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General Banastre Tarleton Born: August 21st, 1754, Liverpool, England Death: January 16th, 1833, Leintwardine, Shropshire, England Vocation: general, politician Allegiance: Great Britain Battles: American War of Independence Battle of Waxhaws, Battle of Camden, Battle of Cowpens, Monck's Corner, Charleston, Fishing Creek, Blackstocks Nicknames/aliases: Bloody Ban Banastre Tarleton was born to John Tarleton a merchant, slave trader and mayor of Liverpool. Tarleton was educated at the Middle Temple, University College, and Oxford University. In 1771 he entered the British Army and secured a commission as a cavalry officer in the 1st Dragoon Guards. In 1775 he sailed to America and served the British army during the war of independence. On December 13th, 1776 Tarleton captured General Charles Lee who had failed to rendezvous with General Washington.

After taking command of a mixed force of cavalry and light infantry in 1780, Tarleton assisted General Clinton in South Carolina in the capture of Charleston. In May of that same year, Tarleton chased down a group of Continentals under the command of Abraham Buford. After some resistance, Buford attempted to surrender. During the surrender Tarleton's horse was shot. This resulted in a slaughter of American troops that colonials called the Waxhaw Massacre. This provided a rallying cry for American revolutionaries and turned many people against the British.

In November of 1780 Tarleton attempted to capture Francis Marion, a militia commander who was leading guerilla campaign in South Carolina. Despite his efforts Tarleton was not able to capture "the swamp fox," who was quite popular and respectful with most people. Tarleton on the other hand was considered by many to be very cruel.

In August 1780, Tarleton's Regiment assisted Lord Cornwallis in the Battle of Camden and two days later defeated Thomas Sumter at the Battle of Fishing Creek. When Tarleton again confronted Sumter's forces in November at Blackstock Farm he made a number of poor decisions making victory impossible. Having discovered the colonials in an entrenched position, he immediately attacked without all of his forces present. As the battle turned against him out of desperation he attacked uphill against superior numbers, this went very poorly. After withdrawing to await reinforcements the colonials were able to withdraw. This was followed up by an even more devastating loss for Tarleton in January 1781 at the Battle of Cowpens. Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, new that he would be facing Tarleton who was very aggressive and set a trap. Colonial militia troops were placed in the front and center. After Tarleton's troops attacked them they retreated and Tarleton followed them. He then discovered that there was another group of continentals and militia behind the first group and groups of soldiers on each side as well. After realizing how badly his troops were being beaten, Tarleton attempted to extract the troops that he could and retreated. He was confronted on the battle field by Colonial William Washington, but managed an escape.

After the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, conducted a series of raids and other missions in Virginia. After Lord Cornwallis surrendered Yorktown in 1781, Tarleton returned to England. Most of his career from this point on was in politics, although he was promoted to the rank of general. He served in the British House of Commons where he was a supporter of slavery. He died in January 1833, at Leintwardine in Shropshire.