School history of South Carolina, Part 13

Author: Chapman, John Abney, 1821-1906. dn
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Newberry, S.C., Newberry Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 558


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QUESTIONS .- 1. What did the people apprehend after Greene's r. pulse at Ninety-Six? To what territory did the British confine them. selves ?


2. Why dil Raw don divide his army ? Was he correct in his opinion : What did Greene do ?


3. Give the movements of Greene and Rawdon at this time.


4. What did Captain Eggleston do? What news was received of Cruger ?


5. Why did not Greene prevent the junction of Cruger and Rawdon' How did Greene propose to drive Rawdon from Orangeburg ?


6. What is said of the Indians in the Ninety-Six district? What do General Pickens do to oppose them? With what success did he meet?


7. What is said of Generals Sumter and Marion ? Lieutenant-Colonel Lee? Colonel Wade Hampton ?


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8. Whom did Sumter attack? What did Colonel Coates do? Who pursued him ?


9. Where were the British overtaken? Give the result of the battle.


10. How long was it before Generals Sumter and Marion came up? What did they do? Give the American loss. Pritish.


What did Lord Rawdon do after his trauy reverses? In what manner had he conducted the war? Why?


CHAPTER XXXIV.


BATTLE OF EUTAW SPRINGS.


1. The two contending armies were now within 14 miles of each other, but they were separated by two rivers, the Wateree and the Congaree, and the Americans had to make a circuit of abont 70 miles in order to come within striking distance of the enemy. It was necessary to make this circuit, as they were unable to procure boats for crossing the rivers.


2. Soon after making this circuit the Americans proceeded to attack the British who were commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Stewart. The British, in the meantime, on the ap- proach of the Americans, had left the Congeree and had taken position at Eutaw Springs, about forty miles nearer Charles- town.


B. General Greene had at this time about 2,000 men. He drew them up in battle array in two lines. The front was composed of the militia of North and South Carolina, com- manded by Geperals Marion and Pickens, and Colonel De Malmedy. The second line consisted of continental troops from North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, led by General Sumter, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, and Colonel Otho H. Williams. Lee, with his legion, and Lieutenant Colonel Ham- mond, with his regimeut of state troops. covered the right Bank, and Lieutenant Colonel Henderson with bis state troops. The left. Colonel Washington, with his cavalry, and Captain Kirkwood, with the Delaware troops. formed a reserve corps.


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4. As the Americans advanced to the attack they met to advance parties of the British three or foar milos ahead ni the main army. These, charged by the legion and start troops. soon retired. The front line continued to alvener on the British notil the action became general and they. in their turn. were forced to give way. General Sumter's North Caro lina brignle of newly made continentals. though disciplined for a few weeks only, and chiefly composel of militia. nobl supported the front line.


5. In the very hottest of the engagement. when great execu. tion was being dous on both sides, Generel Greene order ! Colonels Williams and Campbell. with the Maryland and Virginia continentals to charge with trailed arms. This they did in good order and bore down all befor them. Lientenaut Colonel Henderson. of the South Carolina state troops, wi- wounded very early in the action: but Lientment-Colael Hampton. the second in command, led them in a very spirited and successful charge. in which they took more than 100 prisoners.


6. Colonel Washington brought up his reserve corps on the left and charged so vigorously with his cavalry wad Kirk- wood - light infantry. that they had no time to rally no. reform. The British were closely pursued and over 500 were made prisoners. But on their retreat they took up their position in a strong brick house surrounded by a hedge of impenetrable shrubs and a strong walled garden. Here they made tight again and their position was so good that Colonel Washington found it impossible for him to dislodge them. He made frequent attempts but failed: had his horse show under him. was wounded. and taken prismer. Four six pounders were ordered up before the house, but these pieces finally fell into the hands of the enemy ant the American- retired. And, having left a strong picket on the field of battle. they retreated to the nearest water in their rear.


