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Banastre Tarleton QUICK FACTS REVOLUTIONARYREVOLUTIONARY NEIGHBORSNEIGHBORS Banastre Tarleton QUICK FACTS • Member of the Regiment of Dragoon Guards (England’s finest calvary regiments) • Volunteered to fight in the American Revolutionary war under Lieutenant General Charles Lord Cornwallis • Engaged rebels near Ft. Lee, New Jersey • Captured Continental Army General Charles Lee in Basking Ridge, New Jersey • Was known for his brutal • Was defeated at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina • Authored a book about his experiences in the American Revolutionary War • Was made a Baronet in 1816 Banastre Tarleton • Died on January 16, 1833 1754-1833 Loyalist British Military Officer Author Visit us online today! www.revolutionarynj.org PAGE 1 REVOLUTIONARY NEIGHBORS Banastre Tarleton BIOGRAPHY I am perhaps the most feared and controversial few Sentrys down and saw their Position…We then British cavalry commander of the American retreated without any Loss or Wound except one Revolution. I am known for an important event Horses Ear.” Within the week, Tarleton would be that occurred here in New Jersey in the dark days of led over the Passaic River by local Loyalist Robert 1776. Drummond. I was born on August 21, 1754 in Liverpool, While Cornwallis, Harcourt and Tarleton England My father served as the Mayor of Liverpool were on Washington’s heels in his retreat across but also was a merchant, ship owner and slave trader. the state, 3,000 Continental troops under Major My family was wealthy and provided me many General Charles Lee crossed over from Westchester opportunities. I attended University College, Oxford on 2 December 1776, and were taking a more University, in London when my father passed away I southwesterly course, both avoiding the British and gained his inheritance but quickly spent it foolishly seemingly in little hurry to join Washington. This on gambling and other social events. I found school force was essentially the same number of men that to be rather dull and purchase a commission in the Washington had with him, and joining forces would 1st Regiment of Dragoon Guards, one of England’s at least double his strength and give him hopes of finest cavalry regiments. My timing for action saving Philadelphia, the apparent British target. was perfect. My orders came just 24 hours after Spending several days at Morristown, claiming his the first shots of the war were fired in Lexington, men were “ill shod,” Lee proposed to Washington Massachusetts. My troop was not being sent to his force remain in New Jersey and attack the rear of America to defend the King’s colonies against the Cornwallis’ army. He then related his uncertainty rebellion. as to where he might cross the Delaware or meet I decided I would go to America as a volunteer. Washington’s force. Such delays and excuses Under the command of Lieutenant General Charles maddened Washington, who wrote to Lee on the Lord Cornwallis, I witnessed the failed British attack 14th: “I have so frequently mentioned our Situation, on Charleston, South Carolina in June 1776. Later and the necessity of your Aid, that it is painfull to that summer, I arrived in New York and joined the me to add a Word upon the Subject.” Lee, however, British cavalry there. I had hoped I would have been would never receive Washington’s letter… promoted to one of two cavalry regiments under the Cornwallis, having chased Washington’s command of Sir William Howe in America. And Army across the Delaware, now turned his attention while neither regiment was on Lord Cornwallis’ to that of Charles Lee. Not knowing his exact invasion of Bergen County in the early morning whereabouts, Cornwallis ordered Colonel Harcourt hours of 20 November 1776, Cornet Tarleton and and thirty of the 16th Light Dragoons out to scout the 16th Light Dragoons did land at the newly the area and learn what they could of the second captured Fort Lee the next day. Writing home in command of the Continental Army. Their guide from New Bridge on the 23rd, Tarleton excitedly for the expedition would be a seventeen year old detailed his first action in New Jersey: “Lt. Col. Loyalist from Quibbletown, Somerset County [William] Harcourt commanded a reconnoitering named William Robins. On the morning of 12 Party of Dragoons and Lt. Infantry yesterday. We December 1776, Harcourt and his men, including penetrated 12 Miles into the country to Aquaknack myself, marched eighteen miles to Hillsborough, [sic–Acquackanonk, modern Passaic] where we where the only excitement encountered was the found the Rebels posted. We alarmed them, cut a house we put up in for the night caught fire. Visit us online today! www.revolutionarynj.org PAGE 2 REVOLUTIONARY NEIGHBORS Banastre Tarleton BIOGRAPHY Continuing on early the next morning, I was at Pennington. Our Days