3 wars in a day

Our time in South Carolina was brief, but spanned quite a bit of history.  We started at Ft Sumter, where the Civil War began.  Found out you have to use a "concessionaire" to access the site and we both have grown to despise the services that make money from US historical sites ... also not big fans of the kitsch that sprouts outside national parks.
So we didn't take the ferry ride, but discussed the Civil War a bit from the shoreline.
Spent a few minutes checking out the USS Yorktown, but since Marina has already been on the Lex and was on the USS NC the day prior, it was time to move along, so WW II was covered, but about as briefly as the modern high school textbooks.

We did take some time to dress up the truck a bit more.  Even rope lighting on the roof rack!

Yorktown has an impressing battle history, but too late in the trip to capture Marina's attention.

Cowpens Battlefield NM however, did merit more of our time and interest.  Located along the SC/NC border, it was a crucial battle late in the Revolutionary War.  The British had basically abandoned military tactics in the southern colonies after early defeats, but locked in a stalemate in the northern colonies and New England, Cornwallis' army became the focus of British strategy by 1780-81.  Cowpens was actually some open meadows used by local cattle raisers to fatten livestock prior to sale in Charleston...not a particularly desirable battle site if you have untrained militia facing off against seasoned redcoats.
But there were Continental Army regulars there too, under the able command of Daniel Morgan (of Saratoga fame) and they faced the hot-headed and much-hated Banastre Tarleton.  It plays out with fascinating drama on the field as Morgan had his militia hold fire until the British were near enough to identify officers - "find the epaulettes and aim low boys!"  After their first volley, the militia fall back behind a second line of riflemen under the same orders.  The British pursue enthusiastically, assuming the rebs were fleeing.  The second volley took it's toll and then all of the militia retreated behind a hill, away from the battle.  The redcoats came on right into the waiting Continental regulars.  Continental cavalry under William Washington protected the flanks and routed the redcoat horsemen.  The battle was over quickly and a resounding victory.  It devastated Cornwallis' western forces and was crucial to his ultimate withdrawal to Yorktown - and we know how that ended up.

Just best not to mess with cattlemen around their cowpens...