He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. 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. 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. 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. [5] Morgan served as a civilian teamster during the French and Indian War[5][6][7] with Daniel Boone, sometimes said to be his cousin. He received only 499 because the drummer boy miscounted, and he always held one against the British. [4] Morgan's parents were born in Pennsylvania and then later moved to New Jersey together. 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. While I was in his service, upon a certain occasion, he promised to give me 500 lashes. A detachment of Morgan's regiment, commanded by Morgan, was reassigned to the army's Northern Department and on Aug 30 he joined General Horatio Gates to aid in resisting Burgoyne's offensive. He prepared them for the militias retreat. He came to know all these early wild lands like the back of his hand, which helped years later during his battles with British General Cornwallis forces. Daniel Morgan | American Battlefield Trust He also served in the Philadelphia campaign before resigning from the army in 1779. Years later, toward the end of Morgans life, Reverend William Hill wrote that when changing his linen, he discovered his [Morgans] back to be covered with scars and ridges from his shoulders to his waist. Unaware that Montgomery was dead, their halt allowed the defenders to recover. Morgan was also to avoid a direct action with the enemy that could destroy his force. Later in 1775, Congress approved an invasion of Canada and tasked Brigadier General Richard Montgomery with leading the main force north from Lake Champlain. In less than an hour, Tarleton's 1,076 men suffered 110 killed and 830 captured; 200 British prisoners of war were wounded. Morgans until suffered dearly, but were far from fatal and his corps would play another major role in the second Battle of Saratoga at Bemis Heights. From the time Morgan assumed command of his light infantry and cavalry, he had orders from Gates to scout and campaign between the region of Camden, South Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina. They were dressed in long hunting shirts, leather and rawhide breeches, leggings, and moccasins. Morgan later served as a rifleman in the provincial forces assigned to protect the western settlements from French-backed Indian raids. That they were to give the enemy two good volleys then get the hell out of the way. Morgan accepted and as far as he was concerned, he was done with the war and retired back to his family in Winchester, Virginia. The Americans won. Morgan, his company second in line, demonstrated his aggressive skills under combat and pressed his men forward, rallying Woods troops and driving the Native Americans from their positions and pushing them to retreat. On August 16, 1777, Colonel Morgan marched north to join the Northern Army near Stillwater, in which General Gates had lately resumed command from General Philip Schuyler. As the British forces approached, the Americans, with their backs turned to the British, reloaded their muskets. The perfect weapon for the wilderness and in the American Revolution proven to be the most advanced hand held weapon for the next several generations. His wife, Abigail, died in 1816 and was buried in Logan County, Kentucky. Washingtons plan to take Canada called for a two-prong attack with Montgomerys men approaching Canada by way of Lake Champlain. As his biographer James Graham stated, "His strength and spirit, his frank and manly bearing, his intelligence and good-humor, set off by a rich fund of natural wit, which he kept in constant exercise, rendered him a favorite among the people, and contributed to give him a great influence over his associates.". After having an argument with his father when he was about seventeen years old, he left home without his parents knowledge or permission and moved to Virginia. The wounded and dying reached the Fort on the 17th, with Dunbar and the rest of the remaining force who had been covering the retreat, arriving soon after. Tarleton ordered the 71st Highlanders to advance. Morgan suffered a punishment that often killed the victim either while receiving the beating or afterwards from infection. Morgan and his actions served as one of the key sources for the fictional character of Benjamin Martin in The Patriot, a motion picture released in 2000. His father was an iron master and soon after Daniel was born, the family moved across the Delaware River to Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Lastly, Washingtons army had gained a savior in Baron von Steuben, a German recruit, skilled in whipping a collection of amateurs into an effective fighting force who soon stand toe to toe with British steel. The American gunsmiths added the longer barrel and modified the breech, making the weapon more powerful and less problematic with limited maintenance. Besides, he was now in