Not really a surprise. Spend some time in any part of Europe from West to East and you will see the relevance of the American experience even if it luster has somewhat faded in the last few years
My impression is that most British people don't hold any animosity towards US independence. My British friends would enthusiastically greet you a happy 4th of July if you're American, just like they would the holidays of any other nation they know of. The fact it involved a war with the British Empire 250 years ago doesn't seem to matter much (if not make it more so a reason not to care about it). From period letters, we can see that even the British at the time were divided about the issue; King George III did receive his share of criticism from British citizens. But also, It appears it was considered another of the hundreds of wars going on in different colonies at the time.
@@jesuizanmich Lots of wars are fought between (or against) governments. They're just fought by individuals who generally would rather be doing something else. Even when propaganda is used to convince one group that every member of another group is the enemy, it's the governments that are spreading the propaganda.
Yes this is exactly it The term queue was also used to refer to the long braid that men were forced to grow during the Qing dynasty in China (by foreign sources of course, the han and manchu probably had their own names each )
Yes…I find it difficult to believe that it could be cut off using a sword like that especially not injuring the man severely Probably was said as a way to disgrace him
This ,Pony tail' caused troubles in the troops of a Swiss Canton with mixed population. The soldiers had to have such a Pony tail, but this was a french habit, so that the german language soldiers had been angry.
@@MrNatWhilk I sailed on the Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser USS Antietam CG 54 as an Operations Specialist . I live near the town of Cowpens South Carolina and the Cowpens Battleground in Spartanburg County S.C. Hello Shipmate !
The irony being that CVL-25 when she was fully tooled up with air group and whatnot probably had as many or more people aboard than the entire engaged forces of the Battle of COwpens.
I think it was a pretty famous battle. Things were looking bleak for the Americans in the south. And then Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Camden (a draw) and Yorktown.
@@joeelliott2157 Guilford Courthouse. This pyrrhic victory, where Cornwallis won the battle but lost a quarter of his men, forced Cornwallis to move to Yorktown.
Among historians and afficionados of the RevWar, Cowpens is often seen as one of the best tactical victories by Continentals against the British (and Loyalists). The fact that the defeat was against the infamous "Bloody Ban" made it a huge morale boost for the Patriots.
If he struck at his head, and "cut of his queue," I think that can only mean he cut off the hair that was gathered together and worn in a "tail" at the nape of the neck -- think of 18th century hairstyles. Later on, I know the pigtail worn by Chinese men in the 19th century (a legal requirement in Qing dynasty China), was referred to as a queue.
You might also occasionally come across reference to "buckles", which refer to the pipe-formed curls in front of the ear worked into wigs or natural hair, and have nothing to do with leather belts.
This reminds me of an online exchange I had with someone in the UK. When I said "but that's a different kettle of fish", his response was "you Americans keep your fish in kettles? So silly. Where do you make your tea?" To which I replied with, "In the harbor! Where else?"
I think coverage of historical duels and swordfights would be a great series. Its cool to to see the analysis of how or why something might have gone down the way it did
Yes, and the special customs around it. I read, or better hear, a book from the end of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century. And the chapter today involved a duel of honor between two noblemen/officers in Spain, where they explain the custom that typically both parties had lots of sekundanten (what's the english term for that?) and those also did fighting alongside or after the main duel. So basically like 14 officers got into a huge fight, with basically everybody either dead or wounded:D That might be one of the reasons why they did ban duels, especially in the military. One fight and the whole officer corps ends either in bed or 5 feet under ..
As an American thank you for this story. I'm a history buff and this is a tale I had not heard before. To all of our cousins across the pond thank you and I wish you all good fortune. Cheers 🥂
German swords also considering the number of Hessian mercenaries that fought for the British. The last engagement of the war took place in the early hours of October 14th, 1781 during the siege of Yorktown. The fight was over the last redoubts (9 and 10) that kept the American lines from reaching artillery range of the town itself. The positions were defended by Hessian troops led by British officers and were assaulted by American and French troops. Most of the French troops were Germans that came from a town that was on the border of the two nations and was part of the Kingdom of France at the time. Being a night engagement there was mostly hand to hand combat. The Colonial forces took the redoubts and the British surrendered on the 19th, after the British navy failed to break the French navy blockade at the mouth of the York river. The battle of Yorktown is sometimes referred to by historians as the German battle as Germans served in the Colonial, French and British armies fighting there. I often tell people that October 19th is America's actual Independence Day as that is the day that we won the war. July 4th, 1776 just being they day we officially decided to tell King George to f-off. I may be a little biased, however, seeing how my birthday is October 19th and I live less than an hour away from Yorktown. 🥳
I would argue that while the Yorktown Siege was the last major combat engagement between Continentals and British forces, and brought the British to the negotiating table, it wasn't the end of the war. Sporadic fighting would continue until the end of hostilities was declared in April, 1783. Let's not forget the fighting elsewhere in the British Empire connected to the AWI...for example the nasty Siege of Cuddalore in India didn't end until a ship bearing the Treaty of Paris arrived in July 1783.
I think the true Independence Day is Patriot's day, April 19th,1775, Lexington and Concord, as there was surely no going back after that. People forget that maor battles like Bunker Hill were fought before 1776.
As I understand it, my family actually arrived in the US as Hessians and stayed here after the war. Not sure if that's totally accurate, but it's what I've been told.
@@AaronLitz Many of the Hessian troops were left behind by the British when they went home as they refused to pay or spend money on mercenaries' passage since they failed to win the war for them, so it is quite probably true. Many of them ended up in Pennsylvania as they were already up in the north and the mountains there were like their homeland and so they already knew how to make a living in that type of environment. Many of the Pennsylvania Dutch (Dutch being the Americanized version of Deutsche) are descended from them.
Matt, you may not have opted to discuss it in detail but Banastre Tarleton was a particularly infamous British cavalry officer during the War for Independence. His troops after the Battle of Waxhaw Creek killed a number of Virginian Continental Army soldiers (as opposed to militia) in cold blood after they’d surrendered. From this point on, American soldiers in the conflict frequently used the phrase “Tarleton’s quarter” to refer to not taking prisoners or killing them out of hand when they tried to surrender. Thanks, Matt, from an American and big fan of your UA-cam channel!!!! 🇺🇸🇬🇧
In fairness Tarleton’s horse was shot by the Americans after they had already put up a white flag and surrounded, that was when the British killed the surrendering Americans. There are also multiple other incidents documented where Americans pretended to surrender the shot the British troops in other engagements, we Americans tend to gloss over that side of things, but as in all wars neither side had their hands clean.
They didn't kill the Rebels from Virginia "in cold blood after they surrendered". They DID kill some who thought their surrender had been accepted, but given the British Commander was laying trapped under his horse, and some of the rebels kept firing and and others were riding away with their arms and banners, there had been no surrender accepted. The battle continued until it was clear there had been a decisive defeat given to the rebels. What else could anyone expect?.
@@gijoe508 And BEFORE battle was joined, the British sent an envoy forward and offered to accept the rebel's surrender. "Resistance being vain, to prevent the effusion of human blood, I make offers which can never be repeated", was the British offer. The rebel commander, aware that he out numbered the British by 200 men, answered "I reject your proposals, and shall defend myself to the last extremity.". The last extremity. Superior forces. Prepared in line of battle, and prepared for half an hour before the attack. It was therefore ESSENTIAL that the British attack and destroy the rebels, no half measures, no hesitation, and they were RIGHT to continue to fight once they got to grips. And the rebels did NOT all throw down their arms, a hundred rode off attempting to escape with their arms.
