Benjamin Wages fought in the Seige of Ninety-Six from May 22, 1781 to June 9, 1781 in Greenwood County, South Carolina under command of Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, Colonial Troops, 1st and 3rd Regiments of Light Dragoons from Maryland and Virginia Line

http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_battle_of_ninety_six.html

The American Revolution in South Carolina

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The Seige of Ninety-Six
May 21 - June 19, 1781
Patriot Cdr:	Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene	Loyalist Cdr:	Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger
Killed:	58	Killed:	27
Wounded:	69	Wounded:	58
Captured:	1	Captured:	0
Old District:	Ninety-Six District	Present County:	Greenwood County
Historical documentation stated that this 1780 fort was located on the hill above Ninety-Six Village, was stockaded, had a formal fortification ditch and parapet protecting two blockhouses inside, and would have evidence of Lt. Col. Henry Lee's parallel approach trenches present. The town of Ninety-Six had thirteen structures besides the jail and courthouse. An embankment is visible on each side of the county access road leading to the Star Fort, which was built by the British. Loyalist Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger's original town palisade encompassed an area 220 by 400 feet. The north blockhouse was located in the northwestern corner of the palisade, and there was a bastion on the northeast corner. A palisade wall was on the south side. To the north and west, a ditch was located inside the palisade, but on the east side an interior ditch was lacking. This ditch may have been dug outside the palisade. The dirt would then have been thrown up against the stockade to give added protection. Excavations showed that the Star Fort and siegeworks varied in magnitude from specifications in the eighteenth century military manuals, but the basic placement and configurations conform to specifications. The British had secured Ninety-Six as a base of operations in the backcountry in June of 1780, and Lt. Gen. Charles Lord Cornwallis believed Ninety-Six would be crucial to control of the backcountry once the British Army moved northward out of South Carolina. Lord Cornwallis left Lt. Colonel John Harris Cruger, a loyalist from New York, in charge of Ninety-Six. Lt. Col. Cruger's instructions were to be "vigorous" in punishing rebels and maintaining order in the area. Lt. Col. Cruger used the fortified town of Ninety-Six as his base of operations to send forth numerous raids and skirmishes against the local Patriots. A series of events, beginning in autumn of 1780, put the success of the British Southern Campaign in doubt. In October of 1780, a Patriot militia force defeated Maj. Patrick Ferguson and his corps of loyalists at Kings Mountain. Brig. Gen. Francis Marion was campaigning against British Loyalists in the lowcountry of South Carolina, and Brig. Gen. Thomas Sumter maneuvered his Patriot forces against Loyalists targets in the South Carolina upcountry. In addition, Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, the new commander of the Continental Army in the south, had split his army to move more widely through the Carolinas. Lord Cornwallls, fearing for Ninety-Six and overall British control of South Carolina, sent units to remove the Patriot threat. The British lost many of the ensuing encounters including a significant defeat at the battle of Cowpens in January of 1781. Lord Cornwallis and Maj. Gen. Greene met each other in March of 1781 at Guilford Court House in North Carolina; the British won this encounter but lost nearly a third of its force including some of the best officers. Lord Cornwallis then moved his army to Wilmington, North Carolina, and Maj. Gen. Greene turned his attention back to South Carolina and sacking Ninety-Six. Maj. Gen. Greene hoped to loosen the British hold on the backcountry by taking Ninety-Six and forcing the enemy back to Charlestown. Maj. Gen. Greene set siege to Ninety-Six in May of 1781, but never took the fort. He was forced to lift the siege a month later as British reinforcements advanced toward Ninety-Six. The British abandoned Ninety-Six in July and moved back to the coast, just as the Patriots had wanted. This signaled the end of British control of the interior. The Southern Campaign was over. British forces surrendered at Yorktown four months later, effectively ending the war. The last Patriot attack was led by Lt. Samuel Seldon of Virginia with Lt. Isaac Duval of Maryland. Capt. Joseph Pickens, brother of Gen. Andrew Pickens was killed in this seige.
Unit	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
HQ & Staff	0	1	0	1
VA Brigade	41	36	16	93
MD Brigade	13	26	3	42
DE Regiment	1	9	1	11
Lee's Legion	2	2	0	4
VA Militia	1	2	0	3
Totals	58	76	20	154
Since the early April, the British had lost Fort Balfour (Harden), Fort Watson (Marion/Lee), Orangeburgh (Sumter), Friday's Ferry (Hampton), Fort Motte (Marion), Fort Granby (Lee), Fort Galphin (Lee/Hammond), and had evacuated from Camden - the only three significant British outposts outside of Charlestown were now Augusta (GA), Georgetown, and the large British contingent at Ninety-Six. When the British gained control of Ninety-Six after the Fall of Charleston in May of 1780, they then surrounded the town with a stockade and rebuilt Fort Williamson. Beyond the town was another redoubt known as the Star Fort. It was two hundred feet in diameter and had ten salients or star points. A ditch and an abatis surrounded the Star Fort, which would become the principle British position during this final siege. Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger knew that the Star Fort was the key to British defenses here and he prepared quite well for the inevitable siege that was now upon him. Additionally, the town of Ninety-Six was surrounded by tall walls built upon an elevated site that provided a clearing of one mile around the exterior. Before leaving the outpost to its own devices, Lt. Gen. Charles Lord Cornwallis dispatched Lt. Henry Haldane of the engineers to assess the fort and to improve its defenses. Lord Cornwallis also sent a brass 3-pounder along with a wagonload of entrenching tools. Lt. Haldane constructed an additiona fortification west of the town, a hornwork built upon Fort Williamson known as Holme's Fort. A covered runway extended from the jailhouse and down a slope into a ravine, where a small stream flowed - the fort's water source. An earth bank, in which an abatis had been constructed, reinforced the exterior of the stockade walls. The abatis would slow down an assaulting force so that cannon and small arms fire could eliminate them. Within the fort several blockhouses had been built. A portable gun platform had been built on which the British placed their three brass 3-pounders. When Francis, Lord Rawdon abandoned Camden, he sent messages to Lt. Col. Cruger ordering him to evacuate Ninety-Six and to join Brown in Savannah. Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens's men intercepted these orders and kindly informed Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, who moved his force towards Cruger - arriving at Ninety-Six on May 21st. Maj. Gen. Green had his men to throw up earthwords for his own 3-gun battery before the sun came up on May 22nd. His guns were about 130 yards from the Star Fort. Continental engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko laid out the siege lines in the typical European pattern. Throughout this first day, the Patriot artillery fired round after round into the Star Fort. Maj. Gen. Greene knew it would be a waste of time to ask for the fort to surrender, so he jumped right into the foray. By not asking was considered an insult according to the customs of the day. To hell with the British and their customs. By midday, Lt. Col. Cruger "stung with indignity" moved his portable artillery platfor on the wall of the redoubt and that night his battery opened fire on the Patriots. This firing was merely a ruse, and was a covering fire for a detachment of 30 Loyalists from DeLancey's Brigade led by Lt. John Roney. The Loyalists sallied out of the fort and killed several of a nearby trench working party. They filled the trench back up, captured a few slaves carrying loads of entrenching tools, and marched them back into the fort. Lt. Roney died of wounds he received on this mission. Kosciuszko began a new parallel farther back, about 1,200 yards from the fort. Digging was slow and tedious due to the rocky soil and the heat. Construction was periodically impeded at night with more Loyalist sallies out of the fort firing upon the work parties. On June 3rd, the second parallel was completed and the Patriots' were within 180 yards from the Star Fort. Maj. Gen. Greene now sent in Col. Otho Williams with a surrender proposal, but Lt. Col. Cruger refused, as expected. Maj. Gen. Green then attempted the "old fire arrow trick." Lt. Col. Cruger responded by tearing off all roofs from the buildings and exposing those within to the elements each night. Then, the Patriots attempted a mine underneath the walls of the fort, but the mouth of the mine was discovered. There was an intense fight for it. One casualty was Kosciuszko with a bayonet wound. Another was Capt. Joseph Pickens - Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens's brother - who was killed. Next, Maj. Gen. Greene ereceted a forty-foot Maham Tower on June 6th. This forced the Loyalists to put up sandbags with loopholes between them. Greene reported, "Not a Man could shew his Head but he was immediately shot down." Lt. Col. Cruger attempted to destroy the Maham Tower with heated cannon balls, but since the logs were green the tower would not ignite. On June 8th, Lt. Col. Henry Lee and his Legion joined the seige. Then, Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens came forth and marched his prisoners taken at Augusta in front of the defenders of Ninety-Six. This infuriated the Loyalists. Lt. Col. Lee recommended that Maj. Gen. Greene focus his efforts on Fort Holmes, which guarded the enemy's water supply. A second parallel was begun to keep the spring under fire. Squire William Kennedy of the 2nd Spartan Regiment and another sharpshooter (Maj. Thomas Young*-see below) shot two men at the spring from 200 yards, causing all within the Star Fort to look around for where the killers were located. This significantly slowed down those going after water. The Loyalists then sent naked slaves out at night with a single pail to get water for the garrison. On a dark and cloudy day, Lt. Col. Lee decided to make a second attempt at burning the fort. Sgt. Whaling and ten men from the Legion were supposed to carry bundles of incendiary materials and set the garrison on fire. Sgt. Whaling knew that this was a suicide mission. He dressed himself neatly, told his friends goodbye, and slipped into the enemy's ditch. An alarm was sounded, and the Loyalists attacked with a vengeance. Four of Lee's men returned, only one not wounded. Sgt. Whaling was killed - he only had two days until his enlistment expired. On June 11th, Maj. Gen. Greene learned that a relief column of 2,000 soldiers under Francis, Lord Rawdon were on the way from Charlestown. Many were fresh recruits from Ireland and were not accustomed to the heat of South Carolina in the Summertime. Maj. Gen. Greene immediately dispatched orders to Brig. Gen. Sumter and Brig. Gen. Marion to gather their militias, get in front of Lord Rawdon, and do everything possible to delay his arrival to Ninety-Six. He also ordered Lt. Col. William Washington and Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens to go help Brig. Gen. Marion in any way they could. Sumter's partisans did strike Lord Rawdon's column, but he didn't have many men supporting him at that point