great pain from sciatica, which had worsened the past year. That spark came when then Provisional Colonel George Washington, leading a militia of Virginians, surprised a detachment of French & Canadians on May 28, 1754 during a diplomatic mission and killed the leader, Joseph Coulon Jumonville. . He left home around 1753 after a bitter argument with his father. Arnolds command included brigades by General Ebenezer Learned and Enoch Poors Continentals with Major Henry Dearborns unit (Dearborn having been exchanged) and Colonel Daniel Morgans riflemen. He had ignored Gates orders and hastened to the crash of arms. Bryce Metcalf, Bryce Original Members and Other Officers Eligible to the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783-1938: With the Institution, Rules of Admission, and Lists of the Officers of the General and State Societies (Strasburg, Va.: Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc., 1938), page 108. Somewhere along this path, Daniel Morgan and a British officer crossed paths. He filed his report to Washington and Congress that neither included Arnold nor Morgan, denying them the credit they so soundly deserved. Shades of Liberty Series. After eluding Tarleton for three weeks, Morgan turned to confront him on January 17, 1781. Morgan characteristically knocked out the officer with a single blow of his fist. However, Valley Forge, though harsh, was not the lowest point in the American Revolution. Congress also called for ten companies of riflemen to be recruited in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia (responsible for two companies). The North Carolina militia was to be under the command of General William Smallwood, however Gates offered this to Morgan who refused. Hundreds of Great Books on the American Revolution. [35], The Daniel Morgan House at Winchester was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.[36]. After Saratoga, on November 18, 1777, Morgans unit rejoined Washingtons main army, near Philadelphia. On March 25, 1790, Morgan finally received a gold medal that had been struck by Congress in recognition of his victory at Cowpens. On December 2, command of the department passed to Major General Nathanael Greene. They had successfully dislodged the British from the forts along the Richelieu River and had laid siege to Montreal before they could assist Arnolds attack on Quebec. His company, known as Morgans riflemen marched from Virginia to Boston in 21 days. Also, rifles did not have bayonets and therefore could not thwart such an attack nor charge like musketeers. They paroled them eight months later on the promise that the parolees would not fight against the British until they were exchanged for British prisoners. 14 (1929), pp 277-91. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Daniel Morgan (1736 - July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. As they approached this second barricade, the Royal Highlanders and militia rained shot down upon them. Rebels pursued the enemy with vigor, jumping over and around the dead and wounded. 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After the outbreak of the American Revolution, Morgan led a force of riflemen to reinforce the patriots laying siege to Boston in 1775. At some point, Morgan and this officer had words and the officer struck Morgan with the flat side of his sword. He lost in 1794, but won in 1796 with 70% of the vote by defeating Democratic-Republican Robert Rutherford. On March 25, 1790 he finally received a gold medal which Congress had struck to honor him for his victory at Cowpens. Later he was put in charge of his employer Burwells sawmill. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. He died on July 6, 1802. Major Aclands grenadiers held the British left and fired a volley. Morgan was badly injured while returning to Winchester from Fort Edward. The sailors scattered and the rebels surged forward, led by Morgan. Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life - amazon.com Morgan, having recovered from his wound, resumed his occupation as a wagoneer supplying settlers along the frontier. "499 Lashes" General Daniel Morgan - Winchester Tales | Facebook [5] This caused great outrage within and without the British army; amongst others, Washington disapproved of this way of war, and when gunpowder began to run out he forbade Morgan to fight in such a manner. Captain John Fenton Mercer, of Washingtons Virginia regiment, [the Mercer clan Scotsmen were friends of Washington including later General Hugh Mercer] garrisoned the wilderness Fort Edward, on the Cacapehon river about twenty miles northwest of Winchester. This was even larger than authorized strength. On July 12th, Braddock was brought into camp and orders were given to retreat to Fort Cumberland. Eventually, Morgan married and bought a farm east of Winchester, near today's Berryville. Weve all seen the images Continental Soldiers huddled around winter fires, starving, distraught, Americas darkest hour; these are the times that try a mans soul, taught in every classroom of American History. 