It looks like golf course that has been abandoned, with
small ridges, ditches, and creeks running across the land. A dirt road covered
with pebbles and stones divide the property in half while trees and brush are
scattered across the land previously used for grazing cattle. Currently, it
looks like an normal, unimpressive plot of land. However, it was on this site that one
of the most important battles of the American Revolution took place—an engagement
that directly impacted the independence of the colonies.
The Cowpens Battlefield was an exciting place to visit. I
always enjoy touring battlefields and it was especially interesting to be able
to see the battlefield with the most knowledgeable person on the subject. Dr.
Lawrence Babits, who authored the book A
Devil of a Whipping, led my fellow students and myself and told us about
the small details of the battle which made it fascinating as well as
enlightening. The details of the battlefield that Babits knows are quite incredible.
The battle took place on January 17, 1781. It was a chilling
day, with gnawing temperature. The day I visited the battlefield it was quite
warm and the glowing sun burned some of the group. During the pivotal engagement,
Continental commander Daniel Morgan and his force of militiamen and regular
soldiers thrashed a British force. Banastre Tarelton’s British command suffered
immense casualties and not only were they whipped physically (many were killed
and before the battle they were exhausted to begin with), but they were also
whipped tactically. Morgan chose the battleground and prepared his men well for
the fight. In the end, the American force won because of grit, preparation, and
ultimately a little luck.
Touring battlefields is one of my favorite pastimes. Not
only was I able to walk on this hallowed ground, I was able to do so with an
expert on the subject that provided unparalleled insight into the struggle.
Cowpens was an engagement that greatly dampened the resolve of the British army
and damaged their optimism. While visiting this battlefield, I was reminded as
to why I love history and why I find it fascinating. There is always something
new to learn, some new knowledge to gain, and this visit to the Cowpens
provided that.
I like your opening, likening the field to an abandoned golf course; I’d rather face down some golf balls than a volley of musket fire though! One thing that you alluded to, which always strikes me on battlefields, is how serene they are now; preserved and dotted with stone memorials, where years ago men screamed, and bled, and died. I’m not one to dive into romanticized history and bow at the altar of the martyred soldiers as though they were deified saints, but there is something sobering about contemplating the occasions commemorated there. I think your write up brings out that aspect of visiting such sites; an apt reminder that researching cold facts on one hand and emotional response on the other are not mutually exclusive. Great post!
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