The American Revolution ... In the South

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Posted by Rich on January 21, 2002 at 14:22:23:

Ok, ok ... so it's not the French & Indian War era, but let's face it, the American Revolution and the F&I War are forever intertwined ... the former having its causes deeply rooted in the latter. And how ironic is it? That the fellow who started the War in the Wilderness went on to lead the fledgling nation against the mighty British 20 or so years later, defeat them, and go on to be our first President! Talk about controlling one's destiny! More on that right here on this Site ... soon!

Anyway, just a quick run-down on some of the battlefields in the Southern Theater that I have visited and are not all that very far from MohicanLand:

Kings Mountain - The Over Mountain Victory Trail ends here, as volunteers from as far away as Tennessee marched to Kings Mountain to rout the British loyalists assembled there. Strictly a militia action, on both sides. Beautiful location, especially from afar, where the mountain dominates the otherwise flat terrain. On-site, it's a little difficult to "feel" the action due to the wooded nature of the mountain. East of MohicanLand, beyond Shelby, NC.

Cowpens - [Above] - A favorite of mine is the old Hannah's Cowpens, located due south of Chimney Rock Park over the border in South Carolina. Loosely adapted for the final battle in Mel Gibson's, "The Patriot," the Battle of Cowpens dealt the southern British Army, under Lord Cornwallis, a serious blow with the defeat of its Dragoon arm, under the ruthless Banastre Tarleton. Daniel Morgan's tactics here were a stroke of genius ... The anniversary of this event just passed, January 17

Guilford Courthouse - Near Greensboro, NC, this was a major, large scale battle between Nathanael Greene & Cornwallis. Though the British declared victory, it was said, "Another such victory would ruin the British army." The loss of the 1,000 Tories at Kings Mountain, followed by the Cowpens disaster, severely hampered Cornwallis at this engagement, causing him to fire cannon-shot into his own men to ward off the Americans. Yorktown, up in Virginia, was just a matter of time now.

Ninety Six - Although not a major result was achieved in this battle, the seige of the star fort near Ninety Six is a visual treat today. Deep in the South Carolina back country [or so it was in 1781] - south of Cowpens - one can fully feel the encroaching Americans putting a stranglehold on the earthen ramparts of the British as they crept ever-closer via a series of trenches & rifle towers. Fascinating place, and though Greene's seige was eventually broken, it was a further distraction for Cornwallis' depleted forces ... adding to their woes & the eventuality of Yorktown.

All these places are rich & rewarding and worthy of your attention next visit to these parts ... like, in June maybe?

For pics of these, and many other places up & down the East Coast, see:

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