USA > South Carolina > Documentary history of the American revolution: consisting of letters and papers relating to the contest for liberty, chiefly in South Carolina, from originals in the possession of the editor, and other sources, V.3 > Part 12
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Your very humble servant, MICAJAH GANEY.
[No. 156.] Extract of a letter from Lieut. Col. Stewart to Earl Cornwallis.
EUTAW, Sept. 9, 1781.
With particular satisfaction I have the honor to inform your lord- ship, that on the 8th inst. I was attacked by the rebel Gen. Greene with all the force he could collect in this province and North Caro. lma, and after an obstinate engagement, which lasted near two hours, I totally defeated him, and took two six-pounders.
Soon after I had the honor of writing your lordship from Thomp- son's, I received information of Gen. Greene's having moved with the rebel army towards Camden, and crossed the Wateree near that place, and from the best intelligence [ could collect, was on his march to Friday's ferry, on the Congarees.
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The army under my command being much in want of necessa- ries, and there being at the same time a convoy with provisions on the march from Charles Town, which would necessarily oblige me to make a detachment of, at least, four hundred men (which at that time I could ill afford, the army being much weakened by sick- ness) to meet the convoy at Martin's, fifty-six miles from the camp : the distance being so great, a smaller escort was liable to fall by the enemy's Cavalry, which are very numerous.
I therefore thought it advisable to retire by slow marches to the Eutaws, where I might have an opportunity of receiving my sup- plies, and disencumber myself from the sick, without risking my escorts, or suffer myself to be attacked at a disadvantage, should the enemy have crossed the Congaree.
Notwithstanding every exertion being made to gain intelligence of the enemy's situation, they rendered it impossible, by way-laying the bye-paths and passes through the different swamps ; and even detained different flags of truce which I had sent on public business on both sides.
About six o'clock in the morning I received intelligence by two deserters, who left Gen. Greene's camp the preceding evening, about seven miles from this place; and from their report, the rebel army consisted of near four thousand men, with a numerous body of Cav- alry, and four pieces of cannon.
In the mean time I received information by Major Coffin, whom I had previously detached with one hundred and forty Infantry and fifty Cavalry, in order to gain intelligence of the enemy, that they appeared in force in his front, then about four miles from my camp.
Finding the enemy in force so near me, I determined to fight them, though from their numerous Cavalry, seemed to mne to be at- tended with dangerous consequences. I immediately formed theline of battle, with the right of the army to Eutaw branch, and its left cros- sing the road leading to Roache's plantation, leaving a corps on a commanding situation to cover the Charles Town road, and to act occasionally as a reserve. About nine o'clock the action began on the right, and soon became general.
Knowing that the enemy were much superior in numbers, and at the same time finding that they attacked with their militia in front, induced me not to alter my position, unless I saw a certain advan-
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tage to be gained by it ; for by moving forwards, I exposed both flanks of the army to the enemy's Cavalry, which I saw ready formed to take that advantage, particularly on the left. which obliged me to move the reserve to support it.
By an unknown mistake, the left of the line advanced, and drove their militia and North Carolinians before them ; but unex- peetedly finding the Virginian and Maryland lines ready formed, and at the same time receiving a heavy fire, occasioned some con- fusion : it was therefore necessary to retire a little distance to an open field, in order to form, which was instantly done, under cover of a heavy well-directed fire from a detachment of New York volunteers, under command of Major Sheridan, whom I had previously ordered to take post in the house, to check the enemy, should they attempt to pass it.
The action was renewed with great spirit; but I was sorry to find that a three-pounder, posted on the road leading to Roache's, had been disabled, and could not be brought off when the left of the line retired.
The right wing of the army being composed of the flank Battal- ion, under the command of Major Majoribanks, having repulsed and drove everything that attacked them, made a rapid move to their left, and attacked the enemy in flank : Upon which they gave way in all quarters, leaving behind them two brass six-pounders, and up- wards of two hundred killed on the field of action, and sixty taken prisoners, amongst which is Col. Washington, and from every in- formation, about eight hundred wounded, although they contrived to carry them off during the action. The enemy retired with great precipitation to a strong situation, abont seven miles from the field of action, leaving their Cavalry to cover their retreat. The glory of the day would have been more complete, had not the want of Cavalry prevented me from taking the advantage which the gallant. ry of my Infantry threw in my way. I omitted to inform your lordship, in its proper place, of the army's having for some time been much in want of bread, there being no old corn or mills near me: I was therefore under the necessity of sending out rooting parties from cach corps, under an officer, to collect potatoes, every morning at daybreak ; and unfortunately, that of the flank Battalion and Buff's having gone too far in front, fell into the enemy's hands
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before the action began, which not only weakened my line, but in- creased their number of prisoners.
