America Untold:
Forgotten heroes, Forgotten Stories
Scarlet Ingstad
Christian, Independent Author, Historian
Christian, Independent Author, Historian
Welcome back to my 14-part series on the life of Banastre Tarleton during the American Revolution! If you missed earlier installments, click the links below and read those chapters first. 1. Meet the Tarleton Family 2. Road to Revolution 3. "I'll Cut off General Lee's Head!" Chapter 4: Theatre in Theater Near the end of 1776, George Washington faced humiliation after losing battle after battle in New York. These losses added further strain to his soldiers, many of whom were nearing the end of their terms of service. Some of these soldiers opted to not reenlist and chose to return home, leaving Washington with only 12,000 troops. However, in December of 1776, Washington’s men began to win a series of skirmishes, which helped to lift their moods. The successful and famous crossing of the Delaware occurred on Christmas morning of that year, and the Americans continued to surprise their British counterparts. The British, however, saw these losses as inconveniences rather than actual setbacks and appeared wholly unaffected. However, the British underestimated the actual significance of these losses. During this time, they lost control of large swathes of New Jersey. Additionally, Washington was able to re-inspire his soldiers, thereby reinvigorating the cause itself. What the British once considered an unworthy opponent had just become an actual threat. Colonel Harcourt stated, “though it was once the ton of this army to treat them in the most contemptible light, they are now become a most formidable enemy.” Following the events at Princeton, both forces retreated to their winter encampments. Tarleton spent the winter of 1776 into 1777 in Brunswick, a time he did not particularly enjoy. He wrote to his mother in May of 1777, stating: “Winter Quarters in America are stupid & afford no Description for the Pen.” In this particular letter, Tarleton also lamented his financial situation. He admitted to the “obligations” which he owed his mother, while simultaneously requesting additional clothing items. He mentioned receiving “bottled beer” and that he found it to be “a very acceptable Present.” Interesting to note in this May 1777 letter to Jane Tarleton, Banastre mentions his new, and very close, friendship with Harcourt, specifying that Harcourt “processes Friendship & says he will move Heaven & Earth in my Favour.” It was also revealed in this letter that Ban started to consider joining a “Company of Foot” due to his extreme boredom over the past year, specifically during his time in the winter quarters. The monotony of routine and duty had left Banastre wanting. He desired action, not drills, and he was desperate to find a way to acquire it. Luckily, for the sake of his career, he did not carry through with his desire to join a foot unit. As Banastre noted in his letters to home, very little occurred during this time period. Tarleton drilled his men rigorously and made every attempt to gain additional attention from his superiors, eager to prove he was worthy of both promotions and additional assignments. Finally, on June 30, 1777, Sir William Howe recalled all the British troops from New Jersey. Colonel Harcourt dispatched his 16th Light Dragoons to New York. The troops boarded a ship along with their horses on July 9. Embarking with horses sent a signal that was music to Tarleton’s ears: he was about to see action. Unfortunately, the voyage itself was wholly unpleasant. The slow progress alongside significantly hot weather led to the deaths of many horses, most of which were tossed overboard before they even anchored up. The loss of horses was a devastating one for a light dragoon unit. Finally, they dropped anchor in the Delaware Bay, but found it was unsuitable for disembarking. Howe had the ship swing around and headed toward the Chesapeake Bay where they anchored near the Elk River on August 25. Shortly after disembarking, the light troops found themselves in a series of small skirmishes with American forces. George Washington heard about the arrival of the dragoons and raced south to protect Philadelphia. Unfortunately for Washington, his efforts were in vain. Opposing forces gathered at Chad’s Fork near Brandywine and a major battle commenced. On September 11, 1777, the British were declared the victors of the battle and camped nearby until September 16. At this point, the British forces made their way into Philadelphia. Along the way, they discovered troops under the command of Mad Anthony Wayne in the woods. Howe instructed General Charles Grey to destroy the camp, but Captain John Andre interjected, suggesting they attack in quiet. He proposed removing the powder and flints from their weapons, utilizing only their bayonets to kill the sleeping enemy. Andre’s suggestion proved to be brilliant, and the attack was skillfully and quickly carried out. Later, this would be dubbed the Paoli Massacre. The following morning, Harcourt’s dragoons, Tarleton included, destroyed all the weapons left behind at Paoli and captured 150 horses to replace those they had lost on their journey to the continent. On September 