On 13 January 2024, Colonel James Wood II Chapter conducted a commemoration ceremony commemorate the  Battle of Cowpens.  The battle was fought 17 January 1781 at a field in South Carolina known as the Cowpens.  General Daniel Morgan led the colonial forces against Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his elite regiment of the British Army.  Morgan and Tarleton came from different backgrounds.  Morgan lived his life as a frontiersman, preferring the homespun clothes of the militia rather than an officer’s uniform.  He commanded respect and understood his men.  Tarleton, was raised in relative affluence in Liverpool, England, where his father was mayor.  He attended oxford University and was known for his athletic ability.  He wasted his inheritance and eventually purchased a commission in the British Army.  Morgan knew Tarleton was an aggressive, ruthless foe and the night before the battle, he moved among his men speaking to groups and individuals.  A true leader, he knew how to fight and motivate his men.  The result of the battle was devastating to Tarleton's force, resulting in 100 killed, 229 wounded, 600 captured.  This victory marked the beginning of the end of the British plan to conquer the South.   The ceremony was emcee'd by Marc Robinson with compatriots from the Colonel James Wood II, Colonel William Grayson, George Mason, Sgt Maj John Champe Virginia SAR Chapters; Sgt Lawrence Everhart Chapter, Maryland SAR; Fort Loudoun and Ketoctin Virginia DAR; Lawrence Augustus Washington;  and Providence Children of the American Revolution Societies and the Order of Founders and Patriots of America.   Virginia Society 1st Vice President William Greaf and Virginia DAR/SAR Liaison Kecia Brown presented greetings.  After a presentation of the colors, Robinson provided a presentation on the battle and wreaths were presented by the organizations.  The wreath presenters included from the SAR, William Greaf, VASSAR; Thomas "Chip" Daniel, Col James Wood II; Ken Morris, George Mason; William Schetke, Culpeper Minutemen, Jim Cordes, Fairfax Resolves; Michael Wilson, Col William Grayson, Ken Bonner, Sgt Maj John Champe and Gerald Harris, Sgt Lawrence Everhart.    From the DAR, Kecia Brown, Virginia DAR/SAR Liaison; Vice Regent Elizabeth Greaf, Regent Susan Lauer, Fort Loudoun; Regent Stacey Bassett, Ketoctin; Jodell Wilson, Providence.  From the C.A.R. William Collins, Lawrence Augustus Washington and Jocelynn Wilson, Providence Society.  They were followed by Doug Hall, Order of the Founders and Patriots of America.  A musket squad led by Commander Brett Osborn and Vice Commander Ken Bonner comprised of 11 compatriots fired a three round salute in honor of Daniel Morgan and his decisive victory over the British at the Battle of the Cowpens.   Additional ompatriots who participated included Brian Bayliss, Sean Carrigan, Paul Christensen, Rick Collins, Jim Cordes, Dale Corey, Dennis Parmerter, Tom Reed, Will Reynolds, Richard Tyler, Mike Weyler and Ryan Williams. 

photo is the Virginia Society State Musket Squad firing a salute to Daniel Morgan (photo courtesy of Stacey Bassett.) 

photo is the participants from the SAR, DAR and C.A.R. (photo courtesy of Larry Clowser Webb.)