battle of cowpens muster roll

17261796), Planter, of Albemarle County, Virginia, and Union County, South Carolina,", [Wellington in the Peninsula, Jac Weller, Kaye & Ward, 1961, p. 27, n. 4]. Into this hostile arena, General George Washington sent Major General Nathanael Greene to take command of the Southern Army. By the time Tarleton finally called them to join the fight, they had lost their nerve. The battle was crucial because it ended royal authority in North Carolina and delayed a full-scale British invasion of the South. Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton After earning a reputation for brutality by patriot forces, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was defeated at the Battle of Cowpens. Get HISTORYs most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week. Against military custom, Greene, just two weeks into his command, split his army, sending General Daniel Morgan southwest of the Catawba River to cut supply lines and hamper British operations in the backcountry, and, in doing so "spirit up the people". It became known as the turning point of the war in the South, part of a chain of events leading to Patriot victory at Yorktown2 The Cowpens victory was won over a crack British regular army3 and brought together strong armies and leaders who made their mark on history. By the time of Cowpens, Patriot leaders were well acquainted with his tactic of striking fast and hard immediately on arrival at the battlefield. The force of Patriot militiamen rode hard all day October 6 to reach the Cowpens (on the site of the future Battle of Cowpens), where partisans from South Carolina joined them along with some thirty Georgia militiamen. When the patriots lay siege to Boston at the start of the Revolutionary War, Morgan marched his company of crack riflemen from Virginia to New England in just 21 days. His refusal of offering no quarter, is said to be the derivation of the derisive term "Tarleton's Quarter, meaning taking no prisoners. Morgans brilliant victory over Tarleton at the Battle of Cowpens was humiliating for the elite British army officer. First, out front and hiding behind trees were selected sharpshooters. "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783." Database with images. Battle of Cowpens: January 17, 1781 - Fold3 HQFold3 HQ Morgan and his men played a key role in the 1777 victory at Saratoga along the Hudson River in upstate New York, which proved to be a turning point of the entire war. Did you know? Returning to Guilford Courthouse36, he fought Cornwallis' army employing with some success, Morgan's tactics at Cowpens. His words were especially effective with the militia the "Old Waggoner"20 of French and Indian War days and the hero of Saratoga21, spoke their language. [22], Tarleton and the Legion marched to Ninety Six. Strategic Importance of Cowpens The battle of Cowpens changed the course of the war and the victory provided an important morale boost. Guide to Revolutionary War Records - State of Delaware Greene, just two weeks into his command, split his force, sending Brigadier General Daniel Morgan southwest of the Catawba River to cut supply lines and hamper British operations. The Cowpens National Battlefield in South Carolina commemorates Daniel Morgan's victory over Banastre Tarleton on January 17, 1781. Boosting morale in his men and safeguarding their confidence with two rivers, Morgan takes a chance against Tarletons more disciplined and trained troops. As Howard pointed to the unbroken ranks and the orderly retreat and assured him they were not, Morgan spurred his horse on and ordered the retreating units to face about, and then, on order, fire in unison. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-cowpens. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 57,000 acres in 25 states! [15] Greene gave Morgan command of this wing and instructed him to join with the militia west of the Catawba and take command of them. The Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780 The Battle of Cowpens was an engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on January 17, 1781 near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina, between American Patriot forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and British forces, nearly half American Loyalists, under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, as part of the campaign in the Carolinas (North and South). Tarleton attacked the skirmish line without pausing, deploying his main body and his two grasshopper cannons. Many leaders in London felt that theSouthern people supported Toryism, and by default were more apt to take up arms as loyalists. Study the *-The Staff Ride for the Battle of Cowpens. The Americans find a slope ridge, which dips down to a shallow swale and