The American Revolution

Kings Mountain and Cowpens as Microcosm

The Plan

1. Dis-spell many myths of the war2. Tactics, terrain, and the rules of the battlefield3. Discuss the war in the north4. The move south5. Cornwallis in South Carolina6. Civil War7. Kings Mountain8. The interlude9. Double envelopment at the Cowpens10. Results through to Yorktown

Volusia County StandardsUnit 4: The American Revolution

MYTHS OF THE REVOLUTION

Hagiography

• Images of clenched-jawed men

• Silently suffering• Fighting for ideals• Standing fast in the

face of overwhelming odds

• Buck skins and hunting rifles

Officers

• Training and experience

• Desire to emulate• OJT – a Darwinian

master in war• Locally trained men

(Morgan, Greene, etc)

Troops

• American “army” relied on two main types of organizations– Continental Regulars– Militia

• Militia were further sub-divided by the state

• Types of men in each category• Reliability issues

TACTICS, TERRAIN, WEAPONS AND RULES OF THE BATTLEFIELD

Tactics

• Myth of the “Indian play”

• Desire of Washington to create a modern army

• Training in the British or European method

• Guerilla or irregular warfare on the fringes of the campaign

Terrain

• There are three words that are the absolute key to understanding ANY battlefield– Terrain, Terrain, and Terrain!

• The proper use of terrain will make and break the two battles we are studying

• The high ground is generally the key• The military crest v. the geographic crest

Revolutionary Weapons

• Musket– The bayonet

• Rifle• Artillery

Rules of the Battlefield

• Offense v. Defense• Defense has immense advantages• Need a ratio of 2.5 to 1 to achieve victory• The momentum of battle• The psychology of battle

WAR IN THE NORTH

1775

• Lexington and Concord• Retreat to Boston• Bunker Hill• Siege of Boston

The Failures of 1776

• Defense of New York• Retreat through New Jersey• Defeat after defeat• Potential disintegration of

the northern army• Washington’s Crossing

Saratgoa

• The British plan• Failures of execution• Gates’ plan• Role of Morgan and

the rifle• Surrender and

impact

Valley Forge Winter

• The myths• The facts• Washington as leader• Von Steuben• The emergence of a

REAL army• The symbolism of the

topography

Stalemate!

• Monmouth Court House• War of maneuver• Carlisle Commission

THE MOVE SOUTH

Invasion at Charleston

• Laying siege• Gen Lincoln’s miscalculation• Fall of Charleston• Impact

Gates at Camden

• Hero of Saratoga• Fatal errors• Gates’ plan• Havoc in the field• Results of the

battle

Page 41

Partisans in the Backcountry

• Civil war in the Carolinas backcountry

• Pickens• Sumter• Marion• Other groups

Move to Charlotte

• William Davie and the stone wall

• Reception• Hornets Nest• Attempts at

pacification and intimidation

KINGS MOUNTAIN

Ferguson Heads West

• Protect left flank• Rid area of Patriot

militia• Build up Loyalist

morale• Gilbert Town

The Ill-fated Challenge

• Confluence of events• The Scotts-Irish• The idea to bluff and

bluster• The challenge• The Patriot response

Move to the Ridge• Ferguson– Foray into SC– Slow march toward

Charlotte• Patriots– Sycamore Shoals– Quaker Meadows– Cowpens

• Arrival at the ridgePage 56

The Plans

• Ferguson – Allow reinforcements

to come– Defend the high ground– Use typical British

tactics• Patriots– Arrive by stealth– Surround the hill– Attack in unison

45 Minutes of Fighting• Beginning the battle• Three charges with cold steel• Swarming effect• British tactical problems• Gaining the summit• Death of Patrick Ferguson• The surrender

Troop positions at 3:00pm October, 7, 1780

Patriots and Loyalists trade volleys and bayonet charges.

Charge and countercharge in the north and east sections of the field.

Page 73

Squads, pairs, and individuals create a swarming effect.

