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American Hannibal: The Extraordinary Account of Revolutionary Hero Daniel Morgan at the Battle of Cowpens
On January 17, 1781, a remarkable battle took place in the backwoods of South Carolina. British Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton, handpicked by General Charles Cornwallis for command due to his dash and record of accomplishment, was opposed by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, a rough-and-tumble son of the American frontier. Morgan employed a scheme so brilliantly conceived and masterfully executed that within an hour, the British found themselves overwhelmed, enveloped, and routed from the field. In response to this stunning American victory, Cornwallis embarked on a reckless, desperate trek north in pursuit of Morgan--a strategy that ultimately led to his own defeat at Yorktown. In his compelling account of the Battle of Cowpens, Jim Stempel makes the case that Morgan's victory closely mirrors Hannibal's extraordinary triumph at Cannae, regarded by many as one of the greatest military accomplishments of all time. With a narrative style that plunges readers into the center of the events, American Hannibal will enthrall students of American history and newcomers to the subject alike.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published March 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 4, 2023
Audible Plus 10 hours 17 min. Narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner (A)
Subtitle: The Extraordinary Account of Revolutionary War Hero Daniel Morgan at the Battle of Cowpens
It seems that I am back to reading about the Revolutionary War without intention. Two books on my Audible Wish List (plus five others) were offered free on a recent sale, so I snapped them up without reviewing the subject matter, and I haven't been disappointed. This book is not a biography, nor is it pure history. The author uses creative writing based on historical facts and including interesting citations from memoirs, letters, testimonials, and references to works by other authors to tell the history of the southern campaign of the war 1780-1782.
Subtitle: The Extraordinary Account of Revolutionary War Hero Daniel Morgan at the Battle of Cowpens
It seems that I am back to reading about the Revolutionary War without intention. Two books on my Audible Wish List (plus five others) were offered free on a recent sale, so I snapped them up without reviewing the subject matter, and I haven't been disappointed. This book is not a biography, nor is it pure history. The author uses creative writing based on historical facts and including interesting citations from memoirs, letters, testimonials, and references to works by other authors to tell the history of the southern campaign of the war 1780-1782.
August 4, 2018
Interest in The Revolutionary War has recently skyrocketed with the arrival of the blockbuster Broadway play “Hamilton.” I must confess that I too was drawn into my research because of it.
But now my studies have taken on a life of their own, and this wonderful book has helped me to put into perspective the Southern Campaign, and how Camden and Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse all led toward the final victory at Yorktown.
General Daniel Morgan was the hero at Cowpens. A brilliant strategist with an intense hatred for the British. (Can you believe he was flogged 500 times for a minor infraction???). He was raised in the Shenandoah mountains, an independent thinker and doer who motivated others by his actions, not his words, and as far from the plutocracy of England as it was possible to be.
Jim Stempel is an excellent writer. His writing style is down to earth and conversational. I frequently felt that this was a story he had told many times, and knew exactly how to draw his readers in with action and descriptions. Once or twice I even had to put my book down, because it was too exciting! I thrilled to his descriptions of John Eager Howard’s contribution to the victory at Cowpens.
This book is definitely not one of those rote, dry, musty history tomes. Mr Stempel made history come alive!
But now my studies have taken on a life of their own, and this wonderful book has helped me to put into perspective the Southern Campaign, and how Camden and Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse all led toward the final victory at Yorktown.
General Daniel Morgan was the hero at Cowpens. A brilliant strategist with an intense hatred for the British. (Can you believe he was flogged 500 times for a minor infraction???). He was raised in the Shenandoah mountains, an independent thinker and doer who motivated others by his actions, not his words, and as far from the plutocracy of England as it was possible to be.
Jim Stempel is an excellent writer. His writing style is down to earth and conversational. I frequently felt that this was a story he had told many times, and knew exactly how to draw his readers in with action and descriptions. Once or twice I even had to put my book down, because it was too exciting! I thrilled to his descriptions of John Eager Howard’s contribution to the victory at Cowpens.
This book is definitely not one of those rote, dry, musty history tomes. Mr Stempel made history come alive!
