South Carolina Department of Archives and History
National Register Properties in South Carolina

Cowpens National Battlefield, Cherokee County (jct. of S.C. Hwys. 11 & 110, Chesnee vicinity)
S1081771100101 S1081771100102 S1081771100103 S1081771100104 S1081771100105
British Line
Formation Area
View of Pickens's
Militia Line position
from the British Line position
Pickens's Militia Line
Formation Area
View of British Line position
from Pickens's Militia
Line position
Continental Line
Formation Area
S1081771100106 S1081771100107 S1081771100108 S1081771100109 S1081771100110
View of Continental Line position
from Pickens's Militia Line position
Morgan's Hill
Washington's Cavalry
Formation Area
View from Morgan's Hill
down Green River Rd.
toward British Approach
1856 Washington
Light Infantry
Monument
1856 Washington
Light Infantry
Monument, Detail
S1081771100111 S1081771100112 S1081771100113    
1932 War Department
Monument
1932 War Department
Monument
1932 War Department
Monument

During the American Revolution, the Battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781, played an important part in the chain of events that led to the climax of the war at Yorktown. Cowpens was the second American victory in the Southern campaign of the Revolution during a 3-month period. Depressed by two years of defeat and persecution, these two victories within three months of each other served to strengthen the Patriots’ resolve. At the time of the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781, there were no settlers living in the vicinity. The name, Hannah’s Cowpens, referred to the use of the area as a holding place for cattle, but the nearest man-made structures were some two miles away from the battle area. The area where the battle was fought was an open, mature hardwood forest with red, post, and white oak predominating. There was little undergrowth and it was possible to see movement of men at a distance of 500 yards. Cattle browsed on the grasses that carpeted the forest floor. Two roads traversed the area. In addition to the battlefield, the historic core of the nominated site contains the Robert Scruggs House (a ca. 1828 log house), the Washington Light Infantry Monument (erected 1856), and the War Department Monument (erected 1932). Listed in the National Register October 15, 1966.

View the complete text of the nomination form for this National Register property.

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