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1781

 January – Transferred from Cornwallis to Tarleton to pursue Gen Morgan

17 Jan – Battle of the Cowpens (all but about 15 of 187 men are killed or captured, baggage train with colours are taken). Surgeon’s Mate of the 7th sent with Doctor Stewart from the 71st to General Morgan to assist with the care of the British wounded POWs.

    "NEAR TURKEY CREEK, Jan. 19th, 1781.
    SIR--- The action of the 17th instant having thrown into your hands a number of British Officers and Soldiers I primarily request of you that Attention and Humanity may be exhibited toward the Wounded Officers and Men, for whose assistance I now send a Flag, Doctor Stewart and the Surgeon's Mate of the Seventh Reg't. I secondly desire you to Inform me of the Number and Inability of the Prisoners, which the Fortune of War has placed in your possession.
    I have the Honour to be Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
    B. TARLETON,
    Lt.-Col. Commdg R.L.
    P.S. I have sent some money for the use of the prisoners."
    (“Cowpens Papers, Being Correspondence of General Morgan and The Prominent Actors”, pg 29)

 

After Cowpens, the location of the regiment appears to be unclear. We know that at least one Fusilier joined up with Cornwallis’ troops at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Being from a Fusilier regiment, the soldier specified most likely fell in with the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers.
 

    Fusilier Thomas Avory [wounded in] both eyes”
    (“Return of the Number of Wounded of the different regiments left at New Garden Meeting House March 17th 1781”, PRO 30/11/5, pages 117-118, Cornwallis Papers)

Historian Don N. Hagist states that “In June of 1781 there was a major exchange of prisoners in the South and the 7th was mostly exchanged. They went on to garrison Savannah, Georgia …” (Source: PRO, Colonial Office, Class 5, Volume 111, Page 387. [Communication from Todd Braisted]; Carleton Papers, V. 38 No. 204). So, now we have elements of the regiment separated from each other. This is not at all surprising in light of the devastating defeat at Cowpens 2 two months previous.

October – Supposing that more than just Thomas Avory fell in with the 23rd, they would have surrendered with the rest of Cornwallis’ Army at Yorktown, while the rest of the regiment stayed in garrison in Savannah, GA.

 

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