Cowpens National Battlefield The Battle of Cowpens The Battle of Cowpens on The next line was the militia who would face in surprise, would be January 17, 1781 was a major were known for being afraid to the well-trained Continentals. turning point in the Southern face the British bayonets. Again, They were ready to fire and then Campaign of the American Morgan used them to his charge with bayonets as soon as Revolution. Brigadier General advantage. He told them to fire the militia ran by. Morgan hoped Daniel Morgan defeated the British would be out of rank Lieutenant Colonel Banastre by this time as they would be Tarleton on this date although “charging to victory.” Just in case, the odds were not in his favor. Morgan also had the Patriot Notes for dragoons in reserve at the back school Morgan knew Tarleton’s troops of the battlefield. programs: outnumbered his, so he made an unusual battle plan. Morgan While plans did not go exactly as arranged his troops in 3 lines of Battle of Cowpens by Morgan had hoped (there was a battle. The front line was the misunderstood order of retreat Charles McBarron sharpshooters, militiamen from in the middle of the battle which the Carolinas and Georgia who he was able to quickly correct were known for their twice and then retreat back to and use to his advantage), but marksmanship. These men were the 3rd line—the Continentals. overall—his plan was successful. ordered to aim for the epaulets Morgan knew the British would The Patriots won the battle —meaning their goal was to take see the retreat and sense that killing 110 British, wounding 229, out as many British officers as they had won. and capturing 600. It was, in the possible. Once they had fired 2 words of Morgan himself, “a devil or 3 shots, they were to retreat. The third line, who the British of a whipping.” Importance in the American Revolution The British moved the fight in At first it seemed the British With the severe losses at the Revolutionary War to the were correct when Charleston Cowpens followed in May by the South when they began to fail in fell in May 1780. But the tide Siege at Ninety Six, Cornwallis the North beginning with the began to turn with the Patriot began to retreat northward only defeat at Saratoga. The British win at Kings Mountain in to surrender at Yorktown ten believed they would be more October 1780 was followed by months later in October 1781. successful in the South because another costly British defeat at of Loyalist support. Cowpens. P A G E 2 Visitor Center The Visitor Center is open Fiber-Optic Map—Illustrates Sales Outlet (Operated by daily from 9am—5pm. the Southern Campaign of the Eastern National)—Offers Restrooms are available. American Revolution and the books, snacks, postcards, and battle tactics of Morgan at theme-related souvenirs. If Museum—Contains a Cowpens. (13 minutes) your students plan to purchase reproduction 3-pounder anything, please remind them cannon, other weapons of the **Please note—The museum/ that tax is not included in the Revolutionary War, and other auditorium has a capacity of 70 sticker price. Teachers receive exhibits. people, the map only 30. a 15% discount on all items in Therefore, your group may be the bookstore. Video Presentation— split between the movie/ ”Cowpens: A Battle museum and map. You will Remembered” - depicts the also be sharing the area with events of the battle in a short other visitors. The U.S. Monument movie format. (18 minutes) was erected in 1932 to commemorate the battle. Battlefield Trail & Other Park Areas approximately one hour. The park to the Picnic Area. The Battlefield Trail is a “Just hold up your cannot accommodate more than partially paved 1.2 mile loop 70 students on one tour. heads, boys, three that includes wayside exhibits, Picnic Area—Located 1.5 miles down the Auto Loop Road, past fires, and you are free, the 1856 Washington Light Infantry Monument, and the Auto Loop Road—(open the Visitor Center, the area and then when you historic Green River Road 9am—4:30 pm daily) - The 3.8 provides picnic tables, grills, and return to your homes, that was the centerline of the mile, one-way road travels the restroom facilities. A covered perimeter of the battlefield and picnic shelter may be reserved at how the old folks will battle. includes wayside exhibits, parking no cost by school groups that A ranger can be scheduled to bless you, and the girls areas with short trails to the visit the park. There is a 2-mile lead you on a tour of the Green River Road, the circa 1828 Nature Trail located at the Picnic kiss you, for your battlefield. This tour will last Robert Scruggs House, and access Area. gallant conduct!” - Daniel Morgan to the militia on the eve of the battle Lesson Plans Battlefield Readers’ Pre-Visit Suggested Lesson— learned after your visit OR you Theater—Ask about The Teacher Ranger Teachers can use this activity if you can’t our new Battlefield this summer created a reader’s make it to the park. Click on the Students Readers’ Theater theater for your students to link above to access it. There’s also a post-visit assessment. participating available as a part of read before your visit. Click in a musket your ranger tour. Let here for a middle/high school your students take on version , and here for an drill. Plus, there are many more roles of actual elementary version. lessons available on the participants in the Cowpens National Battlefield conflict as you move website. along the battle field. Post-Visit Suggested Lesson— Click on the title link Here is a web quest to help your for the script. students show what they have COWPENS NATIONAL BAT TLEFIELD .