General Daniel Morgan | Cowpens

General Nathaniel Greene sent a portion of his men under General Daniel Morgan to fight the British in western South Carolina.  In response, Lt. General Charles Earl Cornwallis sent Lt. Colonel Barnastre Tarleton to chase after Morgan's army. Tarleton met Morgan's men on January 17, 1781 at the Battle of Cowpens. 

General Morgan was a brilliant and practical strategist who understood his troops’ capabilities and the landscape of the battlefield. He'd learned much from the mistakes of Waxhaws and Camden.  

His plan not only destroys this part of the British army, but it changes the entire plan of the Southern Campaign.

Morgan’s battle plan (WATCH VIDEO) was considered a masterpiece of military strategy and tactics. The plan is still studied today.

Standards

• 4-3 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the conflict between the American colonies and England.
  • Revolutions result from resistance to conditions that are perceived as unfair by the people who are demanding change. The changes brought about by revolution can be both positive and negative. To understand the results of the conflict between the Amer...
    • 4-3.3 Summarize the importance of the key battles of the Revolutionary War and the reasons for American victories including Lexington and Concord, Bunker (Breed’s) Hill, Charleston, Saratoga, Cowpens, and Yorktown.
• 8-2 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes of the American Revolution and the beginnings of the new nation, with an emphasis on South Carolina’s role in the development of that nation.
  • The events surrounding the American Revolution transformed British colonists into American citizens. To understand South Carolina’s pivotal role in this process, the student will utilize the knowledge and skills set forth in the following indica...
    • 8-2.1 Explain the political and economic consequences of the French and Indian War on the relationship of the South Carolina colonists with Native Americans and England.