Since the action, our time has been employed in taking care of the wounded ; and finding that the enemy have no intention to make a second attack, I have determined to cover the wounded as far as Monk's corner with the army.
My particular thanks are due to Lieut. Col. Cruger, who com- manded the front line, for his conduct and gallantry during the ac- tion ; and Lieut. Col. Allen, Majors Dawson, Stewart, Sheridan, and Cotlin, and to Captains Kelly and Campbell, commanding the different corps and detachments ; and every other officer and sol- dier fulfilled the separate duties of their stations with great gallant- ry : but to Major Majoribanks, and the flank Battalion under his command, I think the honor of the day is greatly due. My warm- est praise is due to Captain Barry, Deputy Adjutant General, Ma- jor-Brigade Coxon, Lieut. Ranken, Assistant Quarter-Master Gen- cral, and to acting Major-of-Brigade Roorback, for the great assist- ance they rendered me during the day.
I hope, my lord, when it is considered such a handful of men, attacked by the united force of Generals Greene, Sumter, Marion, Sumner, and Pickens, and the Legions of Colonels Lee and Wash- ington, driving them from the field of battle, and taking the only two six-pounders they had, deserve some merit.
Enclosed is the return of the killed, wounded, and missing of his Majesty's troops. From the number of corps and detachments which appear to have been engaged, it may be supposed our force is great; but your lordship will please to observe, that the army was much reduced by sickness and otherwise. I hope your lord- ship will excuse any inaccuracy that may be in this letter, as I have heen a good deal indisposed by a wound which I received in my left elbow, which, though slight, from its situation is troublesome. It will give me most singular pleasure, if my conduct meets with the approbation of his Majesty, that of your lordship, and my coun- try.
Return of' Killed, Wounded and Missing.
Three commissioned officers, 6 serjeants, 1 drummer, 75 rank ami file, killed; 16 commissioned officers, 20 serjeant3, 2 drummers, 313 rauk and file wounded ; 10 commissioned officers, 15 serjeants, 8 drummers, 224 rank and file, missing.
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[No. 157 ] William Swinton ( Commissary ) to Gen. Marion.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1781.
Honored Sir :
I received your orders dated the 5th of this instant, and accord- ingly I have sent Mr. Tomlinson with a hogshead of brandy and a cask of salt; there is no such thing as getting any gin at all, or any kind of spirits out of George Town. I shall set off this week to get you some peach brandy and some flour. Sir, I beg you will send for the liquor as fast as possible, as it is very hard for me to find an honest man to take care of it. Sir, there is at old Mr. Wm. Davis', one cask of salt, and at Col. Richardson's two casks, and have enclosed the names of the different men where the salt is stored,
I am, sir, yours to serve with due respect, WM. SWINTON.
.
[No. 158.]
WVm. Snow to Mr. P.hodes.
ST. JAMES, SANTEE, Sept. 9, 1781. Mr. Rhodes-Sir :
You will receive by big Tom, order by Capt. Henry Lenud, to take any of my negroes for Mr. David Jones, and my sorrel mare, yearling, from Robert James, and bring them to me, and for each negro you bring or either of them, I will give you five pounds, and the same for the yearling mares, and you shall be sure of the cash. Your - I have sent by him, the salt and the other thing I will endeavor to get by the last of the week, when I shall expect you down with Tom, as I have ordered him to assist you with my negroes as you will have full power to bring them, for Capt. Lenud's order is as good as the Governor's, for he is a continental officer, and I expect you and Mrs. Jones will do what you can for me, as I can't come up myself just on account my wife's state of health. First, get cousin Billy to bring Mathias over to your house like on busi- ness, then secure him well in Tom's care; then fetch Ben from con- sin Stephen's and Ruch at Daniel's; these negroes, if they are not well secured, will get away ; have no mercy on these negroes or
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they will deceive you. If you mean to do anything for me, keep your mind very still from black or white until you are ready to set off, or the negroes will hide out of the way. Tom has his orders to be still " until" you give orders ; there is not the least danger of your coming here for there is no party about us, so I depend on your doing this basiness for me as you shall be well rewarded for your trouble, and I want to see you very much about some of our affairs which will be an advantageto you. My love to Billy Goddard, and cur compliments to family, when I remain
Your friend and very humble servant, WM. SNOW.
