Kate Barry facts for kids

Margaret Catherine Moore Barry (born November 29, 1752 – died September 29, 1823) was an important scout and guide during the American Revolutionary War. She helped Brigadier General Daniel Morgan prepare for a big battle. General Morgan found out that General Charles Cornwallis was getting ready to fight the American patriots. The patriots had 600 soldiers, but the British and their allies had 1,000.

Morgan sent Margaret Barry on a special mission. She rode through the South Carolina countryside to gather more patriot soldiers. She rallied the local militia, new recruits, and the South Carolina Rangers. Because of her efforts, the American forces grew to 1,600 men. She became known as the "heroine of Cowpens" because she helped so much in getting more soldiers, which led to the American victory at the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781. Her husband, Andrew Barry, and her brother, Thomas Moore, also fought bravely in this battle.

Early Life and Family

Walnut Grove Manor, the Barry family home in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Margaret Catherine Moore was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on November 29, 1752. She was the oldest of ten children born to Charles and Mary Moore. In 1763, when Margaret was about 11, her family moved to the American colonies. King George III gave her parents a large piece of land that year. Over time, their property grew into a 3,600-acre farm called Walnut Grove Plantation in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

When she was 15, in 1767, Catherine, often called Kate, married Andrew Barry. They had eleven children together. The Barry family lived at Walnut Grove Plantation in the Backcountry of South Carolina.

The Barrys lived on the edge of the settled areas in South Carolina. This meant they sometimes faced conflicts with Native American groups who had lived there for many centuries. If there was news of a possible attack, Margaret Barry and a man who worked on her plantation would warn women and children to find safety at places like Fort Prince or Fort Nicholas.

Role in the Revolutionary War

During the American Revolutionary War, Margaret Barry was a guide for the patriot soldiers. She knew all the secret trails and shortcuts in the Piedmont area of South Carolina.

General Charles Cornwallis was preparing for a battle with 1,100 British soldiers. The American patriots, led by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, had only 600 soldiers. General Morgan tried to stay ahead of the British. Margaret Barry, acting as a scout for Morgan, was sent to gather more men for the fight. She called upon local militias and soldiers who had fought in earlier battles like the Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780) and Battle of Waxhaws (May 29, 1780). She also brought the South Carolina Rangers to Morgan. This help was very important for the upcoming Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781.

Margaret Barry rode her horse to warn her neighbors about the approaching battle. By the day of the Battle of Cowpens, her efforts had increased the number of patriot soldiers from 600 to 1,600. Her warning helped the American forces get ready to defeat the British. The Battle of Cowpens was a huge victory for General Morgan. Because of her brave and dangerous mission, she was called the "heroine of Cowpens." Her husband, Andrew, who was a captain in the South Carolina Partisan Rangers, and her brother, Thomas Moore, fought very well in the battle. Andrew had been injured the year before at the Battle of Musgrove Mill.

The Battle of Cowpens was a major turning point. Margaret Barry's warning helped the American forces defeat the British commander, Cornwallis, and push his troops north, out of South Carolina.

One time, Margaret Barry was riding from her farm to warn others about some local Tories (people who supported the British) in the area. She was captured by them. They tried to make her tell them where her husband was, as Andrew was a captain in the militia. It is said that when she refused to give them information, they tied her to a tree and hit her three times with a whip.

Later Life and Legacy

Margaret Catherine Moore Barry passed away on September 29, 1823. She is buried in the Walnut Grove Plantation cemetery next to her husband, Andrew.

The Kate Barry chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in South Carolina was named in her honor. In 1968, a historical marker was placed in Moore, South Carolina, at the intersection of State Highway 196 and U.S. 221. It says:

Katy Barry
1½ miles SE is Walnut Grove, home of Margaret Catherine Moore Barry (1752–1823). Local tradition says she was known as "Kate Barry" and acted as a scout for the Patriots before the Battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781. With her parents, and her husband, Captain Andrew Barry, she lies buried in the plantation cemetery.

H. R. Wilkins wrote a poem called "Kate Barry's Famous Ride," in which he described Barry as "a prototype of those who fought for the Cause of Liberty."