The Battle of Cowpens - "The Patriot"

[misher]

The Battle of Cowpens, JANUARY 17, 1781, depicted in Mel Gibson's movie "The Patriot," was where American General Daniel Morgan had a line of militia fire into British General Cornwallis' and Colonel Tarleton's dragoons, regulars, Highlanders and loyalists.

When the Americans retreated, the British pursued, only to be surprised by American Continentals waiting over the hill.

In the confusion, the Americans killed 110 British and captured 830.

Cornwallis regrouped and chased the Americans, arriving at the Catawba River just two hours after the Americans had crossed, but a storm made the river impassable.

He nearly overtook them as they were getting out of the Yadkin River, but rain flooded the river.

This happened again at the Dan River.

British Commander Henry Clinton wrote:

"Here the royal army was again stopped by a sudden rise of the waters, which had only just fallen (almost miraculously) to let the enemy over."

In March of 1781, General Washington wrote to William Gordon:

"We have...abundant reasons to thank Providence for its many favorable interpositions in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us."

 

[Randall Slemp]

Good post. Amen to your last line/quote.

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

The only thing The Patriot got right was, there was a battle of Cowpens.

 

[Cascade Pete]

Don't Mix up Hollywood with Reality. One is not the other, by any stretch of the imagination.....

Good Post and Quote..I would dump the Movie reference though

 

[nchawkeye]

The Battle of Cowpens was nothing like that battle in The Patriot...

 

[BillinOregon]

And the sad thing is "The Patriot" is probably about as good as it gets as far as Hollywood is concerned. I'll give Mel at least a little credit, as I have gotten a lot of pleasure watching his film. There's just not a whole lot more out there on the AWI that's watchable. Suggestions?

 

[nchawkeye]

The History Channel did a pretty good job with their series on The Revolution...

I don't worry about it too much, after all many of us got interested in history with Fess Parker as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett...If any films get kids interested maybe they'll study enough to learn the truth later...

 

[2172]

agree,my intrest comes from John Wayne's "Alleghanie Uprising" in 1939. Hank

 

[jbwilliams3]

The only thing The Patriot got right was, there was a battle of Cowpens.

Haha! That’s the truth.

 

[Carteret Kid]

There is that Al Pachino movie Revolution. It has some big actions scenes. Check YouTube.

 

[Captjoel]

I have found great historical entertainment in the mini series "John Adams". A very well put together look at his life from the time period of the Boston massacre to his death in the 1820's. It shows the Revolutionary War from the political side.

 

[BillinOregon]

I used to have a copy of the Pacino film. I had forgotten about it. Also had "Broken Chain," an earlier film. Not very memorable.

 

[Carteret Kid]

In 1970 there was a TV series, "The Young Rebels" lasted half a season.

 

[Rev_William]

In 1970 there was a TV series, "The Young Rebels" lasted half a season.

I think the reason it was cancelled was because you and I were the only watchers lol

 

[Tumblernotch]

In 1970 there was a TV series, "The Young Rebels" lasted half a season.

I think the reason it was cancelled was because you and I were the only watchers lol

I remember watching it. Pretty good entertainment for an 11 yr. old who was already into early American history. I even had a comic book based on the show. Wonder if it's still around here somewhere? :hmm:

I found out while researching my GGGGG Grandfather that he guarded prisoners at Cowpens and escorted them to Danville, VA. He was a volunteer Virginia rifleman.

 

[Carteret Kid]

If the craving to see musket shooting get really bad, try the Sharpes Rifles series.

 

[BEP]

I remember "The Young Rebels". In particular I remember the prop flintlock pistols built on trapdoor Springfield receivers. Big, ungainly, ugly and obvious.

 

[Tumblernotch]

Yeah, but when you're a kid, if the smoke rolls and it goes BANG, it's enough to hook you. :grin:

 

[No Deer]

I remember watching it also. Was disappointed when it got canceled.


I participated in the Bicentennial of the Battle of Bennington. Found out a couple of years later that I had an ancestor who fought in the battle, American of course :wink:. Wish I had known about the ancestor at the time of the Bicentennial.

 

[Rev_William]

If the craving to see musket shooting get really bad, try the Sharpes Rifles series.

Espeacially that 7 barreled nock gun of harpers lol