CowpensThe Battle of Cowpens began on January 17, 1781. General Charles Cornwallis dispatched Banastre Tarleton with 1,100 Redcoats and Loyalists to catch Morgan. As Tarleton’s men attacked, Morgan instructed the militia to skirmish with them but to leave the front line after firing two rounds. The British mistook the repositioning of the Americans as a rout and ran into an unexpected volley of concentrated rifle fire coupled with a cavalry charge and followed by the return of the militia. Tarleton escaped, but Morgan’s troops decimated his army.
American rifles, scorned by Britain's professional soldiers, proved devastatingly effective in this engagement. More than 800 British troops were killed, wounded or captured. The Americans suffered less than 100 casualties in the first Patriot victory to demonstrate that they could outfight a similar British force without any other factors, such as surprise or geography, to assist them. The victory provided an important morale boost. (www.history.com) |
YorktownThe final, and most important Battle of the Revolutionary War begins on September 28, 1781. General George Washington commands a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, and begins for the battle against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and a contingent of 9,000 British troops at Yorktown,Virginia. Washington commands Marquis de Lafayette and an American army of 5,000 troops to block Cornwallis' escape from Yorktown by land while the French naval fleet block the British escape by sea. Washington had completely encircled Cornwallis and Yorktown with the combined forces of Continental and French troops. After three weeks of non-stop bombardment, both day and night, from cannon and artillery, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, effectively ending the War for Independence. (www.history.com)
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Elise Bennett
Julian Charter School
Date of Publication : January 9, 2015
Date Last Edited : January 9, 2015
Julian Charter School
Date of Publication : January 9, 2015
Date Last Edited : January 9, 2015