MEDAL.
Occasion.—Victory at the Cowpens, N. Carolina.
Device.—An officer mounted, with uplifted sword, pursuing an officer on foot, bearing a stand of colors: Victory descending in front over the former, holding a wreath in her right hand over his head: a palm-branch in her left hand.
Legend.—John Eager Howard, legionis peditum præfecto comitia Americana.
Reverse Inscription—(within a laurel wreath.)—Quod in nutantem hostium aciem subito irruens, præclarum bellicæ virtutis specimen dedit in pugna, ad Cowpens, 17th January, 1781.
COL. WILLIAM A. WASHINGTON.
William Augustine Washington was the eldest son of Baily Washington, of Stafford county, Virginia. The subject of these memoirs had commenced his studies for the church, when the war sound of the revolution rung in his ears; he was one of those who exerted such an exalted influence throughout the whole campaign, that his biographers distinguish him as the “modern Marcellus.”
Colonel Washington was a scholar of rare attainments, especially in the Greek language, in which, in his day, he was unequalled. At the request of his relative, General George Washington, he was appointed to the command of a company of infantry, in the third regiment of the Virginia line.
He was distinguished for his manly fortitude in sustaining the greatest difficulties and dangers.
He led one of the attacking columns, at the surprise of the Hessians at Trenton, where he received a severe wound from a musket-ball which passed entirely through his hand. He was afterwards appointed a major in a regiment of dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Baylor, which was shortly after surprised by a detachment of the enemy, commanded by General Grey, and almost cut to pieces. Our hero fortunately escaped, and in the year following joined the army of General Lincoln, of South Carolina, with whose troops he was constantly employed, in encounters with the British, first, near Ashley Ferry, where he drove back the cavalry of the British legion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, and took several prisoners: but being unsupported by infantry, he gained but little advantage or success.
It has been asserted, and it is believed from good authority, that Colonel Washington and Tarleton were personally engaged, and that during the skirmish, Tarleton lost three of his fingers from a stroke from the sword of Colonel Washington. An anecdote is related and believed to be correct, respecting the meeting of these two officers: it is as follows:—Tarleton, when on a visit to an American family, remarked, that he should be glad to get another look at this Colonel Washington, of whom he had heard so much: when a lady in company quickly observed, “What a pity Colonel Tarleton did not turn his head when he lost his fingers!” Subsequently, Colonel Washington was attached to the light corps, commanded by General Morgan; and by an ingenious stratagem carried a valuable post in possession of the British, called Rugely’s, and took a great number of prisoners, without firing a single shot. Aware of the character of his opponent, Colonel Rugely, he placed a pine log on the wheels of a wagon, so painted as to have the appearance, at a distance, of a field-piece, threatening immediate destruction if any resistance should be offered. The affrighted Colonel begged for quarter and surrendered without difficulty!
Next followed the brilliant victory of the Cowpens, in which Colonel Washington contributed in no small degree. His ardor in this contest had nearly cost him his life. Animating the troops to the pursuit by his example, he advanced so far as to be surrounded by several British officers. At the moment when the sword of one of them was actually raised for his destruction, his brave bugleman fired a pistol which disabled the British officer, and saved the life of his gallant commander. Shortly after his cavalry was added to a body of horse and foot selected by General Greene, and placed under the command of Colonel Williams. Colonel Washington was happy to a degree in baffling the efforts of Cornwallis to force Greene to a battle. He took a very conspicuous part in the contest at Guildford Courthouse, where, by a spirited and daring charge, he broke the British regiment of guards, commanded by Colonel Stewart, who was killed; and with the brave Colonel Howard and his gallant Marylanders, nearly effected their entire destruction. Colonel Garden relates the following remarks made to him by an officer of distinction in the army of the enemy:—“I was near General Webster when the charge was made by Washington. The desperate situation of the guards had its effect on all around. An American officer quickly perceiving it, rode up to the British line and called aloud, ‘Surrender, gentlemen, and be certain of good quarters.’ Terrified by appearances, and concluding that defeat was inevitable, the soldiers of the regiment of De Bose were actually throwing down their arms. In the midst of the confusion, General Webster, famed for great presence of mind, exclaimed, ‘Unless that gallant fellow is taken off, we are lost.’ A field-piece at this moment was brought up, and directed to be fired into the throng where the guards now appeared to be greatly outnumbered, and did so with the happiest success; the cavalry wheeled off, the remains of the battalion rallied, and the army was saved.”
At Hobkirk Hill, Colonel Washington added another wreath to his well-earned laurels. Famous for skillful maneuvering, he cut off the rear of the British line, capturing eleven officers and two hundred men, but the early retreat of the American forces prevented his bringing more than fifty of his prisoners off the field; these, however, contained the eleven officers. At the battle of Eutaw, his repeated charges on the British light infantry were signalized by extraordinary bravery and valor. In an effort which required all his courage, his horse was shot from under him, and becoming entangled as he fell, he was taken prisoner. This was the closing scene of his military performances, which had always been characterized by ardor, bravery and decision; he knew danger only by name, and though unfortunate at last, no officer in the American revolution ever in a higher degree merited success.
He remained a prisoner until the close of the war, when he retired to his plantation at Sandy Hill, about thirty miles from Charleston, South Carolina. He served for several years as a member of the legislature, during which service he was persuaded to become a candidate for the office of governor; but this honor he respectfully declined.
He married a lady to whom he had become attached during his imprisonment. By her he had a son and daughter. After a long and tedious illness, borne by the most heroic and Christian fortitude, he died on the 6th of March, 1810.
