Strictures on Lt. Col. Tarleton's History "of the campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Provinces of North America". Wherein military characters and corps are vindicated from injurious aspersions, and several important transactions placed in their proper point of view. In a series of letters to a friend. To which is added, a detail of the siege of Ninety Six, and the re-capture of the island of New-Providence.

MACKENZIE, Roderick.

Edité par London: Printed for the Author; and sold by R. Faulder, T. and J. Egerton, R. Jameson, and T. Sewell, 1787

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First and only edition. Tarleton's defeat at Cowpens in January 1781 didn't dampen his reputation as a beau sabreur nor moderate his hero's welcome. But criticism in the British press in 1786 stung him into publishing his retaliatory History. Mackenzie, who was present at the battle, retorted with letters to the Morning Post, the basis for this scarce book. At Cowpens, Tarleton badly mishandled his command and Mackenzie's seasoned regiment, the 71st Foot, was severely mauled. Here he lambasts Tarleton's History, published earlier in the same year, which was self-justificatory and critical of Lord Cornwallis, remarking: "This elaborate performance, though ingeniously worked up, abounds with misrepresentation and error; it does injustice to a number of respectable officers; wantons in reflecting unmerited disgrace on entire corps of the army, and is replete with palpable inconsistencies" (p. 3). During the war Tarleton commanded the British Legion, a unit of American loyalists infamous for its harsh and undisciplined treatment of the local population. Despite the disaster at Cowpens, his esteem at home no doubt nettled Mackenzie. This copy has notes pasted to the endpapers and half-title and some pencil markings in the text at relevant points. These appear to have been made in the late 19th century by descendants of a Major Green, who was present at the siege of Forty Ninety-Six, South Carolina, in the early summer of 1781. ESTC T92989 notes two variants, with no priority: the imprints list the same booksellers but in a different order; the present copy has the errata printed on page vi and not the following blank; Bruce 5424; Howes M138; Sabin 43431. Octavo (206 x 118 mm), pp. [iv], vi, [ii, blank], 186. Early 20th century half calf, gilt longitudinal label from earlier binding laid down on spine, Nonpareil pattern marbled boards, red speckled edges. Overall somewhat rubbed, endpapers browned and with later notes mounted, pale browning throughout, occasional staining, front free endpaper and half-title a little ragged at fore edge, about very good.

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Strictures on Lt. Col. Tarleton's History "of the campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Provinces of North America". Wherein military characters and corps are vindicated from injurious aspersions, and several important transactions placed in their proper point of view. In a series of letters to a friend. To which is added, a detail of the siege of Ninety Six, and the re-capture of the island of New-Providence.
• Éditeur: London: Printed for the Author; and sold by R. Faulder, T. and J. Egerton, R. Jameson, and T. Sewell, 1787
• Édition: Edition originale