August 17, 2025
This is the second book by Jim Stemple I’ve read and it didn’t disappoint. The book tells of Colonel Daniel Morgan’s brilliant victory over Colonel Banestre Tarleton at the Battle of the Cowpens in South Carolina towards the end of the Revolutionary War in August 1781. The book not only covers the battle, but relates the events leading up to battle and the events following, as well as the personalities involved, as General Nathaniel Green tries to keep the American Southern Army together. Although Cowpens was the only major victory for the American Southern Army, the other battles and skirmishes allowed the American Southern Army to survive and “fight another day”. They took such a toll on Lord Cornwallis’s army that it caused Cornwallis to eventually abandon the Carolinas to end up at Yorktown and final surrender.
As an aside, in my opinion, the final battle in the movie, The Patriot, is based on the Battle of the Cowpens.
As an aside, in my opinion, the final battle in the movie, The Patriot, is based on the Battle of the Cowpens.
June 20, 2024
One of the best books I've read on the Revolutionary War. Daniel Morgan, the "Old Wagoner", was an underrated tactical genius. Without his military strategy and leadership at Cowpens, it's conceivable that the Americans would have lost the war.
October 8, 2020
Interesting story . Well told
July 25, 2022
Meritocracy at its best. Daniel Morgan shows his brilliance in the battle of Cowpens here. His strategy is still taught to this day
July 11, 2025
Bold claim to call someone a military Hannibal (overcoming insurmountable odds with strategic/tactical brilliance), but Morgan is absolutely deserving. Not only in theory, but even near to using similar maneuvers against an equally impressive foe as Hannibal at Cannae. He beat the British so badly he changed the mindset of Cornwallis and thus the entire southern campaign, leading to their ultimate defeat. It is arguable that Morgan’s leadership at Cowpens played a major part in the entire Patriot victory of the war.
The book does an excellent job laying out the causes and actions of the British southern campaign which led up to the battle of Cowpens, including strategies, objectives, logistic, terrain, and populous considerations which all played their part towards the ultimate result. It describes the personality traits and backgrounds of leadership beyond just their battlefield actions; the hubris of senior British leadership, the cold blooded nature and impatience of Tarleton, the out-of-his depth decisions of Gates, the Wiley tactics of Marion, and the non-aristocratic frontiersman nature of Morgan. It highlights the importance of Morgan’s understanding of Tarleton’s tactics and ability to adapt his plans to the circumstance, like before the battle even began how he anticipated enemy maneuvers, picked his choice of terrain for what was to come, arrayed his forces to force the enemy to do what he wanted, and remained flexible even amidst the battle to make the situation work in his favor. Not only his prowess in tactics, but his abilities as a leader, relating to his men as compatriots more than subordinates and ensuring they understood his plans and the reasons behind them (inspire, shared understanding).
This account also describes the mindset of those fighting for the cause in the south and how unique and separate it was from the northeastern colonials. The inspiration for them went beyond ideals as it was mostly patriot vs loyalists. “The southern conflict… had no more to do with revolutionary thought or independence than did the bitter struggle between the Hayfields and McCoys. It was blood and hate that drove the war in the south, and it’s impossible to understand the men who were fighting for Daniel Morgan without grasping that one essential fact.” It was personal for every man for their own reasons.
Not for nothing, this is most comprehensive true telling of the events the movie, “The Patriot” created historical fiction from. If they’d have simply used this as a guideline for the script, audiences and historians alike would’ve been much happier.
The book does an excellent job laying out the causes and actions of the British southern campaign which led up to the battle of Cowpens, including strategies, objectives, logistic, terrain, and populous considerations which all played their part towards the ultimate result. It describes the personality traits and backgrounds of leadership beyond just their battlefield actions; the hubris of senior British leadership, the cold blooded nature and impatience of Tarleton, the out-of-his depth decisions of Gates, the Wiley tactics of Marion, and the non-aristocratic frontiersman nature of Morgan. It highlights the importance of Morgan’s understanding of Tarleton’s tactics and ability to adapt his plans to the circumstance, like before the battle even began how he anticipated enemy maneuvers, picked his choice of terrain for what was to come, arrayed his forces to force the enemy to do what he wanted, and remained flexible even amidst the battle to make the situation work in his favor. Not only his prowess in tactics, but his abilities as a leader, relating to his men as compatriots more than subordinates and ensuring they understood his plans and the reasons behind them (inspire, shared understanding).
