Their other daughter, Betsy, married James Heard, also a Revolutionary War veteran.) In later years, Morgan delighted in telling that the drummer who was counting the lashes miscounted, and he only received 499. His release several months later was followed by his promotion to colonel of the 11th Virginia Regiment. Reverend William Hill, first pastor of the Stone Presbyterian Church, to which Morgan belonged, became a close friend in the riflemans last years of his life. Morgan knew his men and his opponent, knew how they would react in certain situations, and used this knowledge and the terrain to his advantage. Morgan met his new Department Commander, Nathanael Greene, on December 3, 1780, at Charlotte, North Carolina. With the outbreak of the American Revolution after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress called for the formation of 10 rifle companies to aid in the Siege of Boston. With Montgomery defeated, Carleton could concentrate his forces on the lower town. Hebron Cemetary in Winchester where he was re-interred. Join us online July 24-26! He sent General Morgan southwest into South Carolina to the Catawba River to cut the supply lines and hamper British operations in the back country and so too to spirit up the people by cooperating with frontier militia. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/brigadier-general-daniel-morgan-2360604. Seeing the British retreat, Morgans men raced after them for the kill and ran headlong into a massed British line. The surrounding area he named Pittsburg which has grown to a large, industrial city. An avid drinker and fighter, he was employed in various trades in the Shenandoah Valley before beginning a career as a teamster. Colonel Washington. Colonel William Washingtons regiments of cavalry, around seventy total, were to arrive in a few days giving Gates some mobile capacity. Morgan went amongst the men: encouraging them, telling them what he expected of them, and showing them his back, complete with the scars from his flogging. Morgan was about to live up to the generals expectation and more so. He lost in 1794, but won in 1796 with 70% of the vote by defeating Democratic-Republican Robert Rutherford. So too, Morgan donned what was called Indian clothing and carried a new, incredible weapon, the Kentucky Long Rifle. For two hellish hours, Colonel Alexander Scammell and his men fought alongside Morgan and Dearborn. It was a crippling blow to Cornwallis, for within six months, he had lost nearly two thirds of his force in two devastating actions. Graham, James. Tarleton advanced stubbornly, but the seasoned American regulars . By his dominating personality alone, he was rallying the fleeing troops to stop and regroup reforming the British right into a new line that could possibly halt the American momentum. The rest of the militia were chased down and killed; only six survived and made it back to the fort. Rebels pursued the enemy with vigor, jumping over and around the dead and wounded. The Royal Government in Virginia rigorously raised another regiment of sixteen companies and placed them under Colonel Washington with orders to defend settlements along the wilderness. He was admitted as an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati in the state of Virginia. He survived the ordeal, carrying his scars and his disdain for the rest of his life. The Americans lost over four hundred men including their finest officers in either killed, wounded, or captured. He was later assigned to lead the Provisional Rifle Corps, a special 500-man formation of light infantry. [10] That year, he served in Dunmore's War, taking part in raids on Shawnee villages in the Ohio Country. Morgan distinguished himself at both Battles of Saratoga in 1777, and many historians believe that he did not get the credit that he deserved for his actions. He spoke little about his childhood, so details are vague. Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. But he failed in his promise and gave me but 499; so, he has been owing me one lash ever since. The combat, however, resulted in his capture along with 400 other Americans. Though they had their differences since the campaign and Battle of Saratoga, Gates knew of Morgans abilities and wrote to him, urging him to reenter the service. He was ordered to raise and command a new infantry regiment, the 11th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line. Daniel Morgan kept his childhood a mystery, the poor, illiterate teenager left home and wandered alone to the Shenandoah Valley. Having proved himself a military leader, in 1771, William Nelson, acting Governor of Virginia, commissioned Morgan captain of the Fredericksburg Militia. No, Americas truly darkest hour was yet to come three years after Valley Forge. He was politically active and shared the developing sentiment by those who considered themselves patriots and readily joined in the growing rebellion to the crown. He developed a hatred for the British Army. Daniel Morgan was the pointy end of the spear that won the battle of Saratoga that all agree turned the course of the war in our favor. When Morgan arrived in Virginia, he could barely read and write. Morgan was largely apolitical and had never worked to cultivate a relationship with Congress. After a delay waiting for additional supplies to arrive, the army set off through the wilderness. It was also open for several hundred yards, offering the riflemen a clean shot from a few hundred yards out. They were dressed in long hunting shirts, leather and rawhide breeches, leggings, and moccasins. By October, Burgoyne was desperate to push aside Gates force. A constant series of raids by both sides of the conflict resulted in blood shed, however it needed a spark between direct opposing foes to ignite war. Two years later he tried again and was successful, winning a term in the House or Representatives on the Federalist ticket. American scouts sent back word on their enemys progress from the time they advanced forward. To learn more about Daniel Morgan, read the following books: Life of General Daniel Morgan of the Virginia Line of the Army of the United States by James Graham, Daniel Morgan Revolutionary Rifleman by Don Higginbotham, "Downright Fighting": The Story of Cowpens (Official National Park Handbook) by Thomas J. Fleming, A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens by Lawrence E. Babits, Battle of Cowpens: A Documented Narrative and Troop Movement Maps by Edwin C. Bearss, Cowpens National Battlefield Among his words were these that ring true to this day: He was the complete soldier. