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Daniel Morgan (July 6, 1736 – July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. One of the most respected battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War of 1775–1783, he later commanded troops during the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791–1794.

Key Information

Born in New Jersey to James and Eleanor Morgan, a Welsh family, Morgan settled in Winchester, Virginia. He became an officer of the Virginia militia and recruited a company of riflemen at the start of the Revolutionary War. Early in the war, Morgan served in Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec and in the Saratoga campaign. He also served in the Philadelphia campaign before resigning from the army in 1779.

Morgan returned to the army after the Battle of Camden, and led the Continental Army to victory in the Battle of Cowpens. After the war, Morgan retired from the army again and developed a large estate. He was recalled to duty in 1794 to help suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, and commanded a portion of the army that remained in Western Pennsylvania after the rebellion. A member of the Federalist Party, Morgan twice ran for the United States House of Representatives, winning election to the House in 1796. He retired from Congress in 1799 and died in 1802.

Early years

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Daniel Morgan is believed to have been born in the community of New Hampton in Lebanon Township, New Jersey.[2][3] All four of his grandparents were Welsh immigrants who lived in Pennsylvania.[4] Morgan's parents were born in Pennsylvania and then later moved to New Jersey together. Morgan was the fifth of seven children of James Morgan (1702–1782) and Eleanor Lloyd (1706–1748). When Morgan was 17, he left home following a fight with his father. After working at odd jobs in Pennsylvania, he moved to the Shenandoah Valley. He finally settled on the Virginia frontier, near what is now Winchester, Virginia.[5]

He worked clearing land, running a sawmill, and as a teamster.[5] In a little more than two years, he saved enough to buy his own team.[6] With multiple extra wagons, this operation quickly expanded into a thriving business.[5] Morgan served as a civilian teamster during the French and Indian War[5][6][7] with Daniel Boone, sometimes said to be his cousin.[8][9] During the retreat from Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh), he was punished with 500 lashes (a usually fatal sentence) for attacking an officer.[5][7] Morgan thus acquired a disdain for British authorities and their treatment of provincials.[5] Later, when he led troops, he banned flogging.[5]

He continued as a wagoner, which much of the profits initially being spent on alcohol, gambling, and female company, and resulted in several appearances before a Virginia magistrate, for charges from assault, through the burning down of a neighbours tobacco shed, to horse theft. Though he earned enough to purchase a house, between Winchester and Battletown, with 225 acres of land, and ten slaves, by 1774.[10][11] He would meet Abigail Curry, who would teach him to read and write, and by who he would have two daughters, Nancy and Betsy, and later marry.[5]

Morgan later served as a rifleman in the provincial forces assigned to protect the western settlements from French-backed Indian raids. He led a force that relieved Fort Edwards during its siege and successfully directed the defence afterward.[5][6] He served in Dunmore's War, taking part in raids on Shawnee villages in the Ohio Country.

American Revolution

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After the American Revolutionary War began at the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the Continental Congress created the Continental Army in June 1775.[5][7] They called for the formation of 10 rifle companies[6][7] from the middle colonies to support the Siege of Boston,[5] and late in June 1775, Virginia agreed to send two.[7] Morgan was chosen by a unanimous vote by the Committee of Frederick County to form one of these companies and become its commander.[6]

Morgan recruited 96 men[5][6][7] in 10 days[6] and assembled them at Winchester on July 14. This was even larger than authorized strength.[5] His company of marksmen was nicknamed "Morgan's Riflemen". Another company was raised from Shepherdstown by his rival, Hugh Stephenson. Stephenson's company initially planned to meet Morgan's company in Winchester but found them gone. Morgan marched his men 600 miles (970 km) to Boston, Massachusetts in 21 days, arriving on August 6, 1775.[12][13] Locals called it the "Bee-Line March", noting that Stephenson somehow marched his men 600 miles from their meeting point at Morgan's Spring, in 24 days, so they arrived at Cambridge on Friday, August 11, 1775.[14][15] The long rifles used were more accurate and had a longer range than other firearms at that time – 300 yards (270 m) as compared to 80 yards (73 m) for standard smooth-bore muskets – but took much longer to load.[5] As they were handmade, calibres varied, requiring differently sized bullets.[5] When his men were done training Morgan used them as snipers, shooting mostly British officers who thought they were out of range; sometimes they killed 10 British in a day.[5] This caused great outrage within and without the British army; amongst others, Washington disapproved of this way of war, and when gunpowder began to run out he forbade Morgan to fight in such a manner.[5]

Invasion of Canada

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In June that year, the Continental Congress authorized an invasion of Canada.[16] Colonel Benedict Arnold convinced General Washington to start an eastern offensive in support of Montgomery's invasion. Washington agreed to dispatch three companies from his forces at Boston, provided they agreed. Every company at Boston volunteered, and a lottery was used to choose who should go. Morgan's company was one of them. Benedict Arnold selected Captain Morgan to lead the three companies as a battalion. Arnold's expedition set out from Fort Western on September 25, with Morgan leading the advance party.[17]

The Arnold Expedition[18] started with about 1,050 men; by the time they reached Quebec on November 9, that had been reduced to 675.[19] When Montgomery's men arrived, they launched a joint assault. The Battle of Quebec began in a blizzard on the morning of December 31. The Patriots attacked in two pincers, commanded by Montgomery and Arnold.

