Lawrence Edward Babits

The battle of Cowpens was a crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War in the South and stands as perhaps the finest American tactical demonstration of the entire war. On 17 January 1781, Daniel Morgan's force of Continental troops and militia routed British regulars and Loyalists under the command of Banastre Tarleton. The victory at Cowpens helped put the British army on the road to the Yorktown surrender and, ultimately, cleared the way for American independence. In the first-ever book-length examination of this pivotal engagement, Lawrence Babits provides a brand-new interpretation of the battle of Cowpens. Whereas previous accounts relied on often inaccurate histories and a small sampling of participant narratives, Babits uses veterans sworn pension statements, long-forgotten published accounts, and a thorough knowledge of weaponry, tactics, and the art of moving men across the landscape. For the first time, events at Cowpens are put into a sequence that makes sense given the physical constraints of the landscape, the drill manual, the time frame, and participants' accounts.

This book contains sixteen original essays that highlight the role of historical archaeology in our understanding of the American Civil War.

"Archaeology is known as a practical science in which some enthusiastic amateurs have excelled quite as much as academics. The underwater branch especially attracts scholars, bona fide amateurs, and treasure-hunting salvors. Some articles in this volume reflect the long-standing rivalry between commercial salvors and archaeologists."--BOOK JACKET. "Writings are collected from a variety of sources: lecture notes, formal papers presented at academic conferences, and articles from obscure journals dating back almost half a century. The articles describe progress in the technology of diving and excavation over the decades, as well as differing attitudes among experts on methodology. Readers will not only develop an appreciation and understanding of how maritime archaeologists make their astonishing finds but also how they identify and classify these artifacts. The various authors describe the myriad technical advances in diving and excavation, always seeking insights into present practice from a knowledge of what has worked - and failed - in the past. The editors also include a compendious bibliography of works in this science."--BOOK JACKET. "The eclectic contents of Maritime Archaeology are aimed at students new to the field, as well as seasoned experts who wish to refine and perfect their knowledge."--BOOK JACKET.