What a treat, thank you, Matt! I live just a few miles from Cowpens and visit the battle site and visitor center frequently. The didactic material they have there has a couple interesting additions as well as discrepancies. First, Washington's young trumpeter who came to his aid with the pistol is always described as Black. Second, apparently Washington's sword broken at/near the hilt at some point during the exchange (perhaps even prior to wounding Tarleton's hand, although I've never understood how that could work). Third, an 1845 painting by William Ranney of the encounter seems to show everyone using swords with only basic knuckle-bows. Finally, Washington's pursuit didn't end when Tarleton shot his horse; apparently he got a fresh one and continued the chase for 16 miles, until Tarleton eventually made it to the plantation of a Loyalist who helped him escape for good. Anyway, thank you for this 4th of July content!
Im pleased to point out, the second to last paragraph of our Declaration of Independence final sentence contains this sentiment," in war Enemies, in Peace Friends." Thanks Matt for the terrific story and to our now British friends.
Thank you, Matt. You're a credit to your culture. If you decide to come across the pond and settle down with us Yanks, you'd be a welcome and appreciated citizen here.
Thank you! I sometimes wonder if it mightn’t been better if we had lost, but the die’s been cast & we’re all riding along on the ‘Great Experiment.’ 🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
@@shinobi-no-buenoConsidering the direction England has gone lately, I can’t help but agree. Individual freedoms are under fire here in the States as well as there but I much prefer what we’ve got, and our process for mitigating infringements on them. On the other hand we have only the history we know. No telling what might have been.
Thanks for the stories, Matt. Thanks also to you and yours for the friendship between our two nations, despite us testing one another's patience from time to time.
I have been to Cowpens and it was an eye-opening experience. It is literally in the middle of nowhere. The two "armies" met there purely by coincidence. By today's standards, the numbers engaged on each side were exceedingly small. The resulting win by the Americans at Cowpens and King's Mountain was to have an effect which was out-of-proportion to the size of the battle: the British decided they could not win in the South, so they essentially pulled out. In terms of a follow-up, the battle of King's Mountain would make a great episode.
They didn't pull out of the south. They crushed the Americans at Camden which ended Gates career as a field commander and killed de Kalb. Cowpens was part of a fighting retreat by the Americans under Gates' replacement, Greene, as Cornwallis pursued them north before going to resupply at Yorktown and getting trapped by the French navy and combined American and French forces. Cowpens was an incredible tactical victory for Daniel Morgan and great morale boost, but it was essentially a rearguard effort to slow the British pursuit of Greene's army because the strategic plan was to draw them away from Charleston and stretch out British supply lines to the breaking point.
@@kspringerrw I appreciate the correction. I was only stating what I recalled of the official story we were given at the site. I would appreciate some recommended readings, please.
@@williamanderson6006 I appreciate the correction. I was stating my recollection from what I read at the site, which was not a lot. I may have inferred that, so I apologize.
Pleasantly surprised to see a Brit talking positively of us on our independence. I, as an American, see all the Anglo-sphere as family in a way, shared culture, language, ancestry, ect, so seeing this made me happy. Things may have been difficult between us at first, but our countries have been friends for so long now. 🇺🇲🇬🇧
To be able to look back on the Revolution with clear eyes and appreciate it for what it is now, an important piece of shared history, is truly gratifying. Well done, Matt!
If you are driving through South Carolina on Interstate 85, the battlefield is about 10 miles off the main highway. The battlefield terrain is maintained in about the condition it was in 1781. The Kings Mountain battlefield is about 20 miles up the Interstate just after crossing into North Carolina. British general Fergason's grave is there, near where he fell. Both battlefields are usually lightly attended and you can walk the grounds. They aren't very large and it is easy to see where the events of the battles took place.
I live not 45 min from the battlefield at cowpens and am very surprised and thankful that some of our local tales are known across the pond. Love the channel.
Thank you for your kind wishes for these United States. I am of East Anglian ancestry in both my paternal and maternal lines. I descend from a Pilgrim who’s family was from Norwich. I’ve some 2 dozen ancestral family members who served in the Continental Army that I know of. July 4th is personal to my family.
On behalf of the USA, my deepest thanks to Matt and our other British friends for the goodwill and well wishes! To Matt's point, accounts of single combat are definitely interesting. It would also be interesting to hear about how various nations (France and Britain in particular, and the differences between the two) influenced the way America styled its military in the olden days.
Thank You! Great accounting of the swordfight. I have studied, read and attended seminars in South Carolina regarding this exchange. Here is what I believe to be true: Tarleton lost two fingers at the Battle of Guilford Courthose in a melee with Col Harry Lee and Lee’s Legion two months after The Battle of Cowpens. At Cowpens, the Red team had a bad day. Tarleton was in command of the entire Red Team. He rode back to get his reserve to come up to fight. But the reserves would not engage. Blue team cavalry had double enveloped the Red team so, as Tarleton was trying to get his his reserve involved, Washington was looking for Tarleton and yelled “Where now is the boasting Tarleton?” Washington looked and saw Tarleton across the field and charged, ahead of his men. Tarleton saw Washington approaching and went straight for Washington with two dragoons. Colin, Washington’s bugler boy raced after Washington with another blue dragoon. Washington and Tarleton crossed swords and Washington’s sword broke 6-8” above the hilt. Washington then parried Tarleton’ second thrust with the broken sword. Colin shot one of the dragoons with Tarleton, and a Blue team dragoon took out the other Red team dragoon. Tarleton swung his horse around and pistol shot Washington. Washington’s thigh was grazed but his horse went down injured. That is how the fight ended even though the Blue team, with Washington, went after Tarleton and his guys, after getting regrouped in a few minutes. Kind of exciting.
Everyone should buy that book. I picked it up a few years ago (after hearing you hawk it for ages), and my copy is already dog eared. Fantastic stuff! Educational and entertaining as hell.
Based in Matt's reading, the book just regurgitates the same old US war stories intended to build national spirit after the war. They are wildly inaccurate. I won't waste my money on it.
US war stories? In a book about the British? Okay. The book has a very large collection of first hand accounts of historical combat. It is not jingoistic or political at all. The stories do not always make the British seem better. But go ahead and miss out. Your loss.
I got interested in the American Revolution after seeing a poster "The British Redcoat In America" which first appeared in a London Newspaper at the time of the American Bicentennial. It was a large poster filled with illustrations and information about the soldiers and their arms and equipment, operations, what it was like for British soldiers serving in America. It was so fascinating that i put it on the floor with weights on each corner. got a beer and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's still available through the U.S. Gov't.
Great stuff! Love it. Another great dual between American/British officers happened a few months later at Guildford Courthouse. ‘During "the melee," Lt. Col. James Stuart of the 2nd Guards Battalion made his way through a crowd to confront Capt. John Smith of the 1st Maryland Regiment, who was furiously assaulting some Grenadiers. Lt. Col. Stuart thrust his short sword, Capt. Smith avoided it nimbly, then wheeled around and gave Lt. Col. Stuart a back-handed blow to the head, killing the British officer. Capt. Smith was then shot in the back of the head, but miraculously the buckshot had only stunned him.’
The term "queue" referred to a range of styles of long, tied hair during this period (as well as to tie-on braids and ponytails that could be worn for fashion), so when Washington "cut off his queue" that's probably what it was referring to; you can fill in the word "ponytail" or "braid" and get a similar meaning.