Arnold attacked against the lower city from the north, but he suffered a leg wound early in the battle. Morgan took command of the force, and he successfully overcame the first rampart and entered the city. Montgomery's force initiated their attack as the blizzard became severe, and Montgomery and many of his troops, except for Aaron Burr, were killed or wounded in the first British volley. With Montgomery down, his attack faltered. British General Carleton consequently was able to lead hundreds of the Quebec militia in the encirclement of the second attack. Carleton was also able to move his cannons and men to the first barricade, behind Morgan's force. Divided and subject to fire from all sides, Morgan's troops gradually surrendered. Morgan handed his sword to a French-Canadian priest, refusing to give it to Carleton in formal surrender. Morgan thus became one of the 372 men captured, and he remained a prisoner of war until he was exchanged in January 1777.

11th Virginia Regiment and Morgan's Riflemen

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When he rejoined Washington early in 1777, Morgan was surprised to learn he had been promoted to colonel for his bravery at Quebec. He was ordered to raise and command a new infantry regiment, the 11th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line.

On June 13, 1777, Washington also gave Morgan command of the Provisional Rifle Corps, a light infantry force of 500 riflemen chosen from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia regiments of the Continental Army. Morgan simultaneously led the 11th Virginia Regiment, his permanent unit, and this provisional unit.

Washington wrote the following letter to Morgan on August 16, 1777: "Sir: After you receive this, you will march, as soon as possible, with the corps under your command, to Peekskill, taking with you all the baggage belonging to it. When you arrive there, you will take directions from General Putnam, who, I expect, will have vessels provided to carry you to Albany. The approach of the enemy in that quarter has made a further reinforcement necessary, and I know of no corps so likely to check their progress, in proportion to its number, as that under your command. I have great dependence on you, your officers and men, and I am persuaded you will do honor to yourselves, and essential service to your country..... I am, sir, your most obedient servant George Washington."

Many were from his own 11th Regiment, including his friend Captain Gabriel Long, and Long's best snipers, including Corporals John Gassaway, Duncan MacDonald and Private Peter Carland. After their victory at Saratoga, Washington sent them to harass General William Howe's rearguard, and Morgan did so during their entire withdrawal across New Jersey.

Saratoga

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Surrender of General Burgoyne
Col. Morgan is shown in white, right of center

A detachment of Morgan's regiment, commanded by Morgan, was reassigned to the army's Northern Department and on Aug 30 he joined General Horatio Gates to aid in resisting Burgoyne's offensive. He is prominently depicted in the painting of the Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga by John Trumbull.[20]

Freeman's Farm

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Morgan led his regiment, with the added support of Henry Dearborn's 300-man New Hampshire infantry, as the advance to the main forces. On September 19, at Freeman's Farm, they ran into the advance of General Simon Fraser's wing of Burgoyne's force. Every officer in the British advance party died in the first exchange, and the advance guard retreated.

Morgan's men charged without orders, but the charge fell apart when they ran into the main column led by General Hamilton. Benedict Arnold arrived, and he and Morgan managed to reform the unit. As the British began to form on the fields at Freeman's farm, Morgan's men continued to break these formations with accurate rifle fire from the woods on the far side of the field. They were joined by another seven regiments from Bemis Heights.

For the rest of the afternoon, American fire held the British in check, but repeated American charges were repelled by British bayonets.

Bemis Heights

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The Provisional Rifle Corps at Bemis Heights.

Burgoyne's next offensive resulted in the Battle of Bemis Heights on Oct. 7. Morgan was assigned command of the left (or western) flank of the American position. The British plan was to turn that flank, using an advance by 1,500 men. This brought Morgan's brigade once again up against General Fraser's forces. Daniel Morgan's sharpshooters were ordered to specifically shoot British officers and their Native American Guides. In order to cause maximum confusion and disorder among British Troops.[21]

Passing through the Canadian loyalists, Morgan's Virginia sharpshooters got the British light infantry trapped in a crossfire between themselves and Dearborn's regiment. Although the light infantry broke, General Fraser was trying to rally them, encouraging his men to hold their positions when Benedict Arnold arrived. Arnold spotted him and called to Morgan: "That man on the grey horse is a host unto himself and must be disposed of — direct the attention of some of the sharpshooters amongst your riflemen to him!" Morgan reluctantly ordered Fraser shot by a sniper, and Timothy Murphy obliged him.

With Fraser mortally wounded, the British light infantry fell back into and through the redoubts occupied by Burgoyne's main force. Morgan was one of those who then followed Arnold's lead to turn a counter-attack from the British middle. Burgoyne retired to his starting positions, but about 500 men poorer for the effort. That night, he withdrew to the village of Saratoga, New York (renamed Schuylerville in honor of Philip Schuyler) about eight miles to the northwest.

During the next week, as Burgoyne dug in, Morgan and his men moved to his north. Their ability to cut up any patrols sent in their direction convinced the British that retreat was not possible.

New Jersey and retirement

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After Saratoga, Morgan's unit rejoined Washington's main army, near Philadelphia. Throughout 1778 he hit British columns and supply lines in New Jersey but was not involved in any major battles. He was not involved in the Battle of Monmouth but actively pursued the withdrawing British forces and captured many prisoners and supplies. When the Virginia Line was reorganized on September 14, 1778, Morgan became the colonel of the 7th Virginia Regiment.

