wwkirk
Divine
It may very well be the case that a single British officer's refusal to shoot a American officer in the back, changed the tide of history by precluding the defeat of the Colonies. This could be true if (a) the prospective target was indeed George Washington, and (b) Washington's very personal characteristics were decisive for an American victory.
Here is that British officer, Patrick Ferguson.
One of the better summaries of the incident during the Battle of Brandywine.
Captain Patrick Ferguson, a 33-year-old Scotsman reputed to be the finest shot in the British army, commanded the British marksmen, who were equipped with fast-firing, breech-loading rifles of Ferguson’s own design. He whispered to three of his best riflemen to creep forward and pick off the unsuspecting officers. But before the men were in place, he felt disgust at the idea of such an ambush, and ordered them not to fire. He shouted to the American officer, who was riding a bay horse. The American looked his way for a moment, and turned to ride on. Ferguson called again, this time leveling his rifle toward the officer. The American glanced back before slowly cantering away.
A day later, after he had been seriously wounded himself, Ferguson learned that the American officer he let ride off was most likely General George Washington. “I could have lodged half a dozen balls in or about him, before he was out of my reach,” Ferguson recalled, “but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly of his duty—so I let him alone.”
The British Marksman Who Refused to Shoot George Washington
Other Summaries
Ferguson
This British marksman could have killed George Washington
It's not certain that the officer spared was indeed Washington, or what would have ultimately happened had he been killed, but it makes one wonder.
Here is that British officer, Patrick Ferguson.
One of the better summaries of the incident during the Battle of Brandywine.
Captain Patrick Ferguson, a 33-year-old Scotsman reputed to be the finest shot in the British army, commanded the British marksmen, who were equipped with fast-firing, breech-loading rifles of Ferguson’s own design. He whispered to three of his best riflemen to creep forward and pick off the unsuspecting officers. But before the men were in place, he felt disgust at the idea of such an ambush, and ordered them not to fire. He shouted to the American officer, who was riding a bay horse. The American looked his way for a moment, and turned to ride on. Ferguson called again, this time leveling his rifle toward the officer. The American glanced back before slowly cantering away.
A day later, after he had been seriously wounded himself, Ferguson learned that the American officer he let ride off was most likely General George Washington. “I could have lodged half a dozen balls in or about him, before he was out of my reach,” Ferguson recalled, “but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly of his duty—so I let him alone.”
The British Marksman Who Refused to Shoot George Washington
Other Summaries
Ferguson
This British marksman could have killed George Washington
It's not certain that the officer spared was indeed Washington, or what would have ultimately happened had he been killed, but it makes one wonder.