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Foreword:

William Washington was one of the main rebel cavalry leaders who clashed with Tarleton during the Southern Campaign. Despite their enormous physical dissimilarities, it is even reputed that Banastre Tarleton once successfully masqueraded as Washington to gain the trust of a rebel sympathizer. Stephen Haller, author of a recent biography of Washington (William Washington: Cavalryman of the Revolution¹), kindly provided this mini-bio to replace the few sentences I had here. -- Marg B.

By Charles Willson Peale

William Washington was one of a small, loyal cadre of key field officers who served with distinction in the Continental Army for duration of the War of the American Revolution. His independent operations and battlefield actions as a cavalry commander in the South were comparable to the exploits of his better-known fellow officers. Unlike William Davie, Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion, Daniel Morgan and Thomas "Gamecock" Sumter -- as well as their famous British adversary, Banastre Tarleton -- an extensive, published biography has been missing.* General Nathanael Greene referred to "Light Horse Harry" Lee as his "eye," but he called Colonel Washington his "arm." Washington was a gallant battlefield commander who personally led his men, and he was wounded on at least two occasions (possibly four). His battlefield dash and personal bravery were balanced by modesty and selflessness, and the mercurial aspects of his military career offer a view of the difficulties in maintaining the cavalry. His story is thus an all the more believable, fascinating example of the war's soldier-cavalrymen.

William's father, Bailey Washington of Stafford County, was the son of Henry and Mary Washington. Henry's father, John Washington, was a brother of Lawrence Washington (George Washington's grandfather). Their father, John Washington, had emigrated from England. William (born February 28, 1752) and George - 20 years his senior - were second cousins, once removed. George also had a nephew, William Augustine Washington of Westmoreland County.

William grew up with three brothers and two sisters on his family's 1200-acre Virginia plantation (no longer standing) in Stafford County within the boundaries of today's U. S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico. He was athletic, adept at fishing, swimming and hunting, and above all a superbly skilled horseman. Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, described him as "possessed [of] a stout frame, being six feet high, broad, strong and corpulent." Princeton-educated Lee also patronizingly observed that "his occupations and his amusements applied to the body, rather than the mind; to the cultivation of which he did not bestow much time or application, nor was his education of the sort to excite such habits, being only calculated to fit a man for the common business of life. In temper he was good-humored; in disposition amiable; in heart upright, generous, and friendly; in manners lively, innocent, and agreeable." A South Carolina contemporary also commented on his education: "As a classical scholar, his merit placed him among the first on the list...But that modesty rather concealed, than displayed his talents - He was learned without ostentation." Young William had acquired a proficiency in Greek and the Classics in addition to his theology studies while studying for the ministry on the eve of Revolutionary War.

The 3rd Virginia Regiment formed in summer of 1775 at Fredericksburg under Hugh Mercer and George Weedon, and Washington was quickly elected a company captain. His likable personality combined with his size to make him stand out among his peers. The 3rd Virginia marched to New York in August 1776 and fought at Harlem Heights (not Long Island). After the Patriot army's retreat from New York and through New Jersey, James Monroe (later the fifth U. S. President) described William as "an officer whose good conduct had already been noticed."

At the Battle of Trenton, William's fellow officers praised his gallantry and decisive action to prevent the Hessian artillery from forming during a critical stage of this decisive battle. Monroe recalled how his commander "moved forward with the vanguard in front, attacked the enemy's picket, shot down the commanding officer, and drove it before him...rushed forward, attacked, and put the troops around the cannon to flight, and took possession of them." Both Monroe and Washington were two of the mere handful of Patriot casualties.

In January 1777 William Washington was promoted to major in the newly formed 4th Continental Light Dragoons, ranking behind Colonel Stephen Moylan and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony White. Although Weedon recommended William for an immediate lieutenant colonelcy, General Washington considered that, although merited, such quick rank might "(considering the connexion between us), be looked upon as the effect of partiality." In 1777-78, the 4th served in the Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth campaigns. After on Baylor's 3rd Dragoons were decimated at Tappan in November 1778, General Washington ordered Major Washington to "contingently take command" of them. Congress then promoted him to lieutenant colonel of the 3rd Dragoons and told him to take full command of the regiment. In late 1779 the rebuilt 3rd was ordered to South Carolina. The 1st Dragoons had already been at Savannah in 1779 with Pulaski and suffered when his assault failed (Note: the 4th did not serve in the Carolinas prior to 1782).