Throughout this period, Morgan became increasingly dissatisfied with the army and the Congress. He had never been politically active or cultivated a relationship with the Congress. As a result, he was repeatedly passed over for promotion to brigadier, favor going to men with less combat experience but better political connections. While still a colonel with Washington, he had temporarily commanded Weedon's brigade and felt himself ready for the position. Besides this frustration, his legs and back aggravated him from the abuse taken during the Quebec Expedition. He was finally allowed to resign on June 30, 1779, and returned home to Winchester.

Being ordered by General George Washington, in the summer and fall of 1779, Morgan and his riflemen were part of Sullivan's Expedition into the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions of New York.

In June 1780, he was urged to re-enter the service by General Gates but declined. Gates was taking command in the Southern Department, and Morgan felt that being outranked by so many militia officers would limit his usefulness. After Gates' disaster at the Battle of Camden, Morgan thrust all other considerations aside, and went to join the Southern command at Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Southern Campaign

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Portrait of Banastre Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds

He met Gates at Hillsborough, and was given command of the light infantry corps on Oct. 2. At last, on October 13, 1780, Morgan received his promotion to brigadier general.

Morgan met his new Department Commander, Nathanael Greene, on December 3, 1780, at Charlotte, North Carolina. Greene did not change his command assignment, but did give him new orders. Greene had decided to split his army and annoy the enemy in order to buy time to rebuild his force. He gave Morgan's command of about 600 men the job of foraging and enemy harassment in the backcountry of South Carolina, while avoiding direct battle.[22]

When this strategy became apparent, the British General Cornwallis sent Colonel Banastre Tarleton's British Legion to track him down. Morgan talked with militia who had fought Tarleton. Morgan decided to disobey orders and provoke a battle.

Battle of Cowpens

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Main article: Battle of Cowpens
Medal voted for Morgan by Congress

Morgan chose to make his stand at Cowpens, South Carolina. On the morning of January 17, 1781, they met Tarleton in the Battle of Cowpens. Morgan had been joined by militia forces under Andrew Pickens and William Washington's dragoons. Tarleton's legion was supplemented with the light infantry from several regiments of regulars.

Morgan's plan took advantage of Tarleton's tendency for quick action and his disdain for the militia,[23] as well as the longer range and accuracy of his Virginia riflemen. The marksmen were positioned to the front, followed by the militia, with the regulars at the hilltop. The first two units were to withdraw as soon as they were seriously threatened, but after inflicting damage. This would invite a premature charge from the British.

The tactic resulted in a double envelopment. As the British forces approached, the Americans, with their backs turned to the British, reloaded their muskets. When the British got close to the Americans, the latter turned and fired at point-blank range. In less than an hour, Tarleton's 1,076 men suffered 110 killed and 830 captured; 200 prisoners of war were wounded. The British Legion, among the best units in Cornwallis's army, was effectively destroyed. Archibald McArthur, the captured commander of a battalion of the 71st Regiment of Foot, said after the battle that he "was an officer before Tarleton was born; that the best troops in the service were put under 'that boy' to be sacrificed".[24][25]

Cornwallis had lost not only Tarleton's legion but also his light infantry, losses that limited his speed of reaction for the rest of the campaign. For his actions, Virginia gave Morgan land and an estate that had been abandoned by a Tory. The damp and chill of the campaign had aggravated his sciatica to the point that he was in constant pain; on February 10, he returned to his Virginia farm.[23] In July 1781, Morgan briefly joined Lafayette to pursue Banastre Tarleton once more, this time in Virginia, but they were unsuccessful.[26]

Later life

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Daniel Morgan House, Winchester, where he died in 1802
The grave of Daniel Morgan at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia
Statue of General Morgan erected in 1881 in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Morgan Square in Spartanburg
North Daniel Morgan Avenue sign in Spartanburg

Morgan resigned his commission after serving six-and-a-half years, and at 46 returned home to Frederick County. He was admitted as an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati in the state of Virginia.[27][28] He turned his attention to investing in land rather than clearing it, and eventually built an estate of more than 250,000 acres (1,000 km2). As part of his settling down in 1782, he joined the Presbyterian Church and, using Hessian prisoners of war, built a new house near Winchester, Virginia. He named the home Saratoga after his victory in New York. The Congress awarded him a gold medal in 1790 to commemorate his victory at Cowpens.[29]

In 1794, he was briefly recalled to national service to help suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, and the same year, he was promoted to major general. Serving under General "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, Morgan led one wing of the militia army into Western Pennsylvania.[30] The massive show of force brought an end to the protests without a shot being fired. After the uprising had been suppressed, Morgan commanded the remnant of the army that remained until 1795 in Pennsylvania, some 1,200 militiamen, one of whom was Meriwether Lewis.[31]

Morgan ran for election to the US House of Representatives twice as a Federalist. He lost in 1794, but won in 1796 with 70% of the vote by defeating Democratic-Republican Robert Rutherford. Morgan served a single term from 1797 to 1799.

Tomb of Daniel Morgan in the Mount Hebron Cemetery

He died on his birthday at his daughter's home in Winchester on July 6, 1802. He was buried in Old Stone Presbyterian Church graveyard. The body was moved to the Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia, after the American Civil War. His wife, Abigail, died in 1816 and was buried in Logan County, Kentucky.