March only, exceeded given the advance guard of six men, winding 60 Miles.” For his efforts, Captain Stockton was their way towards Morristown. Along the way we promoted to major in Lieutenant Colonel Isaac captured one soldier, and received information Allen’s 6th Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers. I, from some residents, that Lee was but four or five whose regiment was still actually in England, was miles distant. Advancing further, I captured two made major-of-brigade, a staff position, to the two sentries, who informed me that Lee was only a mile regiments of British cavalry in America. That would further, lodged in a tavern at Basking Ridge, with change before long. his entourage and a small guard. Taking all the Like John Graves Simcoe, I was recognized information into account, Colonel Harcourt decided as a talented officer in need of much higher rank to make an attempt to capture Lee. I once again than the British Army could provide at that time. spurred on his advance guard, this time riding down His friend William Lord Cathcart, a captain in the a “Yankee Light Horseman” and taking him back 17th Light Dragoons, was a fellow up-and-comer, to Harcourt, where “The Fear of the Sabre extorted and together in July 1778, we raised a Provincial great intelligence.” regiment, the British Legion, with Cathcart The intelligence proved Lee was getting ready promoted to colonel and I as his lieutenant colonel. to move, and confirmed that his guard was about Cathcart would leave the Legion after about thirty men. The advantage for the British would eighteen months service, at which time I assumed come from surprise and speed. I led on his advance the command. The Legion would have several New guard, “making all the noise I could.” The sentries Jersey connections, including ten or so men from posted at the door to Lee’s quarters fled. Being the West Jersey Volunteers, the Loyalist corps raised informed officers were fleeing from the back door, in Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties. Two I left one man at the front door and raced with the of the Legion’s officers were likewise New Jerseyians. remaining cavalrymen around the back, scooping One of the early officers in the Legion was Sussex up the general’s aides and staff. The sentry I had County resident John Budd Scott, who served as left at the front door then apprehended Lee as he a captain in the Legion’s infantry until April 1779. alighted from that entryway. In just fifteen minutes, Scott had started the war as a captain in the 2nd the we had captured the second in command of the New Jersey Continental Regiment until he resigned Continental Army at the cost of a horse’s leg being from them in 1776 and joined the British. The grazed by a bullet. second New Jersey officer was my old acquaintance Sensing the retreat back to their lines might William Robins, the guide who assisted in Lee’s now be full of ambuscades, Colonel Harcourt capture. Robins would end the war as a lieutenant, turned to New Jersey Volunteer Captain Richard and continue serving in the British Army until he Witham Stockton, a Princeton Loyalist who had retired in 1802. joined the British on Staten Island in August 1776. I would make my name as the fiery After 13 miles of skirting enemy ambushes and commander of his Legion while in the South. patrols, I happily wrote “We then forded a River, Although stationed before that at New York, my approached Hillsborough again and gave each other Legion only served in New Jersey once, during Congratulations with every Symptom of Joy…This Cornwallis’ Grand Forage in Bergen County in is a most miraculous Event, it appears like a Dream. October 1778, where the pay chest of the unit was We conducted Genl. Lee…to Lord Cornwallis stolen by a deserter. The unit would take part in the Visit us online today! www.revolutionarynj.org PAGE 3 REVOLUTIONARY NEIGHBORS Banastre Tarleton BIOGRAPHY Siege of Charleston, where they surprised and routed the lack of new success, I was made a baronet in the Continental Cavalry at Moncks Corner, then 1816, and was thereafter officially Sir Banastre soon after destroyed Abraham Buford’s Virginians Tarleton. I died on 16 January 1833, a day shy of the at the Battle of Waxhaws. On the heels of these anniversary of my defeat at Cowpens. victories, the Legion took part in the rout of Horatio Gates’ Army at Camden, South Carolina, then just days later surprised and defeated the partisan Thomas Sumter’s force at Fishing Creek. I would eventually be defeated by Daniel Morgan’s army at Cowpens in January 1781, although I escaped with most of my cavalry. At the Battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina two months later, I would share in Cornwallis’ costly victory, although at the cost of two fingers on my right hand.
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