Last updated: September 30, 2026
Place
Cowpens Audio Tour Stop 5: The Continental Army at Cowpens
NPS Photo / Mike Puckett
On this spot stood the Continental infantry during January 17, 1781, Battle of Cowpens. Around 300 officers and men from Maryland and Delaware, joined by state troops from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia, held firm against the sustained attack from Tarleton’s British infantry. These troops were under the command of Continental Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard from Maryland.
The Maryland and Delaware troops were a mixed group of survivors from the devastating August 1780 defeat at Camden, South Carolina. When the American army shattered into pieces at Camden, Lt. Col. Howard gathered what survivors he could find and led the men on a grueling overland flight into North Carolina and safety.
The new Southern army commander, Major General Nathanael Greene assigned Howard’s mixed company of Maryland and Delaware Infantry to Daniel Morgan’s “flying army” and they marched with the famous leader, nicknamed “the Old Wagoneer” into the South Carolina backcountry.When the Battle of Cowpens began on the cold morning of January 17, 1781, Howard and his troops formed the third line of defense in General Morgan’s battle plan. As the battle unfolded, the British infantry pushed through the first two lines of American militia and engaged Howard’s Continental line in a fierce, stand-up firefight that lasted about 10 minutes.
Neither side was able to gain an advantage. To break the stalemate, Tarleton ordered a flanking attack on the right side of the American line. The 71st Highlanders moved to the American right, and to halt their attack, Lt. Col. Howard ordered the Virginia state troops on the right of his line to turn and face the threat from the 71st Highlanders. For reasons unknown, the Virginia troops misunderstood the order and retreated from the line. In response to the unexpected withdrawal of the Virginians, Lt. Col Howard ordered a full redeployment of his entire line, trying to keep his formation intact in the face of the enemy.
The British mistook Howard’s withdrawal as a full retreat and, seeing victory on the backs of the retreating Continentals, the British infantry surged forward in a mob-like charge. General Morgan, who was nearly everywhere on the battlefield that day, took charge of the Continentals, halted them on the high ground, and turned them to face the on-rushing redcoats. They delivered a point-blank musket volley straight into the charging redcoats. Howard followed up the volley with a bayonet charge right down the throat of Tarleton’s main battleline.
Faced with the unexpected change of events and stunned by the suddenly resurgent Americans, Tarleton’s battle line disintegrated and most of his troops surrendered to Howard’s onrushing Americans.
The Maryland and Delaware troops were a mixed group of survivors from the devastating August 1780 defeat at Camden, South Carolina. When the American army shattered into pieces at Camden, Lt. Col. Howard gathered what survivors he could find and led the men on a grueling overland flight into North Carolina and safety.
The new Southern army commander, Major General Nathanael Greene assigned Howard’s mixed company of Maryland and Delaware Infantry to Daniel Morgan’s “flying army” and they marched with the famous leader, nicknamed “the Old Wagoneer” into the South Carolina backcountry.When the Battle of Cowpens began on the cold morning of January 17, 1781, Howard and his troops formed the third line of defense in General Morgan’s battle plan. As the battle unfolded, the British infantry pushed through the first two lines of American militia and engaged Howard’s Continental line in a fierce, stand-up firefight that lasted about 10 minutes.
Neither side was able to gain an advantage. To break the stalemate, Tarleton ordered a flanking attack on the right side of the American line. The 71st Highlanders moved to the American right, and to halt their attack, Lt. Col. Howard ordered the Virginia state troops on the right of his line to turn and face the threat from the 71st Highlanders. For reasons unknown, the Virginia troops misunderstood the order and retreated from the line. In response to the unexpected withdrawal of the Virginians, Lt. Col Howard ordered a full redeployment of his entire line, trying to keep his formation intact in the face of the enemy.
The British mistook Howard’s withdrawal as a full retreat and, seeing victory on the backs of the retreating Continentals, the British infantry surged forward in a mob-like charge. General Morgan, who was nearly everywhere on the battlefield that day, took charge of the Continentals, halted them on the high ground, and turned them to face the on-rushing redcoats. They delivered a point-blank musket volley straight into the charging redcoats. Howard followed up the volley with a bayonet charge right down the throat of Tarleton’s main battleline.
Faced with the unexpected change of events and stunned by the suddenly resurgent Americans, Tarleton’s battle line disintegrated and most of his troops surrendered to Howard’s onrushing Americans.