"Cowpens by Osprey" Topic

I've read the new Osprey book "Cowpens". I'm wondering what people here think of the book. I'll leave my opinion out for the time being and let everyone else have their say.

I will say that this was the one Osprey book that I was most looking forward too.

I'll get into it later.

On another note, what do you consider the best Osprey title on the AWI?

For me, it's "Saratoga" by some left footed barrister.
I own all of the Osprey's.
"Saratoga" in a landslide.

I put down my thoughts a couple of weeks ago, on my blog.

link

I think I agree that Saratoga is the best AWI Osprey Campaign book so far, but most of the others are pretty good too, especially New York 1776, Philadelphia 1777 and Monmouth CH 1778.

Where can I read about Greene's issues with militia and Weitzel's Mill?

Here's the short version of Weitzel's Mill:

Greene supposedly had ordered that Williams preserve the Continentals at all costs. Williams left a number of Virginia militia on the British side of the creek at the start of the action, while the continentals and others were deployed on the opposite side. This and other orders from Williams cause the militia to sustain casualties. This came right after Clap's Mill where the militia felt they had not been adequately supported by Williams' Continentals. (Tarleton wrote of Clap's Mill "the continentals retreated early, and did not wait the charge of the British dragoons, who were much impeded in their advance by a thick wood and high rails….Though the continentals suffered little in this affair, numbers of the riflemen were killed and wounded;.") Militia gets upset they are being used as cannon fodder and heads home. This includes the normally reliable Pickens.

Charles McGill, Jefferson's liason with Greene's army, wrote of the action at Weitzel's "the Riflemen complained that the burthen, and heat, of the Day was entirely thrown upon them, and that they were to be made a sacrifice by the Regular Officers to screen their own Troops. Full of this Idea, the greater number left the Light Troops. Some rejoin'd their Regiments with the main Body and others thought it a plausible excuse for their return home."

Best casualty reports I've seen indicate Lee's Legion at Weitzel's suffered two killed and three wounded. It is reported that the losses among the militia were 8 killed and 17 wounded. Tarleton claims American losses were 100 dead, wounded and captured. Either Tarleton significantly overstated American losses or a large number of men were killed or captured by Tarleton on the British side of the creek and not included in the American casualty reports.

On a side note, I grew up near Blackstock, and have walked the area several times. In the mid 1970's, Alan Kemp, the British illustrator and author, walked the site with a local historian and the two were able to identify 90 cairns in the now pine monoculture. That compares well with the reported 91 British deaths and the Scottish manner of burial. The best Cowpens book is A Devil of a Whipping, using pension applications of surviving rebels wound descriptions, to aid understanding of the location and weapons they faced. I recommend it highly.

some left footed barrister.

That's our own Brendan Morrissey, who also wrote Osprey's Monmouth CH. For me the main problem with the Ospreys is the maps, not least that the central section of the full- page maps is very difficult to read.

As a side bar to this topic. What is th evidence for the 71st losing their colours. Is it not generlly the case that, by the middle years of the war regimental colours were not being taken into the field?

I second all 42flanker said. Brendan is the man. And Osprey maps stink – especially for wargamers. :-(

Nice write up Gnu2000.

42 Bren did Boston also. The last few Osprey's illustrations
have been so-so. Camden, Patriot Militia and now Cowpens are all inferior to the earlier AWI books artwork.

T Corret, I find Blactstock's extremely interesting. Is their any type of memorial or museum there? What book would you recommend?
I agree about "Devil of a Whipping" but that's not an Osprey book.
vtsaogames. Just curious, but what has this to do with the original question?

I have not been out in decades. The site appears to be cleared and has a walking trail. If you don't know the battle, there is not a lot of help for you. The original granite marker is on site, but the cast metal plate was stolen years ago (and probably melted for scrap.) You are correct, I should not have said any thing about any other book than the Osprey one. My apologies.

What is th evidence for the 71st losing their colours.

This is the first I've heard of that. Supposedly one flag of the 7th was captured by Maryland continentals while the other was captured by militia. I believe Morgan's correspondence refers to this.

I don't think the 71st ever lost any colours.
But the 17th… they lost theirs once a week and twice on Sundays. One of the minor scandals of the AWI was the contracting to buy colours for the 17th. The King was not amused.

T, Sorry if you took it as a correction. I did not intend it as such.
Just wondered if you had a favorite Osprey book to add to the mix.

Seems a thread entirely ignoring the original post.

"But the 17th… they lost theirs once a week and twice on Sundays. One of the minor scandals of the AWI was the contracting to buy colours for the 17th. The King was not amused."

Once – at Stoney Point… In a night attack…

I'd also like to add a cheer for our very own Brendan Morrissey. His books & posts, along with many others on here, gave me a totally different perspective of the AWI.

I ordered the Cowpens book and waiting for its arrival in the mail.

I have been to Blackstock's many times and live close by. Where were the "90 cairns found"? You mention the "Scottish manner of burial?" Tarleton had the 63rd and Brtish Legion with him at the battle. The 71st showed up after the battle. I guess the 71st assisted with the burials the next day? Any information you have would be appreciated.Thank you.

So, be instil, what DID you think of the Cowpens book?
Anyone else have an opinion about it?

'Cairn' maybe a Scottish word, from the Gaelic, but kirkyards all over the country attest to graves, under normal circumstances, being marked in the conventional manner.

The 7th lost theirs twice. At the beginning of the war, at Chambly in Canada (where an 80 man detachment surrendered to 400 Rebels and lost their colors) and then again at Cowpens.

Not sure the 17th lost its colors--Stony Point was garrisoned by a composite force consisting of the 17th, 71st, some Loyalists and Royal Artillery.

Well the 17th wouldn't have been carrying their colours (on sentry duty, at night) so how exactly they were captured is a mystery but the incident is reported in the regimental history.

So, be instil, what DID you think of the Cowpens book?

I am reading it a second time. Just to make sure I have not missed anything.
But so far, I am not thrilled.