P. S. If you say the least about Ruth, she will run off, for she is an arch bitch ; my wife and I beg you will call on Mrs. Owen, she wont have to wait on her over a few days.
[No. 159 ] Gen. Greene to the President of Congress,
NEAR FERGUSON'S SWAMP, Sept. 11, 1781.
In my dispatches of the 25th of August, I informed your excel- lency, that we were on the march to Friday's Ferry, with the in- tent of forming a junction with the troops of the State and a corps of militia that were assembled, and to attack the English army, en- camped near M'Leod's Ferry.
On the 27th, upon our arrival there, I received advice that the cnemy had retired. We passed the river at Howell's Ferry, and our first post was Motte's plantation, where I learnt that the enemy had stopped at Eutaw Springs, about forty miles from us, where they had received a reinforcement, and they prepared to establish * post there. To dislodge them, I determined to hazard an en- gagement, although we were considerably inferior in number.
We berna to march on the 5th of September ; and we advanced by small marches, as well to disguise our intention, as to give time General Marion, who had been detached, to rejoin us; so that was the 7th when we came to Bendell's plantations, within sev- "steen miles of the enemy.
We marched to attack the enemy at four o'clock in the morning
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of the Sth. Our front line was composed of four small Battalions of militia, two of North and two of South Carolina; our second line consisted of three small Brigades of Continental troops, one of North Carolina, one of Virginia, and one of Maryland ; Lieut. Col. Lee, with his Legion, covered our right flank; and Lieut Col. Hea- derson, with the State troops, our left. Lieut. Col. Washington. with his Cavalry and the Delaware troops, formed the body of re- serve. Two three-pounders were in the front of our line, and two six-pounders with the second line. The Legion and the State troops formed our advanced guard, and were to retreat on our flanks when the enemy should form. We marched in this order to the attack. The Legion and State troops met with a part of the enemy's Horse and Foot, about four miles from their camp, and put them to flight with fixed bayonets, having killed and wounded many. As we thought this was the van of the enemy, our first line was ordered to form, and the Legion and State troops to take post on our flanks. From this place of action to Eutaw Springs, the whole country is covered with wood. The firing began at three miles from the Eng- lish camp. The militia advanced firing, and the advanced posts of the enemy were routed. The fire redoubled ; our officers behaved with the greatest bravery, and the militia gained much honor by their firmness. But the fire of the enemy, who continued to ad- vance, being superior to our's, the militia were obliged to retreat.
The Carolina Brigade, under Gen. Sumner, were ordered to sup- port them, and, though not above three months raised, behaved no- bly. In this moment of action, the Virginians, under Col. Camp- bell, and the Marylanders, under Col. Williams, advanced in the face of the enemy's fire; a terrible cannonade, and a shower of bullets, overturned all that presented, and the enemy were put to the rout.
Lieut. Col. Lee turned his left flank to the enemy, and charge.l them in the rear, while the troops of Maryland and Virginia charged. them in the front. Col. Hampton. who commanded the troops of the State, charged on part, of whom he made one hundred prison- ers. Col. Washington advanced with a corps de reserve upon the left, wherethe enemy appeared to prepare again to make resistance, and charged them so impetuously with his Cavalry, and a body u! Infantry, that they had not time to rally.
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We continued to pursue the enemy, after having broken them, until we attained their camp. A great number of prisoners fell into our hands, and some hundreds of fugitives escaped towards Charles Town; but a party having got into a brick house, three stories high, and others took post in a pallisadoed garden, their rear being covered by springs and hollow ways, the enemy renewed the fight. Lieut. Col. Washington did his utmost to dislodge them from a thick wood, but found it impossible ; his horse was killed under him, and himself wounded, and taken prisoner. Four can- non were advanced against the house, but the fire from it was so brisk, that it was impossible to force it, or even to bring on the can- non, when the troops were ordered to retreat, and the greatest part of the officers and men who served those cannon were either killed or wounded.