26, Lord Cornwallis, Sir William Erskine, Commissary General Weir, all led by Colonel Harcourt and his light dragoons, marched into Philadelphia singing “God Save the King.” During the winter of 1777 into 1778, the British enjoyed the comforts and privileges of Philadelphia while Washington and his men endured the struggles and suffering of Valley Forge. However, this time of rest would later haunt Sir William Howe as his superiors in England grew weary of his do-nothing attitude. In the meantime, Tarleton continued with his favorite pastimes of gambling and womanizing, thoroughly enjoyed all forms of entertainment in the city. He frequently lost his bets and sent the bills to his mother who, despite her displeasure with his antics, paid them. When he wasn’t losing at cards, Tarleton found women to be equally entertaining. One of his own men by the name of Crewe had a mistress he was rather fond of. Unfortunately for Crewe, she also caught Tarleton’s eye. According to the London Political Magazine, “Cornet Tarleton was fairly caught in bed with major Crewe’s mistress.” Later, Crewe would serve under Tarleton in the 17th Light Dragoons. Similarly, according to Bass’ account, Tarleton courted Margaret Shippen, who was a future personal interest of John Andre. Andre was a close friend of Tarleton’s, but it appears that Tarleton’s fascination with women tended to override his brotherly affections for fellow officers. Described as being short, yet muscular and strong, Tarleton is also said to have strutted about the town with an air of arrogance and refinement. His looks and mannerisms drew women to him, but they also attracted several male companions who spoke highly of Banastre’s character, charm, and wit. John Andre, who had moved into Benjamin Franklin’s empty house at the time, became the ringleader of the more socially acceptable exploits of the bored British soldiers in Philadelphia. Andre took over the Southwark Theater and began writing plays, designing and painting sets, and encouraging his other officers to perform. Banastre was a reoccurring actor in Andre’s plays, alongside John Graves Simcoe, the recently-appointed commander of the Queen’s Rangers, formed in October of 1777 on Staten Island. Tarleton loved the arts and frequented the theater back in England. The notion of performing on a stage in front of both his fellow officers and eligible ladies likely thrilled him. His noted charisma and charm earned him many friends since arriving in America, and his time in Philadelphia only increased the number of his contacts and comrades. When he wasn’t gallivanting around Philadelphia, gambling, indulging in women, or putting on plays with Andre and Simcoe, Tarleton was frequently in the saddle patrolling and drilling his men. His eagerness to attract the attention of his fellow officers, more specifically his superiors, drove many of his actions during this time. His actions paid off and on January 8, 1778, Tarleton skipped over the rank of lieutenant and was elected by his hometown of Liverpool to be the captain of the 1st Company of the Liverpool Volunteers, a group of officers created after the expansion of the War Office. However, just before Tarleton was informed of this promotion, he nearly lost his life to a patriot by the name of Harry Lee. British Brigadier General Sir William Erskine discovered a party of Continental horsemen were staying at the Spread Eagle Tavern just six miles from the main contingent of the Continental Army camp at Valley Forge. On January 20, 1778, he dispatched 200 light dragoons, led by the newly appointed Captain Tarleton, to extinguish this group of Americans. Tarleton happily led the charge, pleased to be seeing action once again and raced toward the tavern. This would be yet another opportunity to show off his prowess to his superiors. However, Tarleton was unprepared for the equally ambitious and cunning Captain Henry Lee who commanded the Continental unit. Lee’s men fired from inside the tavern and five of Tarleton’s dragoons fell. Tarleton’s leather helmet was shot, and buckshot pierced through his jacket, along with three wounds in his horse. The Americans thwarted the British attack successfully and Tarleton and his remaining men were forced to retreat. Banastre barely escaped with his life. The newly-appointed Captain Tarleton and Captain John Andre continued with their theater productions in Philadelphia all the way through the spring of 1778. Perhaps their biggest performance was the Meschianza on May 18, 1778, in honor of General Howe. Howe had faced growing criticisms from both the British press and Parliament for his lack of action the last several months. Their primary cause of frustration was the surrender of General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga on October 17, 1777. They held General Howe responsible for this loss and, after months of continued disappointment, Parliament recalled him from North America. Admiral Howe learned of his brother’s recall and handed in his resignation in solidarity. Despite the negative press and Parliament’s disdain, General Howe’s men admired him greatly. Because of this, Captain John Andre put together a grand celebration to see General Howe off.