Patriots take the crest and hem in the Loyalists who attempt to surrender.Page 75

Aftermath

• Burying the dead• March of prisoners• The trial

Page 85

A BRIEF INTERLUDE: THE WINTER OF 1780-1781

Cornwallis Moves

• Destruction of light forces

• Changing base of operations

• Patriots re-occupy Charlotte

Greene Comes South

• Gates is sacked• Greene surveys the

terrain• Finds only the

remnant of an army

Cornwallis and Greene Scheme

Cornwallis

• Re-invade North Carolina• Destroy the flying army

then Greene• Use Tarleton’s Legion as the

hammer

Greene

• Split army – Napoleon before his time

• Flying army operates in the rear of Cornwallis

Schemes

Morgan and Tarleton get into Position

• Morgan wants to go to Georgia• Is camped on Pacolet• Tarleton starts to move• Wants to get Morgan on the ridges of Kings

Mountain• Morgan begins his retrograde movement

toward the Cowpens• Tarleton chases and almost catches

DOUBLE ENVELOPMENT AT THE COWPENS

Green River RoadN

The Rising Ground

Hayes Rise

Ravine

Morgan Hill

The Swale

West Ravine Swampy Ground

Terrain of the Cowpens

Morgan’s Plan

• Defense in depth• Shock absorber

effect• Three defensive lines• Use terrain and

types of troops to advantage

Morgan’s Disposition

HammondMcDowellThe Skirmish Line

Roebuck Thomas

Hayes

Brandon

N

The Militia Line

Tait

HowardTriplett

Washington

The Main Line

Tarleton’s Rashness

• No planning• Did not attempt to

flank• Did not survey the

entire field

Tarleton’s Disposition

N

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

Highlanders

Dragoons Dragoons

Legion Cavalry

3lb “Grasshoppers”

Long, thin line of battle w/o substantial reserves.

Both Sides Arrayed for Battle

N

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

Highlanders

Dragoons Dragoons

Legion Cavalry

McDowell Hammond

Roebuck Thomas

Hayes

Brandon

Tait

HowardTriplett

Washington

The Battle: Stage One

• Tarleton sends 50 dragoons• 15 get shot by the skirmish line• Tarleton decides to charge• The skirmishers take out many officers or

“epaulet men”• Skirmishers retreat

Opening Gambit

Dragoons Dragoons

McDowell Hammond

N 15 of 50 Dragoons are hit in the opening wave

Tarleton’s Initial Assault

N

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

Highlanders

Dragoons Dragoons

Legion Cavalry

McDowell Hammond

Roebuck Thomas

Hayes

Brandon

Skirmishers take out many of Tarleton’s officers.

Stage Two

• Militia line keeps up a galling fire on Tarleton• Tarleton charges three times• Militia finally retreats after putting up pretty

stiff resistance• Seeking safety of the Continentals• Tarleton sends Dragoons, they get beat back

by William Washington• Tarleton sees what he wants to see

Fight on the Militia Line

N

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

Highlanders

McDowell

HammondRoebuck Thomas Hayes Brandon

Dragoons Dragoons

Tait

HowardTriplett

Washington

Militia takes a deadly toll on Tarleton’s infantry and dragoons

Militia Retreats

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

Highlanders

McDowell

HammondRoebuck Thomas Hayes BrandonDragoons Dragoons

Tait

HowardTriplett

WashingtonN

Stage Three

• Tarleton comes upon the Continentals• Trade volleys at close range• Frasier’s 71st Highlanders 1st battalion comes

and overlaps the Continental right flank• Misinterpreted order• Retreat to “Morgan Hill”

The Main Line

Tait

HowardTriplett

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

DragoonsDragoons

Highlanders

N

The Main Line

Tait

HowardTriplett

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

DragoonsDragoons

Highlanders

N

Highlanders begin to overlap the Continental right flank

The Order

Tait

HowardTriplett

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

DragoonsDragoons

HighlandersTait

N

Howard orders the FLANK refused

Misunderstood Order

Tait

HowardTriplett

7th Regiment Light InfantryLegion Infantry

DragoonsDragoons

Highlanders

Tait

N

The far right companies refused the FRONT!