@@Theduckwebcomics I've never seen anyone claim that a cluster of hair worn on the back of the head isn't a ponytail, and in my experience "pigtails" usually refers to a pair of braids or tied up bunches of hair worn at the sides of the heads. What definition are you using?
@@suburbanbanshee I see, queues weren't always braids though - as I said in my initial comment, they could be braids or ponytails (and obviously if pigtails are any braids that statement wouldn't make sense with "pigtails" instead of "ponytails," since it would mean "braids or braids").
What an informative and entertaining video! Washington himself was wounded in his right hand at the battle of Trenton, and a painting done by Trumbull shows him standing at the Hessian surrender with his hand bandaged. I've got a few documents written by him shortly after the war and you'd never tell by his witing that he was wounded at all. What an incredibly strong American hero.
Thank you for that right jolly reading. Very pleasant indeed sir! Yes, I would like to hear more about blade battles between American Revolutionary War combatants.
A queue is a hairstyle common in the period, effectively a long ponytail tied at multiple points and sometimes plaited, it was a common military hairstyle in the 18th century especially among British officers and soldiers
I have read Tarleton's life story but knew nothing of his fight with Washington. Your accounts of the dining conversations are delightful, he got his earthly comeuppance in many ways! Thanks, mate!
You find the best stories. I’d love to hear more about the first true world war. Almost, anyway. The Seven Years’ War. Most people (at least, most non-history buff people) don’t realize it started in 1754 with French and English colonies in America.
Outro was splendid Matt 👌 good message and hopefully more and more do by way of kind souls like yourself and many others, that help remind us of what has already happened and that we can repeat or avoid to our own gain or peril. ❤
Matt, thank you so very much for all of your knowledge that you willingly share…while in college, I drove by the Cowpens battlefield at LEAST once a week to visit a friend who lived nearby…I can’t wait to share this video with them!
First time American viewer here. My fourth great grandfather Henry Noland (or Nowlin, depending upon who spelled it) was a member of Col. Smiths American North Carolina Regiment as a scout ( ranger) at Cowpens and many other battles and skirmishes. Thanks very much for relating this fascinating bit of the battle. Warm regards .
Matt, as an American, this was a major treat! Thank you! Btw, as I sit and type this, I'm just a few miles away from battle sites that involved the use of edged weapons: one from the Revolution (the Capture of Vincennes in 1779), and two from the War of 1812 (the Battle of Tipton's Island & the Pigeon Roost Massacre). Although, being here in Indiana, you would've seen tomahawks used every bit as much as sabers, if not more so.😁 Finally, have you ever seen the dagger that was excavated at the Saratoga battlefield? It's pretty amazing, and survives in pretty amazing condition. It's very spike-like and stabby (although single-edged), and is thought to be of German make. Due to this, it's thought that it likely belonged to one of the Hessian mercenaries.
@@VictorEngland-br3rl , Thank you for your correction. I'm perfectly willing to accept that I may have been misinformed on that particular detail. In popular culture at least, it seems like they've almost always been referred to as "Hessian mercenaries". However, given the German connection with the British Royal Family, it makes sense that they would actually be auxiliary troops. In any case, I highly recommend that you check out that dagger I was talking about!😁
Tarleton reminds me of many politicians...easily offended by personal attacks, not much offended by all the lives lost under their charge...love the remarks from the ladies! Funny!
I think that the reference to Tarleton's queue which was cut off was to how he was wearing his hair. In modern times we would refer to such a style as a pony tail.
British or American, I love reading the accounts of their experiences. The British have a much longer and richer history of land and sea battles, as well as their exploration, colonies, and trade. The British letters, diaries and memoirs they wrote, or told to an author, are amazing reads. Thank you for sharing this one with us! 😊
Thank you for this. I currently live about 30 minutes away from the Battle of Cowpens. When I was a kid me and my friends used to play next to a Revolutionary War Cemetery.
Thanks. I live near the Cowpens Battlefield memorial, it's quite a nice park these days. Got a room that speaks of the battle with swords and muskets on display, etc. Nice to hear my little home town mentioned.
Definitely cool to see swords and melee duels still around because yeah, pistols then were single shot and slow to load. It’s also the reason why Bowie knives were so popular amongst the civilians. I think swords only started waning in use after the invention of the revolver. 6 shots is a massive jump from 1. Then later, automatics that you could reload by simply shoving a new magazine inside further cemented that.
I am german and Brittas boyfriend. In my country after French Revolution wars, and especially after Napoleonic wars, carrying a sword by civilians was simply no more allowed, open carry of firearms also. There had been of course few exeptions. In some towns a citizens militia was allowed as Support for Army and Police, the target shooters sometimes had meetings , competitions or parades, also people with a hunting licence could carry their hunting weapons when hunting. Also some high noblemen, which lost their territories in Napoleonic era, had special rights.. So after 1815 a german Gentleman had to replace his saddle pistols with pocket pistols, and his smallsword with cane or swordcane. Ordinary german was usually to poor to buy weapons. So farmers usually had only their EDC knife, a simple stick/cane/ club or Tools. But strangely in 1848/ 49 a small libertination happeded. A long hunting knife, called Hirschfänger, was now allowed for everyone ( who had the Money), before a Hirschfänger was only allowed for noblemen, Professional hunters and Forrest officials ( Förster). Nowadays bladed sidearms are totally uncommon in Germany, but sometimes you see sabers at parades of historic citizens militias, parades of target shooters or by bavarian pilgrims escorts. Hirschfänger are sometimes still used for huntsmens ceremonies.
American sources describe Tarleton, who had abandoned his men at Cowpens, running for 16 miles while pursued by the wounded William a Washington, escaping only by forcing a South Carolina planter, Adam Gosyluck to serve as his guide. Speaking of Tarleton without fully filling out who he was: a war criminal who commanded his troopers to massacre Americans who had surrendered and were flying a white flag at the Battle of Waxhaws in 1780. Post a Cowpens, when faced with American regulars and experienced American commanders, he was a failure as a commander, losing Francisco’s Fight and being overrun at Gloucester Point at Yorktown. His reputation was so disgraceful that after Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, British officers were invited to dine with the American and French officers, Cornwallis was specifically EXCLUDED BY NAME from the invitation. Tarleton returned to Great Britain where he continually slandered Cornwallis and became an obstinate, bullying leader of the party in Parliament that fought against the abolition of slavery, while continuing to try to force himself into the highest levels of active command in the military. It is telling of his reputation and personality that he was turned away. The one opportunity he was given, in Portugal in 1798, he ran from claiming it was beneath him. His Baronetcy and membership in the Order of the Bath, as well as the persistence of Tarleton St. in London is an appalling legacy.
I love how Tarleton got excluded by name from the after battle sitdown. Fun thing about Cornwallis, he was actually not hated postwar in Britain and went on to have a very long and successful military and political career. This culminated in being the first Governor of India, a post he excelled at as a primary civil administration role. It was acknowledged he had done his utmost in America and still lost, but had in the process still proven himself a worthy commander and leader. The British Empire was loath to waste good talent, so men like Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne, and Cornwallis emerged well off from the American Revolution and had good careers afterwards. That Tarleton failed to, and ran away from a command that would have seen him fight proper equal enemies, is very telling.
Thanks for the great story, Matt. I can just picture a group of finely dressed women snottily engaging Tarleton, much to his embarrassment. Happy Independence Day, my American friends!