By a resolve of Congress, 9th March, 1781, which stated that eighty cavalry and two hundred and thirty-seven infantry of the United States, and five hundred and fifty-three southern militia, obtained a complete victory over a select and well-appointed detachment of more than eleven hundred British, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, a silver medal was ordered to be struck and presented to Colonel Washington, of which the following is a description:—
Occasion.—Victory at the Cowpens, North Carolina.
Device.—An officer mounted at the head of a body of cavalry, charging flying troops: Victory over the heads of the Americans, holding a laurel crown in her right hand, and a palm branch in her left.
Legend.—Gulielmo Washington legionis equit. Præfecto comitia Americana.
Reverse.—Quod parva militum manu strenue prospectus hostes, virtutis ingenitæ præclarum specionen dedit in pregna ad Cowpens, 17th January, 1781. (Within a laurel crown.) (See [Plate I.])
MAJOR HENRY LEE.
Henry Lee, the subject of the following sketch, was born in Virginia on the 29th of January, 1756. His family was one of the most respectable among the first settlers of that state. His father was for many years a member of the provincial assembly of Virginia. Henry Lee was prepared for college by a private tutor at his father’s residence, and afterwards graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, under the superintendence of Dr. Witherspoon, then President.
Two years after his graduation, and in the twentieth of his age, he was appointed to the command, as captain, of one of the six companies of cavalry, raised by his native state; the whole under the command of Colonel Theodoric Bland.
During the campaigns of 1775 and 1776, there was not a single troop of horse attached to the continental army. General Washington, seeing the danger arising from this, was urgent in his applications to Congress, and consequently the Virginia regiment was received into the service of the United States.
Here, under the immediate eye of the commander-in-chief, his skill in discipline and gallant bearing rapidly acquired confidence. He was promoted to the rank of Major, with the command of a separate corps of cavalry. From his able and rigorous attention to his horses and men, he was enabled at all times to act with promptness and efficiency. Not only in attacking light parties of the enemy, but in foraging and obtaining information, he rendered most essential service to the American army.
As it was the province of Lee to lay near the British lines to discover their movements, an attempt was made to cut off both him and his troops. A body of British cavalry, amounting to about two hundred men, made a circuitous route, seizing four of his patrols, and came unexpectedly upon him in his stone house used as quarters. He had with him at the time but ten men; the majority were dispersed in search of forage.
With this small but gallant band, he made such a resolute and determined defence, that the enemy hastily retreated, after having four men and several horses killed, with one officer and three men wounded. This gallant and almost miraculous affair called forth from his commander-in-chief marks of his warmest approbation. Congress also voted him their thanks and congratulations upon his fortunate escape. In the year 1779, Lee again called forth the approbation of his country, by the successful execution of a plan for the capture of the British garrison, stationed at Paulus Hook, near New York.
At the head of about three hundred men, he completely surprised the garrison, and after taking one hundred and sixty prisoners, retreated with the loss of but two men killed and three wounded.
As a reward for the “prudence, skill and bravery” shown by Major Lee in the affair of Paulus Hook, Congress ordered a gold medal to be struck, under the direction of the board of treasury, and presented to him; a description of which will be given at the end of this memoir.
Early in 1780, he returned with his legion to the south, having been previously promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to join General Greene, who was then watching the movements of Cornwallis.
At the celebrated retreat of Greene, before Cornwallis, the legion of Major Lee formed the rear-guard of the American army; and so hasty was the pursuit, that Lee, coming in contact with the dragoons of Tarleton, in a successful charge, killed eighteen, and made a captain and fifteen privates prisoners. When the safety of General Greene’s retreat was certain, Lee, with Colonel Pickins, was detached to intercept and watch the movements of Lord Cornwallis. Lee now formed a plan to surprise Tarleton, and on their way to execute the plan, they fell in with some messengers, dispatched by some loyalists to Tarleton, to apprise him of his situation. These messengers, mistaking the legion of Lee for the British, freely communicated the object of their errand, which enabled Lee to act accordingly.
He particularly distinguished himself in the battle of Guildford. Afterwards he succeeded in capturing Fort Cornwallis, and other forts.
In the battle of Eutaw Springs, which soon followed, his military talents were again exerted, and again contributed in no small degree to the successful issue of the day. Our hero was next dispatched by General Greene to lay before his commander-in-chief the exigencies of the troops under his command. Washington was then engaged in the siege of Yorktown, and Lee arrived a few days only before its surrender. He was present at that imposing and eventful ceremony, and, after having executed his commission, returned again to the south. The health of Colonel Lee had been much impaired by the fatigues and hardships he had undergone; besides, he fancied himself neglected, and his services underrated. Under the influence of these feelings, he sought and obtained permission to retire from the army. Soon after his return to Virginia, he married Matilda, the daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee, and settled at Stratford, in Westmoreland county.
In 1786, he was appointed a delegate in Congress from Virginia, in which body he remained till the constitution was adopted. In 1791, he was chosen governor of Virginia, and retained the office three years. He was a member of Congress at the death of General Washington, and was appointed by Congress to deliver an eulogy on the occasion. He retained his seat in Congress until the election of Jefferson to the chief magistracy, when he retired into private life. The last years of this gallant officer were clouded by pecuniary embarrassments. The profuse and extravagant mode of living in Virginia ruined his estate, and obliged him for some time to submit to the incarceration of a prison.
During his confinement he composed his memoirs of the southern campaign, in which he had been one of the principal actors; the events of which he had so good an opportunity of knowing. In hopes of restoring his broken health, Colonel Lee repaired to the West Indies, in order to try a warmer and more equable climate; but his hopes proved futile, and in 1818, on his return to the United States, he died on the 25th of March, at the house of Mrs. Shaw, on Cumberland Island, near St. Mary’s, Georgia, the daughter of his old friend and companion in arms, General Greene.