He sent Tarleton with a smaller force to strike a deadly blow at Morgan who was threatening the British garrisons at the points in the interior farther south.

There was no more capable leader than Tarleton; he had won many victories; but now came his day of defeat.

On January 17, 1781, he met Morgan at the Cowpens, about thirty miles west from King's Mountain.

Morgan, not quite sure of the discipline of his men, stood with his back to a broad river so that retreat was impossible.

Tarleton had marched nearly all night over bad roads; but, confident in the superiority of his weary and hungry veterans, he advanced to the attack at daybreak.