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Hi! I'm a ranger at Cowpens National Battlefield! I am happy to help with your questions. Are you interested in the history of Cowpens? Click the interview questions below to see my answers!
Before the January 17, 1781 battle, “the Cow Pens” was a communal livestock grazing area used by people driving livestock to and from market towns. In colonial times, this land had natural barriers such as creeks, ravines, and river cane thickets that formed a natural fence without the need to build fences. It was a natural cow pen. There were places like this all over the upcountry of South Carolina, and this one was particularly well-known.
- The patriot victory resulted in British losses of 110 dead, around 230 wounded, and over 600 prisoners. In attempting to free the prisoners, British General Earl Cornwallis chased after Nathanael Greene’s patriot army. This led to the “Race to the Dan” and the eventual surrender or Cornwallis at the Siege of Yorktown nine months after the Battle of Cowpens.
- The patriot victory served to embolden militia and supported the idea that they could stand up to the mighty British Army.
- Cowpens reset the entire chessboard in the Southern Campaign. Cornwallis lost his best troops and abandoned South Carolina. Often overlooked is the fear of Banastre Tarleton and the British Legion extinguished at Cowpens. His departure gave patriots in the state a chance to regain territory and momentum.
- Daniel Morgan utilized a defense in-depth. This means he used three progressively stronger lines of defense with cavalry in reserve. In using militia to soften the advancing British force and requesting they tactically retreat behind the following line until the Continental (and final) line, he implemented an innovative tactic to deploy a combined force of militia and Continental regulars.
- Morgan’s ingenious battleplan at Cowpens differed from the norm by placing untrained militia in front of professional Continental troops to slow the British advance. No other commander in the Revolution had placed such confidence in militia as did Morgan. He knew their strengths and weaknesses and used both to full advantage. His defense in depth is still taught to military commanders in the 21st Century.
- Militia from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia played an important role in Daniel Morgan’s victory. They were used in the first two lines of Morgan’s defense in-depth. Some fired accurate rifles (weapons not normally used by the regular army). They also augmented the patriot dragoon’s numbers and many militia participated in the double envelopment.
- The Continentals at Cowpens fought bravely, but without the role Morgan’s militia played in the battle Cowpens would have turned out very differently. Morgan set a trap for young Tarleton and he used the militia as bait. Militia deployed as sharpshooters then stood firm in the second line of defense against British regulars. They redeployed behind the Continentals when ordered and then rallied when called upon to double envelope the British army. Mounted militia helped encircle the 71st Highlanders on the left of the British line. After the American victory, mounted militia pursued British survivors and on the battlefield they buried the dead and tended the wounded.
- Brigadier General Daniel Morgan led a combined force and implemented innovative tactics.
- Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard led the Continental line and oversaw these soldiers in the infamous “misunderstood order.”
- Colonel Andrew Pickens led the Militia line and was a local legend.
- Lieutenant Colonel William Washington (2nd cousin of George Washington) led the 3rd Light Dragoons.
- Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, British Army
- Slight rolling hills obscured the British’s view of the patriot force and this denied them a full understanding of the size of the patriot force.
- The battlefield was described as an open wood with little to no undergrowth. Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton felt the land would be good for cavalry, but the terrain obscured his view of the size of the patriot force.
- Muskets and rifles show examples of the weapons used at the Battle of Cowpens by militia and Continental forces.
- A small weight was used for measuring medicine and reflects the aftermath of the battle.
- A 3lbs cannon ball fired from a British “Grasshopper” Cannon.
- There is no Yorktown without the Cowpens victory. Cornwallis lost “the flower of his army” at Cowpens. He could not overcome the massive loss of troops (85% KIA, WIA, POWs) and he marched his army into the ground during the “Race to the Dan” campaign just to try and get them back. He ultimately disobeyed orders just to leave the carnage of South Carolina behind him when he marched into North Carolina and later into Virginia.
- In 1929, the battlefield was made a national battlefield site. This means it was limited to a couple acres of land and one monument.
- In 1972, the battlefield was expanded to 842.5 acres.
- Many people think Cowpens is a Civil War battlefield. Many are shocked to learn that it is a Revolutionary War Battlefield and in further disbelief that South Carolina is home to over 600 Revolutionary War fights and battles. Our site helps visitors understand that the Revolution was not just George Washington’s war in the north. There is much more to the story of Independence and a major piece is at The Cowpens.
- The anniversary event is held on the weekend closest to the date of the battle, January 17, 1781. It includes historic weapons demonstrations, author presentations, cavalry demonstrations, children’s activities, and much more!
