The Battle of Cowpens was a much-needed victory for the Southern theater and changed the trajectory of the American Revolution.
The American Revolution in the North was at a stalemate. George Washington was situated outside of New York, and Henry Clinton could not capture his army or threaten it in his current position.
The belief was that the Southern Theater had more opportunities due to loyalist support. However, the South was a firestorm full of guerrilla warfare and neighborhood fighting.
The British did not understand all the dynamics, but if they could get a foothold in the South, then hopefully, that would help free up George Washington.
General Horatio Gates was placed in charge of the Southern Army, and he did many good things but had an ambition that caused conflict with Washington and his supporters. He was the hero of Saratoga and convinced Daniel Morgan to come out of retirement.
Prior to Daniel Morgan coming out of retirement, the Battle of Camden took place, which was a complete disaster. Horatio Gates was accused of fleeing, which was more of a political accusation than a real one. He was acquitted of all cowardice charges.
Camden destroyed the morale of the Southern Army and eventually led to the dismissal of Gates, but he had already begun rebuilding the Southern Army, which included Daniel Morgan.
When Nathanael Greene arrived in the Southern Theater, he split his army into two to make it easier to supply the troops. It was around this time that the Battle of King's Mountain occurred, which destroyed loyalist support, but it did not eliminate Lord Cornwallis or Banastre Tarleton, who had seen much success.
Cornwallis and Tarleton both shared one quality, and that was aggression. Cornwallis chased Greene throughout South Carolina and rid himself of many items in order to chase him and Morgan. When Greene split his army, Cornwallis chased Greene, and Tarleton chased Morgan.
Tarleton had been on a tear. He was successful at Camden and at Waxhaws (which turned into a massacre). He had a ruthless reputation, and the local population, which included loyalists, did not agree with his actions.
When he arrived at the Battle of Cowpens, Morgan performed a new tactic with the militia and destroyed one wing of Cornwallis' Army. It changed everything.
- It left Cornwallis vulnerable. Without Tarleton, he lost his eyes and ears.
- It showed the Continental Army how to effectively use militia.
- It boosted morale due to the total victory and because it was against "The Butcher" Banastre Tarleton.
- It made logistics harder for Cornwallis.
- It began the process to Yorktown.
Some may argue that Guilford Courthouse was the turning point, and there is an argument for that, but without Cowpens, there is not a Guilford Courthouse.
In the end, the Revolutionary War Battle that was the turning point of the Southern Theater was the Battle of Cowpens.