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7. On the evening of the next day. Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart. after destroying great quantities of his stores, left the Eutaw and moved towards Charlestown. He left more than 70 wounded and 1.000 stand of arms. He was pursued some distance, hat without any profit to the pursuers. The British loss in this action was upwards of 1.100. the Ameri- cans about 500, of whom 00 were officers. Among the killed was Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, of the Virginia line, an officer much beloved. After He had received his wound and was dying he inquired which side was giving way, and on being toll that the British were fleeing in all directions, he said. "I die contented," and so diel. G, neral Greene was bonored by Congress for his great success in this battle with a British standard and a gold medal. Congress also passed a vote of thanks to the different corps and their commanders. & After the battle the Americans retired to the high hills of Sacter. and the British to the vicinity of Monek's Corner. While they were at that plach Colonel Maham. commanding a small body of American cavalry. took upwards of SO pris- oners in sight of their main army. The British had ceased to act with their usual vigor, and on slight appearance of danger they seemed as willing to fee from it as the American militia had been a year before.


9. Two months after the battle of Eutaw the main body of the American army. under Colonel Williams, began a forward movement. General Greene, with 200 horse and the same number of infantry, advancing by private roads. appeared before Dorchester with such confidence that the British were induced to believe that the whole army was behind. They accordingly abandoned their outposts and retired with their whole force to Charlestown Neck. Thus all the rice in the region between the Ashley and the Edisto rivers was saved to the Americans.


10. Some faint idea of the condition and sufferings of the


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American army at the battle of Eutaw may be obtained from a short quotation from Johnson's Life of Greene. He says. "At the battle of the Eutaw Springs, Greene says. that hun- dreds of my men were naked as they were born' Posterity will scarcely believe that the bare loins of many brave men, carried death into the onomy's ranks at the Eutaw, were galled by their cartridge boxes, while a folded rag or a tuft of moss protected the shoulders from sustaining the same injury from the muskets. Men of other times will enquire. by what magie was the army kept together: By what super- natural power was it made to fight ?"


11. General Greene, in his letters to the secretary of war. says: "We have 300 men without arms, and more than 1.000 so naked that they can be pat on duty only in cases of a lesperate nature." Again he says: "Our difficulties are so numerois, and our wants so pressing. that I have not a moment's relief from the most painful anxieties. I have more embarrassments than it is proper to disclose to the world. Let it suffice to say that this part of the United States has had a narrow escape. I have been seven months in the field without taking off my clothes."


12. War always has some romance connected with it, aul the following true tale, growing out of the battle of Entiw. is taken from Dr. Caldwell's Memoirs of the Life of General Greene: "Two young officers, bearing the same rank. met in personal combat The American, perceiving that the Briton had a decided superiority in the use of the sabre, and being himself of great activity and personal strength. almost gigantic. closed with his adversary and made him prisoner. Gentle- manly, generous, and high minded, this event. added to a personal resemblance which they were observed to bear to each other, produced between these two youthful warriors an intimacy which icereared in a short time to a mutual attach ment.


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13. "Not long after the action, the American officer return- ing hour, on furlough, to settle some private business, obtained permission for his friend to accompany him. Traveling with- ont attendants or gnard. they were both armed andl well momrtel. Part of their route lay through a settlement highly lisaffected to the American cause. When in the midst of this. having: iu consequence of a shower of rain, thrown around them their cloaks, which coucouled their uniforms, They were suddenly eac entered by a detachment of tories. The young Autorin determined to die rather than become a prsouer, especially to men whom he bel in abborrenee for disloyaly to their country. and the gonear Briton resolved no to survive ene by whom he had been distinguished anl Youtod op kindly, they both together, with great spirit and & If procession, charged the royalists, having flest made signals w. their retir as if directing others to follow them. and thus. float injury on either sile bel the address and good Wirtho to put the party to fight.


