January 2004

223rd Anniversary Celebration

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 223rd ANNIVERSARY BATTLE OF COWPENS January 17-18, 2004

January 17, 2004

Cowpens National Battlefield is proud to rededicate the National Battlefield, 1932 US Monument, and the Visitor Center.

9:00 a.m. Ribbon cutting and dedication of new entrance gate, at the front gate area

9:00 a.m. Guided battlefield walks by park rangers and volunteers

9:15 a.m. Rededication Ceremony of 1932 US Monument and moment of Silence and reading of names of the men who died in the Battle of Cowpens and of those who died in WWII aboard the USS Cowpens, CVL-25 at the 1932 US Monument.

10:30 a.m. First firing demonstration at the battlefield

11:00 a.m. Kitty Evans tells children's stories and games in the Visitor Center.

11:00 a.m. Wreath laying by DAR and SAR at the Daniel Morgan statue in Spartanburg

11:30 a.m. Firing demonstration

11:45 a.m. Mini-Concert by the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps

1:00 p.m. Dr. Christine Swager will speak about the importance of battles and skirmishes in the South Carolina backcountry and will highlight the citizen soldiers who fought at Cowpens.

1:30 p.m. Firing demonstration

2:00 p.m. SAR, DAR, & CAR units will place wreaths at the 1932 US Monument and the 1856 Washington Light Infantry Monument, accompanied by the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps.

2:30 p.m. Firing demonstration.

3:00 p.m. Keynote address by Dr. Robert Morgan on his latest book, Brave Enemies.

3:30 p.m. Firing demonstration

4:30 p.m. Last firing demonstration of the day

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Lantern-lit walk through the battlefield. (Dress warmly and bring a flashlight.)

8:30 p.m. Cowpens National Battlefield closes

All activities will take place, weather permitting!

January 18, 2004

9:00 a.m. Visitor Center opens

9:30 a.m. Moment of Silence and reading of names of the men who died in the Battle of Cowpens and of those who died in WWII aboard the USS Cowpens, CVL-25 at the 1932 US Monument.

10:30 a.m. Firing demonstration

12:00 p.m. Durham Hunt portrays Brigadier General Daniel Morgan giving his account of the battle from his camp on Hicks Creek.

12:30 p.m. Firing demonstration

1:00 p.m. Sam Fore with the South Caroliniana Library will speak on researching the American Revolution.

1:30 p.m. Firing demonstration

2:00 p.m. Noble Trees of the South Carolina Upcountry presentation by author, John Lane, and photographer Mark Olencki, and Betsy Teter, manager of Hub City Writers project.

2:30 p.m. Firing demonstration.

5:00 p.m. Cowpens National Battlefield closes.

All activities will take place, weather permitting!

January 24, 2004

Race for the Grasshopper

Near the end of the Battle of Cowpens, Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard ordered Captain Ewing of Maryland to capture the 2 British cannon, known as grasshoppers. Captain Anderson of Delaware overheard the order. Wanting the honor of capturing one of the guns, he got into a footrace with Captain Ewing. Captain Anderson won when he pole vaulted to the first cannon by using his spontoon (a "spear" that officers used for signaling.) Captain Kirkwood of Delaware captured the other grasshopper. This race honors those men who were in the first "Race for the Grasshopper" 223 years ago.

10:00 a.m. 1 mile fun run

10:30 a.m. 5K race

For more information, go to www.strictlyrunning.com.

http://www.nps.gov/cowp/Jan2004.htm; Last Updated:1/31/2004 11:24 AM; COWP_Chief_Ranger@nps.gov