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. She also taught him to properly read and write. For his actions at Cowpens, the Virginia legislature granted Morgan land and an estate that had been abandoned by a Tory. At that moment, Dearborns light infantry, who had supported Morgan, swept in from the rear. After the war, Morgan retired from the army again and developed a large estate. While Greene withdrew north, Morgan was instructed to campaign in the South Carolina back country with the goal of building support for the cause and irritating the British. The British Legion, among the best units in Cornwallis's army, was effectively useless. The morning of the battle, Morgan positioned his men then had them sit down and rest while they calmly waited for the enemy to come up. At age 19, he took on the job as wagoner. Though Morgan implored his men to advance, he was forced to wait for additional forces to come up, leading to a thirty-minute delay. Therefore, his contemporaries assumed that his younger years must have been painful. As a result, he was passed over for promotion to brigadier general and leadership of the new formation went to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne. [1] He left home in 1753 at age 17 (supposedly after a severe argument with his father) and after a spell in Carlisle, Penn., settled in Charles Town (Winchester), Virginia, at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. Tools Daniel Morgan (1735/36 - July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. Biography of Daniel Morgan, U.S. Brigadier General - ThoughtCo [5] Later, when he led troops, he banned flogging. He gradually pulled back from Tarleton, and arrived at Cowpens the night before. His name would become synonymous with some of the most determined and hardened fighters of the war. Perhaps due to Morgans bravery and obstinate resistance to the very end, General Carleton was very kind to his enemy. Morgan would see service in the war first as a wagoner and later, an armed soldier. Morgan handed his sword to a French-Canadian priest, refusing to give it to Carleton in formal surrender. Gates would not support his men at Freemans Farm, fearing the Germans with artillery were still advancing up the road. Marching south after the triumph, Morgan and his men rejoined Washington's army on November 18 at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, and then entered the winter encampment at Valley Forge. The union would produce two children: Nancy Morgan Neville (1763-1839) and Betsy Morgan Heard (no dates wife of James Heard). Deploying his forces in a pasture area known as the Cowpens, Morgan formed his men in three lines. The Patriots attacked in two pincers, commanded by Montgomery and Arnold. As a result, he was court-martialed and sentenced to 500 lashes. (One, Nancy, married Presley Neville, a Revolutionary War veteran. Morgan refused to give up and attempted to break out, actually capturing Laws in one such attempt. As a result, he was repeatedly passed over for promotion to brigadier, favor going to men with less combat experience but better political connections. Daniel and Abigail Morgan had two daughters. He sent the very enterprising Lt. After Gates disastrous defeat at Camden, SC, Morgan put aside his personal feelings for the good of the country and rejoined the army in the Southern Campaign. [13] The long rifles used were more accurate and had a longer range than other firearms at that time (300 yards as compared to 80 for standard smooth-bore muskets), but took much longer to load. He finally settled on the Virginia frontier, near what is now Winchester, Virginia. Formed as they were, Tarletons men would not be able to see the regular troops assembled in ranks behind the militia, commanded by Morgan and Howard, until they were well upon them. Held as a prisoner until September 1776, Morgan was initially paroled before being formally exchanged in January 1777. Simultaneously, Lt. Burgoyne retired to his starting positions, but about 500 men poorer for the effort. Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life - amazon.com After the main army crossed the river, Gates advance force was attacked by 72 French regulars, 146 Canadians, and nearly 700 Native Americans. He placed his reserves, Washingtons cavalry, in a swale that hid them from the British view. Arnolds men forged a 350 miles path in 60 days up wild rivers, thickly tangled forests, and crossed immense swamps, battling the elements, cold, and starvation before finally reaching the St. Lawrence. He was active in transporting supplies up and down this line of defense and was frequently open to hostile attack by roving bands of French and Native Americans. Colonel Washington. Many New Englanders breathed a sigh of relief to see Morgans men traipse off on September 15, 1775. At last, on October 13, 1780, Morgan received his promotion to brigadier general. They took longer to reload and, in that time, an enemy force could effectively charge with the bayonet. He and two escorts were returning from Fort Edwards with a dispatch for the commanding officer at Winchester, Virginia, when they were ambushed by a band of French and Native Americans at Hanging Rock. The Life of General Daniel Morgan of the Virginia Line of the United States 1859: Derby & Jackson, New York, NY. Early in the war, Morgan served in Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec and in the Saratoga campaign. Morgan led his regiment, with the added support of Henry Dearborn's 300-man New Hampshire infantry, as the advance to the main forces. Morgan ran for election to the US House of Representatives twice as a Federalist. 