1. - Serving in safety at the place of their destination. what was their surprise and augmented satisfaction on finding. han some questions propounded by the American officer's Hatte that they were flest cousins. With increasing delight the young Brites passed several works in the family of his insmas, where the writer of this causative stay him daily and often listened with the rapture of a child to the Carckered Des of his military adventures. To heighten the occurrence. mot render it more romantic, the American officer hal a ister, beautiful and accomplished, whose heart scon felt for the gallaut stranger, more than the affection due to a cousin. The attachment was mutual.


15. "But here the adventure assumed a tragical cast. Tho youthful foreigner. being exchanged, was summoned to return to his paniment. The message was fatal to his peace. But military Honor demanded the sacrifice: and the lady, generous


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and high minded as himself, would not be instrumental to dimming his laurels. The parting scene was a high wrought picture of tenderness and sorrow. On taking leave th. parties mutually Found themselves by a solemn promise to remain single a certain number of years, in the hope that an arrangement contemplated might again bring them together. A few weeks afterwards the lady expired ander an attack of the smallpox. The fate of the officer we never learnt."


QUESTIONS-1. State the positions of the two armies. Why did the American artay have to make such a long march in order to come within striking distance of the enemy ?


2. What change of pesition had been made by the British in the meat- time ?


3. Give the strength and composition of the American army, State the arrangement Greene malle of his troops for the battle.


4. What can you tell of the encounter between the Americans and the advanced porties of the British? What of the conduct of General Sut- ter's North Carolina brigade ?


5. Describe the charge of the continental troops.


6. What was the effect of the charge male by Colonel Washington Describe the efforts of Colonel Washington to dislodge the British from the brick house in which they had taken refuge.


;. Give an account of the retreat of the Fritish. Give the losses df both armies in this battle. How did the Continent & Congress show its appreciation of the services of Greene and his men ?


S. What positions dudl the two armies tike after the battle? Give the effect of this battle on the tone of the British army.


9. Give the result of the forward movement of the Americans.


Io. What does Johnson say of the condition and sufferings of the American army at the battle of Hataw?


LT. Give the substance of Greene's letter to the secretary of war in regard to the condition and needs of his meu ?


12. Give the story of the personal combat between two young officers.


13. Tell what you can of their meeting with a body of tories.


11. What discovery did they make on arriving of their destination What can you tell of the attachment between the British officer and the sister of his American friend ?


15. What of the parting and tragic ending?


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CHAPTER XXXV.


CUNNINGHAM'S RAID. MASSACRE AT HAYES' STATION. DEATH OF COLONEL HAYNE.


1. After the battle of Eutaw Springs the British made no further effort to recover their lost ground and to re-establish their authority in the state. They seldom aimed at anything more than to make their position secure in Charlestown Neck and to keep open communication on the Sea Islands on which they bad collected a large unmber of cattle. Yet they made some exenrsions with cavalry, and the tories also in the upper country were guilty of some of the most atro- vins outrages of the whole war. Towards the close of the voar 1751. while the American army was roar ( Luzlestown, a band of torias, actuated seemingly by a savage desire to bare one more taste of ferocious revenge. carried aro and went into the whip settlements of Ninety-Six district.


2 They were lel by Major William Conninghan. of the British militia. a man whose name cannot be otherwise than infamous as long as the pen of the historian is able to write. The sole objects of the party seemed to be to plan- lor. burn, and murder. Tu the dead of might. in the Hours of sleep, and apparent security. they entered the solitary farm houses and sacrificed to their revenge the heads of families. Danet Abney. on the Saluda, was killel in his wife's arms: his houses and all inflammable property were destroyed by fire. Townsend's house, near Ninety-Six. was Turned. while he himself lay concealed in a pile of brush so hear that the heat of the flames from the burning house almost blistered his back. These and other ernelties com- polied parties to arm and associate in self defence. A Cap- vun Turner and twenty men took position in a house and d. fended themselves until their ammunition was very nearly


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exhausted. when they surrendered themselves. undor the solendi promise and assurance of Cunningham that they should be treated as prisoners of war. The whole party were imine. diately pot to death by Cunningham and bis men.


