Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

The Battle of the Cowpens - The Cowpens may be one of the most important battles ever fought on American soil from the standpoint of the tactical lessons one can learn from it.

In addition, it demonstrated Morgan's unique and ingenious deployment of troops.

Using a unique deployment of troops, Morgan planned a tactical masterpiece that made use of all his troops' strengths and used some of their weaknesses to his advantage.

He had an uncanny understanding of the psychology of soldiers and a firm grasp of tactical principles.

He possessed an acute understanding of his troops’ limitations, both physical and psychological.

He had confidence in his regulars, and knew how to handle his militiamen as well, but most importantly, he predicted how the enemy would fight.

On January 17th, 1781 Daniel Morgan was in charge of the American troops, mostly militia, along with a small cavalry reserve led by Colonel William Washington (George's cousin).

Facing Morgan was the aggressive Brit Banastre Tarleton, commanding a roughly equal (1,100) number of men.

Tarleton had a large cavalry advantage over Morgan, and also possessed two 3-pounder 'grasshopper' artillery pieces.

Morgan spent all night moving about his camp, conveying instructions and support to his troops, ensuring that they would be prepared for the approaching engagement.

Tarleton woke his men up well before dawn and marched them for hours to reach the battlefield, without issuing specific orders to his subordinates.

Tarleton was eager to get to the fight, and he fully expected to win.

The glamorous commander was becoming somewhat overconfident of his abilities and probably viewed Morgan's rag-tag army as just one more inviting target for victory.

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They were thought to be cowardly to stand up against the disciplined ranks of seasoned professionals.

On finding Morgan, Tarleton ordered an immediate attack, without rest nor breakfast for his men.

His men moved forward in regular formation, were momentarily checked by the militia rifles, but, continued to advance while sensing increasing victory.

However, the British drove in successive lines, only to encounter another, stronger line after exerting themselves and suffering casualties.

As a result, the dept of the American lines soaked up the shock of the British advance.

Taking the withdrawal of the first two lines as a full blown retreat, the British broke ranks, rushing headlong into the awaiting final line of disciplined regulars.

Believing that the Americans were once again in flight, the overconfident Tarleton committed his reserve to close pursuit, thus exposing one of his flanks to Col. Washington's cavalry.

Another deadly point-blank American volley, coupled with a rallied militia contingent, sealed the trap and led to the British being routed with very heavy casualties.

In point of tactics, this was the most brilliant battle of the Revolutionary war, and it still appears brilliant when judged by the standards that we apply to the work of the greatest masters of the military art.

The Battle of Salamis - The ensuing Battle of Salamis was one of the decisive engagements of history.

The Greek commander Themistocles had cleverly laid a trap to engulf the Persian battle fleet.

On September 22, 480BC, the Greek fleet held a position between the north coast of the Island of Salamis and the coast of Attica to the northwest of Piraeus.

The Persians had deployed facing north in a line three deep, Themistocles purposely left the channel between Salamis and Magara open and unguarded, possibly to tempt Xerxes to divide his fleet.

Xerxes did exactly this, sending his Egyptian contingent around Salamis to take and seal the western channel.

The Greek fleet drew up in battle formation on the shore of Attica, with the Athenians taking the left wing and the Aeginetans the right.

The Greek fleet had some 300 warships at its disposal.

On the morning of the battle, the Persians deployed with their right wing held by the Phoenicians and the Ionian ships on the left.

While still trying to get into position, the Persians were attacked by the Greeks, who forced the leading Persian ships back upon their comrades, causing disorder in the Persian formation as the Persian ships were already close packed in the narrow confines of the Straight.

This was immediately followed by an Athenian flank attack on the Phoenician ships which were pushed back into the Persian center and onto the coast of Attica.

Eventually the Greeks made an encircling movement behind the Persian center, which proved decisive, and the Ionian Greeks, with their resistance broken and scattered, retreated.

Themistocles had cleverly trapped the Persians in a channel too narrow for them to bring their greater numbers to bear, and attacked them vigorously, in the end causing the loss of 200 Persian ships vs 40 Greek.

Who controls your mind?

Sin or the Spirit

Why does it matter?

Satan blinds the mind

2. Satan deceives the mind

3. We can indulge sin with our mind

How do we change our mind?

Be made new in Christ

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2. We pursue godly thinking

3. We become a people of learning

National Anthem protests

What if I disagree with something in the Bible?

Your wrong, change your opinion

4. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach us

What happens when our minds are changed?

Transformation

2. Holistic prayer and worship

3. Obedient thinking

Closing

Pass out the army men