the battle of cowpens, south carolinanaplessar.org/files/crier-april-2011-final-e_issue2.pdf ·...

THE NAPLES CRIER - PAGE 1 - APRIL 2011

THE NAPLES

SINCE 1975 NAPLES CHAPTER N.S.S.A.R. NEWSLETTER APRIL 2011

Fly Your FlagFly Your Flag Any day you wish, but especially on Patriots Day, 4/18/11 (3rd Monday in April); Armed Forces Day (3rd Satur-

day in May), 5/21/11; Memorial Day (last Monday in May and half staff until noon) 5/30/11; Flag Day, 6/14/11; In-dependence Day, 7/4/11; Labor Day, 9/5/11; Constitution Day, 9/17/11; Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October), 10/10/11; Veterans Day 11/11/11; and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States.

38th Anniversary of Naples Chapter 38th Anniversary of Naples Chapter Charter Day Celebrated with Dinner Charter Day Celebrated with Dinner

The Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina

By Charles R. Lampman

Editor's Note: This article was reprinted from the Winter 2006

Edition of the SAR Magazine

After the disastrous Battle at Camden, American Major

General Horatio Gates retreated into North Carolina where

he attempted to consolidate what forces he had left.

Shortly after that battle he had been relieved as Com-

mander of the Southern Department by Major General

Nathanael Greene. Prior to being relieved, he requested an

old friend of his, Daniel Morgan, to return to active duty

and support him in the Campaign in the South. Morgan

agreed on the premise that he would be promoted to

Brigadier General. Upon receiving his promotion, Morgan

arrived in North Carolina and found Major General Na-

thanael Greene in command.

As Greene rallied his forces and headed south back into

South Carolina, he did what military commanders seldom

do - he split his forces with Morgan in charge of the west-

ern group while Greene maintained command of the east-

ern group. Greene's basic orders to Morgan were to harass

the British whenever possible. As Morgan headed south,

Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis learned that the Pa-

triots had split their forces.

Cornwallis then split his own forces in an attempt to block

Greene and Morgan and to not allow them to move freely

into South Carolina. He put Lieutenant Colonel Banastre

General Daniel Morgan was in command of the Patriots forces at the Battle of Cowpens. One of the best field tacticians of the Revolution, he won permanent fame for his generalship at Cowpens. (Original art by Werner Willis of Charlotte, North Carolina.)

(Continued on page 3) Cowpens

The Naples Chapter received its charter from National So-

ciety of the American Revolution on April 30, 1973; and

celebrated its 38th year anniversary with a gala dinner at

the Country Club of Naples. The Bernardo de Galvez

Camp #13, under command of Donald B. Cahill, Unit

Commander, opened the program with an impressive Post-

(Continued on page 2) Dinner

Gerald E. Meeks, President Florida State Society S.A.R

(left) and Roy Richardson, President Naples Chapter


Americanism Elementary SchoolAmericanism Elementary SchoolAmericanism Elementary School Poster Contest Poster Contest Poster Contest April 7, 2011April 7, 2011April 7, 2011

NAPLES CHAPTER CELEBRATES 38 YE ARSNAPLES CHAPTER CELEBRATES 38 YE ARS

ing of the Colors followed by spirited singing of the Star

Spangled Banner. President Roy Richardson presided, in-

troduced the many guests in attendance and the principal

speaker Gerald E. Meeks, President of the Florida State

Society S.A.R.

Among the honored guests was Brigitte van den Hove-

Smith, Regent Big Cypress Chapter NSDAR; Ruth

McGarity, Parliamentarian and Past Regent Big Cypress

Chapter NSDAR. A letter of congratulations from Bever-

ley Wagner , Regent Barefoot Chapter NSDAR was read

by President Richardson.

