 The arrival in North Carolina of a new Continental Army under Major General Nathanael Greene in December meant that the army would need to begin campaigning again . Although General Clinton had dispatched Brigadier General Benedict Arnold to Virginia to threaten Greene 's supply lines , Cornwallis needed to deal with the wily general . Greene had detached Brigadier General Daniel Morgan with a light infantry corps to cause trouble in the highlands of South Carolina . Cornwallis sent Tarleton with a sizable force to chase down Morgan . In a tactically brilliant battle at Hannah 's Cowpens on January 17 , 1781 , Morgan decisively defeated Tarleton , capturing most of his force . News of the battle so upset the earl that he was reported to snap a sword . He wrote that " [ T ] he late affair has almost broke my heart " , and vowed to recover the prisoners Morgan had taken . Immediately giving chase , he was unable to gain on Morgan , who , although burdened with prisoners , was not burdened by a large baggage train . Cornwallis , in a move calculated to force his army to be able to move faster , ordered most of his baggage train destroyed on January 24 . Starting with the personal effects of himself and his officers , he ordered the burning of everything except a minimal set of supplies . Cornwallis 's second in command , Charles O 'Hara , commented that the move " must ever do the greatest honor to Lord Cornwallis ' military reputation " . 
