The Battle of Cowan's Ford was the British push across the Catawba River. It was a brief skirmish that took place on February 1, 1781 at Catawba River, was an attempt to cover the retreat of Gen. Nathanael Greene from Gen. Charles Cornwallis and his forces. It was also the final fight of Gen. William Lee Davidson, who was struck by a bullet and killed. The battleground lies under Lake Norman but a memorial was erected across from the McGuire Nuclear Station.