President Meeks spoke of the importance of American his-

tory in our schools. He said that George Washington’s

name and the founding history of American has all but dis-

appeared from our schools’ curriculum. NSSAR and par-

ticularly local chapters should promote American history

among the young people of American before the Country's

founding principals are lost. He informed us of a partner-

ing of KET with Kentucky Dept. of Education, the Ken-

tucky Historical Society, and the Kentucky Council for the

Social Studies to hold FREE training across the state and to

recognize educators who use “For Crown or Colony” in

innovative or exciting ways. More information on this

(Continued from page 1) Dinner

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The Americanism Committee of N.S.S.A.R. announced

the National Americanism Poster Contest directed at stu-

dents in the 4th or 5th grades, depending on which grade

year the American Revolution is taught in their educa-

tional system, with the topic for 2010 - 2011 year to be

Battle of Cowpens. The National Society Elementary School Poster Contest

stimulates interest in American History in support of the

Fourth or Fifth Grade Curriculum. The topic for the Poster

Contest is set by the Americanism Committee at each

Spring Trustee’s Meeting for the upcoming fall school

year.

The contest will be judged at the National Congress each

year. A representative of the National Art Education As-

sociation (NAEA) will be invited to participate in the

poster judging.

Posters will be judged by the following criteria:

Does the poster express the annual theme?

Does the poster show originality by the student?

Does the poster show evidence of research?

Does the poster show artistic merit and creativity?

Does the poster accurately reflect the historical event?

Is the poster neat and visually pleasing?

The winner from each local school will compete at Chap-

ter level and the then the Chapter winner will compete at

State level. Once the State Society has selected a winner,

it will represent the State Society at the National Level.

Only one entry from each State will be accepted. The

State Winners will be on display during National Contest

and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Winners will be announced

during National Congress. The top National winners will

receive a Rosette Ribbon and a monetary award that will

be funded from the Americanism Trust Fund.

BE A JUDGE BE A JUDGE - attend the April 7, 2011, Naples

Chapter luncheon and help select the poster from a

Collier County Elementary School student that will

be entered in the Florida State S.A.R. competition to

be held at the Annual FLSSAR Board of Management

Meeting on May 13, 2011.

Bernardo de Galvez Camp #13 posting colors. From left:

Donald B. Cahill, Unit Commander, James McGarity,

Roy Richardson, John McCullough and James Applegate.

great effort may be found at www.ket.org/missionus.

Piano entertainment for the evening was performed by

Evelyn Mason, organist at Saint William Catholic Church,

Naples.


Next Meeting: Luncheon, April 7, 2011

Tarleton in charge of approximately 1,100 cavalry and

light infantry, known as the British Legion, to attack Mor-

gan and his forces wherever and whenever possible. The

main goal was to annihilate Morgan after which time Tar-

leton would proceed eastward and join with Cornwallis.

Cornwallis with now all of his forces then planned to at-

tack and defeat Greene, thus clearing the Carolinas of all

Patriot forces.

As Morgan learned that a British Legion was heading to

cut off his advances deep into South Carolina, he com-

menced a retreat northward in an attempt to find a site for

a battle where he would have a tactical advantage. Early in

the morning of January 16, 1781, he knew that Tarleton's

scouts were approxi-

mately five miles be-

hind him. That after-

noon he approached the

Cowpens and decided,

while not the ideal place

for a battle, it would

have to do.

The Cowpens was a

meadow with scattered

trees on both the left and right flanks of a main road. Back

towards the Broad River was a knoll high enough that he

would be able to watch as the battle ensued and also high

enough to hide Lieutenant Colonel William Washington's

cavalry.

THE BATTLE PLAN

Morgan surveyed the area in and around Cowpens as his

forces were making camp for the night. In the evening

Morgan personally talked to all his troops and command-

ers and made sure they succinctly understood his battle

plan. The first line would be made up of all militia and his

orders to them were to allow the British to come within

killing distance and fire two volleys, aiming for the British

officers and sergeants. They would then go to their left and

right and retreat back and join the second line of militia,

commanded by militia Colonel Andrew Pickens. The sec-

ond line would fire three rounds and then fall back while

reloading. Then both the first and second lines would com-

bine their firepower with the third line of Colonel John

Howard's battlehardened Continentals. Lieutenant Colo-

nel Washington and his cavalry would be out of sight be-

hind the knoll. At Morgan's command sometime after the

first line had retreated and the second line was about to

fire, he would dispatch the cavalry to come around on the

left and the right flanks of the British. Thus the British

would be forced to not only defend their front, but also

their flanks. Morgan told all the men to get a good night's

rest and have a good meal for the next day they would do

(Continued from page 1) Cowpens

Militia urged into Battle

battle with Tarleton's British Legion.