Thanks for your genuine holiday cheer for our independence. I was six years in the American navy, and am very interested in the later evolution of edged combat, particularly naval, from the boxer rebellion through modern times. The blades became shorter I'm most cases, but were used more frequently than is generally credited, cutlasses to Kabars and smatchets, machetes, Kris knives and samurai swords.
Great as usual Matt. I do like to Joke with our American brethren about how they celebrate that little skirmish in one of our minor colonies.......but always 100% in jest. Happy 4th of July, here's to at least another 284.
Thank you for making a video about an event taking place during the Battle of Cowpens. When I was in the Navy my first ship was named after that battle.
Very nice Matt. You may find some of the accounts of personal combat regarding Nathan Bedford Forrest interesting. I know at present he is a much maligned character but that should not detract from his physical exploits as a no holds barred practical fighter.
Since I am German, I am interested in German blades and their usage before WW II and WW I; in the times when Germany had a Kaiser / Caesar, and before that.
@@huwhitecavebeast1972 How are you German when you are born and raised in the US though? We Germans don't do the blood thing anymore you know, because that would be racist.
Matt, for an example of a nasty bayonet fight, look at Major Simcoe's ambush of the New Jersey militia at the Hancock House in 1778. Simcoe's Rangers (mostly American loyalists) managed to approach the House at night, using boats through a swamp, dispatch the sentries without raising an alarm, then kick the doors in and storm the house, bayonetting the militia therein (and one or two hapless civilians). I think this small engagement demonstrates two things: 1) it demonstrates "door-kicker" house-clearing operations centuries before they became standard training for Iraq/Afghanistan; and 2) it shows how adept the British were at petit-guerre or partisan tactics during the RevWar. Some people to this day still think us Yanks beat the Brits because the British didn't know how to fight dirty or guerrilla-style, Hancock House and its like beg to differ.
I suspect that Tarleton's "queue" was part of his wig, a short braid at the back. You would know best whether he would have been wearing it at Cowpens. They were sometimes styled not "hanging down" but curved stiffly out. At any rate, having it cut off by a sword stroke would mean Washington's attack *almost* got him in the head. The South Carolina ladies were into serious Southern slice-and-dice that day--tongues sharp as swords. Thank you for your congratulations on our July 4. It's very kind of you. I enjoy your channel very much; swords have fascinated me since I was a child. I wish I had had a chance to learn more and start fencing earlier than I did, but my years of lessons were enormous fun, and seeing the Wallace Collection was beyond amazing. Thank you.
As a few others have said, queue referred to the ponytail worn by soldiers at the time. There were a couple popular styles, but the two most popular were 1) tuck the tail in a small black bag, and tie it on with a ribbon and 2) braid the tail, then fold it back up and tuck the end under the cap. False queues were also a thing. These were basically just the ponytail part of a wig, which would bee tied to the head with a ribbon. False queues were not common among officers, who generally wore their hair long, but were not unknown. Under a hat or cap, it's hard to tell the difference between natural hair and a false queue.
If you ever see this comment, love ya, Matt! Thanks so much for covering this! If you have plans to do more videos on this period, someday, I would absolutely love seeing a Scholar Gladitoria video listing and covering the most common melee weapons of the American War of Independence. It's an often overlooked aspect of the Revolutionary War and 18th century European wars, in general. Thanks!
A queue or cue is an old fashioned word for a type of ponytail hairstyle. It means slightly different things depending if you're referring to European or Chinese styles.
the sass is so strong in this video i love it so much. "got what he deserved" and "sometimes i wish i could get independence from the uk" hit hard lol loved the last couple videos! im glad i graduated so now i have time to watch through as much of your channel as i can! i cant wait to see the next one :)
Yes! Please do some more content on the French and Indian War. I've read that they sent over 3000 cutlasses from the tower of London for the conflict. I also saw a letter were Gorge Washington was requesting more pikes and halberds be sent to his men, but for all the edged weapons present for the war your rearly hear anything about them.
A british person talking fondly to Americans on 4th of July, this is a welcome surprise. Happy independence day everyone
Not really a surprise. Spend some time in any part of Europe from West to East and you will see the relevance of the American experience even if it luster has somewhat faded in the last few years
My impression is that most British people don't hold any animosity towards US independence. My British friends would enthusiastically greet you a happy 4th of July if you're American, just like they would the holidays of any other nation they know of. The fact it involved a war with the British Empire 250 years ago doesn't seem to matter much (if not make it more so a reason not to care about it). From period letters, we can see that even the British at the time were divided about the issue; King George III did receive his share of criticism from British citizens. But also, It appears it was considered another of the hundreds of wars going on in different colonies at the time.
Many English pols at the time had sympathy for the "colonies"!
@@jesuizanmich Lots of wars are fought between (or against) governments. They're just fought by individuals who generally would rather be doing something else. Even when propaganda is used to convince one group that every member of another group is the enemy, it's the governments that are spreading the propaganda.
Well the war for independence happened because the colonials were so English in mindset so we don't really hold it against them, except in jest.
"Queue" probably refers to the ponytail many officers wore in that time! Talk about a close shave if he'd managed to cut that off.
Yes this is exactly it
The term queue was also used to refer to the long braid that men were forced to grow during the Qing dynasty in China (by foreign sources of course, the han and manchu probably had their own names each )
@@ichimaru96 That was the first thing I thought of when Matt mentioned the queue.
Literally
Yes…I find it difficult to believe that it could be cut off using a sword like that especially not injuring the man severely
Probably was said as a way to disgrace him
This ,Pony tail' caused troubles in the troops of a Swiss Canton with mixed population. The soldiers had to have such a Pony tail, but this was a french habit, so that the german language soldiers had been angry.
Fun trivia fact of the day: while the USS Missouri was known as the Mighty Mo, the USS Cowpens (CVL-25) was known as the Mighty Moo!
A friend served on the aegis cruiser Cowpens. He said the ship’s motto was “Watch your step”! 😂
@@MrNatWhilk I sailed on the Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser USS Antietam CG 54 as an Operations Specialist . I live near the town of Cowpens South Carolina and the Cowpens Battleground in Spartanburg County S.C. Hello Shipmate !
The irony being that CVL-25 when she was fully tooled up with air group and whatnot probably had as many or more people aboard than the entire engaged forces of the Battle of COwpens.
From an American to our British cousins, thanks for wishing us a happy independence day. You gave us one hell of a fight.
We got the New World, they got the extra "u"s in words.
Besides, the British got to burn down the White House later, which was pretty based.
what about them makes them our "cousins"??
@@wodensreign9839
Blood
twice ....dont forget the war of 1812
A very important battle, that is often glossed over now. Even though it's largely accepted as the turning point in the South.
I think it was a pretty famous battle. Things were looking bleak for the Americans in the south. And then Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Camden (a draw) and Yorktown.
@@joeelliott2157 Guilford Courthouse. This pyrrhic victory, where Cornwallis won the battle but lost a quarter of his men, forced Cornwallis to move to Yorktown.
Among historians and afficionados of the RevWar, Cowpens is often seen as one of the best tactical victories by Continentals against the British (and Loyalists). The fact that the defeat was against the infamous "Bloody Ban" made it a huge morale boost for the Patriots.
If he struck at his head, and "cut of his queue," I think that can only mean he cut off the hair that was gathered together and worn in a "tail" at the nape of the neck -- think of 18th century hairstyles. Later on, I know the pigtail worn by Chinese men in the 19th century (a legal requirement in Qing dynasty China), was referred to as a queue.
