Battle of Cowpens Monument

On this field, American troops under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan won a signal victory over a British force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton on January 17, 1781. Congress caused a monument to be erected on the site of the Battle of Cowpens as a testimonial to the valor of the American troops and in appreciation of their services on this field in behalf of the independence of their country. The British force totaled 1,050 men, including Tarleton's Legion with 550 men, the 7th Regiment under Maj. Newmarsh with 200 men, the 1st Battalion of the 71st Regiment under Maj. McArthur with 200 men, a detachment of the 17th Regiment of Dragoons with 50 men, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery with 50 men. The American force totaled 970 men under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan of Virginia, with Major Edward Giles of the Maryland State Regiment and Baron de Glasbeech as aides-de-camp; Continental troops included the Light Infantry of the Maryland Line with 290 men under Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard, and the Third Regiment, Light Dragoons with 80 men under Lieutenant Colonel William Washington; militia troops under Colonel Andrew Pickens of South Carolina included 200 men from Virginia, 100 from Georgia, 140 from North Carolina, 115 from South Carolina, and 45 South Carolina horsemen under Colonel James McCall.

Chesnee, South Carolina · United States