THE COMMANDERS

Brigadier General Daniel Morgan (1736-1802) - At age 17

he left his birthplace in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and

moved to the Shenandoah where he became a farm laborer

and a teamster. At age 19 he joined the forces of General

Braddock as a teamster and was at the Battle of the Wil-

derness in 1755. In 1775 he was commissioned Captain of

one of the two Virginia rifle companies and headed to join

the forces that had surrounded Boston. In September he

was assigned to Colonel Benedict Arnold's unit for the

march to Quebec. During the

Battle of Quebec when Arnold

was wounded, he took com-

mand of Arnold's remaining

forces and he was captured by

the British. He remained a

prisoner until the summer of

1776 and then returned to join

Washington's main army. He

was promoted to Colonel and

organized a company of sharp-

shooters. He was ordered by

General Washington to join

Major General Horatio Gates at

Saratoga. After the important

victory at Saratoga, he rejoined

Washington and wintered at

Valley Forge. Because of ill health, he resigned his com-

mission in July of 1778 and returned to his home in Vir-

ginia.

Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton (1753-1833) - Tarle-

ton was born in Liverpool to a wealthy family of high so-

cial standing. He was educated at the University of Liver-

pool in Oxford. He purchased a cornet's commission in the

spring of 1775. After training he volunteered for service in

the American Revolution. His first action was in the

Charlestown (today Charleston, South Carolina) expedi-

tion commanded by General Sir Henry Clinton that ended

in failure. He returned to South Carolina again with Clin-

ton's expedition to capture Charlestown in 1780. He was

now a Lieutenant Colonel and put in charge of a unit that

combined mounted and on foot and became the forward

eyes and ears of Lord Cornwallis after the surrender of

Charlestown. He became infamous with the battle at Wax-

saws that has become known as "Buford's Massacre". His

nickname to Patriot forces was "Bloody Tarl" for in that

massacre he allowed no quarter.

THE BATTLE

Tarleton knew that Morgan was camped approximately


Lt. Col. John Eager Howard

of Maryland was as good a

field officer as the Revolution

produced. His Continentals

were the heart of Morgan’s

army.


five miles away. About 3:00 a.m. on the 17th he loaded his

wagons and his Legion commenced marching towards

Morgan's position. He ran up against the same obstacles

that Morgan had encountered, i.e. the dirt roads were a

quagmire. Furthermore, the deep ruts left by Morgan's

wagons hampered the British wagons. Morgan's scouts

returned to the Patriot campsite and announced that Tarle-

ton was en route. Morgan again called his leaders together

and reemphasized the battle plan. The American forces

were in position when Tarleton's troops appeared in front

of them at approximately 7:00 a.m.

Tarleton surveyed the deployed formation of the Patriots

and the lay of the land and made his first approach with his

mounted cavalry with him in the lead. As they charged the

Patriot's first line of skirmishers, they got within 50 yards

before the skirmishers opened fire. As balls whizzed by

Tarleton, the sharpshooters emptied no less than 15 sad-

dles, which caused Tarleton to halt the advance and re-

evaluate the situation. The cavalry moved to the side and

allowed the foot soldiers to advance. After firing the sec-

ond volley the skirmishers ran to their left to join Colonel

(Continued from page 3) Cowpens Pickens' second line. The British soldiers thinking this re-

treat meant that the militia had been routed, began a pur-

suit that disregarded any disciplined formation. As they

charged to within killing distance, Pickens' militia fired

three rounds that Morgan had ordered to cause many casu-

alties among the charging British and brought them to a

temporary halt. After the third round when Pickens or-

dered a retreat to their left, the British again took this as a

rout and their cheers caused confusion

amongst Colonel Howard's Continen-

tals. They assumed that their retreat

had been ordered and they turned and

marched further up the hill until Mor-

gan and Howard regained control.

The Continentals then did an about

face and fired another devastating vol-

ley into the British. At this point Wil-

liam Washington's cavalry charged

around the left side of the hill and en-

gaged the British right flank. Then Tar-

leton tried to outflank the Continentals.

