He was still a young man with a rebellious attitude which resulted in him punching one of his senior officers. It was a crippling blow to Cornwallis, for within six months, he had lost nearly two thirds of his force in two devastating actions. He met Gates at Hillsborough, and was given command of the light infantry corps on Oct. 2. [11][12] Locals called it the "Bee-Line March", noting that Stephenson somehow marched his men 600 miles from their meeting point at Morgan's Spring, in 24 days, so they arrived at Cambridge on Friday, August 11, 1775. In 1794, he returned to active duty as Major General, leading an army of militia against protesters in western Pennsylvania. 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. Passing through the Canadian loyalists, Morgan's Virginia sharpshooters got the British light infantry trapped in a crossfire between themselves and Dearborn's regiment. He was given permission by Gates to escort patriot supply wagons. The two assaulting columns skirted the walled city from both the north and south to attack the lower town simultaneously. On April 18, 1756 an action took place twenty miles from Winchester, Virginia, Morgans residence, which set the course for his military service as a soldier and commander. On July 15th, he and his company set out from Winchester, Virginia for the six-hundred-mile trek to Boston. It was also open for several hundred yards, offering the riflemen a clean shot from a few hundred yards out. (One, Nancy, married Presley Neville, a Revolutionary War veteran. Later in 1775, Morgan participated American expedition to invade Canada organized by General Benedict Arnold. Morgan was born in New Jersey of Welsh ancestry in 1735. Colonel William Washingtons regiments of cavalry, around seventy total, were to arrive in a few days giving Gates some mobile capacity. During the expedition, Morgan annoyed a superior officer who struck him with the flat of his sword. When General Washington had been beaten on nearly every front and whose reduced forces were dwindling by the day due to illness, death, and desertion. This action caused him to hate the British. The scar certainly enhanced his repute. In 1795, he failed in his bid to Congress. Morgan talked with militia who had fought Tarleton. The British captured Morgan and his riflemen along with Benedict Arnold at Quebec in December 1775. By then, Congress had seen their error in assigning Gates the command of the Southern Army, and lastly took General Washingtons advice and offered the leadership to General Nathanael Greene. Greene had decided to split his army and annoy the enemy in order to buy time to rebuild his force. The sailors scattered and the rebels surged forward, led by Morgan. Throughout this period, Morgan became increasingly dissatisfied with the army and Congress. He died at his daughter's home in Winchester on July 6, 1802. Once Morgan resumed the attack, his advance was soon blocked by approximately fifty sailors led by one named Anderson. Burgoyne in turn kept most of Frasers force in reserve up on the heights to the west, fearing a flank attack from that direction. He lost in 1794, but won in 1796 with 70% of the vote by defeating Democratic-Republican Robert Rutherford. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. At that stage of the battle, Learneds men assaulted the British center with Benedict Arnold at their lead. Gates was taking command in the Southern Department, and Morgan felt that being outranked by so many militia officers would limit his usefulness. In 1756, during the advance on Fort Pitt, he was scourged with four hundred ninety-nine lashes (a usually fatal event) for punching his superior officer, by Burgoyne's command. 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. On May 7, 1780, Congress ordered Morgan to join General Horatio Gates in June. 1758 - Daniel Morgan joins the British Army with an Ensign's commission. Zambone, Albert Louis. He soon learned that Loyalist parties were detached from their posts at Winnsborough and Camden and had been intercepting rebel supply trains in the Lynches Creek region. Following the Revolution, Morgan organized and led a group of militia against the protesters during the Whiskey Rebellion. He also served in the Philadelphia campaign before resigning from the army in 1779. "American Revolution: Brigadier General Daniel Morgan." 