Battle+of+Cowpens


 * The Battle of Cowpens** took place on January 17, 1781 on the border between the Carolinas. The American army, led by Colonel Daniel Morgan, fought a force composed of British soldiers and Loyalists under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. After being chased by the notoriously ruthless Tarleton, Colonel Morgan had his men make a stand on two low hills.[[image:http://www.britishbattles.com/images/cowpens/map-05.gif width="480" height="386" align="right"]] Used to relatively easy victories in the south, the British attacked Morgan's men head-on. When the better-rested Americans did not retreat as expected, the British became confused and disorganized. Morgan repelled their attacks before taking the offensive. After his calvalry disobeyed an order to charge and the infantry began to retreat, Tarleton fled. This resulted in an overwhelming American victory in about an hour.


 * **British Casualties:** 39 officers and 60 soldiers killed, 829 captured of their original 1,100 men.
 * **American Casualties:** 12 men killed, 60 wounded of their original 1,000 men.

Cowpens was a turning point in the south, which had been previously stuck in a stalemate. The number of British soldiers lost crippled their ability to fight in the south and had a devastating effect on the country's morale, while increasing American confidence. It, together with The Battle of King's Mountain, caused Lord Cornwallis to pull troops from South Carolina and move them farther north, leading to Battle of Yorktown and eventually the end of the war.

by Nicholas Rioux, Period 4
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