Last updated: September 30, 2026
Place
Cowpens Audio Tour Stop 9: The British Army at Cowpens
NPS / Mike Puckett
Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton brought a powerful British army composed of infantry, artillery, and cavalry to the South Carolina backcountry.
The core of his 1100-man army was the infamous and feared British Legion. Around 500 strong, the green-coated Legion was a mix of cavalry and infantry. The cavalry were the soul of the Legion with around 250 men mounted on horseback. At Cowpens, a part of the Legion cavalry was commanded by Captain David Ogilvie. Captain George Rousselet commanded the Legion infantry. The British Legion was a mixture of loyalist Tories from the northern colonies and American prisoners-of-war who joined Tarleton’s Legion after the American defeats at Charleston and Camden in 1780. American POWs faced the harsh reality of spending the remainder of the war in British captivity and many opted to join Tarleton’s Legion rather than face near- certain death on a prison ship.
General Lord Cornwallis also assigned redcoats from the British Army to Tarleton’s force. Tarleton’s army had a specialized detachment of 40 men from the 16th Light Infantry, two 35-man light companies from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 71st Highlander Regiment, and around 50 men from the Prince of Wales American Regiment. These were hardy troops selected for their skill, endurance, and trained to fight in rough terrain.
The 7th Regiment of Foot, the Royal Fusiliers had around 170 men and were commanded by Major Timothy Newmarsh. They added professional firepower to Tarleton’s Army.
Major Archibald MacArthur commanded a part of the 1st Battalion, 71st Highlander Regiment on the battlefield. These troops were recruited from the Scottish Highland Clans specifically for service in the colonies. These 300 officers and men had distinguished themselves as an elite unit in the British Army, known for their bravery and fierce fighting. Out of the 16 officers in the 71st engaged at Cowpens, nine were killed and wounded.
Tarleton also had 50 mounted troopers from the 17th Light Dragoons that increased his cavalry advantage over Morgan’s army. Commanded by Lieutenant Henry Nettles the “Death or Glory” boys were on extended detachment to the British Legion since 1778.
Two, 3-pounder pieces of artillery were with the British Army at Cowpens. Sometimes referred to as “Grasshoppers” these cannons were highly maneuverable, reliable, and effective weapons. Tarleton’s two cannons were crewed by highly trained gunners of the Royal Artillery.
To round out this powerful, experienced army, Lt. Colonel Tarleton had the able services of around 50 local loyalists under Alexander Chesney. Chesney was from South Carolina and his men provided the British with valuable local knowledge and intelligence working as scouts and spies.
The core of his 1100-man army was the infamous and feared British Legion. Around 500 strong, the green-coated Legion was a mix of cavalry and infantry. The cavalry were the soul of the Legion with around 250 men mounted on horseback. At Cowpens, a part of the Legion cavalry was commanded by Captain David Ogilvie. Captain George Rousselet commanded the Legion infantry. The British Legion was a mixture of loyalist Tories from the northern colonies and American prisoners-of-war who joined Tarleton’s Legion after the American defeats at Charleston and Camden in 1780. American POWs faced the harsh reality of spending the remainder of the war in British captivity and many opted to join Tarleton’s Legion rather than face near- certain death on a prison ship.
General Lord Cornwallis also assigned redcoats from the British Army to Tarleton’s force. Tarleton’s army had a specialized detachment of 40 men from the 16th Light Infantry, two 35-man light companies from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 71st Highlander Regiment, and around 50 men from the Prince of Wales American Regiment. These were hardy troops selected for their skill, endurance, and trained to fight in rough terrain.
The 7th Regiment of Foot, the Royal Fusiliers had around 170 men and were commanded by Major Timothy Newmarsh. They added professional firepower to Tarleton’s Army.
Major Archibald MacArthur commanded a part of the 1st Battalion, 71st Highlander Regiment on the battlefield. These troops were recruited from the Scottish Highland Clans specifically for service in the colonies. These 300 officers and men had distinguished themselves as an elite unit in the British Army, known for their bravery and fierce fighting. Out of the 16 officers in the 71st engaged at Cowpens, nine were killed and wounded.
Tarleton also had 50 mounted troopers from the 17th Light Dragoons that increased his cavalry advantage over Morgan’s army. Commanded by Lieutenant Henry Nettles the “Death or Glory” boys were on extended detachment to the British Legion since 1778.
Two, 3-pounder pieces of artillery were with the British Army at Cowpens. Sometimes referred to as “Grasshoppers” these cannons were highly maneuverable, reliable, and effective weapons. Tarleton’s two cannons were crewed by highly trained gunners of the Royal Artillery.
To round out this powerful, experienced army, Lt. Colonel Tarleton had the able services of around 50 local loyalists under Alexander Chesney. Chesney was from South Carolina and his men provided the British with valuable local knowledge and intelligence working as scouts and spies.