Cowpens, South Carolina

Cowpens is a historic little town with a big heart and a creative spirit, with pride in the past and the present, and always excited about plans for the future.

It was 228 years ago that a young housewife named Kate Barry went out of her home, braced herself for the frigid weather that day, saddled her horse, and rode miles through the undeveloped countryside to warn Daniel Morgan, "Tarleton is coming!"

The battle that followed took place in "the cow- pens," a well- known pasture- land and a stop- over place for farmers taking their cattle to sell in other parts of the Carolina colony.

The battle was a brilliant victory for Gen. Daniel Morgan and his Patriot forces and a staggering defeat for the British Commander Tarleton and his highly- trained troops.

Considered a turning point in the colonists' struggle for freedom from their British rulers, it led to the surrender of Cornwallis to George Washington at Yorktown — and to the end of the Revolutionary War.

After the war and in the early 1800s, many of the families who lived near the battleground site moved about ten miles south to a location where other Patriots had begun to settle and where opportunities for schools and businesses were developing.

Re- inactment of the Battle of Cowpens It became the little town of Cowpens, named in honor of the battle at "the cow- pens." The town is now nationally known. Visitors are attracted to the town for these eight special reasons:

1. To learn more about area history and the Battle of Cowpens and the town which was named for it.

2. To participate in the patriotic activities and observances held here during the year and the special celebrations held on the anniversary of the battle, which was on January 17, 1781. Also they have the opportunity to visit the National Historic Park and Visitor's Center at the battleground site. It has many exhibits, displays, and planned activities, including tours of the battleground, and films telling the story of the Battle of Cowpens.

3. To learn more about the two ships named for the Revolutionary War battle, the USS Cowpens, CVL25, which was a World War II aircraft carrier, and the second ship, the USS Cowpens, CG63, which was commissioned in Charleston, S.C. in 1991 and is on active duty.

The Mighty Moo Festival 4. To participate in the "Mighty Moo Festival," which began as an invitation to veterans of the first USS Cowpens to come to Cowpens and have a reunion of the Navy men who had served on that ship. It has become an annual event, a large festival which is much- enjoyed and much- anticipated by the visiting veter- ans and their families, and by local residents of Cowpens who plan and prepare for the festival. It lasts four days and attracts guests from all over the United States. Navy men and women on the USS Cowpens ship, which is on active duty, are also invited, and the ship sends several members of the staff and crew to represent the ship when possible.

5. To see the Cowpens Depot- Museum, which is on the National Historic Register. It is home to many relics and historical items from local residents, and has one room devoted to contributions and photos from the Navy men and women on the two ships and information about them.

The Battle of Cowpens 6. To see the Cowpens Veterans Park, considered one of the most beautiful veterans memorial parks in the South. It is landscaped, and has walkways, and memorial benches, and large memorial monuments engraved with names of Cowpens area men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

7. To see the fascinating paintings by talented artists on the outside walls of historic old buildings in downtown Cowpens. They are murals picturing heroes of the Revolutionary War and battle scenes.

8. Visitors to the town of Cowpens also enjoy the friendliness and warmth of its residents, who always say to departing guests, "Please come back to see us — and they usually do!"

Next Week: Conway