- Cowpens National Battlefield hosts an annual “Celebration of Freedom” event on the weekend closest to July the 4th with historic weapons demonstrations, author lectures, ranger led interpretive tours, and children’s activities. All free and fun for the whole family!
- The National Park Service does not host reenactments on the federal property. The site does host several living history events that feature historic weapons demonstrations.
As a ranger at Cowpens National Battlefield, a lot of visitors come to the park for both history and recreation. Do you have any questions about visiting Cowpens?
This national battlefield is 842.5 acres. The core of the battlefield is approximately 200 acres. It is about 700 yards long and about 500 yards wide. The remainder of the park is mostly woodlands.
No. There is not a visitor campground in the park. However, four (4) South Carolina State Parks within approximately 50 miles of the battlefield do offer camping: Kings Mountain State Park, Croft State Park, Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site, and Paris Mountain State Park.
- The visitor center offers two interpretive films: “Cowpens: A Battle Remembered” is shown at the top of each hour from 9 am to 4 pm. An additional film from the American Battlefield Trust, “The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution” is shown upon request at any time of the day.
- The visitor center has a museum filled with objects and artifacts original to the American Revolution.
- A well-stocked gift shop/bookstore is also in the visitor center.
- Cowpens National Battlefield has a 3.8-mile auto loop that has a designated walking/biking lane.
- The battlefield has a 2-mile nature trail that leads hikers through lesser traveled parts of the park.
Located inside the park is a picnic area with a rentable shelter for gatherings, as well as individual picnic tables with a grill for cook outs. The picnic shelter also has restrooms.
- Horseback riding is a popular activity at Cowpens. Please ask a ranger and learn where horses are allowed. It’s basically everywhere except in the area around the visitor center and the parking lot.
- There is horse trailer parking in the Trail Head Parking area located on SC Hwy 11 towards Gaffney, SC and only 1 -mile from the main battlefield entrance.
Ranger staff suggest watching the two interpretive films in the visitor center and exploring the museum or taking a 1.2-mile walk on the historic battlefield. An alternative to the walking tour is the Auto Loop Road (3.8 miles) that has two access points to the battlefield and a stop at the historic Scruggs Cabin.
Enjoy the two films, explore the museum, and take the self-guided 1.2 mile walk. If you like scavenger hunts, the battlefield has a Junior Ranger activity booklet designed for kids, but often asked for by grown-up kids, and when completed you earn a Cowpens National Battlefield Jr Ranger Badge!
- Cowpens National Battlefield is in the upcountry of South Carolina near the border of North Carolina. The physical address for the Park is: 4001 Chesnee Hwy, Gaffney, SC 29341. GPS Coordinates: 35°8'12"N 81°49'05"W
- Gaffney, SC is 11 miles from the battlefield’s visitor center. The smaller community of Chesnee, SC is 2 miles from the park. Both towns have restaurants for hungry travelers.
- There are thousands of years of history in South Carolina, so there is plenty to discover close to the Cowpens National Battlefield. Some nearby historical sites are:
- Kings Mountain National Military Park near Blacksburg, SC
- Ninety Six National Historical Park near Greenwood, SC
- Overmountain Victory National Historical Trail that stretches from Virginia to South Carolina
- Walnut Grove Plantation near Spartanburg, SC
- Historic Brattonsville in York County, SC
- Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site near Clinton, SC
- Blackstocks Battlefield State Historic Site near Enoree, SC.
As a ranger, I talk to a lot of people every day! Do you have questions about people at Cowpens or what Park Rangers do? I can answer them below.
On average, about 250,000 people visit the battlefield each year. Cowpens is a very popular recreation destination for locals, and tens-of thousands more visitors are in the park throughout the year.
There are many different types of park rangers. When you come to Cowpens National Battlefield the first ranger you are likely to meet is an Interpretive Ranger in the visitor center. These rangers give you the information needed to have an enjoyable, safe visit. They lead tours, give talks, and do a lot of behind the scenes work on social media, park programs, events, and many other tasks.
Keeping a national park clean and looking good is a full-time, year-round, non-stop task. All parks have Maintenance Rangers that clean the restrooms, dispose of trash, pick-up litter, cut the grass, and maintain park facilities.
National parks across the country have Law Enforcement Rangers. Many of these rangers are also certified Emergency Medical Technicians, and they do their best to ensure that visitors are safe while visiting and that visitors are respecting the resources of the parks they visit.
- There are many park rangers that visitors will probably never see. They are in administration offices where they pay the bills, order supplies, and perform human resource tasks.
- Other rangers are mechanics, heavy equipment operators, search and rescue specialists, fire fighters, dispatchers for emergency services, carpenters, archeologists, biologists, and many other specialties.
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