University of Virginia Library

William Washington, lieutenant-colonel commandant of a continental regiment of
dragoons during the revolutionary war, was the eldest son of Baily Washington, Esq.,
of Stafford county, in the state of Virginia.

First among the youth of Virginia who hastened to the standard of his country, on
the rupture between Great Britain and her colonies, he was appointed to the command
of a company of infantry in the third regiment of the Virginia line, commanded by
colonel, afterwards brigadier-general, Mercer. In no corps in our service was the substantial
knowledge of the profession of arms more likely to be acquired.

Here young Washington learned the rudiments of war. He fought with this gallant
regiment at York island, and on the retreat through New Jersey, sharing with distinguished

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The commander-in-chief having experienced the extreme difficulties to which he had
been exposed during the preceding campaign, by his want of cavalry, was, shortly after
this period, in consequence of his suggestion to Congress, authorized to raise three regiments
of light dragoons. To the command of one of these he appointed Lieut.-Col.
Baylor, one of his aid-de-camps. To this regiment Captain Washington was transferred,
with the rank of major, and returned to Virginia for the purpose of assisting in recruiting
the regiment.

As soon as the corps was completed, Baylor joined the main army; his regiment was,
in 1778, surprised by a detachment of the British, led by Major-Gen. Gray, and suffered
extremely. Washington fortunately escaped; and in the course of the succeeding year,
or early in 1780, he was detached, with the remains of Bland's, Baylor's, and Moylan's
regiments of horse, to the army of Major-Gen. Lincoln, in South Carolina, where he
was constantly employed with the light troops, and experienced, with some flashes of
fortune, two severe blows; first at Monk's Corner, where he commanded our horse, and
last at Leneau's ferry, when he was second to Lieut.-Col. White, of Moylan's regiment.
These repeated disasters so reduced our cavalry, that White and Washington retired
from the field, and repaired to the northern confines of North Carolina for the purpose
of repairing their heavy losses. It was here that they applied to Gen. Gates for the aid
of his name and authority to expedite the restoration and equipment of their regiments,
that they might be ready to take the field under his orders. This salutary and proper
request was, as has been mentioned, injudiciously disregarded; from which omission
very injurious consequences seem to have resulted in the sequel.

After the defeat of Gen. Gates on the 16th of the following August, it will be recollected
that the American general retired to Hillsborough, from whence he returned to
Salisbury.

Lieut.-Col. Washington, with his cavalry, now accompanied him, and formed a part
of the light corps placed by Gates under the direction of Brigadier Morgan. He resumed
his accustomed active and vigorous service, and was highly useful in the execution
of the trust confided to Morgan.

One of his partisan exploits was the result of a well-conceived stratagem. Having
learned, during a scouting excursion, that a large party of loyalists, commanded by Col.
Rudgley, was posted at Rudgley's mill, 12 miles from Camden, he determined on attacking
them. Approaching the enemy, he found them so secured in a large log-barn,
surrounded by abattis, as to be perfectly safe from the operations of cavalry. Forbidden,
thus, to attempt his object by direct attack, his usual and favorite mode of warfare, he
determined, for once, to have recourse to policy. Shaping, therefore, a pine log in imitation
of a field-piece, mounting it on wheels, and staining it with mud, to make it
look like iron, he brought it up in military style, and affected to make arrangements to
batter down the barn. To give to the stratagem solemnity and effect, he dispatched a
flag, warning the garrison of the impending destruction, and to prevent bloodshed, summoned
them to submission. Not prepared to resist artillery, Col. Rudgley obeyed the
summons, and with a garrison of 103 rank and file, surrendered at discretion.

Greene now succeeded Gates, when Brigadier Morgan, with the light corps, was detached
to hang upon the enemy's left flank, and to threaten Ninety-Six.

The battle of the Cowpens ensued, in which Washington, at the head of our horse,
acquired fresh laurels. He continued with the light troops, performing with courage and
precision the duties assigned him, until the junction of the two divisions of the American
army at Guilford Court-House. Soon after this event a more powerful body of horse
and foot was selected by Gen. Greene, and placed under Col. Williams, of which Washington
and his cavalry were a constituent part.

In the eventful and trying retreat which ensued, Lieut.-Col. Washington contributed
his full share to the maintenance of the measures of Williams, which terminated so propitiously
to our arms, and so honorably to the light troops and their commander. After
our repassage of the Dan, Washington and his horse were again placed in the van, and
with Howard and Lee, led by Williams, played that arduous game of marches, countermarches,
and manœuvres, which greatly contributed to baffle the skilful display of talents
and enterprise exhibited by Lord Cornwallis, in his persevering attempt to force
Greene, at the head of an inferior army, to battle, or to cut him off from his approaching
reinforcements and supplies.

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We have seen the distinguished part this officer successively bore in the battles of
Guilford, Hobkick's Hill, and Eutaw; and we have found him, throughout the arduous
campaign of 1781, always at his post, decided, firm, and brave, courting danger, and
contemning difficulty. His eminent services were lost to the army from the battle of
Eutaw; where, to its great regret, he was made prisoner; nor did he afterwards take
any part in the war, as from the period of his exchange nothing material occurred, the
respective armies being confined to minor operations, produced by the prospect of peace.
While a prisoner in Charleston, Washington became acquainted with Miss Elliot, a
young lady in whom concentred the united attractions of respectable descent, opulence,
polish, and beauty. The gallant soldier soon became enamored with his amiable acquaintance,
and afterwards married her.

This happened in the spring of 1782; and he established himself in South Carolina,
at Sandy Hill, the ancestral seat of his wife.

Washington seems to have devoted his subsequent years to domestic duties, rarely
breaking in upon them by attention to public affairs; and then only as a member of the
state legislature.

He possessed a stout frame, being six feet in height, broad, strong, and corpulent. His
occupations and his amusements applied to the body, rather than to the mind; to the
cultivation of which he did not bestow much time or application, nor was his education
of the sort to excite such habits, being only calculated to fit a man for the common
business of life. In temper he was good-humored, in disposition amiable, in heart upright,
generous, and friendly, in manners lively, innocent, and agreeable.

His military exploits announce his grade and character in arms. Bold, collected, and
persevering, he preferred the heat of action to the collection and sifting of intelligence,
to the calculations and combinations of means and measures, and was better fitted for
the field of battle, than for the drudgery of camp and the watchfulness of preparation.
Kind to his soldiers, his system of discipline was rather lax, and sometimes subjected
him to injurious consequences, when close to a sagacious and vigilant adversary.

The Washington family emigrated from England, and settled in Virginia, always respectable
and respected. The consanguinity of its numerous ramifications is involved
in doubt; but it is generally believed that they sprung from the same source.

Lieut.-Col. Washington was selected by his illustrious relation when he accepted the
command of the army, during the presidency of Mr. Adams, as one of his staff, with
the rank of brigadier-general, a decided proof of the high value attached by the best
judge in America to his military talents.

Leading a life of honor, of benevolence, and hospitality, in the bosom of his family
and friends, during which, until its last two years, he enjoyed high health, this gallant
soldier died, after a tedious indisposition, leaving a widow, and a son and a daughter,
the only issue of his marriage.