Legacy

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Daniel Morgan Parkinson, militia officer, official and entrepreneur of frontier Wisconsin, was the son of Morgan's sister Mary, and was named after his famous uncle.[32]

In 1820 Virginia named a new county—Morgan County—in his honor. (It is now in West Virginia.) The states of Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee followed their example. The North Carolina city of Morganton is also named after Morgan, as well as the Kentucky city of Morganfield (originally Morgan's Field) which was founded in 1811 on land which was part of a Revolutionary War land grant to Daniel Morgan. Morgan actually never saw the land, but his daughter's cousin-in-law,[33] Presley O'Bannon, the "Hero of Derna" in the Barbary War, acquired the land, drew up a plan for the town and donated the land for the streets and public square.

In 1881 (on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens), a statue of Morgan was placed in the central town square of Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is located in Morgan Square and remains in place today.

In late 1951, an attempt was made to reinter Morgan's body in Cowpens, South Carolina, but the Frederick-Winchester Historical Society blocked the move by securing an injunction in circuit court. The event was pictured by a staged photo that appeared in Life magazine.[34]

In 1973, the home Saratoga was declared a National Historic Landmark.

Fort Morgan is a historic masonry pentagonal bastion fort at the mouth of Mobile Bay, Alabama, United States.

Morgan and his actions served as one of the key sources for the fictional character of Benjamin Martin in The Patriot, a motion picture released in 2000.

There is a street named after him in Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

A statue of Morgan was erected at the McConnelsville library, in Morgan County, Ohio in 2017.[35]

In Winchester, Virginia, a middle school is named in his honor.[36]

The Daniel Morgan House at Winchester was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.[37]

In the early 1780s, Morgan joined efforts with Col. Nathaniel Burwell to build a water-powered mill in Millwood, Virginia. The Burwell-Morgan Mill is open as a museum and is one of the oldest, most original operational grist mills in the country.

A statue of Morgan is on the west face of the Saratoga Monument in Schuylerville, New York.[38]

References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Daniel Morgan

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from Grokipedia
Daniel Morgan (c. 1736 – July 6, 1802) was an American frontiersman, soldier, and politician renowned for his tactical brilliance as a commander of riflemen during the . Born near Junction in , Morgan relocated as a youth to Virginia's , where he worked as a and before enlisting in . Morgan's early military experience included service as a in the , where he endured harsh conditions and gained frontline knowledge, culminating in a flogging incident for against a British that underscored his independent streak. At the outset of the Revolution, he organized and led a company of riflemen, leveraging their marksmanship in key engagements such as the failed invasion of Canada in 1775–1776 and the in 1777, where his corps played a decisive role in outflanking British forces and contributing to the . Promoted to , Morgan later masterminded the 1781 victory at , employing innovative militia tactics to feign retreat and envelop Banastre Tarleton's elite dragoons, inflicting heavy casualties and boosting Patriot momentum in the Southern theater. Postwar, Morgan transitioned to politics as a , serving a term in the U.S. from 1797 to 1799, advocating for strong national defense amid tensions with . His legacy endures as a self-taught tactician whose unorthodox methods and leadership exemplified the resourcefulness of American irregular forces against professional British troops, though his career was marred by periods of illness and political friction. He died at his estate in , and was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery.

Early Life and Frontier Formations

Childhood and Migration to Virginia

Daniel Morgan was born on July 6, 1736, near Junction in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, to Welsh immigrant parents James and Eleanor Morgan. His father worked as an ironmonger, operating a foundry, while the family lived in modest circumstances typical of frontier settlers. Morgan was one of several children in a household that provided him with minimal formal education, leaving him largely illiterate in his youth. Details of his early childhood remain sparse, as he seldom discussed it later in life and avoided dwelling on familial matters. At around age 17, following a heated argument with his father, Morgan departed New Jersey independently and migrated southward to Virginia's frontier regions circa 1753–1754. He initially settled near Charles Town (then in Virginia, now West Virginia) before establishing himself in the Shenandoah Valley outside Winchester, Frederick County. In this rugged area, he took up work as a teamster, hauling freight and supplies over difficult mountain passes to eastern markets, a labor-intensive role that honed his physical endurance and familiarity with the backcountry. Upon arriving in , Morgan exhibited coarse manners, limited literacy, and a penchant for brawling, traits that reflected his unpolished upbringing but also his self-reliant spirit amid the colony's expanding settlements. This migration marked his break from familial ties and entry into a life of frontier self-sufficiency, setting the stage for his later military and economic pursuits.

French and Indian War Experiences

In 1755, during the early phase of the , Daniel Morgan served as a civilian teamster, hauling supplies for British forces under contract to support operations in the frontier. He joined Edward Braddock's expedition, which departed from Fort Cumberland on June 3 with approximately 2,200 men, including colonial militia and British regulars, aiming to capture the French-held (modern ). On July 9, 1755, Braddock's column encountered an by French and Native American forces near the , resulting in a that killed or wounded over 900 of the 1,400 British and engaged, including Braddock himself. Morgan, driving one of the supply wagons, survived the defeat and assisted in the chaotic retreat, during which survivors abandoned much equipment and covered 60 miles back to safety in four days. This experience exposed him to frontier combat tactics, contrasting rigid British linear formations with irregular Native American methods, and earned him the nickname "Old Wagoner" for his reliability in amid hardship. Morgan's service included a notable incident of when he struck a British officer over a on a , leading to a sentence of 499 lashes—standard for severe offenses like —administered publicly; remarkably, he withstood the punishment without fainting, reportedly counting aloud to demonstrate resilience, which bolstered his reputation among frontiersmen. Later in the war, by the early , he enlisted as a in Virginia provincial forces, participating in ranger-style patrols to counter Native American raids backed by French allies, honing skills in long-range marksmanship and that proved vital in subsequent conflicts. These duties involved scouting and skirmishing in western settlements, where his proficiency with the —capable of accurate fire at 200-300 yards—distinguished him from musket-armed regulars.

