Colonel Daniel Morgan essays

Colonel Daniel Morgan essays Aruguably the most significant Colonel in the Battles of Saratoga. Flamboyant! Rowdy! Troublemaker! When you hear these words, does a colonial in the military come to mind? Well it should! Colonel Daniel Morgan is arguably one of the most significant and influential figures in American Military History. Morgan, an old Indian fighter, led a battalion of rowdy woodsmen dressed in long, Indian-style hunting shirts each carrying a tomahawk and scalping knife along with his long rifle. Morgan contributed greatly to the Saratoga Campaign because he and his men used partisan tactics to destroy the British morale as well as their offensive attacks. The American victory at Saratoga was so significant that it became known as the turning point in the Revolution because the French and Spanish entered the war in support of the Americans. Morgan was the man that made it happen. In the Battle of Freemans Farm on 19 September 1777, Colonel Daniel Morgan proved to be a significant figure because he slowed the British approach. On 31 August 1777 Morgans Corps of 578 riflemen was sent north to join up with General Granny Gates. This proved to be a vital edition to the Continental Army. On the morning of September 19 Morgans Corps moved out in two irregular lines to find and to harass Burgoynes men. While Burgoyne was ascending the heights toward Freemans Farm Morgan and his men were already hiding quietly in the woods. In no time a band of Canadian and Indian pickets, under Major General Forbes emerged from the underbrush. Morgan and his men immediately opened fire killing every British officer but one. Morgan and his Corps frantically abandoned their cover and rushed after the fleeing British unit. ...