Cowpens National Battlefield

  • Also Known As: The Cowpens also Hannah's Cowpens also Cowpens Battleground

  • Type: Battle site
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

The Only Double Envelopment in the American Revolution

Cowpens National Battlefield, east of Chesnee, South Carolina, preserves the open grazing pasture once known as "Hannah's Cowpens," where the pivotal Battle of Cowpens unfolded on 17 January 1781. Here, American Patriot Daniel Morgan chose to make his stand, backing his mixed force against the Broad River and using the terrain to spring a disciplined, layered trap on Banastre Tarleton's exhausted British Legion. Today the park interprets that decisive moment in the Southern campaign through a visitor center, a partially paved 1.3-mile Battlefield Trail tracing the historic Green River Road, and a 3.8-mile auto loop with wayside exhibits, short trails, and access to the Robert Scruggs Log House. The landscape remains a quiet, pastoral setting where the contours of Morgan's strategy and the turning of the Revolutionary tide can still be walked. - AsNotedIn


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1781/01/17 Daniel Morgan American Commander Patriot Gen Morgan stages his 1,000-man 'flying' army, consisting of infantry and horse, in 3 lines: 1st Sharpshooters, 2nd Pickens' Militia and a hidden 3rd line of Continental regulars and Washington's cavalry. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 Gerard C Brandon (Patriot) Patriot Elite Horseman Col Washingtons cavalry, including mounted partisan fighter Gerard Brandon, surge out from behind a low hill where they had been concealed, and with sabers drawn, attack the charging Tarleton's British cavalry. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 Gen Andrew Pickens Patriot Commander Patriot militia, commanded by Andrew Pickens, fire two devastating volleys into the advancing British line and then intentionally retreat around the American left flank. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 After Washington's sword hilt is shattered during the sword fight, an African American combatant (likely a trumpeter named Collins) shoots and wounds a British officer just as he is about to strike Washington down, forcing Tarleton to flee the field. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 Morgan's Patriot sharpshooters fire two quick rounds at British officers and then fall back to the second line Patriot militia, commanded by Andrew Pickens. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 Tarleton tries to mount a final rear-guard defense with his remaining cavalry. Washington fiercely pursues them, riding so far ahead of his men that he becomes isolated culminating in a hand-to-hand saber duel between Washington and Tarleton. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 Banastre Tarleton British Commander British Col Tarleton's 1,100-man, highly mobile, Legion attacks Patriot Brigadier Gen Morgan's 1st line of sharpshooters at Cowpens, South Carolina. Battle of Cowpens
1781/01/17 As the British charge blindly "like a mob," Col Washington leads the combined Patriot mounted force in a sudden counter-charge, sweeping around to strike the British right flank and rear, completing the classic double envelopment. Battle of Cowpens

Data »

Particulars for Cowpens National Battlefield:
Cultural Affiliation African American
Historic Use Agricultural fields
Historic Use Battle site
Criteria Exemplar
Owner Federal
Sight Category Historic District
Area of Significance Military
Level of Significance National



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 15th October 1966

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Cowpens National Battlefield
Registry Address: 2 mi. E of Chesnee at jct. of SC 11 and 110
Registry Number: 66000072
Resource Type: District
Owner: Federal
Area in Acres: 178
Contributing Buildings: 1
Non-Contributing Buildings: 7
Contributing Sites: 1
Contributing Structures: 2
Contributing Objects: 2
Other Certification: Additional documentation, Additional documentation
Certification: Listed in the National Register
Nominator Name: National Battlefield
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Military
Applicable Criteria: Event
Period of Significance: 1750-1799
Significant Year: 1781
Historic Function: Defense, Agriculture, subsistence
Historic Sub-Function: Agricultural fields, Battle site
Current Function: Domestic, Agriculture, subsistence, Landscape
Current Sub-Function: Single dwelling Agricultural fields Park

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