3. The same party of tories. under the same leader, soou afterwards attacked a company commanled by Colonel Haves and set fire to the house in which they sought shelter. TL were compelled to surrender or be barned to death. They surrendered, and Colonel Have- and Captain Daniel Williams- were hi-tandy lning. The pole breaking. Major Williams Cunningham cut them to pieces with his own sword. H. then tursel upon the others and continued to hack anl low and kill, until he was so completely exhausted that he camkl secre ly raise his sword to strike. Hatten told his men t. kill why cansever they chose. Nothing loth, they did as they were told


4. Only two had fallen in battle and 14 were deliberately ent to pirees after the surrender. The names and rank of each are hier> given: Colonel Josh Hayes. Captain Dayi Williants. Lieutenant Christopher Hardy. Lieutenant Jehu Neel. Clement Hancock. Joseph Williams. Joseph Irby. Br. Joseph Irby. dr. John Malvern. James Feris. John Couk. Great Inky. Benjamin Goodman. Yancey Saxon.


5." The British made some other excursions also with their cavalry from Charlestown, one of the most important of which was in February, 1752. Mariou's brigade was surprised by them near the Santee while he was attending the session of the legislature at Jacksonborough In this affair the British were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomson, Count Raus ford, the friend of the poor, as he is called by historians. Major Benson. Thomas Broughton, and some others of the Americans were killed. The brigade was broken up, scattered and dispersed; but after a few days the Batich retired within their lives and the brigade reassembled.


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6. In the summer of 1782, the British announced their in- tention of evacuating Charlestown, aud there was very little more fighting done, the Americans acting chiefly on the de- fonsive. However, a short time before the evacuation. they made an attempt against a British detachment on James Iland. They were unsuccessful, and Captain Wilmot. a worthy officer of the Maryland line, lost his life. His was the last blood shed during the war in this state. Colonel John Lawrens, of South Carolina, an ornament to the state. . and to the service, had been mortally wounded a short time before (August, 1752) in an expedition conducted by General (ist to prevent the seizure of cattle by the British at Com- Tahoo Ferry.


7. After the surrender of General Lincoln and the loss of his army and the capital. Colonel Isaac Hayne thought it would be safe and more honorable for him to go within the British lines and surrender himself as a prisoner of war: not doubting, in the least. that they would grant him a parole as they had done to other prisoners. But they. leeming him of superior innerer and abilities refused to parole him. 1 prisener to whom parole is refused is committed to close. confinement in jail. Finding himself in this neconfon ble Situation. Lis family being sick and several miles distant a the country, he committed the grave error of subscribing delanation of allgines to the king. expressly objetos. However, to that cause which required him to support. with arios, the royal government.


> Afterwards, when the Americans had almost entirely re covered the state, and he was required to take up ati- sanitet bis countries, be considered himself absolved from His outh of allegiance to Great Britain. took orys amin in Afonso of his conutry, and was oppointed to the congoand of & regiment. In July. Viel, he sent out a small parts from le cagiment for the purpose of capturing General William


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son. one time a brigadier general of South Caralina militi but who. after the fall of Charlestown. had submitted AmB attached himself to the British interests. Colonel Hamar Party saperedel in capturing Williamsbo, and in retrenmind safely to the headquarters of the regiment.


9. The British were so anxious to recover Willisilson thur they sent out the whole of their cavalr - for that parposes Williamson was rescued. but. unfortunately, Hayne also was raken by them. He was thrown into a lathesome prison: an first promised a rognlar trial, but which was after vord- refused. After some delay he was ordered to be long 1. the military conmar leys. Lord Rawdon till Lerares Colonel Stewart. Thes foll, in the bloom of curly nambool. Colonel Havre a that of many noble qualities and a met patriot. His death was without profit to the British cand.


OFEST: NS. - 1. What can you say of the efforts of the British after the battle of Rutas Springs '


2. Give on to count of Cunningham's raid. Give an account of Cip- tin Turas's resterande and the result of it.


3. Tell :'at you can of the attack on Colond! Hures.


4. How sviy mien fell in brette? What was the fate of the survivors 5. What happened to Marion's briga le while he was absent attending a session of the legislature ?


