Battle of Cowpens
On 17 January 1781, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan positioned approximately 1,000 men — a mix of Continental regulars and backcountry militia — on a cattle-grazing ground called the Cowpens in northwestern South Carolina, and awaited the attack of Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton with 1,100 British regulars and Loyalists. Morgan's tactical plan exploited rather than denied the militia's tendency to fire and fall back: he posted the militia in two forward lines with instructions to fire two volleys and then deliberately withdraw to the left, where they would rally behind the Continental line. Tarleton's advancing infantry, seeing the militia retreat, pursued in disorder — and ran into the disciplined Continental line, which delivered a volley and charged with the bayonet. The militia, having completed their feigned withdrawal, turned and attacked the British flanks simultaneously. Tarleton's force was destroyed in a double envelopment: 110 killed, 830 captured, against Morgan's 12 killed and 60 wounded. Tarleton escaped with a handful of cavalry.
- Year: 1781 CE
- Category: Military