Washington having failed in his attack on the left, the Legion could not succeed on the right ; and seeing our Foot roughly han- dled by the enemy's fire, and our ammunition almost expended, I thought it my duty to shelter them from the fire of the house, being persuaded that the enemy could maintain their posts but a few hours, and that we should have better play on their retreat, than to obstinately persist in dislodging them, which would expose us to a considerable loss.
We collected all our wounded, except those who were too for- ward under the fire of the house, and we returned to the bank, which we occupied in the morning, not finding water any where nearer, and our troops having great need of refreshment, after a fight which had continued four hours. I left upon the field of bat- tle a strong picket.
I shall send Col. Lee and Gen. Marion early to-morrow morning between Eutaw and Charles Town, to prevent the reinforcements which may come to succour the enemy, or to retard their march, if they attempt to retreat, and give room to the army to attack their rear guard, and complete our success. WVe losttwo pieces of artil- lery to the enemy, and we have taken one of theirs.
The night of the 9th the enemy retired, leaving more than sev- enty of their wounded behind them, and more than a thousand arms, which they had broken and concealed in the springs of the Eutaw's; they staved twenty or thirty barrels of rum, and de-
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stroyed a large quantity of provisions, which they could not carry with them.
We pursued them as soon as we had notice of their retreat, but they joined Major M'Arthur, Gen. Marion and Col. Lee not having troops enough to hinder them. At our approach they retired to Charles Town. We took five hundred prisoners, including the wounded they had left behind ; and I reckon they had not less than six hundred killed and wounded. Thefugitives spread such an alarm, that the enemy burnt their provisions at Dorchester, and quitted their post at Fair Lawn. A great number of negroes and others have been employed to throw down trees across the roads at some miles from Charles Town. Nothing but the brick house, and their strong post at Eutaw's, hindered the remains of the British army from falling into our hands.
We have pursued them to the Eutaw's, but could not overtake them. We shall rest here one or two days, and then take our old position near the heights of Santee.
I think I owe the victory which I have gained to the brisk use the Virginians and Marylanders, and one party of the Infantry, made of the bayonet. I cannot forbear praising the conduct and courage of all my troops,
(Signed)
NATH, GREENE.
State of the Continental Troops.
%
Killed : One Lieutenant Colonel, 6 Captains, 5 subalterns, 4 Ser- jeants, 98 rank and file. Wounded : Two Lieutenant Colonels, 7 Captains, 20 Lieutenants, 24 Serjeants, 209 rank and file. Total, 408 men.
BATTLE OF EUTAW.
[No. 160.] Account furnished by Col. Otho Williams, with addi- tions by Cols. WV. Hampton, Polk, Howard and Watt.
At 4 o'clock in the morning, the American army moved in four columns from its bivouac. in the following order : The South Car- olina State Troops and Lee's Legion, formed the advance, under command of Col. Henderson. The militia, both of North and
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South Carolina, under Marion, moved next. Then followed the regulars, under Gen. Sumner; and the rear was closed by Wash- ington's Cavalry and Kirkwood's Delawares, under Col. Washing- ton. The Artillery moved between the columns. The troops were thus arranged in reference to the order of battle, in which they were to be formed on the field.
It is an admitted fact, that on the evening of the 7th. Stewart was unapprized of the approach of the American army. He supposed them to be still posted at Laurens', and the apology which he makes for it is-" that the Americans had way-laid the swamps and passes in such a manner, as to cut off every avenue to intelligence." He would have found a better apology in the fact, that the only patrol which appears to have been dispatched up the Congaree road, had been entrapped and captured by Col. Lee, during the night. So entirely secure had he felt himself in his position, that an unarmed party, under a small escort, had been advanced up the river for the purpose of collecting the sweet potatoe, (very generally cultivated in this State) to contribute to the subsistence of his army. This party, commonly called a rooting party, consisting of about one hundred, after advancing about three miles, had pursued a road to their right, which led to the plantations on the river.
The first intelligence, that Greene had approached within seven miles of his position, was communicated to Stewart by two of the North Carolina conscripts, who had deserted early in the night. And Captain Coffin, at the head of his Cavalry, was advanced, as well to recall the rooting party, as to reconnoitre che American posi- tion, and ascertain their views.