Revolutionary War Service

Organization of Morgan's Riflemen

Daniel Morgan received a commission as captain of a Virginia rifle company from the Continental Congress on June 22, 1775, shortly after the prompted the formation of specialized frontier units to support the Patriot cause. Morgan, leveraging his experience as a and frontiersman, recruited 96 volunteers primarily from the area in , enlisting them within ten days. These men were rugged backcountry hunters and marksmen, drawn from Scotch-Irish and German settler communities accustomed to the rigors of frontier life, which equipped them for rapid marches and . The company's organization emphasized mobility and marksmanship over traditional drill, with each armed with a —typically a Pennsylvania or Kentucky-style weapon featuring rifled barrels for superior accuracy at ranges up to 300 yards, far exceeding the muskets of regular troops. Lacking standardized uniforms, the men wore fringed shirts, buckskin leggings, and carried minimal gear including tomahawks, powder horns, and shot pouches suited to their role as skirmishers. This structure reflected the unit's origins as volunteers rather than a standing , prioritizing individual proficiency in use—honed through large game—over tactics prevalent in European-style armies. On July 15, 1775, Morgan's company departed for , covering approximately 600 miles in via the "Beeline March," a feat that demonstrated their endurance and logistical self-sufficiency. Arriving on August 8, they integrated into the Continental Army besieging , where their sniping capabilities against British officers provided an early tactical edge, validating the decision to organize such specialized rifle units amid the Continental Congress's broader authorization of ten rifle companies in July 1775. This formation marked one of the first instances of riflemen being formally mustered into federal service, setting a precedent for employing irregular forces in .

Invasion of Canada and Capture

In August 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the recruitment of rifle companies for the invasion of Canada, and Daniel Morgan was appointed captain of one such unit, comprising approximately 96 expert marksmen known for their accuracy with long rifles. These riflemen, emphasizing frontier skills over traditional musketry, marched to , by early September to join the broader campaign under Generals and . Benedict Arnold, tasked with a parallel expedition from Massachusetts, selected Morgan's riflemen—along with two other companies—to form a light infantry battalion for the march to Quebec, departing Fort Western (modern Augusta, Maine) on September 25, 1775. The 350-mile overland route through dense wilderness, swamps, and rapid-choked rivers proved grueling; divisions under Morgan's riflemen led the advance, portaging heavy bateaux and supplies while enduring starvation, exposure, and desertions, with only about 600 of the original 1,100 men reaching the by November 9. Despite these hardships, Morgan's men maintained discipline, using their rifles to hunt game and skirmish with British scouts, arriving at Point Lévis opposite on November 14 amid a smallpox outbreak that further weakened the force. The Americans crossed the St. Lawrence on November 16 and began a siege of Quebec, coordinating with Montgomery's army advancing from Lake Champlain; however, harsh winter conditions and British reinforcements under Governor Guy Carleton stalled progress. On December 31, 1775, during a blinding snowstorm, Arnold and Montgomery launched a coordinated assault at approximately 4:00 a.m.: Montgomery's column targeted the southern defenses near Cape Diamond, while Arnold's— including Morgan's riflemen—advanced from the north along the St. Charles River. Arnold was wounded early by grapeshot, prompting Morgan to assume command of the column, which successfully overran the first barricade at Sault-au-Matelot but became trapped in the lower town after British reinforcements sealed the exits. Montgomery's simultaneous attack failed catastrophically, with the general killed by fire, leaving Arnold's force isolated; British artillery and fire inflicted heavy casualties, and by 9:00 a.m., Morgan—having refused demands to surrender by shouting defiance—capitulated with over 400 survivors to avoid further slaughter. Morgan and his men were imprisoned in , enduring harsh conditions including disease and inadequate rations; he was paroled after eight months, around August 1776, following British policy shifts and American exchanges, rejoining the Continental Army by fall. The failed assault marked a turning point, ending immediate hopes of Canadian conquest and highlighting logistical vulnerabilities in the northern campaign.