Pickens' militia had reformed behind

the knoll and now came out on the

British left flank and opened fire. Tar-

leton attempted to call in his reserve

cavalry of which many refused to re-

spond. Tarleton and what was left of

his cavalry were in the heat of battle

with William Washington's cavalry. At

the same time Pickens' militia who had

fired a deadly blast into Tarleton's re-

maining force, staggered them to a

halt. Now there was confusion on both sides. Howard's

line supported Pickens' militia as the British units started

to fall back. Tarleton tried one more attack with 14 officers

and 40 horsemen and made a quick decision to make a

stand against Washington's advancing cavalry. As Wash-

ington's cavalry cut into the British, Tarleton turned his

horse and swiftly retreated with what was left of his

troops, finally realizing the battle was over.

Washington's cavalry chased after the enemy to add to the

British confusion and casualty list. When Tarleton and

what remained of his 1,100 men reached their baggage

wagons, they found they were being sacked by a party of

Tories. To prevent further looting and/or the capture of his

wagons, he set them afire and hurried to rejoin Cornwallis

who was about 25 miles away at Turkey Creek. The whole

battle lasted a little over one hour. American losses were

twelve killed and 60 wounded while the British suffered

100 killed, 229 wounded who were all captured along with

600 more British in the custody of Morgan and his troops.

Many of the wounded on both sides later died making un-


Col William Washington valiantly led a cavalry force against British Col. Banantre Tarleton. After a bloody en-gagement, Tarleton swiftly retreated with what was left of his troops. Paint-ing by Charles Wilson Peale.)


certain the final casualty count of those killed. Morgan

had just defeated one of the British elite units.

Morgan, realizing that Tarleton was headed back to join

forces with Cornwallis, collected his forces and the pris-

oners and headed to join up with Major General Greene.

When they met, they headed north to the Dan River which

separated Virginia and North Carolina where they knew

that food and supplies could be obtained. The story of that

retreat and Cornwallis' pursuit became known as the

March to the Dan.

With the defeats at Kings Mountain and Cowpens, it was

not very long before Cornwallis would go on the defen-

sive, leaving the South and heading north where he would

end up at Yorktown.

EPILOGUE

Morgan's bad health and arthritis were bothering him so

much upon reaching Greene that he could not sit upon a

horse. Upon reaching Virginia, he returned to his home

that he had named "Saratoga" in Winchester, Virginia.

Morgan did not see any more action during the American

Revolution.

Tarleton, surprisingly enough, was not blamed by Corn-

wallis for the loss at Cowpens. He was captured with

Cornwallis at Yorktown some nine months later. Upon

returning to England, he was viewed as a gallant soldier

and retired from the British Army as a full General.

For the victory at Cowpens, Congress awarded Morgan a

gold medal. Silver medals were awarded to Howard and

William Washington.

(Continued from page 4) Cowpens

Please send your April 7th Luncheon reservation request and payment to: W. Richard Hazen, Treasurer,

2011 Gulfshore Blvd. N. #52, Naples, FL 34102-4632. Email: [email protected]

________ Luncheon (s) @ $20. = _____________

Your name (Print) _______________________________________________

Guest names (Print) __________________________________________________________________

Additional names may be printed on reverse side.

Please send your reservation and payment to be received by Monday, April 4, 2011

2010 2010 -- 2011 Naples Chapter Meetings2011 Naples Chapter Meetings

Thursday, April 7, 2011: Chapter Meeting, 11:30

Social, noon Luncheon, Country Club

of Naples. Speaker: Patrick Bottiger,

Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History,

Florida Gulf Coast University; Sub-

ject: Shift from what historians call

the First Party System into the Second

Party System.

Thursday, May 5, 2011: Chapter Meeting, 11:30 Fel-

lowship, noon Luncheon, Country Club of Naples.

Election and installation of officers for 2011-2012.

Speaker to be announced.

The May luncheon will be the final luncheon for the

2010-2011 Season. Luncheon meetings will resume

Thursday, October 6, 2011.