The American advance had already passed the road pursued by the rooting party," when they were encountered by Coffin ; who immediately charged with a confidence which betrayed his igno- rance of its strength, and of the near approach of the main army. It required little effort to meet and repulse the British Cavalry ; but, the probability that their main army was near at hand to sup- port. the detachment forbade the measure of a protracted pursuit. The firing at this point drew the rooting party out of the woods, and the whole fell into the hands of the Americans.
In the meantime time, Col. Stewart had pushed forward a de- tachment of Infantry to a mile distant from the Eutaws, with or- 10
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ders to engage and detain the American troops, while he formed his men and prepared for battle. But, Greene, persuaded by the au- dacity of Coffin, that the enemy was at hand, and wishing to have time for his raw troops to form with coolness and recollection, halt- ed his columns, and after distributing the contents of his rum casks, ordered his men to form in the order for battle.
The column of militia, when deployed, formed the first line ; the South Carolinians, in equal divisions, on the right and left, and the North Carolinians in the centre; Gen. Marion commanded the right, Gen. Pickens the left, and Col. Malmady, (who held a commission under North Carolina) commanded the centre. Col. Henderson, with the State troops, including Sumter's Brigade, covered the left of this line, and Col. Lee, with his Legion, the right.
The column of regulars also deployed into one line ; the North Carolinians under Gen. Sumner, occupied the right, divided into three Battalions, commanded by Col. Ash, and Majors Armstrong and Blunt ; the Marylanders, under Col. Williams, on the left, di- vided into two Battalions, commanded by Col. Howard and Major Hardman; the, Virginians, in the centre, under command of Col. Campbell, were also divided into two Battalions, led by Major Sneed and Captain Edmonds. The two three-pounders, under Capt. Lieut. Gaines, moved in the road with the first line, which was equally distributed to the right and left of it; and the two six- pounders, under Capt. Brown, attended the second line, in the same order. Col. Washington still moved in the rear in column, with orders to keep under cover of the woods, and hold himself in reserve. The relative numbers of the corps that formed the Amer- ican second line, were nearly as follows : The North Carolina line, 350; the Virginians, 350; the Marylanders, 250. Those of the militia have been already mentioned: The troops of the two cover- ing parties, and the reserve, make up the total of the regulars be- fore stated.
In this order the troops moved forward. The whole country on both sides of the road, being in woods, the lines could not move with much expedition consistently with preserving their order. The woods were not thick, nor the fare of the country irregular ; it un- dulated gently, presenting an ohsticles to the march, although pro- ducing occasional derangements in the connection of the lines.
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When the first American line reached the ground on which it encountered Stewart's advanced parties, it was ordered to move on in order, driving the enemy before it. And in this manner it ad- vanced firing, while the enemy retreated, and fell into their own line.
At about two hundred yards west of the Eutaw Springs, Stew- art had drawn up his troops in one line, extending from the Eutaw Creek beyond the main Congaree road. The Eutaw Creek effectu- ally covered his right, and his left, which was in the military lan- guage, in air, was supported by Coffin's Cavalry, and a respectable detachment of Infantry, held in reserve at a convenient distance in the rear of the left, under cover of the wood.
The ground on which the British army was drawn up, was al- together in wood ; but, at a small distance in the rear of this line, was a cleared field, extending west, south and cast from the dwel- ling house, and bounded north by the creck formed by the Eutaw Springs, which is bold, and has a high bank thickly bordered with brush and low wood. From the house to this bank, extended a garden enclosed with palisadoes, and the windows of the house, which was two-stories high, with garret rooms, commanded the whole circumjacent fields. The house was of brick, and abundant- ly strong to resist small arms, and surrounded with various offices of wood ; one particularly, a barn of some size, lay to the south- cast, a small distance from the principal building. In the open ground, to the south and west of the house, was the British encamp- ment, the tents of which were left standing.
The American approach was from the west; and at a short dis- tance from the house, in that direction, the road forks, the right hand leading to Charleston, by the way of Monk's Corner, the left running along the front of the house by the plantation of Mr. Pat- rick Roche, and therefore called, by the British officers, Roche's road ; being that which leads down the river, and through the parishes of St. Johns and St. Stephens.
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