Saratoga Campaign

In June 1777, the Continental authorized Daniel Morgan to form a of approximately 400 riflemen drawn from the and lines, supplemented by 300 under Major , to reinforce General ' Northern Army against the British invasion from led by General . Morgan's unit employed long-range rifled muskets for precision sharpshooting, contrasting with the muskets of most Continental forces, enabling effective targeting of British officers and artillery crews. During the First Battle of Saratoga at Freeman's Farm on September 19, 1777, Morgan's riflemen spearheaded the American advance, driving off British pickets and engaging in wooded skirmishes against General Simon Fraser's forces, including the 24th Regiment, artillery, Native American allies, and Loyalist . Using and concealed positions, they inflicted severe casualties on the British 62nd Regiment and artillery, contributing to around 600 British losses in a battle that ended in a tactical British victory but stalled their momentum toward Bemis Heights. In the Second Battle of Saratoga on October 7, 1777, at Bemis Heights, Morgan's corps attacked the British right flank in coordination with Benedict Arnold's forces, pursuing routed units to Breymann's Redoubt and facilitating its capture. Rifleman Timothy Murphy, under Morgan's command, fatally shot General Fraser, disrupting British leadership and aiding the decisive American rout. These actions were pivotal in forcing Burgoyne's surrender on October 17, 1777, with commending Morgan's riflemen in his congressional report as key to the campaign's success, which proved a turning point by securing French alliance. Following the in 1777, Morgan's pre-existing health problems, exacerbated by the harsh winter march to in 1775–1776 and subsequent exposures, intensified into severe and , rendering him unable to continue active field command. These conditions, characterized by and mobility limitations, had progressively worsened, compelling him to seek leaves of absence while still contributing to the Continental Army's operations under . On June 30, 1779, Morgan formally resigned his commission, citing incapacitating illness as the primary factor, though contemporary accounts also note underlying frustration from being passed over for promotion to and command of a proposed rifle corps. He returned to his estate near , where he focused on recovery through rest and local management, yet the persisted as a lifelong affliction, periodically flaring with feverish episodes suggestive of recurrent . In response to the dire Southern theater setbacks, particularly ' rout at Camden on August 16, 1780, Continental leaders, including , urgently recruited experienced officers; Morgan, despite his frailty, accepted reinstatement on October 13, 1780, upon receiving the promotion he had long sought. This return positioned him to lead light troops in foraging and partisan operations, leveraging his expertise despite ongoing physical constraints that required him to travel by wagon and delegate mobility-dependent tasks. His renewed service culminated in tactical brilliance at Cowpens before health forced a final in June 1781.

Southern Campaign and Battle of Cowpens

In October 1780, amid British advances in the South following the May surrender of Charleston, Continental General assumed command of the Southern Department and divided his outnumbered forces to contest British control. Greene detached a flying light corps under Daniel Morgan, recently recommissioned by on October 13 after recovering from prior health issues, to forage in the North Carolina-South Carolina backcountry and threaten British outposts like Ninety Six. Morgan's command comprised roughly 1,000 troops: 287 and Continentals, 383 riflemen, and about 330 militia under Andrew Pickens, emphasizing mobility over heavy engagements. British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis, seeking to eliminate Greene's detachments, ordered Banastre Tarleton's British Legion—approximately 1,100 infantry, cavalry, and artillery—to pursue and destroy Morgan's in mid-January 1781. Tarleton's elite but fatigued force, known for aggressive pursuits like the December Waxhaws massacre, closed on Morgan near the Broad River, where swollen waters blocked easy retreat. Morgan, rejecting flight despite his men's exhaustion from recent marches, selected the open Cowpens grazing area on January 16 for a defensive stand, positioning his lines across a mile-wide front on slightly rising ground with woods flanking the ends. Morgan's innovative tactics leveraged his force's composition: the front line of 300-400 skirmishers, instructed to fire two or three volleys at 30-50 yards before ordered retreat to simulate collapse; a supporting line behind; and the main Continental line 150 yards rearward, reinforced by riflemen targeting British officers and dragoons under on the flanks. This arrangement, inspired by terrain and troop psychology— reliable for initial fire but prone to —drew Tarleton's charging infantry into overextension. As the British advanced at dawn on January 17, the feigned withdrawal exposed their center, enabling Continentals to wheel and envelop while Washington's cavalry struck the rear, collapsing the Legion in under an hour. The outcome was a resounding American victory: British casualties totaled 110 killed, 229 wounded, and 600-700 captured (including , who escaped), decimating the Legion's effectiveness; American losses were minimal at 12 killed and 60 wounded, per Morgan's report to Greene. awarded Morgan a on , 1790, recognizing the battle's role in blunting Cornwallis's southern momentum, though Morgan, hampered by , soon joined Greene's main army northward, evading pursuit to the Dan River. Cowpens exemplified Greene's attrition strategy, eroding British manpower without risking decisive defeat and setting the stage for subsequent actions like Guilford Courthouse.

Post-War Civilian and Political Career

Economic Prosperity and Local Leadership

Following his retirement from in 1783, Daniel Morgan focused on developing his estate known as Saratoga, located near Berryville in what was then (now Clarke County). There, he engaged in agriculture, including farming and stock-raising, building upon his earlier experiences as a frontiersman. His economic activities extended to land speculation, which proved highly successful; by 1796, Morgan owned more than 250,000 acres across . This accumulation of land and agricultural output marked a period of significant personal prosperity, transforming him from a self-made into a substantial landowner. Morgan's local leadership in Virginia's communities drew on his Revolutionary War renown and practical acumen. Residing in Frederick County, he influenced regional affairs through his advocacy for strong federal governance as a , helping to stabilize post-war society amid economic adjustments. In 1794, Virginia Henry Lee appointed him major general of the state militia to support federal efforts in quelling the in , underscoring his role in maintaining order and upholding authority at the state and local levels. His involvement exemplified the transition of wartime heroes into civilian pillars, bridging military discipline with civic responsibility in frontier .

