243rd Anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens

Join Cowpens National Battlefield in observing the 243rd Anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens! This event will include guest speakers, ranger-led battlefield walks, cavalry demonstrations, historic weapons demonstrations, music, children's activities, and lantern walks!

Schedule of events - Saturday, January 13:

• Talks (program tent unless otherwise specified):
  • Mike Cecere, author of They Are Indeed a Very Useful Corps at 10:00 a.m.
  • Cavalry talk (meet at 3rd Continental Light Dragoon camp) at 11:30 a.m.
  • Andrew Waters, author of To the End of the World at 12:00 p.m.
  • Lawrence Babits, author of A Devil of a Whipping at 1:00 p.m.
  • John Abercrombie, "Blacks in the American Revolutionary War" at 3:00 p.m.
  • Mark Anthony, "Flags of the American Revolution" at 4:00 p.m.
• Guided battlefield walks:
  • Meet behind the Visitor Center at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m.
• Demonstrations:
  • Weapons firing (firing range, right of Visitor Center) at 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m.
  • Cavalry (first stop on the Battlefield Trail) at 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
• 18th Century Musical performance by Ken Bloom (program tent) at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Special program in Visitor Center at 5:00 p.m.

Lantern Walks (reservations required!) - Saturday, January 13:

Visitors will be led on a portion of the battlefield by a knowledgeable guide and be taken through the "encampment area" to speak with costumed living historians.

• Lantern walks on the battlefield at 5:45 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.
  • Meet behind Visitor Center at your ticketed time
    • Strongly recommended to make a reservation in advance for all tours
    • Please make your reservation by calling the Visitor Center at (864) 461-2828
• Tours will be 30 minutes each and require less than one mile of walking.
  • Dress warmly and bring a flashlight
  • Accessibility tour offered at 5:45 p.m.

Schedule of events - Sunday, January 14:

• Talks (program tent unless otherwise specified):
  • Robert Brown, author of Kings Mountain and Cowpens: Our Victory was Complete at 10:00 a.m.
  • Divine Service with Robert Ryals at 11:00 a.m.
  • Cavalry talk (meet at 3rd Continental Light Dragoon camp) at 11:30 a.m.
  • Bert Dunkerly, “The Other Tea Parties: Boston wasn’t the only one” at 2:00 p.m.
• Guided battlefield walks:
  • Meet behind the Visitor Center at 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m.
• Demonstrations:
  • Weapons firing (firing range, right of Visitor Center) at 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m.
  • Cavalry (first stop on the Battlefield Trail) at 1:30 p.m.
• 18th Century Musical performances (program tent)
  • Ivan & Cohen Daniels at 12:00 p.m. 
  • Bafford and Bell at 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.

Both days:

• Park movie on the hour in the Visitor Center
• Children’s Activities (Children's tent behind Visitor Center) at 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • Schedule will be posted on the chalkboard outside the Children’s Tent
• Musket drilling with dummy guns at 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m.

All activities are FREE!