On January 17, 1781, one of the most important battles of the American Revolution was fought just north of Spartanburg.
The Cowpens National Battlefield will commemorate the 237th anniversary of the battle with a two-day event this weekend at the historic site.
The celebration, which runs Saturday and Sunday, will feature a variety of activities that include everything from 18th century weapons firing and cavalry demonstrations to period music performances.
In honor of the event, which will also include activities for children, here are five things to know about the Battle of Cowpens and Cowpens National Battlefield:
1. The battle commands great respect among Revolutionary War historians for its role in helping turn the tide against the British army and leading to its eventual surrender at Yorktown.
“It’s kind of what I call the knockout punch of the 1-2 punch of Kings Mountain and Cowpens,” said John Slaughter, group superintendent for the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks. “The British Legion led by Banastare Tarleton was utterly defeated at the Battle of Cowpens by Daniel Morgan who was also leading a significant number of militia men at that battle.”
2. Under the guidance of Morgan, the general for whom Morgan Square in Spartanburg is named, the patriots launched a double envelopment military strategy that was the only one of its kind to succeed in the American Revolution.
“The battle ended up in a double envelopment,” said Slaughter, whose office is located at the Cowpens National Battlefield. “That’s kind of the ultimate military tactic — being able to envelope your enemy from both sides — and that’s what Daniel Morgan was able to accomplish against Tarleton.”
3. The battle was over in less than an hour and was a decisive victory for the Patriot force. British losses were staggering, including 110 dead, more than 200 wounded and more than 500 captured.
“The entire British Legion, which was the elite fighting force of the British army — kind of like our special forces — was just completely annihilated at Cowpens,” Slaughter said.
4. A climatic scene in the 2000 film, “The Patriot,” which starred Mel Gibson, was loosely based on the Battle of Cowpens.
“The final battle scene in that movie is kind of an amalgamation of Cowpens and perhaps Guilford Courthouse (which was fought on March 15, 1781, in North Carolina) in terms of some of the tactics used,” Slaughter said.
5. Cowpens National Battlefield is among the historic sites that will be included on The Liberty Trail, which is being created by the national nonprofit Civil War Trust’s 1776 Campaign and the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust.
“The Liberty Trail is a great way to connect different aspects of the Southern Campaign to the American Revolution and draw tourism and economic opportunities to the state,” Slaughter said. “A lot of people don’t realize that more battles were fought in South Carolina than any other colony in the American Revolution. Some would go as far to say if you count all the battles and skirmishes, nearly a third of all the battles and skirmishes in the American Revolution were fought in South Carolina.”