The Battle of The Battle of CowpensCowpens

““If you know your enemy and If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”the result of a hundred battles.”

Sun Tzu, Sun Tzu, The Art of WarThe Art of War

88thth Grade Social Studies State Grade Social Studies State Standard 8-2.3Standard 8-2.3

Summarize the course and key Summarize the course and key conflicts of the American Revolution conflicts of the American Revolution in South Carolina and its effects on in South Carolina and its effects on the state, including the attacks on the state, including the attacks on Charleston; the Battle of Camden; Charleston; the Battle of Camden; the partisan warfare of Thomas the partisan warfare of Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion; the Battle of Cowpens; and Marion; the Battle of Cowpens; and the Battle of Kings Mountain. the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Questions to think about!Questions to think about! How did the American employ strategy, How did the American employ strategy,

knowledge of the enemy, and knowledge of his knowledge of the enemy, and knowledge of his own forces to achieve victory?own forces to achieve victory?

Who were the notable South Carolinians who Who were the notable South Carolinians who participated in the battle and what was their participated in the battle and what was their role(s)?role(s)?

Who were the other notable participants in the Who were the other notable participants in the Battle of Cowpens?Battle of Cowpens?

How did the American victory at the Battle of How did the American victory at the Battle of Cowpens affect the outcome on the American Cowpens affect the outcome on the American Revolution?Revolution?

Why is the quote from Sun Tzu in the first slide Why is the quote from Sun Tzu in the first slide appropriate in describing the American victory?appropriate in describing the American victory?

Cowpens: A Decisive Defeat for Cowpens: A Decisive Defeat for the Britishthe British

From The Revolutionary War: The South Regained (United Streaming)

British Commander: Banastre British Commander: Banastre TarletonTarleton

Educated at Oxford.Educated at Oxford. Joined the army at the Joined the army at the

beginning of the beginning of the Revolution and became a Revolution and became a dragoon officer.dragoon officer.

Brutal in battle. Believed Brutal in battle. Believed the complete destruction the complete destruction of the enemy was needed of the enemy was needed to achieve victory.to achieve victory.

Known as Bloody Tarleton Known as Bloody Tarleton for killing Americans for killing Americans surrendering and other surrendering and other atrocities in battle. atrocities in battle.

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com

American Commander: Daniel American Commander: Daniel MorganMorgan

Considered a master Considered a master of guerrilla warfare.of guerrilla warfare.

Had a key role in the Had a key role in the battle of Saratoga.battle of Saratoga.

Left the army Left the army because of lack of because of lack of pay, promotion, and pay, promotion, and credit for his efforts.credit for his efforts.

Popular with his men. Popular with his men.

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The Battle PlansThe Battle Plans American PlanAmerican Plan Map of the forces at the Map of the forces at the

beginning of the Battle of beginning of the Battle of CowpensCowpens

Sharpshooters were placed Sharpshooters were placed in the front.in the front.

Militia was placed in a Militia was placed in a second line.second line.

Each group were to fire Each group were to fire two shots then retreat.two shots then retreat.

American regulars were to American regulars were to hold the line while the hold the line while the cavalry and militias attack cavalry and militias attack the British sides or flanks. the British sides or flanks.

British PlanBritish Plan British used musket fire to British used musket fire to

distract the enemy then distract the enemy then close on them.close on them.

A bayonet charge was A bayonet charge was used to break up American used to break up American formationsformations

Cavalry or Dragoons, Cavalry or Dragoons, mounted on horse back, mounted on horse back, would chase after would chase after retreating forces and finish retreating forces and finish them off.them off.

The BattleThe Battle

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/cowpens_1781.jpg

Effect of the American Victory Effect of the American Victory at Cowpens on the American at Cowpens on the American

RevolutionRevolution First time American forces defeated an First time American forces defeated an

equal number of British forces.equal number of British forces. Pushed British forces toward the east and Pushed British forces toward the east and

eventually Yorktown, Virginia.eventually Yorktown, Virginia. Persuaded Washington to move his forces Persuaded Washington to move his forces

South which lead to the American victory South which lead to the American victory at Yorktown.at Yorktown.

The name of Spartanburg came from one The name of Spartanburg came from one of the units that fought in Cowpens, the of the units that fought in Cowpens, the Spartan Rifles.Spartan Rifles.