Yes that makes sense.
You might also occasionally come across reference to "buckles", which refer to the pipe-formed curls in front of the ear worked into wigs or natural hair, and have nothing to do with leather belts.
This reminds me of an online exchange I had with someone in the UK. When I said "but that's a different kettle of fish", his response was "you Americans keep your fish in kettles? So silly. Where do you make your tea?" To which I replied with, "In the harbor! Where else?"
Damn thee! Noisome calumny! 😂
ROTFLMAO
Brilliant!
Well done!! And I ain't talking steak!
Gandhi took his naps on the train 🚂 tracks 😊
I think coverage of historical duels and swordfights would be a great series. Its cool to to see the analysis of how or why something might have gone down the way it did
Yes, and the special customs around it.
I read, or better hear, a book from the end of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century. And the chapter today involved a duel of honor between two noblemen/officers in Spain, where they explain the custom that typically both parties had lots of sekundanten (what's the english term for that?) and those also did fighting alongside or after the main duel. So basically like 14 officers got into a huge fight, with basically everybody either dead or wounded:D
That might be one of the reasons why they did ban duels, especially in the military. One fight and the whole officer corps ends either in bed or 5 feet under ..
Agree 💯. Swordsmanship is fascinating.
As an American thank you for this story. I'm a history buff and this is a tale I had not heard before. To all of our cousins across the pond thank you and I wish you all good fortune. Cheers 🥂
German swords also considering the number of Hessian mercenaries that fought for the British.
The last engagement of the war took place in the early hours of October 14th, 1781 during the siege of Yorktown. The fight was over the last redoubts (9 and 10) that kept the American lines from reaching artillery range of the town itself. The positions were defended by Hessian troops led by British officers and were assaulted by American and French troops. Most of the French troops were Germans that came from a town that was on the border of the two nations and was part of the Kingdom of France at the time. Being a night engagement there was mostly hand to hand combat. The Colonial forces took the redoubts and the British surrendered on the 19th, after the British navy failed to break the French navy blockade at the mouth of the York river. The battle of Yorktown is sometimes referred to by historians as the German battle as Germans served in the Colonial, French and British armies fighting there.
I often tell people that October 19th is America's actual Independence Day as that is the day that we won the war. July 4th, 1776 just being they day we officially decided to tell King George to f-off. I may be a little biased, however, seeing how my birthday is October 19th and I live less than an hour away from Yorktown. 🥳
I would argue that while the Yorktown Siege was the last major combat engagement between Continentals and British forces, and brought the British to the negotiating table, it wasn't the end of the war. Sporadic fighting would continue until the end of hostilities was declared in April, 1783. Let's not forget the fighting elsewhere in the British Empire connected to the AWI...for example the nasty Siege of Cuddalore in India didn't end until a ship bearing the Treaty of Paris arrived in July 1783.
Germ on Germ fighting
I think the true Independence Day is Patriot's day, April 19th,1775, Lexington and Concord, as there was surely no going back after that. People forget that maor battles like Bunker Hill were fought before 1776.
As I understand it, my family actually arrived in the US as Hessians and stayed here after the war. Not sure if that's totally accurate, but it's what I've been told.
@@AaronLitz Many of the Hessian troops were left behind by the British when they went home as they refused to pay or spend money on mercenaries' passage since they failed to win the war for them, so it is quite probably true. Many of them ended up in Pennsylvania as they were already up in the north and the mountains there were like their homeland and so they already knew how to make a living in that type of environment. Many of the Pennsylvania Dutch (Dutch being the Americanized version of Deutsche) are descended from them.
Matt, you may not have opted to discuss it in detail but Banastre Tarleton was a particularly infamous British cavalry officer during the War for Independence. His troops after the Battle of Waxhaw Creek killed a number of Virginian Continental Army soldiers (as opposed to militia) in cold blood after they’d surrendered. From this point on, American soldiers in the conflict frequently used the phrase “Tarleton’s quarter” to refer to not taking prisoners or killing them out of hand when they tried to surrender. Thanks, Matt, from an American and big fan of your UA-cam channel!!!! 🇺🇸🇬🇧
In fairness Tarleton’s horse was shot by the Americans after they had already put up a white flag and surrounded, that was when the British killed the surrendering Americans. There are also multiple other incidents documented where Americans pretended to surrender the shot the British troops in other engagements, we Americans tend to gloss over that side of things, but as in all wars neither side had their hands clean.
Also the Americans referred to him as ," Bloody Ban." for this very reason.
Indeed, in grade school we always referred to him as Banastre “the Butcher” Tarleton.
The queue mentioned was likely his bound hair, a braid.
They didn't kill the Rebels from Virginia "in cold blood after they surrendered".
They DID kill some who thought their surrender had been accepted, but given the British Commander was laying trapped under his horse, and some of the rebels kept firing and and others were riding away with their arms and banners, there had been no surrender accepted.
The battle continued until it was clear there had been a decisive defeat given to the rebels. What else could anyone expect?.
@@gijoe508 And BEFORE battle was joined, the British sent an envoy forward and offered to accept the rebel's surrender.
"Resistance being vain, to prevent the effusion of human blood, I make offers which can never be repeated", was the British offer.
The rebel commander, aware that he out numbered the British by 200 men, answered "I reject your proposals, and shall defend myself to the last extremity.".
The last extremity. Superior forces. Prepared in line of battle, and prepared for half an hour before the attack. It was therefore ESSENTIAL that the British attack and destroy the rebels, no half measures, no hesitation, and they were RIGHT to continue to fight once they got to grips.
And the rebels did NOT all throw down their arms, a hundred rode off attempting to escape with their arms.
What a treat, thank you, Matt! I live just a few miles from Cowpens and visit the battle site and visitor center frequently. The didactic material they have there has a couple interesting additions as well as discrepancies. First, Washington's young trumpeter who came to his aid with the pistol is always described as Black. Second, apparently Washington's sword broken at/near the hilt at some point during the exchange (perhaps even prior to wounding Tarleton's hand, although I've never understood how that could work). Third, an 1845 painting by William Ranney of the encounter seems to show everyone using swords with only basic knuckle-bows. Finally, Washington's pursuit didn't end when Tarleton shot his horse; apparently he got a fresh one and continued the chase for 16 miles, until Tarleton eventually made it to the plantation of a Loyalist who helped him escape for good. Anyway, thank you for this 4th of July content!
Im pleased to point out, the second to last paragraph of our Declaration of Independence final sentence contains this sentiment," in war Enemies, in Peace Friends." Thanks Matt for the terrific story and to our now British friends.
Thank you, Matt. You're a credit to your culture. If you decide to come across the pond and settle down with us Yanks, you'd be a welcome and appreciated citizen here.
As a Brit I would like to say "happy freedom day" to the colonials
Thank you! I sometimes wonder if it mightn’t been better if we had lost, but the die’s been cast & we’re all riding along on the ‘Great Experiment.’
🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
Thanks. Have fun at work!
Thank you!
@@shinobi-no-buenoConsidering the direction England has gone lately, I can’t help but agree. Individual freedoms are under fire here in the States as well as there but I much prefer what we’ve got, and our process for mitigating infringements on them.
On the other hand we have only the history we know. No telling what might have been.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 It would have been better had you lost (for you at least), there are no doubts.
Thanks for the stories, Matt. Thanks also to you and yours for the friendship between our two nations, despite us testing one another's patience from time to time.