rises again to a higher ridge. Revolutionary War Rolls The Revolutionary War Rolls were filmed by the National Archives in 1957. The battle was key to the surrender of British Commander Charles Cornwallis that ultimately led to the end of the war in 1783. The experienced British forces (and particularly their relatively young commander) were accustomed, especially in the Southern Theater, to easily routing often "green" militia, and could have underestimated the opposition. MacKenzie believed Tarleton could have easily rested the troops from their early march while artillery softened up Morgans militia force without risque of insult. The delay would also have given Tarleton an opportunity to consult with several more experienced officers for advice. By nightfall, he had reached a place called locally "Hannah's Cowpens", a well-known grazing area for local cattle. There was forage17 at the Cowpens for horses, and evidence of free-ranging cattle for food. His Continentals were veterans (Marylanders from the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn), as were many of his militia, which included some Overmountain Men, who had fought at the Battle of Musgrove Mill and the Battle of Kings Mountain. Turning To Victory: The Revolutionary War Was Won Here A stunning example of military prowess and skilled leadership, the Battle of Cowpens near Chesnee, South Carolina, was a critical American victory in the Revolutionary War. Analysis of the Legion Muster Rolls. The result was the rout of Col. Banastre Tarleton in the Battle of the Cowpens (17 January 1781), the most resounding defeat the British army experienced during the American Revolution. Mackenzie felt this was the most destructive of all Tarletons errors. An hour into the fighting, elements of Morgans Virginia Regiments fire point blank into the British as they attempt a feeble flanking move on the right. The Britishwith 40% of their casualties being officerswere astonished and confused. The arrangement works. As other companies along the line followed suit, Morgan rode up to ask Howard if he were beaten. [73], Tarleton's apparent recklessness in pushing his command so hard in pursuit of Morgan may be explained by the fact that, up until Cowpens, every battle that he and his British Legion had fought in the South had been a relatively easy victory. Confident that his 1,150 men will continue to be successful in the South, Tarleton chases Morgan without knowing how many men Morgan actually has at his side. 1st Maryland Regiment - Wikipedia Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. The Patriots at the Cowpens. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 125 Battlefield Acres in Virginia, Help Restore History at Gettysburg, Cold Harbor & More, Help Us Save Hallowed Ground in Tennessee and Kentucky, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Support the American Battlefield Protection Program Enhancement Act, Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History, The Southern Theater of the American Revolution, British Strategy in the Revolutionary War. Later that year, another Colonial army, commanded by General Horatio Gates, was defeated at the Battle of Camden. Those involved were termed "rebels" by the British. Given under my hand this 4 Mar 1785." . The British had 110 men killed and 712 captured, which devastated the British army. [74], Coming in the wake of the American debacle at Camden, Cowpens was a surprising victory and a turning point that affected the psychology of the entire war"spiriting up the people", not only those of the backcountry Carolinas, but those in all the Southern states. By late 1778, the British high command proceeded with their "Southern Strategy." Tarleton was only twenty-six, but he was an able commander, both feared and hated - hated especially for his victory at the Waxhaws.11 There, Tarleton was said to have continued the fight against remnants of the Continental Army trying to surrender. Apparently the bugler didn't file a pension, and Washington didn't leave behind written papers of his own role or of anyone else's role in the Revolution. Tarleton was able to escape capture by forcing Goudylock to serve as guide. His aggressive style was made even more urgent, since there were rumors of Overmountain men on the way, reminiscent of events at Kings Mountain. He was second cousin, first-removed to George Washington. Piedmont pastures, though less numerous, often contained peavine. Into this conflict, General George Washington sent the very capable Nathanael Greene to take command of the Southern army. Cornwallis abandoned his pacification efforts in South Carolina, stripped his army of its excess baggage, and pursued Greene's force into North Carolina. Those of both sides organized militia, often engaging each other. Tarleton sensed victory and nothing would persuade him to delay. British losses were staggering: 110 dead, over 200 wounded and 500 captured. It was as if Morgan knew he would make a frontal assault - it was his style of fighting. Located in present-day South Carolina north of Spartanburg. 