Banastre Tarleton is best known as a British officer during the American Revolution. Tarleton had come from a well to do family in Liverpool England and it was the hope of his parents that he would study Law. Unfortunately, his father passed away, but as a result he inherited 5000 pounds sterling! Banastre did not do well at school and was much more interested in spending his inheritance on the theater, gambling, horse races and tavern life. As a result, he lost his inheritance, so he decided to join the army and his mother purchased him a commission as a young Cornet (Lieutenant) in the cavalry. With news of the fighting in America, Tarleton requested the “Kings Leave” to participate and he came to America. Young Tarleton would distinguish himself in many actions and would be elevated in rank quickly by his superiors. Eventually he would be given command of the newly formed British Legion made up of Loyalists to England and he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel. Tarleton would show himself a capable cavalry commander from New York to the Carolinas and ultimately into Virginia ending at Yorktown. Though Tarleton would not take part in another battle in his life, he would rise up in rank to Lieutenant-General and would even be knighted.

Born 21 August 1754 in Liverpool England

Educated at Oxford (University College) and then at Middle Temple in London. Performs horribly.

Spends his 5000-pound inheritance after his father’s death and as a result, his mother buys him a commission in the 1st Dragoon Guards.

War in America begins in 1775, and Banastre requests the “King’s Leave” to participate and it is granted.

Tarleton distinguishes himself in the field and is elevated in rank and seen as a capable officer.

Made Lieutenant-Colonel of the British Legion in 1778, he will go on to distinguish himself in many actions from New York into the Carolinas.

Sustains horrible defeat at the Battle of the Cowpens 17 January 1781

Loses three fingers at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and will go with Lord Cornwallis into Virginia fighting a ‘cat and mouse” campaign against the Marquis de Lafayette. This ultimately brings them to Yorktown in October 1781.

Battle of the Hook, 3 October 1781 on the Gloucester Point side of the York River during the siege of Yorktown. Tarleton is defeated and will be his last battlefield command.

Surrender at Yorktown on 19 October 1781 and return to England.

Died 16 January 1833 (age 78 years), Leintwardine, United Kingdom.

“Resistance being vain, to prevent the effusion of human blood, I make offers which can never be repeated.” -Tarleton to Colonel Buford on 29 May 1780 (Battle of the Waxhaws)

“Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton…arrogant, ruthless, and by all reports (including his own) utterly charming.” -Karen Hayden, in an online article, Remembering Jack Jouett, Virginia’s Paul Revere.

“Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton’s good spirit and conduct in the management of his cavalry, was conspicuous during the whole action.” -The Earl Cornwallis, dispatches to the British government after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

“In Lt. Col. Tarleton, {I} had a colleague, full of enterprise and spirit, and anxious for every opportunity of distinguishing himself.” -Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe

“General Tarleton is known to you! He never run from an enemy’s sword, nor run after a ministerial purse. In the field, and in the Senate, he performed his duty as a true Briton.” – A declaration by Banastre’s political supporters, 1796

Tarleton Banastre. “A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America.”  Ayer Company Publishers. North Stratford. 2007.

Scotti, Anthony. “Brutal Virtue: The Myth and Reality of Banastre Tarleton.” Heritage Books, Inc.  Bowie Maryland. 2002.

Bass, Robert D. “The Green Dragoon.”  Sandpaper Publishing, Inc. Orangeburg South Carolina. 1973.