‘Outlander’: Who Was the Real Daniel Morgan? All About Jamie’s New Boss

Outlander Season 7 continues to put Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) right in the center of the action in the early days of the Revolutionary War. Last week, they fled Fort Ticonderoga after Jamie’s — or was it real life Patriot John Trumbull’s? — strategic genius was ignored to the Continental Army’s ruin. In Outlander Season 7 Episode 6 “Where the Waters Meet,” however, Jamie is recruited to join one of the elite rifle, or sniper, companies in early American history. Jamie’s keen marksmanship is noticed by none other than Colonel Daniel Morgan (Barry O’Connor), the famous American hero. Morgan, clad in his iconic all-white get-up (which is quite bold for a sniper, I have to say!), immediately wants Jamie to join Colonel Morgan’s Rifles as the Army preps for a battle in Saratoga.

Claire’s ears might immediately prick up at the sound of Daniel Morgan’s name. She might even know why Saratoga is going to be such a big deal. But do you? Even if you’re an avid reader of Diana Gabaldon’s beloved books, you might still have questions about the real life military commander who inspired the Outlander version of Daniel Morgan. You also might be curious about what we can expect to find at the upcoming Battles of Saratoga (plural).

Here’s what we know from history about Jamie’s new commanding officer, Daniel Morgan, and the upcoming Battles of Saratoga…

Who Was the Real Daniel Morgan? What Outlander Gets Right and Wrong…

Daniel Morgan was born to Welsh-born parents in 1730s New Jersey. Outlander, you’ll note, gives him a Welsh accent and not a standard American one, for this reason. In his late teens, Morgan had a falling out with his father, which led to him leaving home. He eventually settled in what is now Winchester, Virginia. After building up a career for himself as a teamster, he married Abigail Curry. She taught him how to read and write and together they had daughters Nancy and Betsy. He became a rifleman on the west Virginian frontiers during the French & Indian War, a skill which he would hone to devastating perfection during the Revolutionary War.

Almost as soon as the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, Morgan put himself forward as the commander of a rifle unit in the fledgling Continental Army. He was immensely respected and attracted a ton of recruits, whom he shaped into “snipers.” Morgan’s Riflemen became known for their tactic of hiding far from the battlefield and shooting down British officers who presumed they were well out of range of normal gunfire. They were incredibly hated by the British and some Americans alike for this. George Washington himself disapproved. (Take that, Claire! Washington didn’t want to keep your beloved Jamie safe far away from the heat of battle!)

The white leathers we see Joseph Morgan wear in Outlander are undoubtedly inspired by his outfit in the John Trumbull painting, Surrender of General Burgoyne (1832). Yes, the same John Trumbull who was historically voiced Jamie’s concerns about Sugar Loaf Hill. Note that the painting wasn’t completed until about 50 years after the battle of Saratoga, so, uh, you know…it’s likely more perfectly staged propaganda than photographic recollection.

So what’s the big deal with Saratoga? And how could Jamie once more change history?

What Happened at the Real Battles of Saratoga? What Might Happened to Jamie There on Outlander?

Spoilers for history, but from June – October 1777, the British Army under General Burgoyne attempted to capture and subdue the Hudson River Valley. If they succeeded, they would have the colonies in a chokehold, cutting off New England from everywhere south of New York City, specifically Philadephia . When Burgoyne managed to capture Fort Ticonderoga without any real resistance, things began to look dire for the American cause.

\Then came the Battles of Saratoga in September and October of that year. Because of the emphasis Outlander has put on Daniel Morgan, we’re thinking that the show might gloss over the September battles and focus on key engagements in October 1777. On October 7, 1777, Morgan’s Rifles were sent out into the field of battle — again, sorry, Claire — to hold off the British foray at Bemis Heights. They succeeded in taking out key targets, one of whom we’ve already met on the show so I think naming him would be a potential spoiler. Morgan’s Rifles succeeded in forcing a British retreat.

However that didn’t necessarily conclude the battle. A potentially drunk General Benedict Arnold entered the field and led the American chase, pulling off some reportedly miraculous maneuvers to force the British troops to once again expose themselves to Morgan’s rifles and other American forces. The British were effectively broken and Burgoyne surrendered. Benedict Arnold’s horse was shot and his leg was broken and he was carried back to camp on a stretcher, bemoaning the fact he was not killed, for then he’d die a hero. History, of course, tells us he would eventually die a traitor.

So what will Jamie do? Will he pull off Benedict Arnold’s wild ride? Or be responsible for killing a major British officer? We’ll just have to wait and watch more Outlander to find out…