Cowpens was a revolutionary war battle that helped lead to the victory at yorktown. it was fought in january,1781, somewhere spartanburg, sc and charlotte, nc. The British were led by Banastre Tarleton the Americans by Daniel Morgan. 600 American Continentals, 200 Cavalry, and about 1000 militia fought about 1400 British Regulars.
Before the battle began, Morgan went around the campfires telling the militia he only asked three shots from them, then they should retire. On the day of battle, Morgan organized his army into three lines each separated by 150 yards. the first line was composed of 150 sharpshooters from georgia and north carolina. the second line was composed of Picken's Militia, mostly from the Carolinas... the third line was composed of Continental Line Regiments from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, these men had been trained at valley forge by Von Steuben and were some of the best the Americans had, when properly led.
the british advanced on the american line, the first line fired their volleys and retired, then the second line fired their three volleys and retired. blah blah blah, battle battle, british cavalry charge countered by american cavalry charge... british infantry continue to advance. american militia reform, american cavalry reform, double envelopment of british line.
and then, the final thing about cowpens, a captain from a maryland line regiment polevaulted over one of the british cannons on his spontoon to capture it...
Cowpens was a revolutionary war battle that helped lead to the victory at yorktown. it was fought in january,1781, somewhere spartanburg, sc and charlotte, nc. The British were led by Banastre Tarleton the Americans by Daniel Morgan. 600 American Continentals, 200 Cavalry, and about 1000 militia fought about 1400 British Regulars.
Before the battle began, Morgan went around the campfires telling the militia he only asked three shots from them, then they should retire. On the day of battle, Morgan organized his army into three lines each separated by 150 yards. the first line was composed of 150 sharpshooters from georgia and north carolina. the second line was composed of Picken's Militia, mostly from the Carolinas... the third line was composed of Continental Line Regiments from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, these men had been trained at valley forge by Von Steuben and were some of the best the Americans had, when properly led.
the british advanced on the american line, the first line fired their volleys and retired, then the second line fired their three volleys and retired. blah blah blah, battle battle, british cavalry charge countered by american cavalry charge... british infantry continue to advance. american militia reform, american cavalry reform, double envelopment of british line.
and then, the final thing about cowpens, a captain from a maryland line regiment polevaulted over one of the british cannons on his spontoon to capture it...