Nice! My 4th great paternal grandfather was a South Carolina Militia Horseman and his unit was involved at Cowpens. Thanks for this video Matt.
I have been to Cowpens and it was an eye-opening experience. It is literally in the middle of nowhere. The two "armies" met there purely by coincidence. By today's standards, the numbers engaged on each side were exceedingly small. The resulting win by the Americans at Cowpens and King's Mountain was to have an effect which was out-of-proportion to the size of the battle: the British decided they could not win in the South, so they essentially pulled out. In terms of a follow-up, the battle of King's Mountain would make a great episode.
They didn't pull out of the south. They crushed the Americans at Camden which ended Gates career as a field commander and killed de Kalb. Cowpens was part of a fighting retreat by the Americans under Gates' replacement, Greene, as Cornwallis pursued them north before going to resupply at Yorktown and getting trapped by the French navy and combined American and French forces.
Cowpens was an incredible tactical victory for Daniel Morgan and great morale boost, but it was essentially a rearguard effort to slow the British pursuit of Greene's army because the strategic plan was to draw them away from Charleston and stretch out British supply lines to the breaking point.
@@kspringerrw I appreciate the correction. I was only stating what I recalled of the official story we were given at the site. I would appreciate some recommended readings, please.
Unfortunately, few swords were in use at Kings Mountain.
I hate to correct you they didn't meet by coincidence Daniel Morgan picked that spot
@@williamanderson6006 I appreciate the correction. I was stating my recollection from what I read at the site, which was not a lot. I may have inferred that, so I apologize.
Pleasantly surprised to see a Brit talking positively of us on our independence. I, as an American, see all the Anglo-sphere as family in a way, shared culture, language, ancestry, ect, so seeing this made me happy. Things may have been difficult between us at first, but our countries have been friends for so long now. 🇺🇲🇬🇧
I grew up near Cowpens! This story was a beloved part of my childhood's historical mythos. Thank you so much for sharing this story!
To be able to look back on the Revolution with clear eyes and appreciate it for what it is now, an important piece of shared history, is truly gratifying. Well done, Matt!
Very good! One of my ancestors was in the South Carolina Light Dragoons and fought under Washington at Cowpens.
If you are driving through South Carolina on Interstate 85, the battlefield is about 10 miles off the main highway. The battlefield terrain is maintained in about the condition it was in 1781.
The Kings Mountain battlefield is about 20 miles up the Interstate just after crossing into North Carolina. British general Fergason's grave is there, near where he fell.
Both battlefields are usually lightly attended and you can walk the grounds. They aren't very large and it is easy to see where the events of the battles took place.
I live not 45 min from the battlefield at cowpens and am very surprised and thankful that some of our local tales are known across the pond. Love the channel.
Thank you for your kind wishes for these United States. I am of East Anglian ancestry in both my paternal and maternal lines. I descend from a Pilgrim who’s family was from Norwich. I’ve some 2 dozen ancestral family members who served in the Continental Army that I know of. July 4th is personal to my family.
I was not expecting this at all. This is right up my alley. Greetings from South Carolina🇺🇲
Thanks for the kind words and great video Mat. Long live the UK and the friendship of our brotherly nations.
On behalf of the USA, my deepest thanks to Matt and our other British friends for the goodwill and well wishes!
To Matt's point, accounts of single combat are definitely interesting. It would also be interesting to hear about how various nations (France and Britain in particular, and the differences between the two) influenced the way America styled its military in the olden days.
Happy 4th everyone! Thanks for the history on our nations birthday, Matt 🥳
Thank You! Great accounting of the swordfight. I have studied, read and attended seminars in South Carolina regarding this exchange. Here is what I believe to be true: Tarleton lost two fingers at the Battle of Guilford Courthose in a melee with Col Harry Lee and Lee’s Legion two months after The Battle of Cowpens. At Cowpens, the Red team had a bad day. Tarleton was in command of the entire Red Team. He rode back to get his reserve to come up to fight. But the reserves would not engage. Blue team cavalry had double enveloped the Red team so, as Tarleton was trying to get his his reserve involved, Washington was looking for Tarleton and yelled “Where now is the boasting Tarleton?” Washington looked and saw Tarleton across the field and charged, ahead of his men. Tarleton saw Washington approaching and went straight for Washington with two dragoons. Colin, Washington’s bugler boy raced after Washington with another blue dragoon. Washington and Tarleton crossed swords and Washington’s sword broke 6-8” above the hilt. Washington then parried Tarleton’ second thrust with the broken sword. Colin shot one of the dragoons with Tarleton, and a Blue team dragoon took out the other Red team dragoon. Tarleton swung his horse around and pistol shot Washington. Washington’s thigh was grazed but his horse went down injured. That is how the fight ended even though the Blue team, with Washington, went after Tarleton and his guys, after getting regrouped in a few minutes.
Kind of exciting.
Everyone should buy that book. I picked it up a few years ago (after hearing you hawk it for ages), and my copy is already dog eared. Fantastic stuff! Educational and entertaining as hell.
Based in Matt's reading, the book just regurgitates the same old US war stories intended to build national spirit after the war. They are wildly inaccurate. I won't waste my money on it.
US war stories? In a book about the British?
Okay.
The book has a very large collection of first hand accounts of historical combat. It is not jingoistic or political at all. The stories do not always make the British seem better.
But go ahead and miss out. Your loss.
I got interested in the American Revolution after seeing a poster "The British Redcoat In America" which first appeared in a London Newspaper at the time of the American Bicentennial. It was a large poster filled with illustrations and information about the soldiers and their arms and equipment, operations, what it was like for British soldiers serving in America. It was so fascinating that i put it on the floor with weights on each corner. got a beer and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's still available through the U.S. Gov't.
Learning about American swordsmanship is always fascinating and inspires patriotism... very grateful for this story!
Great stuff! Love it.
Another great dual between American/British officers happened a few months later at Guildford Courthouse.
‘During "the melee," Lt. Col. James Stuart of the 2nd Guards Battalion made his way through a crowd to confront Capt. John Smith of the 1st Maryland Regiment, who was furiously assaulting some Grenadiers. Lt. Col. Stuart thrust his short sword, Capt. Smith avoided it nimbly, then wheeled around and gave Lt. Col. Stuart a back-handed blow to the head, killing the British officer. Capt. Smith was then shot in the back of the head, but miraculously the buckshot had only stunned him.’
The term "queue" referred to a range of styles of long, tied hair during this period (as well as to tie-on braids and ponytails that could be worn for fashion), so when Washington "cut off his queue" that's probably what it was referring to; you can fill in the word "ponytail" or "braid" and get a similar meaning.
Rat tail of his wig rather.
Not ponytail, but pigtail. People these days always confuse the two 😅
@@Theduckwebcomics I've never seen anyone claim that a cluster of hair worn on the back of the head isn't a ponytail, and in my experience "pigtails" usually refers to a pair of braids or tied up bunches of hair worn at the sides of the heads. What definition are you using?
Any braid is also a pigtail.
If Washington cut off a hair extension or switch, that would make sense too.
@@suburbanbanshee I see, queues weren't always braids though - as I said in my initial comment, they could be braids or ponytails (and obviously if pigtails are any braids that statement wouldn't make sense with "pigtails" instead of "ponytails," since it would mean "braids or braids").
What an informative and entertaining video! Washington himself was wounded in his right hand at the battle of Trenton, and a painting done by Trumbull shows him standing at the Hessian surrender with his hand bandaged. I've got a few documents written by him shortly after the war and you'd never tell by his witing that he was wounded at all. What an incredibly strong American hero.
