Watson, John Watson Tadwell
Watson, John Watson Tadwell
WATSON, JOHN WATSON TADWELL. (1748–1826). British officer. Born in London in 1748, Watson entered the Third Foot Guards in April 1767 and on 20 November 1778 became captain and lieutenant colonel of that regiment. On 16 October 1780 he sailed from New York in the expedition of General Leslie that was diverted from Virginia to reinforce Cornwallis in the Carolinas. While Cornwallis was pursuing Greene, Watson was instructed to secure his lines of supply. Identifying Francis Marion as a major threat to continued British control of South Carolina, Watson took five hundred picked men and went in pursuit. He left Fort Watson on 5 March 1781 and started down the Santee, but in a brilliant series of guerrilla actions, Marion blocked Watson's advance and drove him into the British base at Georgetown. Marion then joined "Light Horse Harry" Lee to capture Fort Watson on 15-23 April. His force much weakened by battle losses, sickness, and the detachment of troops to strengthen the Georgetown garrison, Watson rejoined Rawdon at Camden on 7 May. He was too late to take part in the battle of Hobkirk's Hill on 25 April, but incorrect information about his movements affected American actions at that battle.
Watson was promoted to colonel in 1783 and became a full general in April 1808. He died in Calais, France, on 11 June 1826.
SEE ALSO Fort Watson, South Carolina (15-23 April 1781); Hobkirk's Hill (Camden), South Carolina; Marion, Francis.
revised by Michael Bellesiles