LUNCHEON MEETING

RESERVATIONS FOR THURSDAYRESERVATIONS FOR THURSDAY APRIL 7, 2011

Please help. The Naples Chapter must confirm the number of expected attendees for the luncheon meetings. While C.C. of Naples can often accom-modate last minute attendees, we are asked to pro-vide a number prior to the meetings to enable them to better accommodate us for both room size and meal quantities. Therefore, it is requested that com-patriots and others planning to attend the lunch-eons complete the reservation form below and mail it with a check to: W. Richard Hazen, Treasurer, 2011 Gulfshore Blvd. N. #52, Naples, FL 34102-4632. Email: [email protected]

Please remit the form below with your check.



Meetings of InterestMeetings of Interest

Marco Island Chapter, DAR, Thursday, March 17,

2011. For time, location and program, please contact Bar-

bara Messere, Regent at “[email protected]”.

Big Cypress Chapter, DAR, Friday,

March 18, 2011; 11 AM Social; 11:30

Luncheon; Country Club of Naples. Pro-

gram: “Kingdom of a Muslim Women”.

Speaker: Brigitte van den Hove-Smith, Big

Cypress Chapter NSDAR Regent.

The Genealogical Society of Collier County meets

April 12, 2011, GSCC’s 27th Anniversary Dinner Cele-

bration at The Moorings Presbyterian Church, Moss Hall,

791 Harbour Drive, Naples, at 6:00 PM. Program:

“ G e n e a l o g i c a l S e r e n d i p i t y ”

Inspiring stories of serendipity and connections

made while discovering family history.

Big Cypress Chapter, DAR, Friday, April 15, 2011;

11 AM Social; 11:30 Luncheon; Country Club of

Naples. Program: "The 'First Shot who went around the

World' and the Birth of a New Nation" Speaker: Jim El-

son, President, Collier County Veterans Committee.

Caloosa Chapter, SAR, Wednesday, April 20, 2011,

11:00 AM Luncheon, Royal Palm Yacht Club, 2360 W.

First Street, Fort Myers, Florida; Program: JROTC

Awards.

Marco Island Chapter, DAR, Thursday, April 21,

2011. For time, location and program, please contact Bar-

bara Messere, Regent at “[email protected]”.

The Genealogical Society of Collier County meets

Tuesday, May 10, 2011, the second Tuesday of the

month at The Moorings Presbyterian Church, Moss Hall,

791 Harbour Drive, Naples, at 7:30 pm. Program:

" H i g h l i g h t s o f t h e M o s t

Popular Alternative & Hidden Resources”

P r e s e n t a t i o n b y B r y a n M u l c a h y ,

Reference Librarian Fort Myers-Lee County Library.

Find out what you are missing!

Big Cypress Chapter, DAR, Friday, May 20, 2011;

11 AM Social; 11:30 Luncheon; Country Club of

Naples. Program: “Fakahatchee Swamp and the Protection

of the Florida Panther”.

The Genealogical Society of Collier County meets June

14, 2011, the second Tuesday of the month at The Moor-

ings Presbyterian Church, Moss Hall, 791 Harbour Drive,

Naples, at 7:30 pm. Program: “Overcoming Roadblocks”

P r e s e n t a t i o n b y B r y a n M u l c a h y ,

Reference Librarian Fort Myers-Lee County Library.

Nominations for Year 2011Nominations for Year 2011--20122012 President Roy Richardson has appointed members of the

Nominating Committee for the 2011-2012 slate of officers.

Committee members are John McCullough, Chairman,

and Past President; James McGarity; Donald Cahill, Past

President; and James Applegate, Past President.

Chairman McCullough will present the Nominating Com-

mittee’s slate of officers at the April 7, 2011, luncheon

meeting. Members will vote for Chapter officers at the

May 5, 2011, luncheon meeting and the new officers will

be sworn it at that time.

If you are available or know of someone you would like to

recommend for consideration, please contact the chairman

or a committee member.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARDGOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARDGOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD

Each year the Naples Chapter is pleased to award

Good Citizenship awards to students in the 5th grade

in Collier County elementary schools.

This year awards will be presented to the following

students at Lely Elementary School:

Isabelle Johnson

Andy Ramtahal

Lianny Velazquez

Curtis Wise

Jessica Marin

Congratulations to these young people. Best wishes

as they grow to become America’s future leaders.