Thanks man! I'm glad we are allied today. Even the SEAL Team guys always say SAS wrote the book!
Thank you for that right jolly reading. Very pleasant indeed sir! Yes, I would like to hear more about blade battles between American Revolutionary War combatants.
Thank you Matt, you honor us Yankees with your recognition, happy 4th to you too
A queue is a hairstyle common in the period, effectively a long ponytail tied at multiple points and sometimes plaited, it was a common military hairstyle in the 18th century especially among British officers and soldiers
Thank you for wishing us a happy 4th and thank you very much for all accounts of the amazing story.
I have read Tarleton's life story but knew nothing of his fight with Washington. Your accounts of the dining conversations are delightful, he got his earthly comeuppance in many ways! Thanks, mate!
You find the best stories.
I’d love to hear more about the first true world war. Almost, anyway. The Seven Years’ War. Most people (at least, most non-history buff people) don’t realize it started in 1754 with French and English colonies in America.
Outro was splendid Matt 👌 good message and hopefully more and more do by way of kind souls like yourself and many others, that help remind us of what has already happened and that we can repeat or avoid to our own gain or peril. ❤
Matt, thank you so very much for all of your knowledge that you willingly share…while in college, I drove by the Cowpens battlefield at LEAST once a week to visit a friend who lived nearby…I can’t wait to share this video with them!
What an amazing story and one I haven’t heard before. Thank you for sharing it. Happy 4th! 🇺🇸
First time American viewer here. My fourth great grandfather Henry Noland (or Nowlin, depending upon who spelled it) was a member of Col. Smiths American North Carolina Regiment as a scout ( ranger) at Cowpens and many other battles and skirmishes. Thanks very much for relating this fascinating bit of the battle. Warm regards .
Spaniard here, it always fascinated me how some of you americans keep track so well of your ancestry, perks of living in a young country I think :•)
Matt, as an American, this was a major treat! Thank you! Btw, as I sit and type this, I'm just a few miles away from battle sites that involved the use of edged weapons: one from the Revolution (the Capture of Vincennes in 1779), and two from the War of 1812 (the Battle of Tipton's Island & the Pigeon Roost Massacre). Although, being here in Indiana, you would've seen tomahawks used every bit as much as sabers, if not more so.😁
Finally, have you ever seen the dagger that was excavated at the Saratoga battlefield? It's pretty amazing, and survives in pretty amazing condition. It's very spike-like and stabby (although single-edged), and is thought to be of German make. Due to this, it's thought that it likely belonged to one of the Hessian mercenaries.
The German troops where auxiliary, not Mercenaries
@@VictorEngland-br3rl , Thank you for your correction. I'm perfectly willing to accept that I may have been misinformed on that particular detail. In popular culture at least, it seems like they've almost always been referred to as "Hessian mercenaries". However, given the German connection with the British Royal Family, it makes sense that they would actually be auxiliary troops. In any case, I highly recommend that you check out that dagger I was talking about!😁
Tarleton reminds me of many politicians...easily offended by personal attacks, not much offended by all the lives lost under their charge...love the remarks from the ladies! Funny!
Thank you for the 4th of July present! It means a lot coming from you.
Storytime with Uncle Matt is my favourite
I think that the reference to Tarleton's queue which was cut off was to how he was wearing his hair. In modern times we would refer to such a style as a pony tail.
Great account that I never knew about! Thank you from a New Yawker transplant living in North Carolina! Looking forward to more History classes!!!
British or American, I love reading the accounts of their experiences. The British have a much longer and richer history of land and sea battles, as well as their exploration, colonies, and trade. The British letters, diaries and memoirs they wrote, or told to an author, are amazing reads.
Thank you for sharing this one with us! 😊
Glad to see we put the games away for a bit. Was wondering how you were and had questions related to your mortuary studies.
Thank you for your good wishes. Yes, please more about the American war of Independence.
Happy Independence Day!
Thank you for this. I currently live about 30 minutes away from the Battle of Cowpens. When I was a kid me and my friends used to play next to a Revolutionary War Cemetery.
Happy July 4th everyone! 🎉
Thanks. I live near the Cowpens Battlefield memorial, it's quite a nice park these days. Got a room that speaks of the battle with swords and muskets on display, etc. Nice to hear my little home town mentioned.
Definitely cool to see swords and melee duels still around because yeah, pistols then were single shot and slow to load. It’s also the reason why Bowie knives were so popular amongst the civilians. I think swords only started waning in use after the invention of the revolver. 6 shots is a massive jump from 1. Then later, automatics that you could reload by simply shoving a new magazine inside further cemented that.
I am german and Brittas boyfriend. In my country after French Revolution wars, and especially after Napoleonic wars, carrying a sword by civilians was simply no more allowed, open carry of firearms also. There had been of course few exeptions. In some towns a citizens militia was allowed as Support for Army and Police, the target shooters sometimes had meetings , competitions or parades, also people with a hunting licence could carry their hunting weapons when hunting. Also some high noblemen, which lost their territories in Napoleonic era, had special rights.. So after 1815 a german Gentleman had to replace his saddle pistols with pocket pistols, and his smallsword with cane or swordcane. Ordinary german was usually to poor to buy weapons. So farmers usually had only their EDC knife, a simple stick/cane/ club or Tools. But strangely in 1848/ 49 a small libertination happeded. A long hunting knife, called Hirschfänger, was now allowed for everyone ( who had the Money), before a Hirschfänger was only allowed for noblemen, Professional hunters and Forrest officials ( Förster). Nowadays bladed sidearms are totally uncommon in Germany, but sometimes you see sabers at parades of historic citizens militias, parades of target shooters or by bavarian pilgrims escorts. Hirschfänger are sometimes still used for huntsmens ceremonies.
Great episode! I discovered your channel a few years ago when I got into historical European martial arts. Your channel is one of my “go to” channels.
Definitely would love more about the close combat of the revolutionary war
American viewer here, thanks for the great video content as always and thanks for the topical video for our holiday. Sending this to my friends today!
American sources describe Tarleton, who had abandoned his men at Cowpens, running for 16 miles while pursued by the wounded William a Washington, escaping only by forcing a South Carolina planter, Adam Gosyluck to serve as his guide.
Speaking of Tarleton without fully filling out who he was: a war criminal who commanded his troopers to massacre Americans who had surrendered and were flying a white flag at the Battle of Waxhaws in 1780. Post a Cowpens, when faced with American regulars and experienced American commanders, he was a failure as a commander, losing Francisco’s Fight and being overrun at Gloucester Point at Yorktown.
His reputation was so disgraceful that after Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown, British officers were invited to dine with the American and French officers, Cornwallis was specifically EXCLUDED BY NAME from the invitation.
Tarleton returned to Great Britain where he continually slandered Cornwallis and became an obstinate, bullying leader of the party in Parliament that fought against the abolition of slavery, while continuing to try to force himself into the highest levels of active command in the military. It is telling of his reputation and personality that he was turned away. The one opportunity he was given, in Portugal in 1798, he ran from claiming it was beneath him.
His Baronetcy and membership in the Order of the Bath, as well as the persistence of Tarleton St. in London is an appalling legacy.
I love how Tarleton got excluded by name from the after battle sitdown.
Fun thing about Cornwallis, he was actually not hated postwar in Britain and went on to have a very long and successful military and political career. This culminated in being the first Governor of India, a post he excelled at as a primary civil administration role. It was acknowledged he had done his utmost in America and still lost, but had in the process still proven himself a worthy commander and leader.