in time. Worse, Brig. Gen. Marion could not get his men up to speed quickly enough to even find Lord Rawdon, much less to slow him down. Maj. Gen. Greene then decided to take the fort by force - time was quickly running out for the Patriots. On June 17th, a heavy artillery barrage was aimed at Fort Holmes to soften it up for the upcoming attack. The fire was so heavy that the Loyalists abandoned Fort Holmes - and their only water supply. In a two-pronged attack, one fource was commanded by Lt. Col. Richard Campbell with a detachment of VA and MD Continentals going after the Star Fort. The other force was made up of Lt. Col. Henry Lee's Legion Infantry and the NC and DE Continentals led by Maj. Michael Rudolph going after Fort Holmes. At noon on June 18th, the Patriots opened up with another intense artillery fire. Maj. Rudolph led his troops across the moat and after an hour of fighting was able to force his way into Fort Holmes. This he finally held, now waiting for Lt. Col. Campbell's attack on the Star Fort. Campbell's men raced into the the ditch around the Star Fort armed with long poles with hooks on one end. The men attempted to pull down the sandbags from the parapets and expose the defenders to fire from the Maham Tower. The enemy could not fire down upon the attackers without exposing themselves to the riflemen in the tower. Axe men cut down the abatis, and fascines were thrown into the ditch to fill it in. When Lt. Col. Cruger saw the sandbags falling into the ditch, he took immediate action. He sent out two elements of Delancey's Loyalists with bayonets affixed to take out the hookmen. There was a brief and bloody encounter in the ditch, with the Patriots getting the worst of it. Lt. Col. Campbell's men were driven back with heavy losses. The attack was a failure. Maj. Gen. Greene requested a cease fire to exchange prisoners and bury the dead, but Lt. Col. Cruger refused. He knew that whomever won would be allowed to bury the dead. The next morning, Green lifted his siege and marched away. He stopped his army about twenty miles away and learned that Lord Rawdon marched into Ninety-Six in the afternoon of June 21st. Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens was sent to take the sick and wounded to Fish Dam Ford. He quickly turned around and led his men back to Long Canes to show the people that Greene's army was not retreating. Lord Rawdon initially considered chasing Maj. Gen. Greene, but when he learned that the baggage train was within twenty miles he changed his mind. He replaced his sick and wounded with fresh ones from the garrison at Ninety-Six. He ordered his men to leave all gear that was not needed, including the knapsacks and blankets, and he marched back out of Ninety-Six on June 23rd. After a forty mile march, Lord Rawdon caught up with Greene's rear guard, consisting of Lee's Legion and Kirkwood's Delawars, but the British were no longer able to fight. More than fifty of his men had died of heat exhaustion - all wearing heavy woolen uniforms in the 100 degree heat. To make things worse, Greene had dismantled all mills along the way so there would be no provisions for the enemy. Lord Rawdon then returned once again to Ninety-Six and immediately realized that he could not hold the town much longer. He marched out on June 29th with 800 men and 60 horses. He was expecting to meet up with Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart, but Stewart had received incorrect orders and had returned to Dorchester. Maj. Gen. Greene then ordered Lt. Col. Lee, Kirkland, and 100 militia under Maj. Alexander Ross (?) to continue to harrass Lord Rawdon's retreat. Lt. Col. Cruger remained at Ninety-Six to protect the Loyalists who were gathering all their belongings. On July 8th, Lt. Col. Cruger destroyed the fort and escorted all who wanted to go to Charlestown to remain under British protection. Ninety-Six was now back in Patriot hands. The only remaining British outposts were Dorchester, Moncks Corner, and perhaps a small garrison at Nelson's Ferry on the Santee River. These would not last much longer either. The Patriots wanted the British back in Charlestown where they could be easily watched in one location and not spread out all over their lands. *"As we every day got our parallels nearer the garrison, we could see them very plain when they went out to a brook or spring for water. The Americans had constructed a sort of moving battery, but as the cannon of the fort were brought to bear upon it, they were forced to abandon the use of it. It had not been used for some time, when an idea struck old Squire Kennedy (who was an excellent marksman) that he could pick off a man now and then as they went to the spring. He and I took our rifles and went into the woods to practice at 200 yards. We were arrested and taken before an officer, to whom we gave our excuse and design. He laughed, and told us to practice no more, but to try our luck from the battery if we wanted to, so we took our position, and as a fellow came down to the spring Kennedy fired and he fell. Several ran out and gathered around him and among them I noticed a man raise his head and look round as if he wondered where that shot could have come from. I touched my trigger and he fell, and we made off for fear it might be our time to fall next." The above comes from the memoirs of Maj. Thomas Young, and provided by Ken Green (a gggg-nephew) in January of 2011.
Known Patriot Participants		Known British/Loyalist Participants
Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene - Commanding Officer VA Continental Brigade led by Brig. Gen. Isaac Huger with 421 men in two regiments: VA 1st Regiment led by Lt. Col. Richard Campbell with Capt.-Lt. Samuel Selden VA 2nd Regiment led by Col. Samuel Hawes with Capt. John Marks MD Continental Brigade led by Col. Otho H. Williams with 427 men in two regiments: MD 1st Regiment led by Col. John E. Howard with the following four (4) known companies, led by: - Capt. Edward Oldham - Capt. George Anderson - Capt. John Sprigg Belt - Capt. Peter Jacquett - 2nd DE Company MD 2nd Regiment led by Maj. Henry Hardman with the following two (2) known companies, led by: - Capt. Samuel Handy - Capt. Perry Benson DE Regiment Detachment led by Capt. Robert Kirkwood with 60 men Lee's Legion - Lt. Col. Henry Lee with 150 men in the following known units: - 1st Mounted Troop - Capt. James Armstrong - 2nd Mounted Troop - Maj. Joseph Eggleston - 3rd Mounted Troop - Maj. Michael Rudolph - 4th Dismounted Troop - Capt. Allen McClane - 5th Dismounted Troop - Capt. Henry Archer - 6th Dismounted Troop - Lt. Edward Manning 1st NC Regiment of Continentals detachment led by Maj. Pinketham Eaton with 66 men in the following four (4) known companies, led by: - Capt. Alexander Brevard - Capt. Thomas Donoho - Capt. Joshua Hadley - Capt. William Lytle Engineers led by Col. Count Thaddeus Kosciuszko 1st Continental Artillery Regiment of VA, 1st Battalion led by Col. Charles Harrison with 100 men, including Capt. Samuel Finley and Capt. Samuel Otterson and four 6-pounders VA Militia Detachment led by Capt. Jeremiah Pate with 100 men SC 3rd Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens with 400 men in the following units: Upper Ninety-Six District Regiment led by Col. Robert Anderson, Lt. Col. William Farr, Lt. Col. James McCall, Maj. Andrew Hamilton, Sr., with seventeen (17) known companies, led by: - Capt. Joseph Bouchillon - Capt. Robert Bryant - Capt. Francis Carlisle - Capt. Samuel Earle - Capt. Armstrong Herd - Capt. John Irwin - Capt. David Maxwell - Capt. Robert Maxwell - Capt. John McGaw - Capt. James Pettigrew - Capt. Joseph Pickens (killed) - Capt. Samuel Rosamond - Capt. William Strain - Capt. John Wallace - Capt. Hugh Wardlaw - Capt. John Wilson - Capt. Thomas Winn Little River District Regiment led by Col. Joseph Hayes, Lt. Col. Levi Casey, Maj. James Dillard, with eight (8) known companies, led by: - Capt. James Cunningham - Capt. Josiah Greer - Capt. William Mulwee - Capt. Lewis Saxon - Capt. James Starke - Capt. John Verdin - Capt. Richard Watts - Capt. Daniel Williams New Acquistion District Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. William Henderson, with five (5) known companies, led by: - Capt. John Diamond - Capt. Obediah Holloway - Capt. Benjamin Rainey - Capt. Thomas Starke - Capt. James Venable Turkey Creek Regiment detachment led by Col. Edward Lacey, with five (5) known companies, led by: - Capt. Pendleton Isbell - Capt. Henry Lisle - Capt. Andrew Lord - Capt. John McKinney - Capt. John Steel Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment detachment of three (3) known companie,s led by: - Capt. James Butler, Sr. - Capt. William Butler - Capt. Solomon Pope Hammond's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment led by Lt. Col. Samuel Hammond, with two (2) known companies, led by: - Capt. Moses Liddell - Capt. James McIlhenny Lower District Regiment detachment led by Col. David Glynn, with one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Robin Pollard Smith's Independent Company of SC State Troops led by Maj. William Smith with Capt. Hugh Bratton and unknown number of men SC 1st Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by "Unknown," with the following units: Roebuck's Battalion of Spartan Regiment detachment led by "Unknown," with seven (7) known companies, led by: - Capt. John Barry - Capt. Peter Brooks - Capt. Thomas Farrow - Capt. Samuel Nisbett - Capt. Thomas Parsons - Capt. George Taylor - Capt. Joseph Wofford 2nd Spartan Regiment detachment led by Col. Thomas Brandon, Maj. Benjamin Jolly, Maj. Thomas Young, with six (6) known companies, led by: - Capt. George Aubrey - Capt. Lewis Duvall - Capt. William Grant - Capt. John Lindsay - Capt. Samuel Otterson - Capt. William Young SC 1st Regiment of State Dragoons detachment led by Col. Wade Hampton, with three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt. William Alexander - Capt. Robert Caruthers - Capt. Joseph Culpeper 1st Spartan Regiment detachment led by Maj. Josiah Culbertson, with two (2) known companies, led by: - Capt. William Harris - Capt. John Roebuck Fairfield Regiment detachment of two (2) known companies, led by: - Capt. Amos Davis - Capt. Edward Martin Orangeburgh District Regiment detachment led by Maj. Peter Oliver with unknown number of men Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment of one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Joseph Robins SC 2nd Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by "Unknown," with the following units: Berkeley County Regiment detachment led by Maj. Benjamin Smith with unknown number of men NC Militia led by "Unknown," with the following known units: Rutherford County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt. Col. James Miller and Maj. Richard Lewis, with three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt. Adam Hampton - Capt. John McClain - Capt. James McDonald Wilkes County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt. Col. James Miller and Maj. Richard Lewis with four (4) known companies, led by: - Capt. Alexander Gordon - Capt. Charles Gordon - Capt. James Harrison - Capt. Abram Moore Lincoln County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. John Culbertson Burke County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt Joshua Inman - Capt. David Vance - Capt. Welch Rowan County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two (2) known companies, led by: - Capt. Daniel Bryson - Capt. Francis Cunningham Guilford County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Robert Bell Granville County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. William Bennett Caswell County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Russell Nash County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. William Williams Total Patriot Forces - 1,624

