1. William Washington was a cavalry officer of the Virginia militia and Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, who served on General George Washington's staff during the naval war with France in 1798 and held a final rank of brigadier general.
At the Battle of Trenton, under command of Nathanael Greene and after a night of scouting the countryside with Monroe to prevent detection, William Washington led a successful assault into the town.
William Washington's company drove in Hessian pickets, and seized two cannon on King Street, capturing their crews.
William Washington received wounds to both hands during the action, along with Lt.
William Washington's unit spent the summer of 1779 recruiting and remounting.
William Washington again bested a detachment of Tarleton's dragoons and infantry.
The severe attrition of William Washington's command forced its amalgamation with the 1st Continental Light Dragoons under Lt.
White was captured and William Washington assumed command of the 1st-and-3rd Dragoons.
William Washington was placed under the command of General Morgan, for whom he participated in a series of raids in the western part of South Carolina.
William Washington was attacked by the British commander and two of his men.
William Washington survived this assault and in the process wounded Tarleton's right hand with a sabre blow, while Tarleton creased William Washington's knee with a pistol shot that wounded his horse.
William Washington pursued Tarleton for sixteen miles, but gave up the chase when he came to the plantation of Adam Goudylock near Thicketty Creek.
William Washington was bayoneted and taken prisoner, and held under house arrest in the Charleston area for the remainder of the war.
William Washington farmed as a low-country planter using enslaved labor, as well as raised thoroughbred horses.
William Washington served the United States Army from 1798 to 1800, and concerned himself with the defenses of South Carolina and Georgia.
William Washington was buried at Live Oak, a plantation near Sandy Hill.
William Washington was survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.
William Washington's daughter was married to General Alexander Spotswood, a grandson of Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood.
In retrospect, William Washington is viewed as a fine officer and premier cavalry commander.
William Washington showed skill, bravery, and daring on the battlefield, inspiring victory and confidence in the war of American Independence from the British Crown.