tional muzzle-loading ordnance, for users
could both load and fire while in a prone posi-
tion. After much tinkering, he invented such a
weapon in 1775. The new Ferguson rifle could
fire six rounds per minute, as opposed to two
shots per minute with a musket. Furthermore,
possessing a rifled (grooved) barrel that made
the ball spin in flight, it was highly accurate at
ranges up to 100 yards. The weapon was so
well designed that it was reliable even in wet
weather, whereas muskets were inoperative.
Its tactical implications were immense. By
March 1776, Ferguson had perfected his de-
vice, applied for a patent, and gave successful
demonstrations of his rifle at the Woolwich
Arsenal. The commanders present were suit-
ably impressed and authorized 100 of the
weapons constructed for military trials in the
field. They also ordered Ferguson to recruit a
special company of sharpshooters for service
in the American Revolution.
Ferguson arrived at New York in May 1777
with an outfit culled from the light companies
of other regiments. All were by necessity
crack shots in order to qualify for member-
ship. However, due to an administrative over-
sight, Gen. William Howe, the British com-
mander in chief, was never informed about
the experimental nature of his men or
weaponry. After some preliminary skirmish-
ing at Short Hills, New Jersey, the riflemen
were packed on board a transport and
shipped south as part of the amphibious at-
tack on Philadelphia. After landing in Mary-
land, Howe’s army marched inland, and the
Americans under Gen. George Washington
confronted them at Brandywine Creek on
September 11, 1777. Ferguson was then as-
signed to the British right wing under Gen.
Wilhelm von Knyphausenand closely en-
gaged his American counterparts. At one
point, Washington had ridden to within range
of Ferguson, who had no idea who this tall,
imposing figure was. However, consistent
with prevailing norms of civilized warfare,
which discouraged mounted officers from
being singled out, the marksman let his mark
go unscathed. The riflemen performed very
well at Brandywine, but Ferguson was badly
wounded when a musket ball shattered his
right elbow. Moreover, Howe was angered
that new weapons were being tested without
his authorization or knowledge; he ordered
the rifles stored, and Ferguson’s company dis-
banded. It was the sorry end of a promising
military experiment.
Ferguson’s injury healed slowly, and it was
not until the spring of 1778 that he reported
for duty under a new commander in chief,
Gen. Henry Clinton. Clinton expressed great
fondness for the young man and appointed
him his intelligence officer. In this capacity
Ferguson learned about rebel locations and
intentions, planned preemptive raids, and par-
ticipated in actions against them. He fought
well at Little Egg Harbor in October 1778 and
at the storming of Stony Point in July 1779 to
the complete satisfaction of superiors. He
was subsequently allowed to recruit a unit
from disaffected Loyalists, informally known
as the “American Volunteers.” Ferguson then
accompanied Clinton on his expedition
against Charleston, South Carolina, in Decem-
ber 1779, as a major of the 71st Highlanders.
He was conspicuously engaged in various
skirmishes throughout the siege and fre-
quently fought in company with two other
partisan officers of note, Banastre Tarleton
and John Graves Simcoe. After the city’s
surrender, Ferguson was authorized to ex-
pand his command by recruiting local Loyal-
ists, and he also served as inspector general
of the Carolina and Georgia Loyalist militia.
For several months he actively sought re-
cruits who had been cowed into submission
by rebel activity, and many came forward en-
tertaining prospects of revenge.
In the summer of 1780, Ferguson com-
manded 1,100 men who constituted the left
wing of the army under Gen. Charles Corn-
wallis. Cornwallis, against orders, had de-
cided to invade North Carolina and dispatched
Ferguson deep into the interior to find more
recruits. As a rule, the British leadership over-
estimated the extent of Loyalist sympathies in
the backwoods and usually discounted PatriotFERGUSON, PATRICK