The Battle of Cowpens Anniversary

Last weekend, January 14th and 15th, was the 242nd Anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens which happened during the Revolutionary War after the Battle of Kings Mountain. On January 17, 1781, Daniel Morgan led his outnumbered troops against Banastre Tarelton’s British troops. It was another victory for the Americans, and helped turn the tide of war in our favor. The last battle of the movie “The Patriot” was loosely based on the Battle of Cowpens.

The anniversary celebration was held on both Saturday and Sunday. There were encampments of Revolutionary War re-enactors who demonstrated musket firings along with all forms of 18th century life which were exhibited by very knowledgeable reenactors while they were all wearing authentic uniforms, and civilian garb. The reenactors are like real-life history teachers. They do so much research about their roles that they know more than most history teachers in schools. They actually live the life which gives them an insight that only being there could do.

Many different free activities were scheduled for the two days including battlefield walks, 18th century Music - Bafford and Bell: Music from the Backcountry, weapons firing demonstrations, cavalry demonstrations, and much more. Every hour they would show the movie about the battle in the museum. Masks must be worn inside the museum. It would be like a two-day class in the history of the Battle of Cowpens.

I decided to go on Sunday which was a bright, sunny day. The temp when I left home was still around 30 degrees. The high for later in the afternoon was to be in the mid-50’s.

When I arrived at the Cowpens Battlefield (near Chesnee, SC), it was 10:30AM. I was guided to a great spot in the parking lot near the main building by the South Carolina State Guardsmen who were directing traffic.

The first group I met was from the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. The OVTA wants to tell the story of the Overmountain Men and the Battle of Kings Mountain, so that it is never forgotten. Go to their website for a complete story of how they came over the mountain to defeat the British at the Battle of Kings Mountain.

The air was filled with wood smoke from the camp fires as the re-enactors cooked breakfast, and tried to stay warm. I walked into the encampment taking pictures of the people getting ready for the long afternoon.

I met Lamar, one of the rangers from the Kings Mountain National Battlefield who is also a reenactor. He was acting as a ranger, helping the spectators go from place to place for the special programs

Many of the people tried to stay warm with blankets wrapped around them –sitting around the fire. As I was walking in the sun, I was almost comfortable with my multi layers of clothes under my Carhart jacket. I had to walk into the woods to get to the cavalry demonstration, and once out of the sun, it got colder fast. It felt like it dropped 20 degrees but there was no wind.

At 11:15, the cavalry demonstration started with the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons. There were six horsemen in the proper uniforms for their respective regiments. They talked about using the horse as a weapon while in battle against infantry. The main weapon for the cavalry soldier was the sabre. Some also had pistols. It was very interesting. They drilled making moves in the field as if they were connected as one. I could tell that it was difficult to get the horses to do what the rider wanted. A couple couldn’t keep up.

The men who talked were very interesting. I left before they were done because I wanted to get to the weapons demonstration before it started. I walked through the field to the firing range. There were men with rifles in ranks ready to fire when I saw the lady ranger with the red powder carrying case walking toward the firing range. They cannot fire any weapon without the black powder she has in her red container.

By then there was a real crowd of people by the rope fence, and sitting on the benches. We watched as the line of riflemen marched to their places in front of the crowd. They turned an about face, and fired their flintlocks on command. It was pretty loud, and some of the children were afraid. It’s always enjoyable to see the muskets fire, and smell the burnt black powder as the smoke drifts over the spectators.

I saw that there were two cannons but they were to be fired later in the afternoon. One I had seen fire many times but the other was a howitzer (short barrel cannon).

While walking around the encampment talking with the re-enactors, I learned that they came from all over the east coast to participate in the activities. One man I met was from the same small suburb of Chicago as I was but now living in Gastonia, NC. We talked for a while about living in Villa Park, Illinois. Hopefully, I’ll meet him again at another reenactment.

Another man was dressed as a surgeon. He had all the medicines and tools from the era. Some of the tools looked very barbaric but it was all they had at the time, and he said that the mortality rate was very good during the Revolutionary War.

I left about noon. I cannot wait until next year to visit the battlefield celebration again. I never know what I’ll see, or who I’ll meet. It’s always very educational, and interesting.