338 New Pleasant Road He orders some trained men to be in first two lines and to shoot British officers first, so when the British get through the lines the Royal Army will be leaderless and disorganized. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. John Eager Howard Washington's life was saved only when his young bugler29 fired his pistol at an Englishman with raised saber. Citing NARA microfilm publication M246. In the process, he gave Tarleton and the British a "devil of a whipping". Additionally, 110 British soldiers were killed in action, and every artilleryman was either killed or incapacitated by wounds. A small force of the Continental Army under the command of Morgan had marched to the west of the Catawba River, in order to forage for supplies and raise the morale of local colonial sympathizers. The Legion Muster Rolls from February 23, 1781 through February 23, 1782 listed the names of a large number of enlisted members as being a prisoner as of January 17, 1781 (the date of the Cowpens battle) or as of February 23, 1781 (the date of the first muster roll prepared after the battle). However, in the noise of battle, Howard's order was misunderstood and the militiamen began to withdraw. Why did they choose this new Southern Strategy? Simply put, economics. Hoping to hinder any impulse among his troops to retreat, he positions his forces between the Broad and Pacolet rivers, ensuring a head-on encounter with the enemy. Soon, he intersected with and traveled west on the Green River Road. Tarleton's force was almost completely eliminated with almost 30% casualties and 55% of his force captured or missing, with Tarleton himself and only about 200 British troops escaping. Lawrence Babits states that, "in the five days before Cowpens, the British were subjected to stress that could only be alleviated by rest and proper diet". Tarleton, playing catch up, and having marched his army since two in the morning, ordered formation on the Green River Road for the attack. He was subsequently elected governor of Maryland (1788-91), and at one time owned much of the land that was to become Baltimore. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. [63] Caught in a clever double envelopment that has been compared with the Battle of Cannae in ancient times,[64] many of the British surrendered. Washingtons horsemen attack on the right and reformed militia from first two lines strike left, overwhelming Tarleton's frazzled troops. The battle was over in less than an hour. Now Tarleton's 71st Highlanders27, held in reserve, entered the charge toward the Continental line, the wild wail of bagpipes adding to the noise and confusion. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. At the onset of battle they picked off numbers of Tarleton's Dragoons, traditionally listed as fifteen24, shooting especially at officers, and warding off an attempt to gain initial supremacy. 8 Charleston - On May 12, 1780, British forces under Clinton forced the surrender of the Charleston militia and Continentals under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln. Gates, the American general, gained a reputation as a "fool and coward" for his actions and fleeing the battle site. Washington seizes the opportunity to trap and defeat Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown, which is the last major conflict of the Revolutionary War. PDF The Battle Of Cowpens - NPS History The first line was composed of 150 select riflemen from North Carolina (Major McDowell) and Georgia (Major Cunningham). Morgan knows his men and he knows Tarletons. After Cowpens, Cornwallis gives up on his efforts to win in South Carolina and pursues Greenes force into North Carolina. Brigadier General Daniel Morgan took 300 Continental riflemen and some 700 militiamen with the intention of attacking the British backcountry fort, Ninety-Six. [9], On December 3, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan reported for duty to Greene's headquarters at Charlotte, North Carolina. It was now 8:00 a.m., and the battle had lasted approximately one hour. Table 8: Men recorded as enlisted in the Muster Rolls 1777-1783, pp. Tho he may not be on the muster roll the latter part of his service as he was mostly employed to drive a wagon. March 15 . This engagement further weakened British attempts to wrest the southern colonies from American control. He defeats Greene at the Battle of Guilford Court House in March, then withdraws to Virginia to rest and refit his tired and depleted