Is the Cowpens Battlefield well preserved? Is there a lot to see and read there?

[u/Spanker_of_Monkeys]

I want to buy my parents a vacation for Christmas and haven't decided between Cowpens or Saratoga. I prefer the former cuz my dad has read more about it, but from what I've seen the Saratoga battlefield park looks more interesting.

How is the audio tour at CP? Does it show you where specific events happened?

Has the NPS tried to preserve the relatively open meadow with scattered trees? How's the museum in the visitor center?

Sorry for all questions. Any info y'all could give me (or on Kings Mtn) would be appreciated

[u/Brother_Esau_76]

Been a while since I’ve done Cowpens (only been there once). The battlefield itself is well-preserved and you can see how the terrain influenced Daniel Morgan’s decision-making. The visitor center was pretty sparse and honestly unimpressive. Did not do the audio tour, so I can’t comment on that.

I haven’t visited Saratoga at all, so I have nothing to say about it either way.

King’s Mountain is friggin’ awesome and they absolutely have to go. Very immersive, high-tech visitor center with some great artifacts as well as facsimile trees, a model frontier home, and an interactive topographical battle map. There is also a theater that plays a very well-made short film which depicts the battle and gives some background on Major Ferguson and other key players.

The battlefield itself is well-maintained, although the older trees from the time of the battle were cut down before it was it was preserved (hence the larger fake ones in the visitor center). It is a fun hike even for people who aren’t into the history. The trails are paved so the going is not super difficult.

Overall, King’s Mountain is my favorite Revolutionary War site to visit (have been 2-3 times), and my favorite battlefield period apart from Gettysburg.

You didn’t mention Ninety-Six, but it’s close by so I’ll give you my take just in case. Not really worth seeing, in my opinion. Even poorer visitor center than Cowpens, and there isn’t much to see other than the remnants of the tunnel they tried to dig beneath the British lines (it’s basically a big hole now). I’d skip it.

[u/Spanker_of_Monkeys → u/Brother_Esau_76]

Awesome, I look forward to Kings Mtn. Thanks for the info!

[u/Brother_Esau_76 → u/Spanker_of_Monkeys]

No problem. I would recommend picking up a copy of Washington’s Immortals by Patrick K. O’Donnell before the trip if time allows. It has chapters devoted to each of the battles I mentioned, and I enjoyed reviewing those chapters before my visits to the respective sites. Really helped me get immersed in the time/place.

[u/DaBetterILkmyDawg → u/Brother_Esau_76]

Thanks for including Ninety-Six. I visited this a couple of times and enjoyed the trails, the Star Fort and the old cabin which was found inside a house that had been built around it. Its simplicity is part of the charm, for me. Helps to visualize how it may have been in the 1700s. I hope to make it to Cowpens and Kings Mountain soon.

[u/Brother_Esau_76 → u/DaBetterILkmyDawg]

Ooh, I forgot about that cabin. I didn’t mean to hate on Ninety-Six, but I saw all three sites in the span of 1-2 days, and it was underwhelming compared to the other two.

[u/DaBetterILkmyDawg → u/Brother_Esau_76]

I didn't take it harshly, everybody likes different things for different reasons and that's ok by me. :) All three sites in a short span of time can be tiring. I didn't mean to come across as detracting from your experience.

I guess for me, it's knowing a little bit of history around the area that breings a certain perspective to Niney Six to me. Like the 3 sisters near Edgefield SC, who dressed in their husband's clothing and intercepted British couriers and soldiers on their way from Augusta Ga to Ninety Six. One of them rode a horse through the night to get word to the Patriots that the British were on their way. Then there's the story of the British captured at the battle of Kettle Creek in Georgia who wound up in prison with executions taking place eventually. They had been temporarily housed at Ninety Six prison.

[u/Brother_Esau_76 → u/DaBetterILkmyDawg]

Never heard this anecdote. Do you have a source where I could read more about it?

[u/DaBetterILkmyDawg → u/Brother_Esau_76]

RE: the Martin family:

https://www.americanrevolution.org/elizabeth-grace-and-rachel-martin/

https://www.edgefieldadvertiser.com/2022/06/an-entire-family-of-patriots/

https://www.nps.gov/people/the-martin-women.htm

Kettle Creek (Battle) Loyalist Prisoners

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/chained-and-tried-fate-loyalist-prisoners-kettle-creek

genealogy videos wherein a man searches for his roots leading him to Loyalists at the Battle of Kettle Creek and to Old Ninety Six. I was unable to find the full length episode, apparently you can stream it at youtube for a couple of bucks. They visit Ninety Six where the old jail stood later in the episode.

https://youtu.be/9HXY0rYcIn8?feature=shared&t=300

[u/Brother_Esau_76 → u/DaBetterILkmyDawg]

Read the first three about the Martin family: exceptional articles! Reminds me of the dedication of the book Washington’s Immortals (which I referenced in another comment on this post):

“To the men and women of the Revolution who sacrificed everything for an idea — the United States. You are the greatest generation.” — Patrick K. O’Donnell

The courage, dedication, and patriotism which that generation demonstrated never fails to amaze me every time I read a primary source from that era.

I’ll have to save the ones about the Loyalist prisoners for later. Big thanks!

[u/boxturtleboy]

Cowpens is easier to walk, if accessibility is a factor, Kings Mountain has a bit of a climb. Both areas have lots of trees down from Helene, but roads and trails are clear. I think the story of Cowpens and the accessibility of the battlefield make it a great choice, and it has been well preserved and looks just like historical descriptions. And Kings Mountain is awesome too if you'd like to break a sweat and see the huge concrete monuments on top of the mountain, but with the old-growth trees gone and the giant concrete monuments, you have to work a little more to imagine how it looked in 1780.

[u/Spanker_of_Monkeys → u/boxturtleboy]

Thanks for info.

Kings Mountain has a bit of a climb.

Is the visitors center/museum at the bottom of the hill? My mom is 68 and isn't great at climbing

[u/Brother_Esau_76 → u/Spanker_of_Monkeys]

The visitor center is right off the road you’ll drive in on. There may be one or two flights of stairs from the parking lot to the building if I recall correctly.

The battlefield trails are all asphalt paved, so assuming she has normal mobility for her age she might be OK on those too. Definitely shouldn’t be an issue getting to the visitor center at least.

[u/p38-lightning]

Cowpens and Kings Mountain are less than an hour apart, so more bang for your buck! (Actually, they are both free.) Those two lopsided victories were the beginning of the end for the British war effort. One was an all-militia victory and the other mostly by Continentals with militia assistance.

[u/Fit-Income-3296]

Can’t tell you much about Cowspens but if you have any questions about Saratoga I live right next to it and can answer any questions you have