Involvement in Constitutional Debates

Morgan aligned with the advocates for a stronger national government during the debates over of the U.S. Constitution in 1787–1788, viewing the proposed frame as essential for national stability following the weaknesses exposed by the . Residing in Virginia's , a region with divided sentiments, he lent his prestige as a Revolutionary War hero to bolster arguments against Anti-Federalist critics like and , who feared centralized power would erode state sovereignty and individual liberties. In August 1788, as 's ratifying convention approached its decision—ultimately approving the on June 25 by a narrow 89–79 margin— forwarded pro-ratification materials to Morgan via , seeking to leverage his influence among western voters and veterans wary of disunion. Washington's cover letter of August 30, 1788, transmitted Hamilton's enclosure directly to Morgan, underscoring the general's role in mobilizing military figures for the cause during this pivotal phase. This correspondence highlighted Morgan's perceived value in swaying opinion, though he did not serve as a delegate to the convention itself. Morgan's commitment to constitutional extended beyond ; in 1794, he commanded Virginia militia forces dispatched by President Washington to quell the in , enforcing federal tax laws under the new government's authority and demonstrating practical support for the Constitution's framework against regional resistance rooted in Anti- sentiments. His consistent alignment culminated in election to the U.S. in 1797, where he voted in favor of measures strengthening national institutions.

Service in Congress

Morgan sought election to the from as a candidate in 1794 but was defeated by Democratic-Republican John Heath. He ran again successfully in the 1796 election, defeating Democratic-Republican Robert Brent by a margin of approximately 1,200 votes to 900, securing a seat in the Fifth . Morgan took office on March 4, 1797, and served until March 3, 1799, representing the interests of western frontiersmen while advocating for strong federal authority consistent with principles. As a during a period of escalating tensions with leading to the , Morgan supported measures to bolster national defense and opposed appeasement of French seizures of American shipping, aligning with President John Adams's administration against Jeffersonian critics. His legislative record emphasized fiscal responsibility and military preparedness, reflecting his military background and distrust of unchecked executive leniency toward foreign adversaries, though he held no major committee assignments and focused on district concerns such as infrastructure for frontier regions. Morgan's attendance was hampered by recurrent health issues, including sciatica stemming from Revolutionary War injuries, which limited his active participation compared to healthier colleagues. Declining health prevented Morgan from seeking reelection in 1798, leading to his retirement from Congress at the end of the term; he returned to Winchester, Virginia, where his condition worsened progressively until his death in 1802. His brief congressional service underscored the transition of Revolutionary War veterans into partisan politics, where Federalists like Morgan defended centralized power against emerging Democratic-Republican challenges to federal overreach.

Personal Life and Character

Family and Domestic Affairs

Daniel Morgan established a household with Abigail Curry in the early 1760s near , where they cohabited and had two daughters prior to formalizing their union through a dated March 30, 1773. The daughters were Nancy, born in 1761, and Elizabeth (also known as ), born around 1762. Abigail Curry, unlike the initially illiterate Morgan, possessed literacy skills and instructed him in reading and writing, which facilitated his later military and political endeavors. This domestic partnership tempered Morgan's earlier rowdy disposition, enabling a settled life amid his activities and service in the Virginia militia. Following Morgan's death on July 6, 1802, Abigail managed the family estate in until her relocation to in 1816, where she resided with relatives including daughter Nancy's family. Both daughters married Revolutionary War veterans, reflecting the family's ties to the era's military community.

Health Challenges and Resilience

Daniel Morgan endured chronic health afflictions stemming from wartime injuries and physical labor in his youth. During the , on August 14, 1758, while serving as a wagoner, Morgan was ambushed by Native American allies of the French near Fort Edward; a ball passed through the back of his neck, dislodging several teeth and causing severe trauma, yet he survived and recovered sufficiently to continue . Later, as a officer, Morgan developed persistent , likely exacerbated by the grueling Quebec expedition in 1775–1776, where harsh winter conditions and strenuous marches contributed to lifelong pain. Following the in 1777, Morgan's intensified, rendering him unable to mount a and necessitating from active duty in early 1779; he returned to , where the condition, compounded by , confined him to a for mobility. Despite this, Morgan demonstrated resilience by accepting command of a light corps in the Southern theater in December 1780, traveling in a specially adapted to join General Nathanael Greene's forces amid ongoing pain. He led the decisive victory at Cowpens on January 17, 1781, before resigning again in April 1781 due to a renewed severe bout of . In his later years, Morgan's health continued to decline from these ailments, limiting his physical activities even as he engaged in and local affairs. He died on July 6, 1802, at his home in , at age 66, after years of battling the cumulative effects of his injuries and chronic conditions. Morgan's repeated returns to command despite debilitating pain underscored his determination, enabling contributions to American independence that outweighed his physical limitations.