army. The Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001, has custody of deck logs from 1941 to 1983, as well as muster rolls. As it was, the Americans were encouraged to fight further, and the Loyalists and British were demoralized. A year later, he was promoted to brigadier general and returned to service in the Southern Department. The Americans captured the British guns and baggage and the colours of the 7 th Foot. Conflict in the backcountry, to their rear, turned out to be their Achilles' heel. He knew how to motivate them even proposing a competition of bravery between Georgia and Carolina units. William Washington's cavalry came around from behind the opposite American left to hit the British on their right flank and rear. These loyalist forces could be relied upon to bolster the British war effort lending manpower to an army that had been at war with their own colonists since 1775. 3rd Continental Light Dragoons - Wikipedia Such victories gave the British confidence they would soon control the entire South and that Loyalists would flock to their cause. Washington and his French ally, Rochambeau, seized this opportunity to trap and defeat him in the Battle of Yorktown, which caused the British to give up their efforts to defeat the Americans. [24] Receiving word that Tarleton was in hot pursuit, Morgan retreated north to avoid being trapped between Tarleton and Cornwallis. Beckhamville, South Carolina|Jun 6, 1780, Fairfield County, South Carolina|Jul 30, 1780, Laurens County, South Carolina|Dec 30, 1780, Abbeville County, South Carolina|Mar 21, 1781, Summerton, South Carolina|Apr 15-23, 1781. Finally, Tarleton kept the 200-man cavalry contingent of his Legion ready to be unleashed when the Americans broke and ran. Morgan moved among the campfires and offered encouragement; his speeches to militia and Continentals alike were command performances. Cowpens National Battlefield 829 were captured. 19 Battle of Kings Mountain - The Overmountain men and other militia defeated British loyalists at Kings Mountain in upstate South Carolina on October 7, 1780. . Morgan, however, is well aware of the strength and location of his enemy. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Morgan orders 100 cavalrymen under William Washington (second cousin, first-removed to George Washington) to meet Tarletons men at the third line. How did the different backgrounds of Daniel Morgan and Banastre Tarleton influence their commands? 22 "Benny" - Daniel Morgan's derisive name for Banastre Tarleton. 10 backcountry - South Carolina area west of the coastal area, especially west of Camden. American cavalry advance from behind the third line to cut off the British, shocking and devastating the Royal Army soldiers left standing. Why did he attack the rested patriots so quickly after marching 12 miles at night without food? The armies of Daniel Morgan and Banastre Tarleton crossed the flood-swollen Pacolet as they journeyed toward the Cowpens. Muster rolls may contain such information as a soldier's name, rank, age, birthplace, residence, occupation, enlistment date and location, muster-in date . [68] Washington survived this assault and in the process wounded Tarleton on his right hand with a sabre blow, while Tarleton creased Washington's knee with a pistol shot that also wounded his horse. United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 FamilySearch Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! [57], At 2:00a.m. on January 17, 1781, Tarleton roused his troops and continued his march to Cowpens. Why did his calvary not outflank and envelop Morgan? 1 Battle of Cowpens - At the Cowpens, a frontier pastureland, on January 17, 1781, Daniel Morgan led his army of tough Continentals and backwoods militia to a brilliant victory over Banastre Tarleton's battle-hardened force of British regulars. 343345. He selected a position on two low hills in open woodland, with the expectation that the aggressive Tarleton would make a headlong assault without pausing to devise a more intricate plan. As Tarleton grew closer, Morgan retreated north to Burr's Mill on Thicketty Creek.13 On January 16, with Tarleton reported to have crossed the Pacolet and much closer than expected, Morgan and his army made a hasty retreat, so quickly as to leave their breakfast behind. Cowpens, in its part in the Revolution, was a surprising victory and a turning point that changed the psychology of the entire war. [7] Tarletons early morning crossing of the Pacolet River on January 16 forces Morgan to abandon his campsite and fall back on Cowpens pasture near Thicketty Creek. The Battle of Cowpens - U.S. National Park Service His force of southern frontiersmen gained a reputation for fighting hard and shooting straight. Morgan's forces conducted a double envelopment of Tarleton's