Cowpens.

"The battle was over in an hour. It was a complete victory for the Patriot force. British losses were staggering: 110 dead, over 200 wounded and 500 captured. Morgan lost only 12 killed and 60 wounded, a count he received from those reporting directly to him. "

Morgan's militia fired two volleys at the advancing British and fell back. A misunderstood command began a withdrawl of Morgan's right flank. Correcting the order, the flank fired volleys into the British who, sensing victory, broke ranks and charged.

The Battle of Cowpens.

" The firing took a heavy toll on the British, who, by that time had sensed victory and had broken ranks in a wild charge. This event and a fierce Patriot bayonet charge in return broke the British charge and turned the tide of battle. The re-formed militia and cavalry re-entered the battle, leading to double envelopment28 of the British, perfectly timed. British infantry began surrendering en masse."

"The Battle of Cowpens1, January 17, 1781, took place in the latter part of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution and of the Revolution itself. It became known as the turning point of the war in the South, part of a chain of events leading to Patriot victory at Yorktown2 The Cowpens victory was one over a crack British regular army3 and brought together strong armies and leaders who made their mark on history. "

The surrender at Yorktown took place on Oct. 18, 1781. This turning point came five years and eight months into the fight.(Or Saratoga, in October 1777,two and one-half years in.) Midway came a mere six months after Pearl Harbor. Well before the debacle at the Kasserine Pass. After 35 years of Saddam...the Iraqis are doing damn fine soldiering one year, three months since that statue fell to its knees surrounded by an ecstatic Iraqi crowd.

What...you don't know the history of Midway? Oh all right. Here.

Now what...? Or the Kasserine Pass either? Do I have to do everything here?

More questions. What's the point....? Sheesh. During the Revolutionary war, American militia troops were often undependable, poorly trained, and under limited enlistment. They coulc go home. They took a long time to improve. At the Kasserine Pass, in North Africa, in 1943, American soldiers panicked and ran away. It was a debacle. (Ted Kennedy, a twelve year old in Hyannisport at the time called for withdrawl from the "quagmire in North Africa." Robert Byrd, dressed in satin brocade and percale, led torchlight parades and late night parties, just like Albert Speer. ) At Cowpens, General Morgan used the skittishness of the militia to advantage, making their withdrawl after two volleys seem like running away. Things take time. We cannot abandon the Iraqis to further torment and death just because all have not been miraculously transformed into the Three Hundred Spartans in six months. What? Again? Here. (scroll down.)