It was a dramatic scene in The Patriot when Mel Gibson said "All I ask of you is to give me two shots before we withdraw." This was an introduction for many Americans to the heroism of Andrew Pickens, for in this part of the movie Gibson is dramatically recreating the battle of Cowpens. Pickens convinced his commanding officer, Daniel Morgan, to stand and fight British Regulars under the ruthless Banastre Tarleton. In a pivotal battle in the brief history of America, Andrew Picken's militia stood and fired two shots, then retreated. Tarleton advanced into the waiting arms of Continental Regulars, who dealt a devastating blow to the English army under Major General Charles (Lord) Cornwallis. This led to the British retreat to Yorktown and ultimately the surrender of Cornwallis, all thanks to the tenacity of a farmer who had enough of the British tyranny.

Andrew Pickens was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (northeast of Philadelphia), in the town of Paxton. From here his family drifted south, living in the Shenandoah Valley and later in North Carolina. When they reached the Abbeville District in South Carolina young Andrew found a wife and built a home in this majority Scottish-Irish community.

He was both a farmer and Indian trader, and was a success at both. Because the Scottish and Irish hated the English, this area of South Carolina was strongly pro-Patriot, although Captain Pickens and a group of South Carolina militia under Andrew Williamson fought a battle against area Loyalists in 1775. After this, Pickens engaged the Cherokee, destroying towns in present-day South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. Among the towns in Georgia were Brasstown, Tugaloo and Estatoe. During this expedition Pickens was promoted to major.

When war finally reached the area in 1779, Pickens led a group of South Carolina militia, along with Georgia militia led by Col. Elijah Clark and Col John Dooly, against a British-led loyalist militia at Kettle Creek. In spite of being outnumbered two to one and attacking an entrenched position at the top of hill, Pickens routed the encampment. Dooly and Clark completed the rout by attacking the retreating enemy.

With the surrender of Charleston, Pickens worked out a deal with the British where he and his men would return to their farms. The looting of his farm and the burning of his home voided his agreement with the British not to fight, so Pickens re-activated his men and moved to join Elijah Clarke, already engaged with the British at Augusta. After the fall of the besieged city in on June 5, 1781, Pickens turned his attention to Cherokee raiders in northwest South Carolina. Although normally addressed as General Pickens by writers, he would not attain this title until after the Revolution.