See more photos at our website:

www.NaplesSAR.org

From left; Gerald Meeks, President FLSSAR; Brigitte van

den Hove-Smith, Regent Big Cypress Chapter NSDAR;

Sabine van den Hove; Robert Withey,



Naples Chapter of the FLSSAR

Officers (2010-2011)

President: Roy G. Richardson [email protected]

1756 Sanctuary Pointe Court, Naples, FL 34110-4157 (239) 513-0871

Past President: John L. McCullough [email protected]

285 Stella Maris Drive S., Naples, FL 34114-9622 (239) 642-6545

1st Vice President: I. Harris Tucker, [email protected]

7654 Pebble Creek Circle #103, Naples, FL 34108-6538 (239) 593-8348

2nd Vice President: Charles T. Sweeney [email protected]

7007 Greentree Drive, Naples, FL 34108-7527 (239) 566-3307

Secretary: Chase J. Brooke [email protected]

2304 Ashton Oaks Lane #202, Naples, FL 34109 (239) 566-7562

Treasurer: W. Richard Hazen [email protected]

2011 Gulfshore Blvd. N. #52, Naples, FL 34102-4632 (239) 430-3634

Assistant Treasurer: Charles T. Sweeney

Chaplain: Charles E. Cortright

Registrar: Chase J. Brooke

Historian: Donald B. Cahill

Sergeant-at-Arms: John L. McCullough

Active Past Presidents of the Naples Chapter NSSAR

1978-1979 Dennis R. White 1989-1990 Ralph Norman Cramer, Sr. 1991-1992 W. John Chesney, Jr. 1993-1994 Andrew Barry Crook Nicholls III 1997-1998 John Anson Smith 1998-1999 Dr. Philip Edwin Ballou 2000-2001 James Madison McGarity III 2002-2003 Charles Edgar Ransom, Jr. 2004-2005 James Bennett Applegate, Sr. 2006-2007 Donald Barton Cahill 2007-2009 John Logan McCullough 2009 Samuel O. Cahill

The Naples Crier established 1975

Newsletter for members of the Naples Chapter, Florida Society, Sons of the American Revolution

The Essential Wisdom of the Founding FathersThe Essential Wisdom of the Founding Fathers

Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles;

for, I have grown not only gray, but almost blind in the ser-

vice of my country.

– George Washington, searching for his glasses before

delivering the Newberg Address, March 15, 1783

* * * * * * *

Peace with all the world is my sincere wish. I am sure it

is our true policy, and am persuaded it is the ardent desire

of the government.

– George Washington, letter to Rev. Jonathan Boucher,

August 15, 1798

* * * * * * *

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest pol-

icy and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

– Thomas Jefferson, letter to Charles William Frederick

Dumas, May 6, 1786

Naples Chapter WebsiteNaples Chapter WebsiteNaples Chapter Website www.NaplesSAR.org

Visit our website and enjoy the photos

Committee Chairmen

2010-2011

Awards: John L. McCullough Ceremonies: John L. McCullough Membership Data Base: Charles T. Sweeney Color Guard: Donald B. Cahill Eagle Scout Program: Donald B. Cahill Email: I. Harris Tucker and Charles T. Sweeney Law Enforcement: Edward T. Ferguson Membership: W. Richard Hazen Newsletter Editor: I. Harris Tucker JROTC: John L. McCullough Sunshine: Charles E. Cortright Webmaster: I. Harris Tucker Member Directory Editor: Charles T. Sweeney

The Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina


November 15, 1974

The Crier Editor thanks

Charles Cortright for the

two clips shown on this

page.

This is a bonus page in-

cluded with the email ver-

sion of the April Crier and

will appear in the April

i s s u e s t o r e d o n

www.NaplesSAR.org.

Space limitations and

cost factors limit expan-

sion of the print edition;

however, with the new

digital technology, infor-

mation and articles can be

efficiently distributed to

members and made avail-

able for future reference

on the Naples SAR web-

site.

Articles and photos for

distribution to our compa-

triots are welcomed.

This is a special supplement to the April 2011 Naples Crier electronic issue.

Curtsey of Don Cahill, Historian and Charley Cortright.

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