Handbook 135 Cowpens
“Downright Fighting”
The Story of Cowpens
by Thomas J. Fleming
A Handbook for
Cowpens National Battlefield
South Carolina
Produced by the
Division of Publications
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C. 1988
About this book
The story of Cowpens, as told in these pages, is ever fresh and will live in memory as long as America’s wars are studied and talked about. The author is Thomas Fleming, a biographer, military historian, and novelist of distinction. His works range from an account of the Pilgrims’ first year in America to biographies of Jefferson and Franklin and novels of three American wars. Downright Fighting, The Story of Cowpens is a gripping tale by a master storyteller of what has been described as the patriot’s best fought battle of the Revolutionary War.
The National Park System, of which Cowpens National Battlefield is a unit, consists of more than 340 parks totaling 80 million acres. These parks represent important examples of the nation’s natural and cultural inheritance.
National Park Handbooks
National Park handbooks, compact introductions to the natural and historical places administered by the National Park Service, are designed to promote public understanding and enjoyment of the parks. Each handbook is intended to be informative reading and a useful guide to park features. More than 100 titles are in print. They are sold at parks and by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fleming, Thomas J. Cowpens: “downright fighting.” (Handbook: 135) “A Handbook for Cowpens National Battlefield, South Carolina.” Bibliography: p. Includes index. Supt. of Docs. no.: I29.9/5:135 1. Cowpens, Battle of, 1781. I. Title. II. Series: Handbook (United States. National Park Service. Division of Publications); 135. E241.C9F58 1988 973.3’37 87-600142 ISBN 0-912627-33-6 ★GPO: 1988—201-939/60005
[ Prologue] 4 George F. Scheer [Part 1 “Downright Fighting”] 10 The Story of Cowpens
Thomas J. Fleming [Part 2 Cowpens and the War in the South] 86 A Guide to the Battlefield and Related Sites [Cowpens Battleground] 88 [The Road to Yorktown] 91 [Savannah, 1778-79] 91 [Charleston, 1780] 91 [The Waxhaws, 1780] 91 [Camden, 1780] 92 [Kings Mountain, 1780] 92 [Guilford Courthouse, 1781] 92 [Ninety Six, 1781] 93 [Eutaw Springs, 1781] 93 [Yorktown, 1781] 93 [For Further Reading] 94 [Index] 95