Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/435

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MORGAN
MORGAN


tember. At length, 13 Oct., he was promoted brigadier-general, and it was not long before con- gress had reason to congratulate itself upon this tai'dy act of justice, which resulted in placing Morgan in a situation where his great powers could be made of the utmost service to the country. When Greene, in December, took command of the southern army, he sent Morgan, with 900 men, to threaten the important inland posts of Augusta ^md Ninety-Six, and to co-operate with the moun- tain militia. In order to protect his eoramunica- tions with these interior posts, Cornwallis sent the enterprising Tarleton, with 1,100 men, to dispose of Morgan. On the approach of the enemy Morgan retreated to a grazing ground known as the Cow- pens, where, on a long rising slope, he awaited Tarleton's attack. The American forces were drawn up in two lines, the militia, under Pickens, in front, and the Continentals, under Howard, 150 yards behind. Some distance behind these waited Col. William Washington, with his admirable cavalry. When the British attacked Pickens's line, after a brief resistance, the militia broke into two parts and retired behind Howard's line of Conti- nentals. As the British advanced to attack this line it retreated slowly, so as to give Pickens time to re-form his militia. Presently Pickens swept forward in a great semicircle around Howard's right, and attacked the British in their left flank. At the same moment Col. Washington swept around Howard's left and charged upon the enemy's right flank ; while Howard's line, after a few deadly volleys at thirty yards, rushed forward with levelled Ijayonets. Thus terribly entrapped, most of the British threw down their arms and surrendered, while the remainder were scattered in flight. They lost 230 in killed and wounded, GOO prisoners', two field-pieces, and 1.000 stand of arms. Their loss was nearly equal to the American force engaged. Only 270 escaped, among them Tarleton, who Imrely saved himself in a furious single combat with Col. Washington. The American loss in this astonishing action was twelve killed and sixty- one wounded. In point of tactics it was the most brilliant battle of the Revolutionary war, and it still appears brilliant when judged by the standards that we apply to the work of the greatest masters of the military art.

This was a crippling blow to Cornwallis, for it deprived him of all his most effective light infantry. The only road by which Morgan could rejoin Greene lay northward across the fords of the Ca- tawba, and Cornwallis was nearer than himself to tiiese fords ; but by a superb march Morgan reached tlie river first, crossed it, and kept on into North Carolina. This movement, after Greene's arrival, was developed into that masterly series of ma- noeuvres which ended in the battle at Guilford, and in Cornwallis's consequent retreat into Virgmia. But, before the campaign was completed, Morgan was attacked so severely by rheumatism that he was obliged to quit active work and go home. 10 Feb., 1781. By June he had sufficiently recovered to command the troops that suppressed Claypool's loyalist insurrection in the Siienandoah valley. He then reported to Lafayette at his headquarters near Jamestown, and was put in command of all the light troops and cavalry in the marquis's army; but in August a return of his malady again obliged him to go home.

For the next thirteen years Morgan led a quiet life upon his estate. He became wealthy, and entertained many eminent and interesting guests. In spite of the defects of his early education, his native qualities of mind were such as to make his conversation instructive and charming. In 1795, with the rank of major-general, he held a command in the large army that, by its mere presence in western Pennsylvania, put an end to the whiskey insurrection. In the following year he was elected by the Federalists to congress, where he zealously supported the administration of President Adams;

but failing health again called him home before the expiration of his term, and from this time until his death he seldom left his fireside. In the pro- cession that escorted his remains to the tomb were seven members of the rifle company he had led to Boston in 1775. His grave is m the Presbyterian burying-ground at Winchester, marked by a horizontal slab. Gen. Morgan was considerably over six feet in height, and weighed more than 200 pounds. His strength and endurance were remark- able, and in beauty of feature and expression he was equalled by few men of his time. His manners were quiet and refined, his bearing was noble, and his temper sweet, though his wrath was easily aroused by the sight of injustice. He was noted for truthfulness and candor, and throughout life his conduct was regulated by the most rigid code of honor. He was also a devout Christian. The accompanying illustration represents "Saratoga," the residence of Gen. Morgan, near Winchester, Va. His life has been written bv James Graham (New York, 1856), and Rebecca McConkey, " The Hero of Cowpens " (1881). — His nephew, Charles W., naval officer, b. in Virginia in 1790; d. in Washington, D. C, 3 Jan., 1853, entered the navy as midshipman, 1 Jan., 1808. He was commissioned lieutenant, 3 March, 1813, commander, 15 April, 1820. and captain, 21 Feb., 1831. While he was lieutenant he served on the " Constitution " during her cruise in 1812 when she fought the '• Guerriere " and -'Java." For his gallantry in these engage- ments he was presented with a sword by the legis- lature of Virginia. In 1841-3 he was in command of the Mediterranean squadron.

MORGAN. David Banister, soldier, b. in West Springfield, Mass., in 1773; d. in Covington, La., 15 July, 1848. He removed to Louisiana in 1803, served in the territorial legislature, was a member of the Constitutional convention, and after the ad- mission of Louisiana to the Union was in the state legislature. He was surveyor-general of Louisiana and Mississippi, and commanded the militia of those states under Gen. Jackson at New Orleans in 1815. with the rank of brigadier-general.


MORGAN, Edward Barber, philanthropist, b. in Aurora, Cayuga co., N. Y., 2 May, 1806 ; d. there, 13 Oct., 1881. He received a public-school education and early engaged in mercantile pursuits, from which he ultimately retired with a large fortune. He was an original share-holder in the "New York Times," and a founder of the Wells