Benjamin Wages in the American Cavalry during the Revolutionary War–served as Dragoon under Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, Colonial Troops, 1st and 3rd Regiments Light Dragoons from Maryland and Virginia Line

 

When reading Benjamin Wages Revolutionary War Pension Application we realized that he was with Lieutenant Colonel William Washington (3rd cousin of George Washington) during encounter at Eutaw Springs in South Carolina.  Battle of Eutaw Springs on 8 September 1781, Colonel William Washington leading a charge, entered a patch of blackjack thickets. Their horses were entangled in the briars. Volley after volley was fired into the entangled Dragoons.  Colonel Washington was wounded and captured, and all but two of his officers and half of his men were either killed or wounded. 

 

One of the wounded Dragoons was our Benjamin Wages who sustained injuries in three places, one the left arm, one his right thigh and the other in his left knee by a bayonet. Benjamin was confined to hospital and discharged from active duty after this battle.  It appears that he settled in South Carolina from Alexander Montgomery testimony in Benjamin Wages Pension Application.  Alexander states that Benjamin was confined in a hospital and he didn’t see him anymore until he was discharged and that Benjamin Wages lived in the country where he was discharged and was celebrated for being a brave man in the army.

Lieutenant Colonel William Washington  proved to understand cavalry tactics, and is said to have said: "The sword is the most destructive and almost only necessary weapon a Dragoon carries."  It appears that Benjamin must not have had sword or had lost it during the battle since he states that when the enemy had his bayonet in his thigh, he shot his brains out with his pistol.

http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/cavalry.html

The Birth of the American Cavalry

by Donald N. Moran

Editor's Note: This article was reprinted from the January 2008 Edition of the Liberty Tree Newsletter

Prior to the American Revolution, most military planners believed the heavily forested land, few roads or open land so restricted their use that cavalry was deemed impractical in North America. There wasn’t any cavalry used during the French and Indian War. When the Revolutionary War started, British Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Gage employed mounted officers as cavalry during the disastrous raid on Concord.

A few mounted units did exist, such as the Philadelphia Light Horse, which escorted General George Washington from Philadelphia to Boston where he accepted the Command of the American Army. This unit was primarily ceremonial, and numbered
about thirty troopers.

Philadelphia Light Horse Company

On June 14th, 1775, two months after Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress adopted the forty militia regiments besieging Boston as "Continental Regiments". They also established Artillery Regiments, but there was no mention of Cavalry, which apparently wasn’t even discussed.

The following July, a German, resplendently uniformed as a Hussar, came into the Congress meeting room and announced that he and fifty other veterans of the Seven Years War (French and Indian War) were part of the newly formed "Pennsylvania Hussar Company". Impressed by their martial grandeur, Congress approved the unit and ordered it to proceed to Boston. Shortly after receiving their commission, they started submitting extravagant bills incurred by them. Congress, quickly decided they weren’t needed and disbanded them.

When the British were forced to evacuate Boston, the whole complexion of the war changed. No longer a static siege, General Washington realized that cavalry would be useful in patrolling the Atlantic Coast Line for possible British landings, and to serve as couriers. As a result he was pleased to accept Captain John Learys of the Light Horse Troop of New York City, an independent Company of forty light dragoons. On June 21st Washington asked Congress to accept them as a Continental unit.

Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull and the State Assembly created three regiments of Light Horse under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Seymour and ordered them to proceed to the main army and place themselves under the command of George Washington.

This 400 to 500 member Cavalry detachment arrived at Washington’s headquarters on July 11th, 1776. Unfortunately, they had left Connecticut in such a hurry that they failed to bring with them proper encampment equipment. Washington greeted them with mixed emotions. He already had a critical problem securing forage for his draft and artillery animals. He recommended that the troop send its horses back to Connecticut and serve as dismounted troops. The troopers offered to pay for the upkeep of their horses themselves, which Washington accepted.

The Connecticut Troop of Light Horse considered themselves "elite", hence exempted themselves from fatigue duty. Washington, trying to fortify all of New York harbor, needed every soldier he could muster. Over 400 soldiers exempting themselves from this duty caused a morale problem within the army. Washington addressed a straight forward letter to resolve the problem:

"To: Colonel Seymour and Other Field Officers of the Connecticut Light Horse.

New York, 16th July, 1776

Gent’:

In answer to yours of this date, I can only report to you what I said last night & by that is, that if your men think themselves exempt from the common duties of a soldier, will not mount guard do garrison duty or the service separate from their horses they can be no longer of use here where horses can’t be brought to action & I do not care how soon they are dismissed.

I am gentlemen,
Your Most Humble Serv'
G' Washington"

Some historians assert that General Washington’s dismissing his only cavalry Regiment greatly impacted the battle for New York. Cavalry doing reconnaissance may have discovered the British flanking maneuver that contributed to their defeat at the Battle of Long Island.

It is highly doubtful that being so vastly outnumbered by the British forces that anything would have helped.

For the first time, the British deployed cavalry in North America. Lieutenant General Lord William Howe brought with his invasion force Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Birch’s 17th Light Dragoons. This Regiment greatly intimidated the American infantry and was very effective. To offset the impact on the morale of his soldiers, General Washington issued the following Generals Orders:

"White Plains,
27 October, 1776

The General observing that the Army seems unacquainted with the Enemy’s Horse; and that when any parties meet with them, they do not oppose them with the same Alacrity which they shew in other cases; thinks it necessary to inform the officers and soldiers, that, in such a broken Country, full of Stone-Walls, there is no Enemy more to
be despised, as they cannot leave the road; So that any party attacking them may be always sure of doing it to advantage, by taking post in the Woods by the Roads, or along the stone-walls, where they will not venture to follow them; And as an encouragement to any brave parties, who will endeavour to surprise some of them, the General offers 100 Dollars, for every Trooper, with his Horse and Accoutrements, which shall be brought in, and so in proportion for any part, to be divided according to the Rank and pay of the party.

General George Washington"

They very next day, October 28th, during the battle of White Plains, the 17th Dragoons launched a cavalry charge against the American lines. It was too much for
the American militia, who at the sight of two hundred charging cavalrymen with their flashing sabres, broke and ran. Fortunately for the Americans, the Continentals covered their retreat preventing a slaughter, but Washington still had lost another battle.

With the situation around New York disintegrating, Governor Trumbull sent Major Elisha Sheldon and his 125 troopers of the 5th Regiment of Connecticut Light Horse to help Washington. An officer of the Pennsylvania Infantry described the 5th as "Being beyond meridian of life, without uniformity of clothing and discipline, and armed mostly with fowling pieces." Regardless of their appearance and equipment, they were better than nothing, and Washington was pleased to have them.

At the same time, responding to an appeal by Washington, his home state, Virginia, dispatched three troops of cavalry under the command of Major Theodoric Bland. They arrived in early November. One troop was commanded by a 21-year old Captain, Henry Lee, destined to become a cavalry legend, "Light Horse Harry Lee".

On December 11th, 1776 , Washington wrote to Congress: "From the experience I have had in this campaign of the utility of Horse, I am convinced there is no carrying on the war without them and I would therefore recommend the establishment of one or more Corps . . . In addition to those already raised in Virginia."

The General then on December 14th approved the raising of another troop of cavalry by his nephew, George Lewis, then serving as a Lieutenant in his Commander-in-Chief Guards. Many soldiers of the Guard who had their enlistments scheduled to expire on December 31st, elected to join Lewis’s troop of Light Horse. They participated in the battle of Trenton and Princeton, but it is doubtful if they had been equipped with horses at the time.

Prior to the victories at Trenton and Princeton, Congress granted Washington almost dictatorial powers, thusly empowering him to establish a cavalry arm for the American Army. Neither he, nor any of his officers, had any experience in organizing cavalry - - it would have to be a trial and error effort. The first thing Washington did was to re-designate the existing troops of light horse. He promoted Lt. Colonel Bland and re-designated the Virginia Light Horse to become the 1st Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons. Likewise, he promoted Sheldon to command the 2nd Regiment. He choose Lt. Colonel George Baylor from his personal staff to command the 3rd Regiment and Aide-de-Camp, Colonel Stephen Moylan to command the 4th. He permitted these officers to select their subordinates.

