kings troops in america or to some un forseen event which may throw terror into the most disciplined soldiers or counteract the best concerted designs whatever the reason however it was a crippling blow to cornwallis Cornwall ls for the victory of coppens cowpens had deprived haimof ills his most effective light infantry and as later events proved it led eventually to 16 its hla do downfall on january 19 cornwallis Cornwall ls started in pursuit of morgan to cut him off from joining greene and it if possible to recapture morgans prisoners by a superb march morgan eluded film and joined greene in north carolina then followed the masterly series of maneuvers by the rhode island blacks greene Gre cne which ended in the battle of guilford gull ford court house and finally forced cornwallis to lo retreat into virginia ile he took his position at yorktown washington completely dec deceived elved the british in the north as to his future plaus marched south swooped down upon cornwallis Cornwall ls and the rest Is history 1 |