forces, the only double envelopment of the war. After a string of bad luck in the Southern Campaign, the American army demonstrated its worth in a swift struggle that decisively hindered British forces in the South. The Americans suffered less than 100 casualties in the first Patriot victory to demonstrate that they could outfight a similar British force without any other factors, such as surprise or geography, to assist them. Gaffney, In 1780 the Carolinas had been the scene of a long string of disasters for the Continental Army, the worst being the capture of one American army under Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in May 1780, at the siege of Charleston. At the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina on January 17, 1781, during the Revolutionary War (1775-83), American troops under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan (1736-1802) routed British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton (1754-1833). "[71] An American prisoner later recounted that when Tarleton reached Cornwallis and reported the disaster, Cornwallis placed his sword tip on the ground and leaned on it until the blade snapped. January 17. [26] Pickens, who had been patrolling, arrived that night to join Morgan with his large body of irregular militia. [17] By Christmas Day, Morgan had reached the Pacolet River. During Cornwalliss Southern Campaign, Tarletonplayed an active role in the battles of Moncks Corner,Charleston,Waxhaws,Camden, Fishing Creek, and Blackstocks. The Battle of Cowpens1, January 17, 1781, took place in the latter part of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution and of the Revolution itself. The countryside was devastated, and raids and reprisals were the order of the day. Morgan decided to stand and fight rather than continue to retreat and risk being caught by Tarleton while fording the Broad River. . However, in the South Carolina Low Country, British soldiers freedsouthern planters greatest source of labor and incomeenslaved workers. In December 1776, he and a small party surprised and captured Colonial General Charles Lee in New Jersey. The muster. Washington personally takes on Tarleton with his sabre, shouting insults as he attacks. Revolutionary War Rolls | Charleston County Public Library [7] Although their charge was initially effective, the dragoons, numbering about 50, were quickly surprised and outnumbered by concealed American cavalry, under Colonel William Washington, and driven back in disarray. [20] Morgan's force represented a threat to his left. Morgan crossed the Catawba west of present-day Charlotte, North Carolina. FamilySearch. [citation needed], In developing his tactics at Cowpens, as historian John Buchanan wrote, Morgan may have been "the only general in the American Revolution, on either side, to produce a significant original tactical thought". How Well Do You Know the Revolutionary War. Just behind the crown of the second ridge is a deeper gully in which cavalry can be concealed. Theodorus Bailey Myers, Cowpens Papers, Being a Correspondence of General Morgan and Prominent Actors (Charleston, 1881), 9-10. The New England colonies produced many of the same products and goods as the British Isles, but the Southern Colonies were a different story. The prisoners were taken via Salisbury32 on to Winchester, Virginia. The 71st Highlanders were ordered to flank the American right. It began shortly after dawn on a bitterly cold morning and resulted in a devastating defeat for the British army, ending a brief string of victories for the Crown in the southern colonies. Pickens's militia seemed to "flee" as usual, around the American left to the rear as planned after getting off their second volley. Crops that could not be produced in the British Isles. Tarleton was courageous and daring and quickly rose up through the ranks. [6] Popular Media Morgan's Riflemen were a key model for the fictional unit portrayed in the movie The Patriot, by Mel Gibson. Cowpens, Battle of (1781).Daniel Morgan and his 1,100man American army defeated Banastre Tarleton and 1,100 British and loyalist troops at the Cowpens in northwestern South Carolina on 17 January 1781 in the tactical masterpiece of the Revolutionary Wara classic demonstration of a commander's ability to exploit the resources at hand. The British line crumbles with Regulars throwing down their arms and surrendering. Learning of Morgan's location, Tarleton pushed his troops, marching at 3 a.m. instead of camping for the night.[27]. Lt. Col. William Washington. Tarleton was a well-trained, relentless, and powerful adversary, with many military successes to his credit. Babits, 46, "British Legion Infantry strength at Cowpens was between 200 and 271 enlisted men".
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