Tarleton Battle: The Battle Of Cowpens

On January 17, 1781, the Battle of Cowpens ensued. This battle was a key battle in the American Revolution, and pitted 1100 well trained soldiers from Britain against 300 Continental Regulars and 700 Militiamen. The odds seemed overwhelming in favor of the Brits, but Brigadier General Daniel Morgan had different ideas on the outcome of this battle. Morgan was able to use certain aspect of his men and of the enemy to put together a plan that ultimately won the day. Morgan first and foremost knew his enemy and the fighting style of this enemy. Morgan understood that Banastre Tarleton, and his 1100 Red Coats were in pursuit of him, and knew the tendencies of Tarleton to pursue relentlessly. This sort of pursuit would favor well for Morgan, as he set about to set up his lines of defenses.
The use of knowledge on Tarleton and how he would use his troops, the terrain, and the knowledge of his own troops, Morgan set up his lines as follows.
He placed in the first two lines his militia. The reasoning behind this, was he knew that the militia liked to “turn tail” and run from the battle. Morgan believed he could use this to his advantage when Tarleton began to advance. Morgan explained to his militia to fire 2 or 3 shots then retreat, utilizing the shots to shoot only officers of Tarleton’s army. Once the shots were fired, and the militia began to retreat, Tarleton’s men would advance. The advancement was for naught, as Tarleton’s men were soon leaderless, and running headlong into a trap. This brings me to the third avenue utilized by Morgan; the continental army regulars. Morgan set these men up in the third and final row, along with a group of cavalry men behind a knoll that kept them out of view from Tarleton. Once Tarleton’s men gave chase to the retreating militia, the regulars stood ready to fire a volley at the advancing
soldiers. The chaos that ensued for Tarleton’s men was catastrophic for them. They, believing their eyes, chased and followed the retreating militia members, just to be met headlong by the regulars. While fighting the regulars, whom Morgan knew would take the brunt of the action, the Brits were quickly surrounded by the retreating militia, and the awaiting cavalry men. The battle was over in less than an hour. It was a complete victory for the Patriot force. British losses were staggering: 110 dead, over 200 wounded and 500 captured. Morgan lost only 12 killed and 60 wounded, a count he received from those reporting directly to him. The battle also did not go to the exact plans of Morgan, though most was done to his specifications. At one point, the right flank of his army began to retreat due to misunderstanding of orders, to which Morgan himself rode up and ordered the turn around and fight to the fleeing militia men. As one can see, Daniel Morgan is a prime example of what one can accomplish with one’s life if one works hard and plans well. He used his knowledge of his enemy, infantry, and the terrain to his advantage.