Each Regiment was divided into six troops, each commanded by a captain, with one lieutenant, one cornet, 2 sergeants, four corporals and 32 privates. Also as part of each troop was a farrier, armorer and trumpeter. Captain George Lewis and his troop was assigned to Colonel Baylor’s 3rd Regiment, but was detached to serve at headquarters. Baylor’s Regiment was known as "Lady Washington’s Own."

In spite of their best efforts, the commanders of these reorganized regiments were hard pressed to outfit their units. Horses were scarce, for equipment, it either had to be made or captured, and with the devaluation of the American currency, the cost was almost impossible to meet. (Click here for more about Continental Currency.)

When General Howe launched the Philadelphia Campaign, Washington ordered all of his cavalry, regardless of their status, to join the main army. Colonel Moylan was able to equip and mount 180 men for the 4th Regiment. Colonel Sheldon was not so fortunate. All he was able to send was one troop, commanded by Captain Benjamin Tallmage. Tallmage proved to be invaluable to Washington.

By late June the total amount of cavalry available to General Washington was 260 men. Although few in numbers they served Washington well.

A major problem that affected the use of Cavalry, both British and American, was forage. It was scarce, difficult to transport, and prevented them from massing their cavalry. Recognizing this, Washington spent a great deal of effort denying the British access to forage. On territory they controlled, such as Long Island, he had raids launched across Long Island Sound, whose purpose was the destruction of stored fodder. Sergeant Elijah Churchill of Sheldon’s 2nd Dragoons led one such raid and was awarded one of three "Badges of Military Merit", the equivalent of
today’s Medal of Honor. He and his troopers destroyed 300 tons of hay.

In the 18th century armies relied on horses and oxen to move their artillery and supplies as well as their cavalry. Without the animals they would be paralyzed.

In spite of their limited manpower, at the battle of Brandywine, Colonel Bland’s Regiment spotted General Howe’s flanking movement in time for Washington to withdraw, thereby saving the army.

On September 13th, 1777 Congress appointed Polish volunteer and professional cavalryman, Count Casimir Pulaski, Brigadier General, to command the Corps of American Light Dragoons. Needless to say, this action upset many of the senior American Cavalry officers. Additionally, the thirty-year old Pulaski was difficult to deal with, and held his American subordinates in contempt, considering them as amateurs. Further, Pulaski insisted that his staff be comprised solely of his Polish aides.

In his first engagement, the battle of Germantown, he was only able to muster 200 Dragoons. Covering the retreat of the Army, they were overrun by British Cavalry and forced back on the infantry lines.

After establishing winter encampment at Valley Forge, Washington kept his Dragoons busy intercepting shipments of food to the British in Philadelphia and serving as observers of British movements. Major Tallmage wrote: "My duties were very arduous, not being able to tarry long in a place, by reason of the British Light Horse which continually patrolled this intermediate ground. Indeed, it was unsafe to permit the dragoons to unsaddle their horses for an hour, and very rarely did I tarry in the same place through the night."

On April 7th, 1778, Congress promoted Captain Henry Lee of the 1st Dragoons, and gave him command of the newly established 5th Dragoons, with two troops of Dragoons, which became known as Lee’s Partisan Corps. Lee and his troopers established themselves as champion raiders. They specialized in capturing British supplies, greatly aiding their American compatriots. On May 28th a third troop was added. By July of 1779 the 5th was known as Lee’s Legion. Lee personally saw that his men were well equipped and uniformed often at his own expense. His men showed their appreciation by providing a long list of heroic exploits.

After the battle of Monmouth Court House (June 28th, 1778) the British retreated to the area around New York City. The American Dragoons were deployed to keep a close eye on them and to patrol the area known as "Neutral Ground", which resulted in numerous clashes. It was during this lengthy period that Major Tallmage earned his reputation as a raider to match that of Light Horse Harry Lee. Major Tallmage also set up and managed General Washington’s espionage network.

Encamped in the little village of Tappan, New York, the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons were surprised by four battalions of British infantry while they slept. The British commander, Major General Charles Grey, ordered the attack by bayonet only. Thirty-six troopers were killed or wounded, thirty-seven more captured. The rest escaped into the night. Colonel George Baylor was severely wounded, having been shot through the lungs and captured. He survived but the wound prevented his return to duty a until he was exchanged in 1781. He then took command of the combined 1st and 3rd Dragoon Regiments.

General Washington promoted a Major in Moylan’s 4th Regiment to Lieutenant Colonel and gave him command of the 3rd Regiment. He was General Washington’s
third cousin, William Washington. He had served in the infantry from the beginning of the war and was one of the two officers wounded at Trenton. He proved to understand cavalry tactics, and is said to have said: "The sword is the most destructive and almost only necessary weapon a Dragoon carries."