When Washington arrived in South Carolina, he camped near Charles Elliott's Sandy Hill plantation a few miles west of Charleston. When the owner's daughter, Jane Riley Elliott, met William, she told him "that she would look out for news of his flag and fortune." The cavalryman lamented the lack of a standard for his regiment, and the quick-thinking seventeen-year-old cut an 18" square of crimson damask from a drapery. She then fashioned a sleeve to fit a lance pennon and bound the edges for a fringe. To the flattered Virginian, she then exclaimed, "Here is your flag, colonel! Take this, Colonel, and make it your standard." William attached the banner to a hickory pole and the 3rd Dragoons would carry it through the war's end (and this patriotic girl surely impressed their commander!). Six months later, the flag was called "Tarleton's Terror" after the battle of Cowpens (and later known as the "Eutaw flag" for the battle of Eutaw Springs).

Washington and Banastre Tarleton frequently faced each other in cavalry skirmishes and full-fledged battles. Throughout March and early April, the American cavalry continued thrust and parry operations against the British while maintaining a thin communications line into Charleston. On March 27, William encountered hitherto triumphant Tarleton for the first time - near Sandy Hill at Rantowle's (a few miles northeast of a bridge spanning a tributary of the Stono River). William first defeated Tory Colonel John Hamilton's North Carolina infantry. When Tarleton arrived with his Legion cavalry and attempted to rescue Tory prisoners, Washington charged him in turn and drove the Green Dragoons back. Only a lack of infantry support prevented William from exploiting his temporary advantage, and he almost captured Henry Clinton (who had joined Tarleton's force).

Other skirmishes were followed by Patriot defeats at Monck's Corner (Tarleton surprised Isaac Huger's corps on April 14) and Lenud's Ferry (Tarleton surprised White's command on May 6). Washington and a handful of his men barely escaped from both melees. Charleston fell on May 10, and Washington and White then went to North Carolina to rebuild the cavalry over the summer. Cornwallis defeated Gates at Camden in August, leaving only the partisans of Marion and Sumter.

Washington joined General Daniel Morgan's "light corps" in the western Carolinas in October and November 1780. Learning that Tory Colonel Henry Rugeley had 200 Tories at his fortified farm a few miles north of Camden, South Carolina, Morgan detached Washington and his 100 dragoons to take them by surprise. Gambling on the inexperience of his opponent, Washington resorted to a ruse. While most of his dragoons dismounted and surrounded the barn on December 4, he directed some men in fashioning a mock cannon from a pine log and mounting it on a carriage out of view of the enemy. He brought it into sight of the barn with great fanfare as if to fire this "Quaker gun" and summoned the defenders to surrender or risk being blown to pieces. The deception worked, and according to a participant, the fake cannon "had the same effect as if it was the best piece in Christendom," convincing the Tories to give up without firing a shot.

In mid-December, 250 Georgia Loyalists under Colonel Waters crossed the Savannah River and were burning Patriot homes between Ninety Six and Winnsboro, and in Morgan's words "were insulting and Plundering the good people [there]." While following the destructive path wrought by this "Party of Plunderers," William Washington wrote General Greene that "The Distress of the Women and Children stripp'd of every thing by plundering Villains cries aloud for Redress." On December 27, Morgan reinforced Washington with 200 Georgia and South Carolina mounted militia. After a forty-mile ride through farmland devastated by the Tories, the Patriots caught their prey at Hammond Stores, twenty-six miles east of the strategic British post at Ninety Six. The Tories were dismounted and preparing a noon meal, so the Patriots briefly held the advantage of surprise. While Waters hurriedly formed his men in line on the crest of a hill, William quickly formed into line on another hill facing their enemy, with his regular dragoons in the center and the mounted militia - many armed with rifles - on the flanks. He called for the militia to fire a volley and charged with his Continental Dragoons and the militia. Washington's force took 40 prisoners and 50 horses, but 150 Tories were killed or sabered beyond recovery. Morgan noted that "What makes this success more Valuable...it was attained without the loss of a man."

At Cowpens (January 17, 1781), Washington was able to bring superior numbers to bear at critical points on the narrow battlefield where he could outnumber the British - Tarleton's total cavalry force outnumbered Washington's by more than two to one. His cavalry first defeated the British 17th Light Dragoons on the British right and then a Legion Dragoon squadron on their left. He followed with an assault on the British infantry and pursuit. A running encounter between Washington and Tarleton (described by Col. Howard and later by Justice John Marshall and a few pensioners) would eventually be dramatized in four nineteenth century paintings (1845-1898)!

At Guilford Courthouse (March 15, 1781), Washington charged the British Guards after earlier covering the Patriot right wing throughout the battle. Cornwallis described Guards' fate as "thrown into confusion by a heavy fire, and immediately charged and driven back into the field by Colonel Washington's dragoons, with the loss of the six pounders they [the Guards] had taken."

