Cowpens January 17, 1781 Strategic Context Britain’s American colonies revolt in 1775, provoking a large military response from Britain. The overall strategic situation of the American Revolutionary War turns decidedly in the American favour as the Americans win the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 and France declares war on Britain in However, the southern theater is yet to be won or lost. In December 1780, both American and British sides are reinforced near Charlotte; Nathaniel Greene now leads 3,000 Americans against Charles Cornwallis’ 4,000 British. Greene takes the offensive by sending Daniel Morgan with roughly 1,000 men in a western turning maneuver and taking the remainder to a camp near Charleston. Cornwallis opts to try and destroy both forces simultaneously by sending Banastre Tarleton with 1,100 men against Morgan and Alexander Leslie with the rest to contain Greene. Tarleton reaches Morgan’s position and attacks as part of the plan’s first stage. Stakes + A British victory would allow Cornwallis to subsequently send Tarleton to decisively envelop Greene’s main force at Charleston. + An American victory would allow Greene to reunite his forces after mistakenly dividing them against a stronger force. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 To view animation on PC: hit F5 To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter

Cowpens, 1781 Strength  British  Well  Americans  Well  Banastre Tarleton  450 militia  250 cavalry  Daniel Morgan By Jonathan Webb, 2009  450 regulars  125 cavalry  2 guns  850 regulars

North America c. 1763

British (Tarleton) Americans (Morgan) The battlefield consists of a flat, open plain. There are various elevation changes, different enough to obscure visibility along certain lines of sight but very gradual m 500m

Tarleton deploys three infantry regiments in the main line along with his two guns. He places cavalry on his right wing, an infantry regiment and cavalry as a flanking force on his left and another cavalry force behind his center as a reserve. Tarleton plans to rout the unreliable American militia with a frontal attack. Morgan’s main line is made up entirely of infantry, hidden in a shale. In front of this main line are militia and sharpshooters with instructions to fire two shots before fleeing. Morgan groups his cavalry into one main striking force far in his rear, hidden by a slope. He plans to lure Tarleton into a trap in which his own infantry, naturally aiming too high, will get the better of the British regulars. Tarleton advances with his main line; his infantry are hit by sporadic sniper fire but otherwise continue forwards unimpeded. Morgan’s sharpshooters hastily withdraw to the next battle position. Americans (Morgan) The British infantry continue to advance and are met by more concentrated volleys, but unable to return fire as the American militia flee. Tarleton orders his battle line forward in pursuit of the American rabble; his infantry storm over a ridge and are promptly met with a solid wall of fire from the previously undetected American battle line. The British cavalry meanwhile pursue the American militia astride the ridge until Morgan orders his cavalry to sweep around their flank and force them back. A mutual slaughter ensues between the two battle lines but Morgan’s hypothesis appears to run true; American infantry are aiming just right and standing up to the British regulars. Tarleton knows he is losing the battle and sends his left flanking force forward to smash Morgan’s right, held by militia. Here, an order to right-turn is misunderstood and the militia about-turn and retreat. Morgan halts this rout and orders the militia to about-turn again and fire. The attacking British are stunned by this sudden burst of fire. Meanwhile in the American rear, the other militia begin to reorganize. Tarleton is heavily committed to a frontal attack that is both costly and unproductive. Morgan senses the time right for a double envelopment; cavalry on his left wing and militia on his right wing sweep around the British flanks, surrounding large numbers of British infantry. Tarleton urges his final cavalry reserve forward but they flee instead as his center infantry disintegrate. Unsupported and surrounded, the British infantry on the wings have no choice but to lay down their arms. British (Banastre Tarleton) 850 regulars 250 cavalry Americans (Daniel Morgan) 450 regulars 450 militia 125 cavalry 0 250m 500m Symbol guide AmericansBritishRegular infantry Militia infantryArtilleryCavalry British (Tarleton)

Cowpens, 1781 Casualties & Aftermath British: Americans: 930 or 85% >100 or 10% By Jonathan Webb, 2009 Morgan and Greene retreated into southern Virginia immediately after reuniting, closely pursued by the British. With Morgan unable to command in the field due to severe arthritis, Cornwallis defeated Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in March. The victory was so costly that Cornwallis withdrew into Virginia where he was outmaneuvered and forced to surrender to American supreme commander George Washington and French allied command Comte de Rochambeau at Yorktown in October.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps By Jonathan Webb, 2009