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 [34], In Winchester, Virginia, a middle school is named in his honor. A company of riflemen under Captain Rose was added including the corps of cavalry under Lt. When you arrive there, you will take directions from General Putnam, who, I expect, will have vessels provided to carry you to Albany. SC Daniel Morgan was a big brawler of a man, affectionately known as "Old Wagoner" by his troops because of an early job driving supplies across the mountains. His artillery could not be brought up and just as he was about to scale the walls into the lower part of town, a bullet ricocheted and he was severely wounded in the leg and had to be taken from the field. Tarleton and Morgans forces faced each other at Cowpens in South Carolina on January 17, 1781. Morgans riflemen, the 11th, was part of General William Woodfords Brigade which also included the Virginia 7th under Colonel McClanachan. He was admitted as an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati in the state of Virginia. Tarletons Legion ceased to exist. Daniel Morgan (1736 - July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. Morgan used the mistaken order to his advantage. After Gates' disaster at the Battle of Camden, Morgan thrust all other considerations aside, and went to join the Southern command at Hillsborough, North Carolina. History recorded romantically that Arnold suggested to Morgan that one of his sharpshooters needed to get rid of the officer on the gray horse, even naming Fraser as the one to be targeted. Morgan drove wagons in the French and Indian War, received 500 lashes for striking a British officer, and took an Indian bullet through his mouth. 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. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/brigadier-general-daniel-morgan-2360604. When Morgans riflemen arrived, the first from his home providence, it was reported that Washington was so overjoyed, that upon review, he leapt from his horse and personally clasped hands with every member of Morgans company. Colonel Washingtons mounted troops drove down hard from Howards left and charged upon the enemys right flank. 338 New Pleasant Road He told the militia that he would put them up front. He may have been born in 1736, or possibly 1735. . By the time Morgan arrived, Burgoyne, his supply line stretched to its limit and with the prospect of winter, was desperate to push General Gates army aside to reach Albany. And in one miraculous and what many historical military tacticians will agree, an act of genius, he snatched victory from defeat. After Saratoga, Morgan's unit rejoined Washington's main army, near Philadelphia. His flamboyant career as a free-for-all independent wagoner was soon cut short by the French and Indian War. Because rifles took longer to reload, they cleared out when the enemy came in range of the militias muskets. In 1797 he was elected and served one term in the House of Representatives. Daniel Morgan kept his childhood a mystery, the poor, illiterate teenager left home and wandered alone to the Shenandoah Valley. His release several months later was followed by his promotion to colonel of the 11th Virginia Regiment. Morgan and his men wore hunting shirts, a distinctly American garment that soon struck fear in the British Army because of the known accuracy of the American riflemen, and soon became a common uniform item in the Continental Army. Upon arrival at Fort Pitt (former Ft. Duquesne), they were informed that Parliament had closed the Port of Boston and that the Virginia House of Burgesses passed an order condemning this despotic action. They also learned that a Congress had been called from the thirteen colonies to take action against the measures and tyrannical encroachments of the British government. Morgan penned in his journal that we, as an army victorious [perhaps referring to their recent victories against the Native Americans], formed ourselves into a society, pledging our words of honor to each other to assist our brethren of Boston in case hostilities should commence. During the winter and spring of 1775, Morgan was at home with his family, however was intently involved with escalating developments as sabers rattled throughout the colonies. Morgan marched his men 600 miles (970km) to Boston, Massachusetts in 21 days, arriving on August 6, 1775. 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 scar certainly enhanced his repute. Once the enemy was halted, Morgan intended to counterattack. Washington would later state that they were like sheep before the hounds. Serving under General "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, Morgan led one wing of the militia army into Western Pennsylvania. Morgan drove wagons in the French and Indian War, received 500 lashes for striking a British officer, and took an Indian bullet through his mouth. In 1757, Morgan joined the British army, and several influential men recommended to the governor that Morgan be made a captain, but the only rank available was that of ensign. Greene did not change his command assignment, but did give him new orders. If they were to take Quebec, they needed to do so before the end of the month. It was three miles north of Battletown (location of Morgans favorite taverns) and eleven miles east of Winchester, near the land he had previously rented and not far from Abigails father, Daniel Curry. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Morgan and his 11th Regiment was placed on the west side of the Schuylkill River and scouted for the army, often engaged in Indian-style fighting with British patrols and foraging parties. It was at the Cow Pens, a well-known pasturing area for cattle in the upcountry of South Carolina, that Morgan with his experienced, but untrained, militia and 300 Continentals defeated the better-trained British army under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. At one point, towards dusk, the British 62nd, having suffered nearly 200 killed or wounded, was overrun by rebels and the entire British center was under the threat of being rolled up. Daniel Morgan (1735/36 July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. Simultaneously, Lt. He felt that being outranked by so many militia officers would limit his usefulness. As they approached this second barricade, the Royal Highlanders and militia rained shot down upon them. On June 22, 1775, Morgan was selected by unanimous vote to head one of Virginias rifle companies chosen from Frederick County. Morgan eventually arrived at Charlotte on December 3, 1780 where forging and raiding occupied their time until the end of the year. He died on July 6, 1802. The following year Gates was placed in command of the Southern Department and asked Morgan to join him. One of his favorite stories to tell in later years was that the British miscounted and gave him only 499 lashes and they owed him another lash. At that same moment, Captain Alexander Frasers light infantry burst into the clearing with cannon and hit Morgans men squarely on their left flank. In 1881 (on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens), a statue of Morgan was placed in the central town square of Spartanburg, South Carolina. In 1755, he and his cousin Daniel Boone took part in Major General Edward Braddock's ill-fated campaign against Fort Duquesne, which ended in a stunning defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela. 1759 To counter this, men were massed in ranks and ordered to fire low in volley, and not worry about aiming. Although the light infantry broke, General Fraser was trying to rally them, encouraging his men to hold their positions when Benedict Arnold arrived. Three months later, a plot to escape among the prisoners was discovered by the British, upon which the Americans were clapped in irons and thrown into the old Dauphin jail for four months. [5][7] They called for the formation of 10 rifle companies[6][7] from the middle colonies to support the Siege of Boston,[5] and late in June 1775, Virginia agreed to send two. When the ship landed at Elizabethtown Point, New Jersey, Morgan met with Washington in New York before heading to his family at Winchester. Murray decided to take matters into his own hands and asked the Virginia House of Burgesses to declare a state of war with the Shawnee and their allied northern tribes. And through all this mayhem, rode General Arnold. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Unlike Washington, who was obsessed with protocol, Morgan was no fan of rank and struck a British officer who had angered him. He knew that the militia had a tendency to run. Daniel Morgans strength and endurance were remarkable, and in beauty of feature and expression he was equaled by few men of his time. In October of 1780, Congress finally gave him a promotion to Brigadier General. As the British forces approached, the Americans, with their backs turned to the British, reloaded their muskets. Skilled in defensive, open field, and wilderness warfare; Morgans Riflemen would time and again prove their worth. He still held out hope that Howe, or his second in command, General Henry Clinton, was progressing north up the Hudson (Howe had abandoned Burgoyne for his own desire to capture Philadelphia and Clinton only captured two forts before returning to New York City). Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History. In less than an hour, Tarleton's 1,076 men suffered 110 killed and 830 captured; 200 British prisoners of war were wounded. Muskets however, were notoriously inaccurate with an effective range limited to around eighty yards. Morgan replied, Doctor, if I could be the man I was when I was 21 years of age [1757], I would be willing to be stripped stark naked on the top of the Allegheny Mountains to run for my Life with the hounds of death at my heels. He died with his family and friends at his side on July 7, 1802. Later in 1777, Morgan was assigned to General Horatio Gates' army and participated in the pivotal Battle of Saratoga. During this three-week period, Morgan had been joined by militia forces under Colonel Andrew Pickens bringing his numbers nearly equal to that of Tarleton. His first job was to prepare land for planting. The next morning many of the provincial troops took off for home along with many of the unencumbered wagons and teams, leaving little transportation for the helpless wounded. Acland was hit in both legs and carried from the field, eventually to be captured by the rapidly advancing Americans. Before they could rush with bayonets, the Americans exploded from the woods, firing and charging, mowing down the grenadiers. He and Gates had reached an impasse with Gates ordering the combative general to his quarters. Arnold spotted him and called to Morgan: "That man on the grey horse is a host unto himself and must be disposed of direct the attention of some of the sharpshooters amongst your riflemen to him!"