In upland South Carolina, at a place where local farmers penned their cows, an American force of 300 Continentals and 700 militia from North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia, won a brilliant victory against the British. On January 16, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, pursued by 1,100 British under Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, carefully picked his ground for a defensive battle. That night, Morgan personally went among the Continentals and militiamen to explain his plan of battle. Morgan wanted two good volleys from the militia, who would then be free to ride away. The next day, the battle went very much as Morgan had planned. Georgia and North Carolina sharpshooters, in front of the main body of American militia, picked off British cavalrymen as they rode up the slight rise toward the Americans. Then the deadly fire of the main body of South and North Carolina militia forced Tarleton to commit his reserves. Seeing the militia withdrawing as planned, the 17th Light Dragoons pursued, but were driven off by Morgan's cavalry. Meanwhile, the British infantry, who assumed that the Americans were fleeing, were hit by the main body of Continentals, Virginia militiamen, and a company of Georgians. At the battle's end they were aided by militia troops, who, instead of riding away as planned, attacked the 71st Highlanders, who were attempting to fight their way out of the American trap. The British lost: 100 killed including 39 officers, 229 wounded, and 600 captured. As they fled the field, Tarleton and his dragoons were pursued by Colonel William Washington's cavalry, which included mounted Georgia and South Carolina militiamen. Many historians consider this battle to be the turning point of the American Revolution in the Southern Campaign and perhaps the "greatest tactical victory ever won on American soil".

"The Battle of Cowpens" painting © by Don Troiani.

USS Cowpens (CV-25) photographed by the Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 25 June 1943.

Note Cowpens was completed with two twin 40-mm mounts on the forward port side of the flight deck, for a total of nine twin and two quadruple mounts.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 96205).

Underway at sea on 17 July 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-74266).

Underway at sea on 17 July 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-74271).

Undated, Underway with aircraft on deck. (Small Image).

Judging from her camouflage and aircraft spotting, this photo might have been taken on 17 July 1943 (see photos above).

Ship's Marines line up on the flight deck for physical drill, circa mid-1943. Planes on the flight deck include F6F, SBD and TBM types. Note "SK" radar antenna mounted on the stub mast between the stacks and inflatable life belts worn by many of the men on deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-13723).

Pilot evacuates his burning F6F-3 fighter after landing unaware that it was on fire, during the Gilberts Operation, 24 November 1943. Firefighters are rushing to the plane, and put out the flames in a minute and a half, with no casualties. The fire started as the Hellcat approached Cowpens for an emergency landing. The pilot was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Alfred W. Magee, Jr., USNR. The plane was Bureau # 66101.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-208140).

Crewmen on the flight deck, looking aft toward the carrier's island during raids on the Marshall Islands, November-December 1943. Note crane and other features on and around the island. Radar antennas atop the foremast include "SC" (larger antenna, in front); "SG" (small antenna, in middle). A "YE" homing beacon antenna is mounted on the topmast. Large radar antenna behind the island is a "SK".

A TBM Avenger torpedo plane landing on board the carrier, at the time of the Marshalls-Gilberts raids, November-December 1943. Note flight deck barrier rigged in the foreground.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-13718).

USS Cowpens (CVL-25) underway circa 1944, location unknown (USN photo.)

Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters warming up on the flight deck, while USS Cowpens (CVL-25) was operating with Task Group 58.3 during raids on the Marshall Islands, circa January 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-K-100.)

En route to take part in the Palaus operation, 31 August 1944. She is wearing camouflage Measure 33, Design 7a. Carrier in the distance (in camouflage Measure 32, Design 8a) is USS Independence (CVL-22).

Captain George H. DeBaun (center) relieves Captain Herbert W. Taylor (left) as the carrier's Commanding Officer, in ceremonies held by her island in November 1944. Commander Hugh R. Nieman is looking on, at right. The ship's insignia and scoreboard are painted on her bridge wing.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-291229.)

Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 12 May 1945, following overhaul.

Stern view of USS Cowpens (CVL-25) off Mare Island on 12 May 1945. She was undergoing repairs at the yard from 25 March to 18 May 1945. Photo serial # 3497-45.

Bow on view of USS Cowpens (CVL-25) off Mare Island on 12 May 1945. Photo serial # 3498-45.

Plan view of bow, looking aft. Mare Island, Calif., 15 May 1945. Note newly mounted Mk-57 GFCS in starboard catwalk. Photo serial # ????-45.

Plan view, aft. Mare Island, Calif., 15 May 1945. Photo serial # 3574-45.

Plan view, amidship, looking forward. Mare Island, Calif., 15(?) May 1945. Photo serial # ????-45.