The Casualties of 1781
On January 17, 1781, four companies of the Royal Fuziliers surrendered at the Battle of Cowpens. Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton attempted to lay partial blame for his failure upon the regiment by claiming it was composed entirely of recruits. Sadly, many historians have chosen to blindly follow this tale without ever consulting the Muster Rolls of the Royal Fuziliers (WO 12/2474 and WO12/2475), which survive in the Public Records Office, England. The Rolls shed a great deal of light on the composition of the regiment on that fateful morning. When combined with other sources such as the Papers of Lord Cornwallis and George Washington's Papers, a very different picture emerges.
Historians have claimed anywhere from 150 to 200 as the number of Fuziliers in the field on January 17th, 1781. The following is taken directly from the Muster Rolls of the 7th Regiment. The rolls from 1772 through 1784 have been examined in an attempt to discover if any type of service record could be established for each individual.
The story of the Royal Fuziliers did not end at the Cowpens. History has long been ignorant of the Royal Fuziliers who were present with Cornwallis's army as it made its way through North Carolina and into Yorktown, as well as the Light Infantrymen who served in the Chesapeake with the 1st Light Infantry Battalion. In addition to the casualties of Cowpens, the casualties suffered by the Royal Fuziliers at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and the Siege of Yorktown have been compiled as well.
A very special thanks to Don Hagist for his assistance with obtaining copies of the Rolls.
Historians have claimed anywhere from 150 to 200 as the number of Fuziliers in the field on January 17th, 1781. The following is taken directly from the Muster Rolls of the 7th Regiment. The rolls from 1772 through 1784 have been examined in an attempt to discover if any type of service record could be established for each individual.
The story of the Royal Fuziliers did not end at the Cowpens. History has long been ignorant of the Royal Fuziliers who were present with Cornwallis's army as it made its way through North Carolina and into Yorktown, as well as the Light Infantrymen who served in the Chesapeake with the 1st Light Infantry Battalion. In addition to the casualties of Cowpens, the casualties suffered by the Royal Fuziliers at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and the Siege of Yorktown have been compiled as well.
A very special thanks to Don Hagist for his assistance with obtaining copies of the Rolls.