History of Hunterdon County New Jersey United States of America

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Daniel Morgan, soldier, was born in Hunterdon county, N.J., probably in 1733; of Welsh descent. He worked for his father on a herb farm and received no education. Upon a disagreement with his father he removed to Carlisle Pa., in 1753, and to Charlestown, Va., in 1754, where he obtained employment on a farm, took charge of a saw-mill and became a teamster. He joined General Braddock's army as a teamster in 1755, and at his defeat July 9, 1755, he transported the wounded back to their homes. In the spring of 1753 he was abused by a British officer, who struck him with a sword, and Morgan immediately knocked him down, his disrespect costing him five hundred lashes laid on his bare back. The officer subsequently made a public apology. In 1757 he was a member of the volunteer militia sent to quell Indian uprising at Edwards Fort on the Cocapehon river. He was commissioned ensign by Governor Dinwiddie and took part in the Indian campaign of 1758. While carrying despatches to Winchester he became engaged in a fight with Indians in which most of his comrades were slain and he was wounded by a musket ball, which passed through the back of his neck and went through his mouth, removing in its passage all the teeth on the left side of the jaw. This was the only wound he received during his long military career. In 1762 he received a grant of land in Frederick county, Va., and devoted hinself to farming, naming his place "Soldier's Rest." He was married about this time to Abigail Bailey, daughter of a farmer of that neighborhood, said to have been a woman of beauty and refinement. He served as a lieutenant in a regiment of militia during the Pontiac war. In 1763-64 he was commissioned captain of militia, and in 1773 served against the Indians. In June, 1775, he was appointed captain of one of the ten Virginia rifle companies raised to join Washington's army at Boston. His company was composed of ninety-six young woodsmen and reached the American camp at Cambridge, Mass., in July, 1775, having travelled six hundred miles in twenty-one days and being one of the first companies to report. On Sept. 13, 1775, he was detailed with his company on the expedition to Quebec under Benedict Arnold, and was the first to cross the St. Lawrence river, Nov. 13, 1775. He led the assault upon the northern and western extremities of the lower town, and took the battery opposed to him and fought his way into the town, where for lack of support his command was captured Jan. 1, 1776. He remained a prisoner of war at Quebec until Aug. 10, 1776, when he was discharged on parole and set sail for New York. He stayed for a brief time at his home in Virginia, and in November, 1776, he was commissioned colonel of the 11th Virginia regiment. His parole soon expired and he was instructed to recruit men for his regiment. Before his enlistment was complete he was ordered to join the army at Morristown, N.J., and arrived there with 180 riflemen in April, 1777. He was placed in command of 500 sharpshooters, known as Morgan's rangers, whose position was on the skirmish line. On June 13, 1777, upon the advance of Lord Howe from New Brunswick, N.J., Morgan's rangers had several encounters, and upon Howe's retreat toward Amboy, N.J., after having failed to draw Washington into an engagement, Morgan was sent forward to annoy him. He took position on Long Hill, Chatham, N.J., and thence followed Howe to Philadelphia. He found General Gates at Stillwater in August, 1777; was a prominent figure at Freeman's Farm, September 19, and at the surrender of Burgoyne, October 7. He was complimented by both Gates and Burgoyne, the latter characterizing his rangers the finest regiment in the world. He refused to listen to Gates's criticism of Washington's conduct of the war and assured him that he would serve under no other man as commander-in-chief. His name does not appear in Gates's official report of the surrender. At Whitemarsh, Pa., he rejoined Washington, who on Dec. 7, 1777, met the advance of Howe's army and compelled him to retire to Philadelphia, after which the American forces went into winter camp at Valley Forge, and Morgan returned to his home in Virginia, where he spent several weeks. During June, 1778, he served in the Monmouth campaign, but was not present at the battle of the 28th. He was commissioned colonel of the 7th Virginia regiment in March, 1779, and in June, 1779, congress having promoted inferior officers over him, he resigned his commission upon the appointment of General Gates to the command of the southern army. Morgan was urged to rejoin the army, but refused to outranked by commanders of state militia. After the unfortunate battle of Camden, he joined Gates at Hillsborough, was promoted brigadier-general Oct. 13, 1780, and served under Gates and Greene, and in December, 1780, he was sent by Greene to threaten the inland posts of Augusta and Ninety-Six. Cornwallis sent Tarleton to prevent this manoeuver, and upon the approach of a superior British force, Morgan retreated to a grazing grounds known as the Cowpens and awaited an attack. The ensuing battle of Jan. 17, 1781, was one of the most brilliant affairs of the Revolutionary war and reflected credit upon the military genius of Morgan. The British army was surrounded and put to flight, but the direction taken by Cornwallis obliged Morgan to cross the Fords of the Catawba in order to join Greene, and by a brilliant march he reached the river first and warned Greene of the situation. He took part in the manoeuvers leading to the battle of Guilford Court House, which resulted in Cornwallis's retreat into Virginia, but before the battle in February, 1781, he was incapacitated from further field service by an attack of rheumatism and he returned home. In 1781 he joined in the suppression of the Tory rebellion in Virginia, and subsequently reported to Lafayette, near Jamestown, Va., and was given command of the entire force of light troops in Lafayette's command, but his illness compelled him to retire in August, 1781. He engaged in the cultivation of his farm, and became wealthy. In 1790 he received from congress the gold medal voted[p.449] to him in 1781, for services rendered at the Cowpens. In 1795 he was chosen major-general of the Virginia troops that took part in the suppression of the whiskey insurrection in western Pennsylvania. He was a Federal representative in the 5th congress, 1797-99, and supported the administration of John Adams. A statue was dedicated to him at Spartanburg, S.C., in 1881. He died at Winchester, Va., July 6, 1802.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Hunterdon County New Jersey

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