Military officer; born in
Hunterdon county, N. J., in 1736; at the age of seventeen he was a wagoner in
Braddock's army, and the next year he received 500 lashes for knocking down a British lieutenant who had insulted him.
That officer afterwards made a public apology.
Morgan became an ensign in the militia in 1758; and while carrying despatches he was severely wounded by
Indians, but escaped.
After the
French and Indian War he was a brawler and fighter and a dissipated gambler for a time; but he reformed, accumulated property, and commanded a company in
Dunmore's expedition against the Indians in 1774.
In less than a week after he heard of the affair at
Lexington he had enrolled ninety-six men, the nucleus of his famous rifle-corps, and marched them to
Boston.
He accompanied
Arnold in his march to
Quebec in 1775, commanding three companies of riflemen, and in the siege of that city was made prisoner.
As colonel of a rifle regiment, he bore a conspicuous part in the capture of
Burgoyne and his army in 1777.
After serving in
Pennsylvania, he joined the remnant of the defeated army of
Gates at
Hillsboro, N. C.; and on Oct. 1 was placed in command of a legionary corps, with the rank of brigadier-general.
He served under
Greene; gained a victory in battle at the Cowpens (for which Congress gave him thanks and a gold medal); and was in
Greene's retreat.
He led troops that suppressed the
Whiskey Insurrection, and was a member of Congress from 1795 to 1799.
He died in
Winchester, Va., July 6, 1802.
