Another sound was added to the din of battle—the wild wail of the war pipes as the Scots began their advance

From The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan. Page 323.

“It was 7:15 A.M. Fifteen minutes had elapsed since the British advance had begun. Tarleton ordered his infantry lines redressed, and then the British advanced on Howard’s Continentals, who stood fast in disciplined ranks and traded volleys with the steady ranks facing them. “The fire on both sides,” wrote Tarleton, “was well supported and produced much slaughter.” Sergeant Major Seymour described how John Eager Howard “all the time of the action rode from right to left of the line encouraging the men.”

At 7:30 A.M. Tarleton rode back where Major Archibald McArthur and his 249 Highlanders waited in reserve. He ordered McArthur to march to his left along the outer edge of Cowpens and outflank the American’s main line of resistance. McArthur ordered the pipers forward, and another sound was added to the din of battle—the wild wail of the war pipes as the Scots began their advance.