Tactical brilliance and adaptive leadership are traits any leader, military or civilian, welcomes. These traits were on full display in January 1781 during the surprising Patriot victory in a small cow pasture in the uplands of South Carolina, the Battle of Cowpens, a genuine turning point in the Revolutionary War.
Over the course of this relatively small engagement, in which outnumbered units of the Continental Army and militia defeated over 1,100 elite British troops, the foundation was set for the ultimate American victory at Yorktown. The Battle of Cowpens reversed British strategy in the South and demonstrates how leaders can achieve dramatic results by building upon their organizations’ strengths.
Patriot Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan led his troops to victory by recognizing that weaknesses could be strengths if he employed his assets correctly. Morgan ensured that his entire team understood the plan and were fully committed to its execution, while his opponent consistently underestimated its American adversaries. Battlefield Leadership uses the lessons of Cowpens to focus your team’s efforts on its areas of strength and agility.