This account also describes the mindset of those fighting for the cause in the south and how unique and separate it was from the northeastern colonials. The inspiration for them went beyond ideals as it was mostly patriot vs loyalists. “The southern conflict… had no more to do with revolutionary thought or independence than did the bitter struggle between the Hayfields and McCoys. It was blood and hate that drove the war in the south, and it’s impossible to understand the men who were fighting for Daniel Morgan without grasping that one essential fact.” It was personal for every man for their own reasons.
Not for nothing, this is most comprehensive true telling of the events the movie, “The Patriot” created historical fiction from. If they’d have simply used this as a guideline for the script, audiences and historians alike would’ve been much happier.
March 3, 2021
Well written and told with the zest the story deserves. The author's engaging writing style brings these events to life. This is history that every American should know, but that sadly is known by few.
The author's publisher has done him a bit of a disservice, as the book is not as attractive or professionally constructed as it should be. But in the end it is the text that matters, and it is excellent.
The author's publisher has done him a bit of a disservice, as the book is not as attractive or professionally constructed as it should be. But in the end it is the text that matters, and it is excellent.
January 20, 2020
One of the greatest American soldiers in history, Daniel Morgan’s natural leadership abilities and vast experience on the American frontier allowed him to best “Bloody Ban” Tarleton, British North America’s most capable tactical commander. A well written and inspiring book, the author explains the importance of Morgan’s victories to the success of America’s independence.
April 11, 2020
Fast pace, historically accurate, & well written book.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this book. Hats off to this author, who interestingly is my classmate @ The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this book. Hats off to this author, who interestingly is my classmate @ The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina.
March 4, 2025
The book focuses on the souther theater after Camden up to Gilford Courthous, generally tracking Morgan and corresponding Tarleton in the timeframe. While not a good first book on the revolution, it could be followed far better than others as it moved up and down the region.
May 6, 2020
Outstanding!
Well researched. This book puts the battle of the 'cow pens' in a context to show how it was integral to a process leading to the end of the war.
Well researched. This book puts the battle of the 'cow pens' in a context to show how it was integral to a process leading to the end of the war.
September 22, 2024
What a great book. Ran across Cowpens on a back road and picked it up at the center. These men were amazing. Well written.
June 13, 2019
American Hannibal will enthrall all history students in the art of battle command. Jim Stempel's account of the Battle Of Cowpen is expertly researched and written. In a time when there was no modern technology and orders/plans were drawn up on the spot and the pure instinct of soldiers kept themselves alive. How a researcher can bring the events and thoughts of those involved to life is an remarkable feat.
The reader is taken on a fantastic trip through history and can envisage the sights, sound and smells of the soldiers and share in their life of hopes and dreams through the excellent descriptive writing of the author. In the height of battle heroes emerge and their feats and exploits recorded.
Comparisons are always made between battles and the commanders in charge to discuss the similarities in their thought process and bravery which the author does in this book between Hannibal and Daniel Morgan.
The sharp wit and quick thinking in the implementation of an excellent scheme that was masterly executed ensured a masterminded victory and catapulted Daniel Morgan who was a true American Revolutionary into the history books.
This is the second book I have read by Jim Stempel and his passion and enthusiasm for American battle History shines through, a must read for anyone who is interested in the topic.
The reader is taken on a fantastic trip through history and can envisage the sights, sound and smells of the soldiers and share in their life of hopes and dreams through the excellent descriptive writing of the author. In the height of battle heroes emerge and their feats and exploits recorded.
Comparisons are always made between battles and the commanders in charge to discuss the similarities in their thought process and bravery which the author does in this book between Hannibal and Daniel Morgan.
The sharp wit and quick thinking in the implementation of an excellent scheme that was masterly executed ensured a masterminded victory and catapulted Daniel Morgan who was a true American Revolutionary into the history books.
This is the second book I have read by Jim Stempel and his passion and enthusiasm for American battle History shines through, a must read for anyone who is interested in the topic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews