Local American Revolution Color Guard honors Battle at Cowan’s Ford - BlueRidgeNow.com

Local American Revolution Color Guard honors Battle at Cowan’s Ford - BlueRidgeNow.com

Feb. 1 marked the 239th anniversary of a strategic North Carolina battle for American independence from Great Britain.

To honor this event, members of the Sons of the American Revolution from North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia gathered near Cowan’s Ford on the banks of the Catawba River in Mecklenburg County.

Representing Western North Carolina were members of the Blue Ridge Chapter Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard.

Taking part in the ceremonies at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Huntersville were Steve Greene, from Marshall; Larry Chapman, from Brevard; Craig Isaacson, from Hendersonville; Lance Dickinson, from Hendersonville; and Chapter President John Boyd, from Hendersonville.

The N.C. Society of the Sons of the American Revolution hosted the event which included 20 other members of the state Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, state officers for the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution, guest speaker Benjamin Franklin, and dozens of local spectators.

A solemn ceremony involving the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution members took place at the gravesite of slain Patriot Gen. William Lee Davidson.

Davidson led 900 Patriot Calvary and Infantry in a delaying action against 5,000 British troops under the command of Lord Earl of Cornwallis and Bannister Tarleton.

The events that led to the Battle at Cowen’s Ford began on Jan. 17, 1781 with the Patriot victory at the Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina. Rebel forces under Gen. Daniel Morgan and Benjamin Washington routed Bannister Tarleton’s troops in the conflict.

Following the engagement, Morgan moved his army toward Salisbury to re-unite with Southern Commander Nathanial Greene. At the same time, a beleaguered Tarleton rejoined Lord Cornwallis and his larger British/Tory force in what became known as the “Race for the Dan.”

In order to re-fit his troops, relocate prisoners and await additional militia, Greene began an urgent troop movement to Virginia, crossing many swollen North Carolina rivers, one of which was the Catawba in Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties.

As a delaying action and to make sure Tarleton didn’t surprise the Patriot forces with an end move around the Patriot flank, Greene assigned 900 troops to Davidson.

The Patriot forces were positioned on the north side of the Catawba River at a crossing called Cowan’s Ford when British troops appeared. Rebel forces held off nearly 5,000 enemy until their superior numbers managed to move across the river.

In the conflict, Patriot forces suffered only four killed, one of which was Gen. Davidson. He was shot through the heart and died on the battlefield.

The delay strategy was successful as Greene managed to move the main body of Patriot troops over the Dan River in northern North Carolina and into relative safety in Virginia.

The battle at Guilford Courthouse would follow a few short weeks later and lead to the eventual surrender of Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown, Virginia.

2020-02-09 17:33:36Z
https://www.blueridgenow.com/lifestyle/20200209/local-american-revolution-color-guard-honors-battle-at-cowans-ford

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