William Washington’s medal was awarded for valor at the Battle of the Cowpens 1781. He kept his 150 men mostly covered behind a hill for the majority of the battle while the British flanks advanced, according to Daniel Morgan’s plan (See Daniel Morgan’s medal). When the British were close enough, Washington’s men attacked on foot with sabers, an extremely surprising move by the Americans. He and his men regrouped only to conduct the same attack with equally excellent results. Washington and John Eager Howard then joined forces for a final surprise attack (see John Eager Howard). Like Howard, Washington’s medal was engraved by Benjamin Duvivier.