The British Empire was loath to waste good talent, so men like Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne, and Cornwallis emerged well off from the American Revolution and had good careers afterwards. That Tarleton failed to, and ran away from a command that would have seen him fight proper equal enemies, is very telling.
"give them "Tarleton's quarter" became another way of saying "take no prisoners" in the Colonial Army. Excellent comment Andrew!
Most if what you say about Tarleton isn't true. Read Brutal Virtue or War at Saber Point for unbiased modern history.
Thanks for sharing. One of my ancestors, William Voyles fought at the Battle of Cowpens.
Thanks for the great story, Matt. I can just picture a group of finely dressed women snottily engaging Tarleton, much to his embarrassment. Happy Independence Day, my American friends!
Thanks for your genuine holiday cheer for our independence. I was six years in the American navy, and am very interested in the later evolution of edged combat, particularly naval, from the boxer rebellion through modern times. The blades became shorter I'm most cases, but were used more frequently than is generally credited, cutlasses to Kabars and smatchets, machetes, Kris knives and samurai swords.
Great as usual Matt.
I do like to Joke with our American brethren about how they celebrate that little skirmish in one of our minor colonies.......but always 100% in jest.
Happy 4th of July, here's to at least another 284.
Thank you for making a video about an event taking place during the Battle of Cowpens. When I was in the Navy my first ship was named after that battle.
Very nice Matt. You may find some of the accounts of personal combat regarding Nathan Bedford Forrest interesting. I know at present he is a much maligned character but that should not detract from his physical exploits as a no holds barred practical fighter.
Love old stories of famous event's and/or figures. Especially with a bit of humor. Thank you for this.
Had an ancestor who was said to recieve a sword slash from Tarleton in his hand
He was that cavalryshit, right?
@@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagzBasically
@@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz no infantry
@@tattoobillyband7725 Tarleton, I meant Tarleron. I’d never cast aspersions upon a patriot, brother.
Yes, please read more from any wars or time frames! I find all of them very interesting!
I'm celebrating America Day in my usual way: drinking a gin & tonic while I watch Monty Python.
“Run AWAY!” is rather appropriate… Hahaha Happy Independence Day, Limey motherf*cker! And pour summat mo of thet gin.
It's a life goal to go celebrate July 4th in England. Thanks for the congrats from across the pond!
You'd be welcome here in Texas! I think there are a couple of HEMA clubs here in DFW. I'll keep seeking employment opportunities for ya!
I've been looking at a couple of those groups but I only have so much time to go around.
Thank you Matt, that was a wonderful reading on your part with great humour. Happy Independence Day!
Since I am German, I am interested in German blades and their usage before WW II and WW I; in the times when Germany had a Kaiser / Caesar, and before that.
If you ever find yourself in Solingen, I recommend visiting the Klingenmuseum.
Hello German brother! I'm German but was born and raised in the US. I would like to see a video about that as well.
Der Kriegs messer
@@huwhitecavebeast1972 How are you German when you are born and raised in the US though? We Germans don't do the blood thing anymore you know, because that would be racist.
@@chrisdubois7688 Das Kriegsmesser, das. 🤭🥰
Just discovered this channel a few months ago. Absolutely love your content and perspectives! Thank you for all your hard work!
Matt, for an example of a nasty bayonet fight, look at Major Simcoe's ambush of the New Jersey militia at the Hancock House in 1778. Simcoe's Rangers (mostly American loyalists) managed to approach the House at night, using boats through a swamp, dispatch the sentries without raising an alarm, then kick the doors in and storm the house, bayonetting the militia therein (and one or two hapless civilians). I think this small engagement demonstrates two things: 1) it demonstrates "door-kicker" house-clearing operations centuries before they became standard training for Iraq/Afghanistan; and 2) it shows how adept the British were at petit-guerre or partisan tactics during the RevWar. Some people to this day still think us Yanks beat the Brits because the British didn't know how to fight dirty or guerrilla-style, Hancock House and its like beg to differ.
Interesting....and unfortunate!
I suspect that Tarleton's "queue" was part of his wig, a short braid at the back. You would know best whether he would have been wearing it at Cowpens. They were sometimes styled not "hanging down" but curved stiffly out. At any rate, having it cut off by a sword stroke would mean Washington's attack *almost* got him in the head. The South Carolina ladies were into serious Southern slice-and-dice that day--tongues sharp as swords. Thank you for your congratulations on our July 4. It's very kind of you. I enjoy your channel very much; swords have fascinated me since I was a child. I wish I had had a chance to learn more and start fencing earlier than I did, but my years of lessons were enormous fun, and seeing the Wallace Collection was beyond amazing. Thank you.
We’re ready and waiting, bud. Land is cheap(and you own it) and we like self defense freedoms….plus, we legally get to blow stuff up pretty often.
Love you Matt. I live near Easton PA! Come join us!
I absolutely loved this, would love to hear more videos where you recount duals or engagements... Awesome.
Thank you for sharing a bit of history with us. Especially that which features edged weapons.
I shared this story with my ninth graders and they were enthralled. Thanks, Matt!
"If only people learned from history." I love you Mr.E keep up the great work bru
Thanks. I like hearing accounts of sword use, and a great pick for today.
As a few others have said, queue referred to the ponytail worn by soldiers at the time. There were a couple popular styles, but the two most popular were 1) tuck the tail in a small black bag, and tie it on with a ribbon and 2) braid the tail, then fold it back up and tuck the end under the cap. False queues were also a thing. These were basically just the ponytail part of a wig, which would bee tied to the head with a ribbon. False queues were not common among officers, who generally wore their hair long, but were not unknown. Under a hat or cap, it's hard to tell the difference between natural hair and a false queue.
Not a ponytail but a pigtail. The names refer to the shape of the hair. It seems to be one of those things no one understands now.
If you ever see this comment, love ya, Matt!
Thanks so much for covering this! If you have plans to do more videos on this period, someday, I would absolutely love seeing a Scholar Gladitoria video listing and covering the most common melee weapons of the American War of Independence. It's an often overlooked aspect of the Revolutionary War and 18th century European wars, in general.
Thanks!
Matt, awesome story. Thank you for the well wishes.
More in this playlist please. History time is the best. Thank you
"Judge a man by the reputation of his enemies." And our cousins were the finest on The Field. Cheers, Matt!
A queue or cue is an old fashioned word for a type of ponytail hairstyle. It means slightly different things depending if you're referring to European or Chinese styles.
Thanks for the chuckle Matt! Cheers!
Thank you very much for the story and good humor.
What's a battle or two between old friends?
Fascinating story! I had never heard of this before!
Thank you for this video.
Subscribed.
Hi, this was really interesting. Thank you for covering it in honor of your friends across the sea.
Thank you! I learned so much. I am familiar with the Battle of Cowpens, but I did not know anything about the W. Washington and Tarleton's encounter.
the sass is so strong in this video i love it so much. "got what he deserved" and "sometimes i wish i could get independence from the uk" hit hard lol
loved the last couple videos! im glad i graduated so now i have time to watch through as much of your channel as i can! i cant wait to see the next one :)
Yes! Please do some more content on the French and Indian War.
I've read that they sent over 3000 cutlasses from the tower of London for the conflict. I also saw a letter were Gorge Washington was requesting more pikes and halberds be sent to his men, but for all the edged weapons present for the war your rearly hear anything about them.