"Cowpens - British subordinates?" Topic

I'm throwing together a Cowpens scenario. there's plenty of info on who commanded the Rebel forces: Pickens for the militia, Howard for the Continentals and Washington for the cavalry.

But who commanded under Tarleton? I've decided to put Major Hanger in charge of the infantry front line but that's just a guess. Does anyone know who was functioning as infantry or cavalry commanders under him on that day?

>But who commanded under Tarleton? I've decided to put >Major Hanger in charge of the infantry front line but >that's just a guess. Does anyone know who was functioning >as infantry or cavalry commanders under him on that day?

I'm not sure Tarleton had a designated deputy a that battle, a drawback of his command style.

Tarleton's force at Cowpens consisted of:
British Legion (250 foot, 250 dragoons)
17th Light Dragoons (60)
7th Foot the Royal Fusiliers (180)
a battalion of 71st Fraser's Highlanders (263)
Light Infantry battalion (~149)
North Carolina Loyalist scouts (~50)
Royal Artillery with two 3 pounder guns

for a total of ~1200.

In other words a small brigade. None of the references I have identify any commanders other than Tarleton. I presume therefore he exercised command over the whole force, assisted by the unit commanders. I suspect one of them (probably the commander of the 7th Foot, being the most senior unit present) would have been nominated as his deputy.

Anyone have any better information?

With my rules, the British already had a problem: the rebels have 4 officers, they have Tarleton and maybe Hanger.

Cowpens is one of my favorite battles and a lovely battlefield to visit. It is indeed small, both in numbers of participants and area, as you can walk it in an hour or so.

Some additional info re the British that may be helpful, and that is not easily found – the British Light Infantry was composed of the light infantry companies from the 16th (yellow facings with silver buttons), 17th (white facings with silver buttons) and the Prince of Wales Volunteers (red coats with blue facings, but not sure of the button color). I obtained this back in the 60's from Bob Cowan, a leading collector and historian of AWI uniforms.

Terry

"I suspect one of them (probably the commander of the 7th Foot, being the most senior unit present) would have been nominated as his deputy."

That would be Major Newmarsh. By some accounts his unit was the first to surrender, being mostly new recruits. Major MacArthur led the 1/71st.

Thanks fot that, Terry. I'll go with the larger size for the light infantry. every OB I see has different numbers, anywhere from 60 to 150 light infantry.

I have gamed Cowpens using "Disperse Ye Damned Rebels" and devided the British force into 2 wings with a reserve so I would have 3 "brigades" for gaming purposes. I painted Maj. MacArthur using an Old Glory mounted Scottish officer and a Front Rank Figure for Maj. Newmarsh.I have gamed the battle twice. The British won the first time when the militia ran away after a few rounds from the 3 pdr. but the second time the militia stood & chewed up the British units so that they were easy pickings for a charge by the American regulars.

7th regiment of foot
Maj. Timothy Newmarsh

71st Highlanders
Maj. Archibald McAuthur

16th lt. Inf.
Lt. John Skinner

Prince of Wales
Lt. Thomas Lindsay

Brit Legion
Capt. David Ogilvie
Capt. David Kinlock
Capt. Richard Hovenden
Capt. Thomas Sanford
Capt.Jacob James
Lt. Nathaniel Vernon
Lt. Henry Nettles

Legion Inf.
Capt. Patrick Stewart
Capt. Thomas Miller
Capt. James Edwards

Their were unknown commanders for the Cannon and on subordinate in the lt. Inf.

You should order a copy of Nothing but Blood and Slaughter by Patrick Okelley. It has the orbat's for pretty much every battle, skirmish and murder in the South from 77-83. Devil of a Whipping is also indispensable when preparing a Cowpens game. Either way no commander in the 18th century acted alone. Command and control is the defining element of warfare at the time.
Lt. Donald McLeod
17th lt. Dragoons
Capt. James Rousselet

IIRC, the Legion cavalry comprised six troops, plus a troop of attached 17th Light Dragoons; the latter was commanded by Lt Nettles.

In the absence of other information, I would suggest Skinner of the 16th as OC the converged light "battalion".

Terry, the 17th Regt. Light company was not at Cowpens. They were with the 1st Battalion Lights in NYC and never went south. The exchanged 17th elements went south just in time for Yorktown and "the 17th company" (those recruits who were absent and escapted capture at Stony Point)ended up in SC fighting Francis Marion, but the 17th light company never went south. I believe there is some evidence somewhere to support the idea that there were dismounted 17th Lght Dragoons at Cowpens, and am guessing this might be what you're referring to, but I have only seen allusions to this and don't know where the dismounted light dragoons idea comes from as all accounts seem to mention only small mounted elements with Cornwallis in the south.

Best Regards,

Scott Wetherell

Thanks Scott, as in rechecking the note I got from Bob about this I find that in error I typed 17th, when I should have typed 71st. Very glad you caught this as I would not 3want to mislead anyone. The 16th and PoW Volunteers are correct. Thanks for keeping me honest! Terry