Stage Four

• Howard’s men reform• Fire a volley at pointblank range• Washington’s Dragoons overlap British right

flank

A Surprise

Tait HowardTait Triplett

Militia Dragoons

7th Regiment Legion Infantry

Highlanders Light Infantry

N

Morgan and Howard reform on the final hill and trade volleys

Counter Charge

Tait HowardTait Triplett

Militia Dragoons

7th Regiment Legion Infantry

Highlanders Light Infantry

N

Continental fire and bayonets create havoc in the British ranks

The Double Envelopment

Tait HowardTait

Triplett

Militia

Dragoons

7th Regiment Legion Infantry

Highlanders Light Infantry

N

British are staggered and the Dragoons and Militia hit them in the flanks

Final Act

• British are staggered• Begin to break• Pickens’ militia had reformed• Enveloped the British left flank• British surrender• Tarleton orders a charge, only 50 come

Winning the Battle

Tait HowardTait

Triplett

Militia

Dragoons

7th Regiment Legion Infantry

Highlanders Light Infantry

N

Flight ensues and the battle is won

Aftermath

• No slaughter of those surrendering• Tarleton gets away• Morgan scared of Cornwallis close by• Moves army to Island Ford by nightfall• Race to the Catawba begins

RESULTS THROUGH TO YORKTOWN

Cornwallis’ Fatal Error

• Army too slow to catch Morgan• Burns all baggage and equipment• Tries to live off the blighted land• Wears his army down marching and fighting

on short rations

Race to the Dan

• Gets in a foot race with Greene• Greene knows terrain• Greene wins

Guilford Court House

• Greene ends up giving battle near Greensboro

• Greene loses the field but bleeds Cornwallis’ army

• Cornwallis turns toward VA and Greene goes to SC

• Cornwallis will eventually end up in Yorktown

rbrown@aihe.info

704-470-4406

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to shoot me an email or give me a call.

Images• Hagiography - http://www.kotsiou-tours.com/images/zindros/1-1.JPG• GW -

http://www.stjosephsmen.com/images/291_GeorgeWashingtonPraying.gif

• Militia - http://wwwpublic.ignet.army.mil/images/BunkerHill.jpg• Partisan Tactics -

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/autorank/Articles/kingsmt.jpg• Move to the Ridge -

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/collections/nc/overmountain.jpg• KM B&W -

http://www.amfirstbooks.com/IntroPages/ToolBarTopics/Articles/Featured_Authors/may,_captain_eric/May_works/May_Art/Battle_of_Kings_Mountain_B&W.579.jpg

• Patriot Response . http://www.sitemason.com/files/bmz4FW/overmountainmen.jpg

• Ft at Sycamore Shoals – www.tnhistoryforkids.com • B&W Map to Charlotte -

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/hh/22/images/hh22c2.jpg

• Fusiliers Marching - http://bethtrissel.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/british-soldiers4.jpg

• KM Painting - http://kmathletics.com/images/dtkm.jpg• Death of Ferguson -

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/king-mountain-monument.jpg

• Hanging - http://www.britishbattles.com/images/hanging-british-officer.jpg

• Cornwallis Moves - http://www.nps.gov/history/seac/socamap.jpg• Troiani Print -

http://www.historicalartprints.com/images/product_large/the_battle_of_cowpens_lg.jpg

• Cornwallis - http://www.trading-ford.org/images/Cornwallis_portrait.jpg

• Shock Absorber - http://www.basiccarrepair.com/images/255-1.jpg• Tarleton -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/images/slavery_business_gallery_07.jpg

• Cornwallis - http://home.golden.net/~marg/bansite/friends/images/s_cornwallis.jpg

• Greene - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~robert/nathanaelgreene.jpg

• Morgan - http://www.nps.gov/cowp/forteachers/images/morgan3.jpg• Camden - http://www.britishbattles.com/images/camden/map-05.gif• Sumter -

http://www.nndb.com/people/123/000052964/thomas-sumter-1-sized.jpg• Marion -

http://teachers.greenville.k12.sc.us/sites/ekrezdor/South%20Carolina/Francis%20Marion-%20Swamp%20Fox.bmp

• Ferguson - http://www.americanrevolution.org/ferguson.gif• Siege of Charleston -

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/colonial/graphics/map14_a.gif• Brandywine -

http://www.brandywinesoldiers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/americans-holding-their-ground-at-the-battle-of-the-brandywine-american-revolution-c-1777-web.jpg

• Bunker Hill - http://www.oldgloryprints.com/Bunker_Hill.jpg• Washington’s Crossing -

http://www.ushistory.org/WashingtonCrossing/images/crossing_2.jpg• Gates - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~robert/GATES.jpg• Saratoga - http://theamericanrevolution.org/images/battles/saratog1.jpg