Colin the Trumpeter

This painting captures the end of the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781, when Banastre Tarleton has lost and is being chased from the battlefield by William Washington (cousin of George Washington). Mounted and at close quarters, a sword fight ensues, and Tarleton breaks Washington’s sword at the hilt as Cornett Patterson is raising his sword to attack Washington. A waiter, too small to wield a sword, fires his pistol - injuring Patterson and saving William Washington’s life. Why was Colin riding at Washington’s side? He was the trumpeter, giving commands by bugle for Washington’s cavalry to operate.

18 days prior to this battle, William Washington and Colin, the young man described as his waiter, fought in Laurens County at the battle of Hammond’s Old Store. Colin is described 3 times by 3 writers. At Hammond’s Old Store, he is described as being “a boy of 14 with puny arms,” and “too small to wield a sword.” Cornett Patterson describes him as “an ordinary trumpeter.” Despite his size, his heroic actions have been immortalized in this painting by William Ranney, which is now in the public domain.

None of the three descriptions mention his race, so it is not 100% certain, but to be described as a waiter would generally mean he was enslaved. In this case, he likely would not have had a choice about whether or not he rode into battle.