After the Battle of Kings Mountain, Greene sent one of his best commanders, Daniel Morgan, to harass the British in Western South Carolina. While Morgan went West Greene stayed in the North-central part of South Carolina. Compared to standard military doctrine this was unheard of for a general to divide his forces in the face of a superior force. Eventually, Greene’s plan would pay off when Daniel Morgan would defeat Lt. Col. Tarleton at the Battle of Cowpens, where Morgan would employ unorthodox tactics to deceive Tarleton. Daniel Morgan was well known for his success at the Battle of Saratoga and after two years of retirement came back to assist Greene in his Southern Campaign. Shortly after being sent toward Western South Carolina Morgan learned that Tarleton was nearby …show more content…
The sharpshooters were able to kill fifteen cavalrymen as they charged causing the rest of the cavalry to retreat. As the British infantry advanced, the second line was able to hold long enough to deliver the two volleys and then retreat. Tarleton saw Americans retreat as a sign that the battle was leaning towards a British victory. With overconfidence, Tarleton sent his infantry to advance on the American continentals, Morgan’s last line. Morgan gave the order to fire a volley and charge Tarleton’s infantry. As the continentals charged from the front Morgan’s cavalry attacked from the rear of Tarleton’s right and the reformed militia swung around to Tarleton's left. Whether it was aware to Morgan or not this move, the double envelopment, was the same tactics used by Hannibal to defeat the Romans in the Second Punic War. Not only did ninety percent of Tarleton's force get destroyed but Morgan’s victory inspired Americans and help turn the tide of “Nathanael Greene’s war of attrition”. Morgan’s victory also caused Cornwallis to grow impatient leading him to chase Greene’s army through North Carolina, where Greene would eventually trap Cornwallis and his forces at