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married about this time to Abigail Bailey,
ch:iighter of a farmer. He served as lieu-
tenant of militia during the Pontiac war.
In 1763-64 he was captain of militia, and in
1773 served against the Indians. In June,
1775. he was appointed captain of one of
the ten Virginia rifle companies raised to
join Washington's army at Boston, which
reached the American camp at Cambridge,
Massachusetts, in July, 1775. having travel-
led six hundred miles in twenty-one days,
one of the first companies to report. On
September 13. 1775. he went on the expedi-
tion to Quebec under Benedict Arnold, and
was the first to cross the St. Lawrence
river. November 13, 1775. ^^ ^^^ ^'^^ ^S"
sault upon the lower town, took the battery,
and fought his way into the town, where for
lack of support his command was captured.
He was a prisoner at Quebec until August
10. 1776, when he was discharged on parole,
sailed for New York, stayed for a time at
his home, and in November. 1776, was com-
missioned colonel of the Eleventh \'irginia
Regiment. When his parole expired he was
instructed to recruit men for his regiment.
r>eiore his enlistment was complete he was
ordered to the army at Morristown. New
Jersey, and arrived there with 180 riflemen
in April. 1777. He was placed in command
of 500 sharpshooters (Morgan's rangers).
On June 13, 1777. upon the advance of Lord
Howe from New Brunswick, New Jersey,
Morgan's rangers had several encounters,
and upon Howe's retreat toward Amboy,
Morgan was sent forward to annoy him. and
followed Howe to Philadelphia. He found
Gen. Gates at Stillwater in August, 1777:
was a prominent figure at Freeman's Farm,
September 19. and at the surrender of Bur-
goyne. October 7. He was complimented
by both Gates and Burgoyne, the latter
characterizing his rangers the finest rtgi-
ment in the world. He refused to listen to
( iates' criticism of Washington's conduct of
the war and assured him that he would
hervc under no other man as commander-
in-chief. At Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, he
lojoined Washington, who met Howe's
army and compelled him to retire to Phila-
delphia, after which the Americans went
into winter camp at Valley Forge, and
Morgan returned to Virginia. During
June, 1778, he served in the Monmouth
ciimpaign, but was not present at the battle.
He was commissioned colonel of the Sev-
enth Virginia Regiment in March, 1779, and
in June, 1779, congress having promoted in-
ferior officers over him. he resigned on the
appointment of Gates to the command of
the southern army. After the battle of Cam-
den, he joined Gates at Hillsborough, was
promoted brigadier-general October 13,
1780, and served under Gates and Greene,
and in December, 1780. was sent by Greene
to threaten the inland posts of Augusta and
Ninety-six. Cornwallis sent Tarleton to pre-
vent this, and Morgan retreated to the Cow-
pens. The battle of January 17, 1781, was
one of the most brilliant of the war, and re-
flected credit upon the military genius of
Morgan. The British army was put to
flight, but the direction taken by Cornwallis
obliged Morgan to cross the Fords of the
Catawba in order to join Greene, and by a
brilliant march he reached the river first
and warned Greene of the situation. He
took part in the manoeuvers leading to the
battle of Guilford Court House, which re-
sulted in Cornwallis* retreat into Virginia,
but before the battle in February. 1781. he
was incapacitated from further service by
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