Page 102 - Foy

BATTLE AT COWPENS
January 17, 1781

DANIEL MORGAN was the commander of a ragged and discouraged group of
rebel men who had been kicked around by a British force several times their size,
better trained and better supplied. A decision had been made by his superiors
that the best thing for the rebel patriot army to do was to divide up in small
groups, disperse into the woods and live off the country until reinforcements could
arrive. MORGAN was, however, being chased by an English troop of about 1,100
calvary and infantry, mostly veterans, under the command of BANASTRE
TARLETON.

On January 16, 1781 his group’s breakfast had been interrupted by sentries
reporting the British were only a few hundred yards away and were about to over

run their position. MORGAN and his men abandoned their breakfast and fled.

When MORGAN saw he could not outrun TARLETON he decided to fight.
MORGAN, being a brilliant tactician, had shown his worth in earlier battles and
was about to show it again.

With only 900, mostly untrained, men MORGAN chose an open wood known as
“Hannah’s Cowpen” to make his stand. The ground sloped gently toward
TARLETON’s approach. At the far end were two low crests, separated by a wide
swale.

MORGAN divided his troops into three lines. In the front line were 120
sharpshooters, told to fire two well aimed volleys and then fall back. Behind them

were the Carolina and Georgia militia who were ordered to fire two rounds and
then fall back. One hundred fifty yards in back of this second line were 500 men
who were told to fire slowly and deliberately and not to fall back until signaled.
Behind them was a crest where MORGAN placed 120 calvary.

Just before dawn January 17 the British, led by TARLETON, stumbled on the
American position. Wanting a better look at the American line, TARLTON sent
a detachment of calvary forward. The Americans emptied 15 saddles in a matter
of minutes. TARLETON then formed his troops into a line and advanced on the
American position, some 400 yards away.

Ch. 10 Pg. 9