This engraving of Banastre and the Legion appeared in the March, 1782 issue of Westminster Magazine, facing page 115.

The credit for it runs "A most STRIKING LIKENESS of Lieut. Col. TARLETON, copied (by permission) from an Original Painting by SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS, and beautifully engraved by WALKER."

The accompanying article is a fluffy little personality piece of the sort which would be found nowadays in something like People magazine. It doesn't offer any new information about Tarleton, though it's amusing to see the author struggle to find something positive to say about Cowpens. It does give insight into the attitudes of the British opposition of the times, so I've reproduced it below. There are striking parallels between the Revolution from the British perspective and the Vietnam war from the American one. In each case, the war was unpopular at home, and the government's policies toward it brought strong criticism from opposition politicians and the popular press. The author of this piece is clearly a Whig, and his outspoken criticism of the war (which was still in progress when this article was published) illustrates the amount of freedom of the press available to British publications at the time.

The Westminster Magazine for March, 1782

For the WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE
An ACCOUNT of LIEUTENANT-COLONEL TARLETON
[Embellished with an ELEGANT ENGRAVING of HIM.]

THE present unnatural and impolitic war has exhibited to the world a very extraordinary opposition between effects and causes. In the course of it, we have seen victories produce no consequences, or those the direct reverse of what might naturally have been expected. We have seen valour exerted in a manner to command the applause of those who detested the motives upon which it was commenced, and has been since carried on. We have seen distress and even ruin approaching in prosecution of an object confessedly trifling and insignificant, and which, could it be obtained, has long been acknowledged to be of no value.

Posterity will have but too much evidence of the truth of the above assertions, which it would be for the credit of this nation and of humanity to bury in oblivion. So great an infatuation never seized a people before. Such a precipitate disgrace, so sudden a declension from confident prosperity to ignominious concession, is, we believe, not to be paralleled in History.

But though we censure both the motives which induced, and the means which have been used in conducting the present unfortunate contention, let us not with-hold the praises due to those who have contributed to support the honour of the British nation by their valour, or keep up its reputation in arms by their conduct. Of these many might be enumerated, but none who have obtained more laurels than Lieutenant-Colonel TARLETON. This Gentleman is a native of Lancaster, and was designed by his friends for a very different sphere from that which he has shone in. He is a striking instance to prove, that accident frequently brings out abilities which were doomed to rust in obscurity, by the ill direction of relations, or the want of opportunities of exertion. The destination of Colonel TARLETON, had the track appointed for him been pursued, would have confined him to the office of an Attorney, or the bar of one of the Courts in Westminster-hall. He was placed with a lawyer in London, and continued with him some time. It will be no imputation upon our heroic soldier to observe, that Nature never intended him for the dull and tedious researches which contribute to the perfection of a practicer in the law. The same spirit and activity which has since rendered him so renowned, produced, at the time we are speaking of, a degree of dissipation which involved him in some difficulties, and [p116] pointed out the propriety of another profession -- a change which the disturbances between America and Great Britain then caused to be a matter of no difficulty.

Soon after he had laid aside the pen for the sword, he embarked for America, and distinguished himself very early in the service under Lord Cornwallis. In the year 1780, after the surrender of Charles-Town, that Nobleman having received intelligence that the remaining forces of the Americans were collected near the borders of North-Carolina, dispatched Colonel TARLETON with the cavalry, and a new corps of light infantry, called the Legion, mounted on horseback, in order to rout and disperse that body before it could receive any addition of strength from the neighbouring colonies.

The distance at which the enemy's post then was, secured them from any apprehensions of a surprize; they therefore considered convenience more than the means of securing a good retreat in their choice of situation. No such negligence could pass unpunished, under any circumstance of distance, with such an enemy as they had now to encounter. Colonel TARLETON upon this occasion exceeded even his usual celerity; and having marched an hundred and five miles in fifty-four hours, presented himself suddenly and unexpectedly, on the 29th of May, 1780, in a place called Waxsaw, before an astonished and dispirited enemy: they, however, positively rejected the conditions which were offered them, of surrendering upon the same terms as the garrison of Charles-Town. The attack was highly spirited; the defence, notwithstanding the cover of a wood, faint; and the ruin complete: above 100 were killed on the spot, about 150 so badly wounded as to be unable to travel, and about 50 brought away prisoners. Their colours, baggage, with the remains of the artillery of the Southern army, fell into the hands of the victors. The loss on the Colonel's side, though contending with a superiority of numbers, was but trifling.

The next opportunity Col. TARLETON had of signalizing himself offered in the engagement between Lord Cornwallis and Gen. Gates near Camden, on the 15th of Aug. The succeeding day, notwithstanding the fatigue the troops had undergone, Colonel TARLETON was dispatched with the light infantry and cavalry of the Legion, amounting to about 350, to attack General Sumpter wherever he could find him. Accordingly, having procured good information of Sumpter's movements, he by forced and concealed marches came up and surprized him in the middle of the day, on the 18th, near the Catawba Fords. So unexpected was the attack, that the enemy were lying totally careless and at ease, and mostly at a distance from their arms. The victory was nothing more than a slaughter and rout: about 150 were killed on the spot, about 300 with two pieces of cannon taken, and a number of prisoners and waggons retaken. 'This action (says Lord Cornwallis in his letter) was too brilliant to need any comment of mine, and will, I have no doubt, highly recommend Lieutenant-Colonel TARLETON to his Majesty's favour.'

The activity and address of Colonel TARLETON soon after drew him forwards again, but with less success, though equally to his honour. In January 1781 he attacked General Morgan near the Broad River. On this occasion he sustained considerable loss, but behaved with extra ordinary gallantry, and by his valour probably then saved the British army. On the 2d of March he fell in with a considerable body of Americans, of whom 90 were killed in the field, and many others in the pursuit. On the 15th he was wounded in the engagement with General Greene, but not dangerously, and again was honoured with the approbation of his commanding officer. The unfortunate month of October following shewed, that the bravest men must sometimes submit: -- Colonel TARLETON was in the army of Lord Cornwallis, which at that time surrendered themselves prisoners of war.

On this event, Colonel TARLETON returned home, and has met with the reception due to his courage and conduct. We hope he will soon be exchanged, and employed against the natural enemies of his country. The time seems now approaching when a period will be put to a dispute which has overwhelmed us with disgrace and misfortune. We ardently wish for a reconciliation with our American brethren; and shall, when once more united, expect to see our arms turned against the common foes, equally to the honour and advantage of Great Britain and America.