• Bernard Cornwell Books In Order
• Bernard Cornwell Book List

'Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton' by Sir Joshua ReynoldsNicknameBloody Ban, The Butcher, The Green Dragoon (Nicknames given after 1952) Born21 August 1754Died15 January 1833 ( 1833-01-15) (aged 78)Place of birthLiverpool, EnglandPlace of death, Herefordshire, EnglandAllegianceKingdom of Great BritainService/branchYears of service1775–1812RankUnitCommands heldBattles/warsAwardsBaronetSir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, (21 August 1754 – 15 January 1833) was a soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming (without merit) that he had fired upon surrendering troops at the. In a fictional novel The Green Dragoon: The Lives of Banastre Tarleton and Mary Robinson by Robert D. Bass (published in 1952) he was given the nickname 'Bloody Ban' and 'The Butcher', which has carried over into popular culture as being his nickname of the day, a moniker given to him for rebel propaganda purposes. The negative reputation given to Tarleton during the war was an attempt to counter the fact that he was an outstanding British soldier who had routed a number of very senior rebel officers.He was hailed by the Loyalists and British as an outstanding leader of light cavalry and was praised for his tactical prowess and resolve, even against superior numbers. His green uniform was the standard of the, a provincial unit organised in New York in 1778.

Tarleton was later elected as a Member of Parliament for Liverpool and became a prominent Whig politician. Tarleton's cavalrymen were frequently called 'Tarleton's Raiders'. Contents Early lifeBanastre Tarleton was the fourth of seven children born to the merchant, ship owner and slave trader, John Tarleton of Liverpool (1718 – 1773), who served as in 1764 and had extensive trading links with Britain's American colonies.Tarleton was educated at the, London and went up to in 1771 and prepared for a career as a lawyer. In 1773 he inherited £5,000 on his father's death. Unfortunately for him he squandered almost all of it on gambling and women, in less than a year, mostly at the club in London.

In 1775 he as a cavalry officer in the and proved to be a gifted horseman and leader of troops. Due to his outstanding ability alone, he worked his way up through the ranks to without having to purchase any further commissions.American Revolutionary WarIn December 1775, he sailed from as a volunteer to North America where rebellion had recently broken out triggering the. Tarleton sailed with as part of an expedition to capture the southern city of Charleston., he joined the main British Army in New York under. His service during 1776 gained him the position of a of.Under the command of Colonel, Tarleton was part of a scouting party sent to gather intelligence on the movements of General in New Jersey.

Bernard Cornwell Books In Order

On 13 December 1776, Tarleton surrounded a house in, New Jersey and forced Lee, still in his, to surrender by threatening to burn the building down. Lee was taken back to New York as a prisoner and was later exchanged.Capture of Charleston. Further information:After becoming the commander of the, a mixed force of cavalry and also called, he proceeded at the beginning of 1780 to South Carolina, rendering valuable services to in the operations which culminated in the. This was part of the 'southern strategy' by which the British directed most of their efforts to that theater hoping to restore authority over the southern colonies where they believed there was more support for the crown.After his first major victory at Monck’s Corner, during the, an incident occurred that would transform itself into a critical part of the mythology surrounding the Colonel’s reputation. Following the battle, one of Tarleton’s soldiers perpetrated an act of attempted sexual assault against a civilian woman in the area, which was halted by one of his companions. This much of the story is well-documented and historical.

Bernard Cornwell Book List

However, the story was embellished as an anecdote in a biography of by the 19th-century American folklorist, who alluded to an argument between Tarleton and fellow British officer over whether the culprit ought to be executed or released.