Editing Daniel Morgan (section)

==American Revolution==
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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> They called for the formation of 10 [[rifle]] [[Company (military unit)|companies]]<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> from the middle colonies to support the [[Siege of Boston]],<ref name=":0" /> and late in June 1775, Virginia agreed to send two.<ref name=":1" /> Morgan was chosen by a unanimous vote by the Committee of [[Frederick County, Virginia|Frederick County]] to form one of these companies and become its commander.<ref name=":2" />

Morgan recruited 96 men<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> in 10 days<ref name=":2" /> and assembled them at Winchester on July 14. This was even larger than authorized strength.<ref name=":0" /> His company of marksmen was nicknamed "[[Morgan's Riflemen]]". Another company was raised from [[Shepherdstown, West Virginia|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 {{convert|600|mi}} to [[Boston, Massachusetts]] in 21 days, arriving on August 6, 1775.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/425|title=e-WV &#124; Bee Line March}}</ref><ref>[[David McCullough|McCullough, David]]. ''[[1776 (book)|1776]]'' (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005) p. 38</ref> 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, Massachusetts|Cambridge]] on Friday, August 11, 1775.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theclio.com/|title=Clio - Welcome|website=Clio}}</ref> The [[long rifle]]s used were more accurate and had a longer range than other firearms at that time – {{Convert|300|yd}} as compared to {{Convert|80|yds}} for standard smooth-bore [[musket]]s – but took much longer to load.<ref name=":0" /> As they were handmade, calibres varied, requiring differently sized bullets.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" /> This caused great outrage within and without the British army; amongst others, [[George Washington|Washington]] disapproved of this [[Guerrilla warfare|way of war]], and when gunpowder began to run out he forbade Morgan to fight in such a manner.<ref name=":0" />

===Invasion of Canada===
In June that year, the Continental Congress authorized an [[Invasion of Canada (1775)|invasion of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Daniel Morgan : of the Virginia line of the Army of the United States, with portions of his correspondence|last=Graham|first=James|year=1859|pages=56}}</ref> Colonel [[Benedict Arnold]] convinced General Washington to start an eastern offensive in support of [[Richard Montgomery|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.<ref>Peckham, Howard H. ''The War for Independence: A Military History'' (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1958) p. 30</ref>

The [[Arnold's expedition to Quebec|Arnold Expedition]]<ref>Historians have never reached a consensus on the use of a standard name for this epic journey</ref> started with about 1,050 men; by the time they reached Quebec on November 9, that had been reduced to 675.<ref>{{Cite book|title=General Daniel Morgan: Reconsidered Hero|last=Morgan|first=Richard|year=2001|pages=13}}</ref>  When Montgomery's men arrived, they launched a joint assault. The [[Battle of Quebec (1775)|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 [[Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester|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===
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 [[Morgan's Riflemen|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, 5th Viscount Howe|William Howe]]'s rearguard, and Morgan did so during their entire withdrawal across [[New Jersey]].

===Saratoga===
[[File:Surrender of General Burgoyne.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Surrender of General Burgoyne]]''<br />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 [[John Burgoyne|Burgoyne's]] offensive. He is prominently depicted in the painting of the ''[[Surrender of General Burgoyne]]'' at [[Battles of Saratoga|Saratoga]] by [[John Trumbull]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Key to the Surrender of General Burgoyne |url=http://americanrevolution.org/burgkey.html|access-date=February 2, 2008}}</ref>

====Freeman's Farm====
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 [[Battle of Freeman's Farm|Freeman's Farm]], they ran into the advance of General [[Simon Fraser of Balnain|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 [[James Inglis Hamilton|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====
[[File:Riflemen at Saratoga.jpg|thumb|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yost |first=Russell |date=2012-02-16 |title=Daniel Morgan - The Most Innovative General of the Revolution |url=https://thehistoryjunkie.com/daniel-morgan/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=The History Junkie |language=en-US}}</ref>

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 (sniper)|Timothy Murphy]] obliged him.

With Fraser mortally wounded, the British light infantry fell back into and through the [[redoubt]]s 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|Saratoga]], New York (renamed [[Schuylerville, New York|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===
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===
[[File:Banastre-Tarleton-by-Joshua-Reynolds.jpg|thumb|right|180px|''[[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.<ref>Golway, Terry. ''Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution'' (New York: Henry Holt & Company, 2005) p. 241</ref>

When this strategy became apparent, the British General Cornwallis sent Colonel [[Banastre Tarleton]]'s [[British Legion (American Revolution)|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====
{{main|Battle of Cowpens}}
[[File:Morgan Cowpens medal etching.jpg|thumb|left|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 (congressman)|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,<ref name="Golway, p. 248">Golway, p. 248</ref> 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 [[pincer movement|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, they turned and fired at point-blank range. In less than an hour, Tarleton's 1,076 men suffered 110 killed and 830 captured; 200 British prisoners of war were wounded. The British Legion, among the best units in Cornwallis's army, was effectively useless. The captured commander of a battalion of the [[71st Regiment of Foot, Fraser's Highlanders]], Archibald McArthur, 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".<ref>Golway, pp. 245-248</ref><ref name="Buchanan, 326">Buchanan, John. ''The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas''. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1997, {{ISBN|0-471-16402-X}}, p. 326</ref>

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.<ref name="Golway, p. 248"/> In July 1781, Morgan briefly joined [[Marquis de la Fayette|Lafayette]] to pursue Banastre Tarleton once more, this time in Virginia, but they were unsuccessful.<ref>Peckham, p. 167</ref>