Battle of Cowpens | History of SC Slide Collection

The Battle of Cowpens has been called the "best planned battle of the Revolutionary War." "Bloody Tarleton" (see Banastre Tarleton), a fine British tactician, attempted to surprise a portion of Nathanael Greene's army, led by General Daniel Morgan, that had camped at the "Cow Pens" near the Broad River. But his early morning attack on January 17, 1781, met a well disciplined and well trained force of militia men. Tarleton lost nearly 900 men, and the morale of the backcountry soared. Many Loyalists now deserted from what they thought was hopeless cause.

Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.

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