"The bloody butcher" is what colonists called British Colonel Banastre Tarleton.
He let his dragoons bayonet and hack hundreds of surrendering Americans at Buford's Massacre during the Battle of Waxhaw, May 29, 1780.
In January of 1781, 26-year-old Colonel Banastre Tarleton led 1,200 of Britain's best troops, consisting of British dragoons, regulars, highlanders and loyalists, in a day-long, non-stop pursuit of the Americans.
American General Daniel Morgan led Colonel Banastre Tarleton into a trap -- the Battle of Cowpens, JANUARY 17, 1781.
The Americans took a stand at two low hills with the Broad River behind them, leaving them no opportunity to retreat.
Seeing this as a tactically foolish move, British Colonel Tarlton gave into the temptation to pursue the Americans without doing any reconnaissance.
This scene was depicted in the movie, The Patriot, in which Mel Gibson's character, Benjamin Martin, is a composite portrayal of the fiercest Carolina fighters:
Gen. Andrew Pickens (nicknamed "the Wizard Owl");
Gen. Francis Marion (nicknamed "the Swamp Fox); and
Col. Thomas Sumter (nicknamed "the Carolina Gamecock").
Approaching Cowpens, without allowing his fatigued troops to catch their breath after their exhaustive day long march, Tarlton ordered a headlong attack upon the American militia.
American General Daniel Morgan had his line of militia fire twice into the charging British cavalry, then quickly retreat around a hill.
Tarlton's dragoons were now at a full gallop, charging toward the American position.
Suddenly, Tarlton discovered that behind the militia was hiding a line of 400 battle-hardened American Continental soldiers, with their rifles leveled.
The American Continentals stood immovable and fired at point-blank range.
Over 100 British ddragoons were hit and fell from their saddles.
Then the militia which had retreated circled around and appeared on the other side of the hill to attack Tarlton's flank.
Tarlton barely escaped.
In the confusion, 110 British were killed and 830 captured.
Captured British officer, Maj. McArthur of the 71st Highlanders commented that "he was an officer before Tarleton was born; that the best troops in the service were put under 'that boy' to be sacrificed."
The Battle of Cowpens is widely considered the tactical masterpiece and turning point of the Revolutionary War.
When British General Cornwallis was told the news, he was leaning on his sword -- and leaned so hard the blade snapped.
Cornwallis gave chase, abandoning his slow supply wagons so he could pursue faster.
General Daniel Morgan hastily retreated north, meeting up with American General Nathanael Greene.
They raced to get out of South Carolina, across North Carolina to the border of Virginia, where was the Great Dismal Swamp -- over 100,000 acres of dangerous wetlands which would prevent British pursuit.
He let his dragoons bayonet and hack hundreds of surrendering Americans at Buford's Massacre during the Battle of Waxhaw, May 29, 1780.
In January of 1781, 26-year-old Colonel Banastre Tarleton led 1,200 of Britain's best troops, consisting of British dragoons, regulars, highlanders and loyalists, in a day-long, non-stop pursuit of the Americans.
American General Daniel Morgan led Colonel Banastre Tarleton into a trap -- the Battle of Cowpens, JANUARY 17, 1781.
The Americans took a stand at two low hills with the Broad River behind them, leaving them no opportunity to retreat.
Seeing this as a tactically foolish move, British Colonel Tarlton gave into the temptation to pursue the Americans without doing any reconnaissance.
This scene was depicted in the movie, The Patriot, in which Mel Gibson's character, Benjamin Martin, is a composite portrayal of the fiercest Carolina fighters:
Gen. Andrew Pickens (nicknamed "the Wizard Owl");
Gen. Francis Marion (nicknamed "the Swamp Fox); and
Col. Thomas Sumter (nicknamed "the Carolina Gamecock").
Approaching Cowpens, without allowing his fatigued troops to catch their breath after their exhaustive day long march, Tarlton ordered a headlong attack upon the American militia.
American General Daniel Morgan had his line of militia fire twice into the charging British cavalry, then quickly retreat around a hill.
Tarlton's dragoons were now at a full gallop, charging toward the American position.
Suddenly, Tarlton discovered that behind the militia was hiding a line of 400 battle-hardened American Continental soldiers, with their rifles leveled.
The American Continentals stood immovable and fired at point-blank range.
Over 100 British ddragoons were hit and fell from their saddles.
Then the militia which had retreated circled around and appeared on the other side of the hill to attack Tarlton's flank.
Tarlton barely escaped.
In the confusion, 110 British were killed and 830 captured.
Captured British officer, Maj. McArthur of the 71st Highlanders commented that "he was an officer before Tarleton was born; that the best troops in the service were put under 'that boy' to be sacrificed."
The Battle of Cowpens is widely considered the tactical masterpiece and turning point of the Revolutionary War.
When British General Cornwallis was told the news, he was leaning on his sword -- and leaned so hard the blade snapped.
Cornwallis gave chase, abandoning his slow supply wagons so he could pursue faster.
General Daniel Morgan hastily retreated north, meeting up with American General Nathanael Greene.
They raced to get out of South Carolina, across North Carolina to the border of Virginia, where was the Great Dismal Swamp -- over 100,000 acres of dangerous wetlands which would prevent British pursuit.