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. , writes in his 1856 text on Morgan, After examining all the sources of information within my reach, I became convinced that few, if any, of the heroes of that day furnished larger contributions than he did to the glory of our arms, or surpassed him in the amount and value of their services. In defeating the British in what historians claim was the most brilliant battle of the Revolutionary War and among the greatest masters of military art, tactics that military academies continue to hold up as a model for future generations, Morgans contribution as Founding Father is nothing but astonishing. Just as Poors men charged the grenadier, Morgans men burst from their cover and poured down like a torrent from the hill, hitting Frasers division made up of Balcarres command on the front and right flank. When the ship landed at Elizabethtown Point, New Jersey, Morgan met with Washington in New York before heading to his family at Winchester. The Americans, led by Colonel George Washington, took to the woods while the British remained in formation in the open. On the 19th of June, Braddocks patience had worn thin and he decided to take most of his troops, twelve hundred regulars and a few companies of provincials, and push on in a first division. For that he was court-martialed and sentenced to 500 lashes (he later always maintained that the drummer had miscounted and he had only been given 499 lashes, so the British still "owed him one more lash.") . Morgan was assigned command of the left (or western) flank of the American position. What was Morgan's nickname during the Revolution from being a teamster? He chose a grazing ground called Cowpens because of its gradual slope uphill with the Broad River on his left flank and woods on the right, creating an open and relatively narrow killing field that fit nicely into his battle plans. Somewhere along this path, Daniel Morgan and a British officer crossed paths. Morgan marched his men 600 miles (970km) to Boston, Massachusetts in 21 days, arriving on August 6, 1775. Routing the enemy, Morgan won perhaps the Continental Army's most decisive tactical victory of the war. By the spring of 1758, then Second Lieutenant Morgan joined a local company of rangers serving with the British who were stationed at various forts along the frontier. [5], In June that year, the Continental Congress authorized an invasion of Canada. The riflemen opened up at over two hundred yards and began to pick off British redcoats. The damp chill of a winter campaign had aggravated his rheumatism to the point that he was obliged to quit and on February 10, 1781, he once more returned to his Virginia farm. At that stage, Morgans loss was minimal, one dead and six wounded. Having no love lost for the British, Daniel Morgan joined the American army and accepted a commission of captain of a rifle company when the Revolutionary War began. Meanwhile, thinking that they had won the battle, the British broke ranks and charged forward. I think we may venture to assert, that he has not left another behind him to whom we are so much indebted for our independence and liberty., Click Here for Preview on Amazon: Revolutionary Rangers: Daniel Morgans Riflemen and Their Role on the Northern Frontier, 1778-1783, Road to Camden: The Southern War of the American Revolution, American Revolution: In the South, Not a War for Liberty, But a Brutal Civil War Between Patriots and Loyalists, Brigadier Simon Fraser and the Battle of Saratoga, Muskets & Rifles of the American Revolution: Difference and Tactics, Forgotten Warriors of the American Revolution: Major Benjamin Whitcomb of Whitcombs Rangers. Daniel Morgan is a prime example of what one can accomplish with ones life if one works hard and plans well. But the real praise for this wild and ferocious fighter was the proven fact that he was a born commander. Having irritated a British lieutenant, Morgan was made irate when the officer struck him with the flat of his sword. To support this effort, Colonel Benedict Arnold convinced the American commander, General George Washington, to send a second force north through the Maine wilderness to aid Montgomery. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! At last, on October 13, 1780, Morgan received his promotion to brigadier general. Baggage, artillery and supplies were destroyed to make room for the wounded in the wagons which had remained. The Burgesses complied and ordered up four regiments of militia to pacify the hostile Indian war bands. General Andrew Lewis was called to lead the militia. After the main army crossed the river, Gates advance force was attacked by 72 French regulars, 146 Canadians, and nearly 700 Native Americans. [5] Later, when he led troops, he banned flogging. Morgan carried the scar the rest of his life. Gates had divided his army into two divisions, the right, he commanded personally in the absence of General Lincoln, and the left under Major General Benedict Arnold. In response, General Braddock sentenced him to 499 lashes. He was supposed to have fired all three shots, the last finding its mark, doubling the Scotsman over. The British Legion, among the best units in Cornwallis's army, was effectively useless. Eventually, Morgan married and bought a farm east of Winchester, near today's Berryville. Colonel Morgan missed the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, because Maj. General Charles Lee failed to keep him informed of the main armys movements. There is a street named after him in Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The ranks of regulars opened up a devastating volley on the disorganized British, caught in the midst of their charge. Colonel Morgan was reassigned to the Virginia 7th on September 14, 1778, leaving Colonel Abraham Buford in charge of his 11th that he had led successfully at Saratoga. Throughout this period, Morgan became increasingly dissatisfied with the army and Congress. However, they faced challenges advancing through the narrow twisting streets while trying to control thirty prisoners, plus their power was too wet to fire.

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