At Hobkirk's Hill, (April 25, 1781), Washington made too wide of a circuit to help Greene replicate Cowpens. He got bogged down in the rear of Rawdon's army, taking as many prisoners as his men could manage by pulling them up on the horses behind them. Thus burdened, the dragoons advanced on the main battle. When he saw that his comrades were losing, Washington quickly paroled the prisoners. He rushed to help cover the American retreat and immediately charged Coffin's Tory cavalry, routing them and rescuing the precious American artillery pieces by dragging them away behind some of the dragoon own horses. This action enabled Greene to rally most of his men a few miles away and once again keep his army intact.

At Eutaw Springs, (September 8, 1781), Washington galloped through the woods around the American left late in the battle and led his troopers in an unsupported frontal charge against an excellent British defensive position. As the dragoons approached unsupported by infantry, he realized that his men would not be able to penetrate a thicket, and he ordered a wheel by sections to the right (hoping to ride for an open space to gain the enemy's rear). Performed within killing distance of the elite British flank companies, this maneuver was disastrous. The British, firing enfilade with deadly efficiency, turned this gallant unit into a disordered mass of men and horses. The British then charged with the bayonet - killing, wounding, or capturing over half of the cavalrymen. Washington's horse was shot and it fell and pinned him to the ground. A participant recalled: "Washington jumped his horse into the midst of the enemy and was suddenly taken prisoner. A British soldier appearing to be in the posture of attempting to stab Colonel Washington, one of his men rushed forward and cut him down at one blow. Washington being a prisoner, and his men mingled in confusion with the enemy..."

While a prisoner in Charleston, William Washington became reacquainted with rice heiress Jane Elliott (her father died at Sandy Hill on the same day as the Battle of Cowpens). The couple found the wherewithal in the enemy-occupied city to get married on April 21, 1782. The British left Charleston the following December and Washington soon sat for his Charles Wilson Peale portrait. In contrast to his six years as a soldier, William Washington was content to enjoy thirty years after the war as a South Carolina planter in the affluent, peaceful pursuit of agriculture. The extensive real estate holdings brought to the marriage by Jane were all near the Elliott family mansion at Sandy Hill (12,000 acres; no longer standing). The couple had two children, Jane and William, Jr. Although an active member of the South Carolina General Assembly for 17 years, William was not overly ambitious for a political career and refused offers to run for governor of his adopted state.

During George Washington's 1791 Southern Tour, the President bent his rule of avoiding overnight stays in private homes. He spent two days at Sandy Hill, ascribing the visit to "motives of friendship and relationship." When the President returned to Mount Vernon, he kept a lively correspondence with his cousin on agricultural topics. William's fervor for horse racing was also a passion of his fellow planters. The South Carolina Jockey Club listed Washington as one of the five "most conspicuous gentlemen of the Turf" in the two decades following the American Revolution.

France and the United States became embroiled in a brief undeclared war in 1798, and President John Adams appointed William Washington a brigadier general under General George Washington. Although he had hoped to continue his peaceful life at Sandy Hill, William responded that he "had indulged the pleasing hope that I had made a final retreat into the peaceful shades of retirement, but I shall not hesitate at this momentous crisis...to obey the summons of my country."

William Washington (died March 6, 1810) and Jane (died December 14, 1830) are buried in the old Elliott private cemetery near Rantowles Bridge over modern U. S. Route 17 - the scene of his first cavalry fight with Tarleton in 1780. Washington's memory was publicly honored several times after his death. On April 19, 1827 Jane presented his scarlet battle flag to the Washington Light Infantry at a ceremony held in front of the couple's house on the Charleston Battery (still standing), and they have continued to preserve the relic. They tried to erect a monument in memory of William and Jane, but when unable to place it at the couple's gravesite, they selected Magnolia Cemetery and held an elaborate ceremony in 1858. The names of William's battles appear on the base of a 17-foot marble monument: Trenton, Cowpens, Hobkirk's Hill and Eutaw Springs.

William Washington's military career reflected the glory and the desperation of the War of the American Revolution. He was one of a vital core of young officers who often accomplished much with very little resources. His cavalry was essential to Greene's successful campaign to drive the British from the Carolinas. That Washington embodied the spirit of resistance until the end is certain, and it was the very spirit that was required to defeat the British in North America. British military historian Sir John Fortesque observed: "It is true that Tarleton and, still more conspicuously, the American Colonel Washington had occasionally wrought great results by the charge of a mere handful of sabres."

Notes:

¹ Stephen E. Haller, William Washington: Cavalryman of the Revolution (Heritage Books, Inc., 2001) [see links]. Bill Braham provides the following mini-review: "Not a particularly fat book (237 pages in paperback) but interesting nonetheless. Good bibliography with footnotes. Some illustrations but all black-and-white including one of the famous Eutaw Flag! The maps are schematic but support the text. The author is a fan of William Washington so the biog. is basically sympathetic (but I hardly ever came across a biographer who was hostile to their subject)." [ back ]