Although recognized as being the most valuable weapon available for cavalry, swords were hard to acquire. Most American cavalrymen used home made swords manufactured here. However, after the victory at Saratoga, they received 149 heavy broadswords captured from the Prinz Ludwig’s Brunswick Dragoons. France also sent some fine sabers.

When the British captured Savannah, Georgia, Washington dispatched General Pulaski south to assist Major General Benjamin Lincoln. In the attempt to retake British held Savannah, Georgia, Pulaski was killed leading a cavalry charge. He has gone down in our history as the "Father of American Cavalry".

Failing to retake Savannah, General Lincoln retired to Charleston, South Carolina. British Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton arrived with 10,000 additional troops, besieged Charleston and forced General Lincoln to surrender. Fortunately the American Dragoons were based 24 miles inland from Charleston and did not surrender, but continued the fight.

General Clinton brought cavalry with him, but the voyage from New York was a rough passage and many of the horses died en route, and the surviving horses were unfit for duty. This gave the Continental Dragoons, then numbering 379 officers and troopers, the opportunity to prevent the British from moving inland. They were soon joined by a troop of South Carolina militia Dragoons, bringing their number up to five hundred effectives.

The British Cavalry commander was Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, whose leadership would earn him the hatred of most Americans, and the admiration of most British. He ended his military career as a Lt. General and served during the Napoleonic Wars.

Tarleton rapidly acquired new mounts for his own Legion and the Troopers of the 17th Light Dragoons. His relentless pursuit of the American Dragoons resulted in several skirmishes and eventually wore down the hard pressed Americans. Colonel Anthony White of the 1st Dragoons, and the remaining men of his Regiment returned to Virginia to refit and recruit replacements. Colonel William Washington and the 3rd Dragoons retired to North Carolina with the same purpose in mind.

Congress sent Major General Horatio Gates with Continental Infantry Regiments from Delaware and Maryland and militia Regiments from Virginia and North Carolina. For cavalry, he was assigned Colonel Charles Armand Tuffin, Marquis de
la Rouerie, a French volunteer, and a troop of sixty Dragoons and sixty riflemen. The unit was known as Armand’s legion.

On August 16th, 1780, Gates met Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis at Camden and was soundly defeated.

With this new disaster, Congress finally agreed with General Washington that Major General Nathaniel Greene was the General of choice to lead the Southern Department. Greene was sent south, accompanying him was Lieutenant Colonel 'Light Horse' Harry Lee and 250 men in his "Lee’s Legion".

When General Greene arrived at Charlotte, North Carolina he found the battered remains of Gate’s Army. He also found Colonel William Washington with 80 survivors of the now combined 1st and 3rd Dragoons. He assigned them to Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and ordered Morgan to oppose the British in western South Carolina.

Colonel Washington and his Dragoons fought several skirmishes, and in one, supported by 200 mounted militia attacked a Loyalist raiding party of 250. They inflicted 150 casualties and took forty prisoners.

General Morgan, with the help of William Washington was a constant threat to Lord Cornwallis’ operations, hence Cornwallis reenforced Lt. Colonel Tarleton’s Legion, increasing his command to 1,000 regulars. He ordered them to pursue and eliminate Morgan. On January 17th, 1781 they met at a place named Cowpens. It was a hard fought battle, and during the heat of battle, at just the right moment Washington and his eighty Dragoons charged from their concealed position. The charge struck the flank and rear of the British line, rolling it up, and in effect ended the battle. The eighty American Dragoons charged right through Tarleton’s Reserve, the 200 man Green Dragoons of Tarleton’s Legion. Washington and Tarleton actually dueled on horseback, but Tarleton managed to escape, leaving 100 killed, 229 wounded and 600 captured behind.

The next encounter was at Guilford Court House and again it was Col. William Washington’s Dragoons charge in to the fray doing great damage, but not enough to stop Cornwallis. Cornwallis won the battle but it cost him one fourth of his army.

The next encounter was at Eutaw Springs, where Colonel Washington, again leading a charge, entered a patch of blackjack thickets. Their horses were entangled in the briars. Volley after volley was fired into the entangled Dragoons - - Washington was
wounded, and all but two of his officers and half of his men were either killed or wounded.

Lord Cornwallis, badly battered, requested much needed reinforcements. General Clinton ordered him to the coast and to fortify a naval base, presumably to wait for the reinforcements that didn’t arrive in time. He surrendered his army on October 19th, 1781 at Yorktown.

The loss of Cornwallis’s army all but ended the war but there were still numerous skirmishes to come. The Dragoons patrolled the areas around the two locations still garrisoned by the British.

When the war ended, Congress reduced the army to 80 regulars to guard the military supplies stored at West Point. All of the cavalry regiments were disbanded.