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. He led a force that relieved Fort Edwards during its siege and successfully directed the defence afterward. Morgan immediately kept himself and his corps busy. With the beginning of the French and Indian War, Morgan found employment as a teamster for the British Army. The riflemen opened up at over two hundred yards and began to pick off British redcoats. Morgan eventually arrived at Charlotte on December 3, 1780 where forging and raiding occupied their time until the end of the year. Seeing the British retreat, Morgans men raced after them for the kill and ran headlong into a massed British line. As the British began to form on the fields at Freeman's farm, Morgan's men continued to break these formations with accurate rifle fire from the woods on the far side of the field. Having proved himself a military leader, in 1771, William Nelson, acting Governor of Virginia, commissioned Morgan captain of the Fredericksburg Militia. It has since been labeled the Battle of Great Cacapon or Mercers Massacre. This punishment had been known to kill lesser men, and the lieutenant publicly apologized to Morgan. Highlanders Attack at the Battle of Bushy Run in 1763. Also part of the expedition were two of his future commanders in Lieutenant Colonel George Washington and Captain Horatio Gates. In response, Morgan knocked the lieutenant out with one punch. The wagons followed slowly and by July 10th, halted around seven miles west of what was called The Great Meadow (where the previous year Washington had built a crude fortification called Fort Necessity) and now referred to as Dunbar Camp. He was finally allowed to resign on June 30, 1779, and returned home to Winchester. Tarleton charged, only to be surprised when Morgans infantry turned to fire and a hidden cavalry force joined the conflict. He named the home Saratoga after his victory in New York. Unlike Washington, who was obsessed with protocol, Morgan was no fan of rank and struck a British officer who had angered him. The tactic resulted in a double envelopment. Increasingly pressured by Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis's forces, Greene elected to divide his army, with Morgan commanding one part, in order to give it time to rebuild after the losses incurred at Camden. Morgan's company was one of them. The advance of such a large army through the wilderness called for an extensive support system of axe men, workers, and of course, hundreds of wagons to haul supplies and armaments. 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. Again working with Dearborn, Morgan helped to defeat this attack and then led his men forward in a counterattack that saw American forces capture two key redoubts near the British camp. 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. The Patriot Resource: Daniel Morgan Therefore, Tarleton put most of his men and his most experienced on the first line of attack, expecting to drive the Americans from the field on the first opening volleys and charge. In January, 1777, Morgan was officially exchanged and immediately set about recruiting his regiment. Join us online July 24-26! Forbes was in poor health and soon after left the fort in command of Colonel Hugh Mercer (later General Mercer in Washingtons army) and departed for Philadelphia where he died on March 11, 1759 and is buried in the Christ Church. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! The only recorded reference to his birth date was given by Morgan after his capture in the failed attack on Quebec in which during the prisoner exchange, he gave his age as 40 years. On the second day of the attack, the enemy made a furious assault on the fort. Twenty thousand men were to be raised. , leaving the third line of more than 500 regulars occupying a hill to contend with the advancing British. Montgomery's force initiated their attack as the blizzard became severe, and Montgomery and many of his troops, except for Aaron Burr, were killed or wounded in the first British volley. Understanding the limited resolve of the militia, he requested they fire two volleys before withdrawing to the left and reforming to the rear. So too was Morgan injured. No one truly knows exactly when Daniel Morgan (circa 1736-1802) was born.