Battle — Of Cowpens

The , fought on January 17, 1781 , was a decisive tactical victory for American forces that fundamentally altered the course of the Revolutionary War in the South . Conducted on a 500-yard-wide pasture in the South Carolina backcountry, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan utilized a brilliant "defense in depth" strategy to nearly annihilate the elite "British Legion" led by the aggressive Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. No reviews Directions Tactical Brilliance: The Triple Line Defense

Tarleton mistook the planned militia retreats for a rout and ordered his tired, malnourished troops to charge headlong into the trap. The Turning Point battle of cowpens

The battle culminated in a rare . As the British infantry lost cohesion while chasing the retreating militia, American regulars turned and unleashed a devastating volley at close range. Simultaneously, Lieutenant Colonel William Washington’s cavalry struck the British right flank while the rallied militia hit from the left. The Battle of Cowpens - National Park Service The , fought on January 17, 1781 ,