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.)