The American Revolution

1. The American Revolution Kings Mountain and Cowpens as Microcosm

2. The Plan • Dis-spell many myths of the war • Tactics, terrain, and the rules of the battlefield • Discuss the war in the north • The move south • Cornwallis in South Carolina • Civil War • Kings Mountain • The interlude • Double envelopment at the Cowpens • Results through to Yorktown

3. Volusia County Standards Unit 4: The American Revolution

4. Myths of the Revolution

5. Hagiography • Images of clenched-jawed men • Silently suffering • Fighting for ideals • Standing fast in the face of overwhelming odds • Buck skins and hunting rifles

6. Officers • Trainingand experience • Desire to emulate • OJT – a Darwinian master in war • Locally trained men (Morgan, Greene, etc)

7. Troops • American “army” relied on two main types of organizations • Continental Regulars • Militia • Militia were further sub-divided by the state • Types of men in each category • Reliability issues

8. Tactics, terrain, weapons and rules of the battlefield

9. Tactics • Myth of the “Indian play” • Desire of Washington to create a modern army • Training in the British or European method • Guerilla or irregular warfare on the fringes of the campaign

10. Terrain • There are three words that are the absolute key to understanding ANY battlefield • Terrain, Terrain, and Terrain! • The proper use of terrain will make and break the two battles we are studying • The high ground is generally the key • The military crest v. the geographic crest

11. Revolutionary Weapons • Musket • The bayonet • Rifle • Artillery

12. Rules of the Battlefield • Offense v. Defense • Defense has immense advantages • Need a ratio of 2.5 to 1 to achieve victory • The momentum of battle • The psychology of battle

13. War in the north

14. 1775 • Lexington and Concord • Retreat to Boston • Bunker Hill • Siege of Boston

15. The Failures of 1776 • Defense of New York • Retreat through New Jersey • Defeat after defeat • Potential disintegration of the northern army • Washington’s Crossing

16. Saratgoa • The British plan • Failures of execution • Gates’ plan • Role of Morgan and the rifle • Surrender and impact

17. Valley Forge Winter • The myths • The facts • Washington as leader • Von Steuben • The emergence of a REAL army • The symbolism of the topography

18. Stalemate! • Monmouth Court House • War of maneuver • Carlisle Commission

19. The Move SOuth

20. Invasion at Charleston • Laying siege • Gen Lincoln’s miscalculation • Fall of Charleston • Impact

21. Gates at Camden • Hero of Saratoga • Fatal errors • Gates’ plan • Havoc in the field • Results of the battle Page 41

22. Partisans in the Backcountry • Civil war in the Carolinas backcountry • Pickens • Sumter • Marion • Other groups

23. Move to Charlotte • William Davie and the stone wall • Reception • Hornets Nest • Attempts at pacification and intimidation

24. Kings Mountain

25. Ferguson Heads West • Protect left flank • Rid area of Patriot militia • Build up Loyalist morale • Gilbert Town

26. The Ill-fated Challenge • Confluence of events • The Scotts-Irish • The idea to bluff and bluster • The challenge • The Patriot response

27. Move to the Ridge • Ferguson • Foray into SC • Slow march toward Charlotte • Patriots • Sycamore Shoals • Quaker Meadows • Cowpens • Arrival at the ridge Page 56

28. The Plans • Ferguson • Allow reinforcements to come • Defend the high ground • Use typical British tactics • Patriots • Arrive by stealth • Surround the hill • Attack in unison

29. 45 Minutes of Fighting • Beginning the battle • Three charges with cold steel • Swarming effect • British tactical problems • Gaining the summit • Death of Patrick Ferguson • The surrender

30. Troop positions at 3:00pm October, 7, 1780

31. Patriots and Loyalists trade volleys and bayonet charges.

32. Charge and countercharge in the north and east sections of the field. Page 73

33. Squads, pairs, and individuals create a swarming effect.

34. Patriots take the crest and hem in the Loyalists who attempt to surrender. Page 75

35. Aftermath • Burying the dead • March of prisoners • The trial Page 85

36. A Brief interlude: The Winter of 1780-1781

37. Cornwallis Moves • Destruction of light forces • Changing base of operations • Patriots re-occupy Charlotte

38. Greene Comes South • Gates is sacked • Greene surveys the terrain • Finds only the remnant of an army

39. Cornwallis and Greene Scheme Cornwallis Greene Split army – Napoleon before his time Flying army operates in the rear of Cornwallis • Re-invade North Carolina • Destroy the flying army then Greene • Use Tarleton’s Legion as the hammer

40. Schemes

41. Morgan and Tarleton get into Position • Morgan wants to go to Georgia • Is camped on Pacolet • Tarleton starts to move • Wants to get Morgan on the ridges of Kings Mountain • Morgan begins his retrograde movement toward the Cowpens • Tarleton chases and almost catches

42. Double envelopment at the cowpens

43. Terrain of the Cowpens Ravine Green River Road N Morgan Hill The Swale West Ravine Swampy Ground Hayes Rise The Rising Ground

45. Morgan’s Plan • Defense in depth • Shock absorber effect • Three defensive lines • Use terrain and types of troops to advantage

46. Morgan’s Disposition Washington N The Main Line Tait Triplett Howard The Militia Line Roebuck Thomas Brandon Hayes The Skirmish Line McDowell Hammond

47. Tarleton’s Rashness • No planning • Did not attempt to flank • Did not survey the entire field

48. Tarleton’s Disposition N Long, thin line of battle w/o substantial reserves. 3lb “Grasshoppers” Dragoons 7th Regiment Legion Infantry Light Infantry Dragoons Highlanders Legion Cavalry

49. Both Sides Arrayed for Battle Washington N Tait Triplett Howard Roebuck Thomas Brandon Hayes McDowell Hammond Dragoons 7th Regiment Legion Infantry Light Infantry Dragoons Highlanders Legion Cavalry

50. The Battle: Stage One • Tarleton sends 50 dragoons • 15 get shot by the skirmish line • Tarleton decides to charge • The skirmishers take out many officers or “epaulet men” • Skirmishers retreat