Ownership of Slaves and Frontier Economics

Daniel Morgan's economic ascent on the Virginia frontier began in his youth, after arriving in the around 1753 as a near-penniless following a family dispute in . He entered the wagoning trade, hauling freight and supplies along rudimentary roads and over the , a grueling occupation that capitalized on the region's growing demand for goods amid settlement expansion. This independent teamstering, often involving high-risk transport for military expeditions like Edward Braddock's 1755 campaign against , generated sufficient capital for land acquisition and diversification into agriculture. By 1774, Morgan had achieved notable prosperity, owning a house on 225 acres of farmland between and Battletown, along with ten enslaved individuals who provided labor for cultivation and . He sub-leased portions of his holdings to tenants, blending direct farming with rental income in a mixed agrarian model typical of Virginia's . Enslaved labor was integral to such operations, enabling the intensive clearing of forested land, and production, and rearing in labor-scarce environments where family labor alone proved insufficient for scaling operations. This slaveholding aligned with the causal dynamics of economics in colonial , where bondage supplied reliable, coerced workforce for export-oriented amid high mortality, , and indigenous resistance that deterred free white settlement. Morgan's ten slaves represented a mid-tier holding—substantial for a self-made frontiersman but far below tidewater ' hundreds—facilitating wealth accumulation through diversified outputs like crops and possibly distilled spirits, which he later expanded post-Revolution. Empirical records from Frederick tax lists and militia rosters confirm his status as a propertied man by this period, underscoring how underpinned economic resilience on the advancing edge of European settlement. Following the Revolutionary War, Morgan maintained and grew his holdings, purchasing additional farmland near , where enslaved labor continued supporting his household and ventures amid regional booms in wheat and whiskey production. His trajectory exemplified capitalism's reliance on unfree labor to bridge initial capital shortages, yielding intergenerational assets despite wartime disruptions; by his 1802 death, estate inventories reflected sustained agrarian wealth tied to these practices.

Legacy and Historical Assessment

Military Innovations and Tactical Impact

Daniel Morgan pioneered the effective integration of rifle-armed into operations, forming an elite Provisional Rifle Corps in 1775 equipped with long capable of accurate fire at ranges up to 250 yards, far exceeding the 100-yard effective range of standard muskets. These , though slower to reload and more prone to , enabled skirmishing tactics such as targeted sniping of enemy officers and hit-and-run harassment, which disrupted British formations and gathering before pitched battles. At the in 1777, Morgan's riflemen demonstrated their tactical value by operating on the American right flank, where they picked off key British leaders, including General Simon Fraser at approximately 300 yards by rifleman Timothy Murphy, contributing to the collapse of British command structure and morale. This precision fire from concealed positions forced British retreats and highlighted the psychological and operational impact of specialized rifle units against reliant on and bayonets. Morgan's most renowned tactical innovation occurred at the on January 17, 1781, where he deployed approximately 900-1,000 American troops—comprising riflemen skirmishers, , and Continentals—against Banastre Tarleton's 1,100 British Legion forces. He arranged his lines in a deliberate formation: advanced skirmishers (60-70 riflemen) to fire once and retreat, followed by instructed to deliver two or three volleys before feigning a to draw the British into a disordered pursuit, with the main Continental line holding the center and on the flanks. This setup exploited militia limitations while leveraging their numbers, culminating in a double envelopment as retreating militia rallied and under struck the exposed British flanks, encircling and the enemy in under an hour. The victory at Cowpens inflicted severe casualties on the British—110 killed, 229 wounded, and 529 captured or missing—while American losses were minimal at 25 killed and 124 wounded, effectively destroying Tarleton's command and halting British momentum in the Southern Campaign. Strategically, it compelled Lord Cornwallis to abandon foraging operations and pursue northward, setting the stage for the Yorktown and broader American success. Morgan's approach validated the use of , including irregular riflemen and motivated under clear orders, against troops, influencing later doctrines on and defensive-offensive maneuvers, though some analyses attribute part of the success to opportunistic volleys amid the rather than exhaustive pre-weakening of the British.

Political Influence and Posthumous Recognition

In 1794, President appointed Morgan as of the Virginia militia to assist in suppressing the in , where he commanded residual forces after the main army's withdrawal, leveraging his revolutionary military prestige to enforce federal authority without major combat. This role underscored Morgan's enduring influence as a reliable ally to the administration amid domestic unrest over taxes. Morgan's formal political career culminated in his election to the as a from for the 5th Congress (March 4, 1797–March 3, 1799), following an unsuccessful 1794 bid and victory over a Democratic-Republican opponent in 1796.) During his term, he aligned with Federalist positions, including support for policies addressing French maritime aggressions against American shipping, reflecting his commitment to a strong national defense rooted in his wartime experiences. Declining re-election due to deteriorating health from and respiratory issues, Morgan's congressional service, though brief, amplified his voice in early republican debates on fiscal and , drawing on his status as a revolutionary hero to bolster Federalist appeals in frontier districts wary of centralized power. ![Daniel Morgan Monument in Spartanburg, South Carolina][float-right] Following Morgan's death on July 6, 1802, in , his legacy prompted numerous commemorations centered on his Cowpens victory, including the Daniel Morgan Monument erected in 1881 in 's Morgan Square to mark the battle's centennial, featuring a statue by depicting him in military pose atop a pedestal inscribed with battle details. Local tributes extended to such as North Daniel Morgan Avenue in Spartanburg and , established in 1821 explicitly honoring his Revolutionary contributions. His remains, reinterred in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, received a dedicated marker recognizing his service, while educational institutions like in Winchester perpetuated his name, emphasizing tactical acumen over political roles in public memory. These honors, predominantly in southern and frontier regions, affirm Morgan's recognition as a pivotal innovator rather than a dominant political figure, with his tenure overshadowed by military acclaim in historical assessments.

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