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!