Bet You Didn’t Know

Battle of Cowan’s Ford

American Revolution history lies beneath Lake Norman

by Martin Rose

If you travel Highway 73 on Lake Norman’s south end, you’ve noticed the historic marker commemorating the Battle of Cowan’s Ford. Historians consider it a minor skirmish as Revolutionary War battles go, but it is important to the history of our area. The Battle of Cowan’s Ford was the last Revolutionary War battle fought in Mecklenburg County and it claimed the life of commander General William Lee Davidson, for whom Davidson College, Davidson County and the town of Davidson are named.

The battle took place as British General Lord Charles Cornwallis led forces in pursuit of American commander General Nathanael Greene. After a meeting of his commanders on the banks of the Catawba River, Greene left Davidson in command of fewer than 1,000 American militia with orders to slow the British advance by defending the fords (shallow spots) that allowed soldiers, horses and wagons to cross the river. By slowing the enemy advance, Greene hoped to consolidate forces and join other units in Salisbury.

After launching a diversion at nearby Beatties Ford (present site of Governor’s Island), Cornwallis led 5,000 British and German troops across the Catawba at Cowan’s Ford (current site of the dam) on the morning of February 1, 1781.

Initially American troops had the upper hand as the British struggled to cross the river in swift current after several days of rain. But the battle soon turned in favor of the British. The objective was never victory, but delay of the British advance, so the mission was a success. Upon crossing the river, Cornwallis continued with his pursuit of Greene which six weeks later led to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, where one-fourth of Cornwallis’ army was destroyed.

Davidson, a popular North Carolina general, was the chief recruiter for the militia in this region. He was a friend of George Washington who fought at Germantown and Valley Forge.

Davidson was killed by a bullet to the heart while rallying his troops. His body was recovered that night and buried at Hopewell Presbyterian Church in north Mecklenburg. Davidson should have been buried at his home church, Center Presbyterian in Mount Mourne, but that area was under British control. Historic accounts say the general’s body was placed in a donated blue suit, shrouded with a cloth, and was buried by torchlight while rain fell on the mourners.