During the American Revolution, Lord Cornwallis occupied Bethania on 9 February 1781 with 2,000 soldiers after crossing the Shallowford on the Yadkin while pursuing patriots who had won a victory under Daniel Morgan over part of the British army under Banastre Tarleton at Cowpens, S.C., on 17 January 1781. Pursued by Cornwallis's entire force, the patriots then carried out a masterful retreat led by General Nathanael Greene across N.C. to southern Virginia, where they regrouped, re-entered N.C., and fought all of Cornwallis's forces at Guilford Courthouse on 15 March 1781. During the occupation, British officers were housed in some Bethania homes, and soldiers took provisions, cattle, and horses from Bethania residents.