Cowpens January 17, 1781 – Order of Battle

This is heavily based on “A Devil of a Whipping”, (link https://corlearshookfencibles.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-battle-of-cowpens-and-devil-of.html) which maintains that Morgan had more militia that he is usually credited with and that the militia suffered more losses than listed. The muddy streams covering the Rebel flanks are also based on this book. The Rebel officers are well-documented whereas the British command structure is conjectural.

American Forces

Commanding Officer: Brigadier General Daniel Morgan excellent 1,432  

 

South Carolina Militia Colonel Andrew Pickens average

Unit	Strength	Rating	Class
Roebuck’s battalion	150	Militia	D
Thomas’s battalion	150	Militia	D
Hayes’ battalion	150	Militia	D
Brandon’s battalion	150	Militia	D
Cunningham's SC & GA Riflemen	112	Green	C
McDowall's North Carolina Riflemen	75	Green	C
Total	787

 

Continentals Lt. Colonel John Howard good 525  

Unit	Strength	Rating	Class
1st Maryland Continentals	180	Veteran	A
Kirkwood’s Delaware Light Infantry	80	Veteran	A
Tate’s Virginia Militia	113	Green	C
Triplett’s Virginia Militia	112	Green	C
Total	525	Green	C

 

Cavalry Lt. Col. William Washington average

Unit	Strength	Rating	Class
Washington's Light Dragoons	80	Line	B
McCall’s State Dragoons	40	Green	C
Total	120

 

An argument can be made that the first 4 militia battalions are seasoned and should be C class. As you can see, I don’t buy it. Instead, if your rules have militia check morale when first seeing the enemy, have them pass that test because Morgan asked them to fire a couple rounds each and then fall back. It was a clever ploy to keep them bolting before firing. Then they should head to the rear after firing, needing to be rallied to return to the fight, as Morgan and Pickens did. You might give them a first fire bonus, since permission to leave made them calmer than usual.

 

Tate & Triplett’s troops are former Continentals and a cut above standard militia.

British Forces

Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton good 1,161

 

Front line Major Newmarsh (7^th) average 698  

Unit	Strength	Rating	Class
7th Foot Regiment "Royal Fusiliers"	177	Green	C
Tarleton's British Legion Infantry	271	Green	C
Light Infantry (4 companies)	150	Veteran	A
17th Light Dragoons, 1 squadron	50	Line	B
British Legion squadron	50	Green	C
Royal Artillery 2 3pdr galloper guns	20	Veteran	A
Total	698

 

Reserves  Lt. Col. Tarleton  

Unit	Strength	Rating	Class
1/71st Foot Regiment "Frasier's Highlanders"	263	Veteran	A
British Legion Dragoons	200	Green	C
Total	463

 

I cannot find an account of any officers serving between Tarleton and the unit commanders. I have put the CO of the senior regiment in the front line (7^th Foot) in charge, just so Tarleton has one brigadier. The 7^th regiment is usually listed as having a large draft of recruits intended for the fort at Ninety-Six while some say it was all seasoned veterans. Based on their performance at the battle I’ve opted for the recruits being present and rated them as green. This regiment had been captured during Montgomery’s invasion of Canada in 1775 and later exchanged. It would be captured again at Yorktown. Major Hanger, second in command of the Legion, was on sick leave.  

This is what I came up with in 2008 and don’t recall exactly how the numbers were arrived at.