[MattinNJ]

IIRC, Major Ferguson, who was a marksman, saw a big, vibrant, American officer break into the clearing one day. The officer was on a huge horse and looked a little lost as he tried to make his way back to the American lines. Ferguson said he had the officer in his sights but couldn't shoot because the officer was so magnificent. The officer? General George Washington.

I believe I read that in Robert Leckie's book "George Washington's War"-great, great book.

[yarddog]

I too heard that story but on TV. The reason he didn’t shoot was because he just couldn’t shoot him in cold blood.

The reason the American Backwoodsmen gave Major Ferguson an honorable funeral while leaving all the others to rot was that Ferguson was shot 11 times and got his foot caught in the stirrup and was dragged a long way. Even then he tried as he was dying, to get to his pistol to fire one more time.

I guess the Americans appreciated anyone with that much toughness and courage so they gave him his funeral.