Visitors take a closer look at an American Revolutionary War replica cannon Friday afternoon following a black powder firing demonstration by local reenactors. A colonial military encampment and fireworks show were among the highlights of a Fourth of July celebration held at Cowpens National Battlefield park. As a countywide manhunt intensified, Cowpens National Battlefield moved forward Friday with its traditional celebration of the country's Independence Day.

Chief Ranger Kathy McKay said the park never considered changing its plans for celebrating the Fourth of July holiday, even with the recent shooting deaths in Cherokee County.

Sheriff's Deputies and South Carolina National Guard soldiers were a visible presence inside the park grounds just three miles from the Grassy Pond community where a large law enforcement task force continued its search to find the man police believe to be responsible for five shooting deaths in the past week.

Inside the park, it was business as usual on the Fourth of July holiday for American Revolutionary War re-enactors and visitors to the Cowpens National Battlefield. Activities included guided battlefield walks and black powder firing demonstrations of a Revolutionary War replica cannon contained in the park's museum.

"The phone has been ringing a lot," McKay said.

"We are keeping our normal schedule," McKay added as she prepared to head out onto the park grounds Friday afternoon.

"There are Cherokee County Sheriff deputies everywhere so everybody will be safe. If it wasn't that, it would be something else. Last year, we received a lot of calls from people who wanted to know if we were still going to have the fireworks because of the rain."

A sizeable crowd had already started to form on the Cowpens National Battlefield park grounds by Friday at 2 p.m.

Local re-enactors set up a colonial military encampment in a field behind the park's museum and visitor's center. Visitors were given free rein to speak with the reenactors about the Colonial-era weapons, clothes and camp supplies, and learn about why many patriots fought against the British so America could gain its independence in the American Revolutionary War.

Cowpens Battlefield joins Kings Mountain as the historical sites in Cherokee County where visitors can learn firsthand about the history of the American Revolutionary War. Echoing the sights Francis Scott Key experienced while writing the Star Spangled Banner, the National Park Service ended its Fourth of July celebration Friday evening with a fireworks show.