The celebration began with a regatta of overly-decorated ships carrying the Howe brothers and other high-ranking British officers down the Delaware. The Royal Pennsylvania Gazette reported that a large group of people gathered near the “wharfs, the shipping, the balconies, and the tops of houses” to witness the parade. The officers arrived at Walnut Grove, the location of the event and former home of patriot Joseph Wharton. Andre was the master of ceremonies and he made sure that every single detail was just as he wanted it, paying special attention to the grand ceremony: the mock jousting tournament. He divided the officers he chose to participate in the ceremony into two different groups: Knights of the Blended Rose, dressed in red, pink and white with the motto “We droop when separated” and a standard of two intertwined flowers; and the Knights of the Burning Mountain, dressed in black and orange with gold accents and the motto of “I burn forever” with the standard of a smoking volcano. He also had officers dressed as squires, heralds, and trumpeters with coordinating outfits alongside the “knights.” Andre even went so far as to costume the women of Philadelphia’s elite class as Turkish maidens. These maidens were each assigned a knight who would joust for their favor. Tarleton served as a Knight of the Burning Mountain and chose “Swift, Vigilant, and Bold” as the motto written upon his shield. General Howe’s aide-de-camp, Captain Friedrich von Muenchhausen commented on the events of that night, stating that, “Everything was as splendid and magnificent as possible and all, even those who have been in Paris and London, agree that they have never seen such a luxurious fete.” However, this luxury proved to be rather costly. Twenty-two officers gathered funds and gave £3,312 toward the event. The costumes Andre carefully created were £12,000 total. Despite how lavish and extravagant this send-off was, it also had its fair-share of critics. Ambrose Serle, Admiral Howe’s secretary, stated, “Every man of Sense, among ourselves, tho’ not unwilling to pay a due Respect, was ashamed of this mode of doing it.” As for Tarleton, an excuse to impress ladies with his grandiose costume and riding prowess while also drinking heavily could not have been more perfect. At the conclusion of the Meschianza, command passed from General Howe to General Henry Clinton. It would not be long before the Light Dragoons, led by Captain Tarleton, would find themselves leaving the pleasures of Philadelphia for the state of New Jersey. Sources: G.D. Scull, ed., The Evelyns in America he Evelyns in America; compiled from family papers and other sources, 1608-1805, 233 Tarleton to his mother, Brunswick, May 25, 1777, NRA 7189 Tarleton. Robert Bass, The Green Dragoon: The Lives of Banastre Tarleton & Mary Robinson, 1957 John Knight, The War at Saber Point: Banastre Tarleton and the British Legion, 2020 Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker, Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker from 1759 to 1807 A.D., ed. Henry B. Biddle (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1889), 450 Mary Kate Robbett, “Mischianza,” George Washington Library, Center for Digital History, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/meschianza/ John Andre, “Major Andre’s Story of the ‘Mischianza,’” in The Century, Vol. XLVII (March 1894): 688; Royal Pennsylvania Gazette, May 26, 1778, 3. Friedrich von Muenchhausen, At General Howe’s Side, 1776-1778: The Diary of General William Howe’s Aid de Camp, Captain Friendrich Von Muenchhausen, ed. Friedrich Ernst von Muenchhausen (Monmouth Beach: Phillip Freneau Press, 1974), 52 Ambrose Serle, The American Journal of Ambrose Serle: Secretary to Lord Howe, 1776-1778, ed. Edward Howland Tatum (New York: The Huntington Library, 1940), 294
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Scarlet Ingstad
I am an independent author and historian seeking to uplift the stories of the lesser-known heroes and heroines of the American Revolution, alongside modern-day heroes and heroines who have served in the U.S. military and continue their service through their historical work. Archives
March 2022
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