6. Give an account of the attack on a Pritich detachment stationed or. James Island. Tell what you can of General Gist's expedition.


a. What Enlace I Colmel Frage Havne to surrender himself to the British >


S. When god he do when required to take up arms against his e uma men? Tell what you can of the expedition sent to capture General Williamson.


6. Give an account of the expedition sent to retake General William. son. What happened to Colone! Hayne?


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CHAPTER XXXVI


CLOSING SCENES OF THE WAR.


1. While the army lay in the low country near Charles- town a period of inactivity followed, so different from the busy operations of the late campaign as to be exceedingly irksome to the soldiers. General Grappe was not able to attempt anything against the British within their lives and they were not willing to come out to meet him. While the American soldiers lay in this inactive condition there clothing was so completely work out that 709 of them were as naked as they were when born, except a small strip of cloth about their waist: and they were nearly as destitute of meat as clothing. In this condition they lay for three months within four hours march of the garrison in Charlestown, which had in it more regular troops than there were soldiers in the Ameri- can army.


2. As long as they were kopt active, moving and fighting. there was no complaint, though their hardships were very great. But when they became inactivo and idle they brooded over their condition and murmurs began to arise. Some went so far as to form a conspiracy to betray and deliver General Greene to the British. But the conspiracy was discovered and prevented. It was found upon investigation that there were not more than a dozen in the whole army who were engaged in the conspiracy, and those were all foreigners.


3. Some time during the year 1752. Governor Matthews concerted measures with some citizens of Charlestown, who wished to make peace with their countrymet. for sending out of the city, through the British line, necessary clothing for the half naked American soldiers. When their condition had reached that point of distress beyond which it is almost im possible for human nature to go. Jeslina Lockwood, directed


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HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.


by Governor Matthews, brought out a large quantity of articles of greatest use to the army. This seasonable supply quieted their minds. good order was restored, cheerfulness, and all time duties of the soldier were faithfully performed. It is itapas sible to do justice to that forutudo displayel by both offers and men in the campaigns of 1750 and 1781. The southern soldiers in the late war between the states. thought that they underwent hardships almost too great for human nature bear, but they doubtless did not suffer as unich as did their ancestors in the war of the Revolution. It is true that the gray uniforms were very often tattered and toorn, the bomb sometimes a bed of ice, but with all the hardships none of- went into battle half naked, with cartridge boxes resting min. the bare skis, as they did at Entaw and clowhere.


4. The evacuation of Charlestown did not take place nath December 14. 1752, although it had been othrilly annonse .! by General Leslie on August i. preading The Brit % began their embarkation on December 10th, and Matthew- ami the American army took peremple pos sion ut the me. Provisionl articles of praie wore con no-ed as having loco signed at Paris on November 15, 1782, by what the Card States of New Hampshire. Ma tolert (' serient. Rbnb Island, New York, New Jersey. Han vistoin. DAwar Man land. Virginia, North Car. Han. South London west from were acknowledged to be free and independent states. Tic king treated with them as each, and for bie ifir- med sies sors, relinquished all clint to the soveromret. proprietary. m territorial rights of the same.


5. The enecess that had triolet the Anarius army during the summer of 151, so encouraged the friends of indepres dence that it was thought a good opportunity to detach fr the British interest thoseof the people who had given A their a fibrenes to the water of the only during the der. days of trouble. To this eal Guventor Rutledge, in when a-


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already stated. had been vested almost absolute power, issued a proclamation offering pardon on condition of their doing six months militia duty, excepting those who had taken commis- gons, signed addresses of congratulation of British victories. or who had been active otherwise in supporting the British cause. In a few weeks several hundreds came in from the British lines and re-enforced the militia, giving as excuses for their dereliction of duty. the condition of their fondilies, and their property. Some, who had been excepted from the bone- tits of the proclamation, cast themselves on the public mercy. explaining in various ways the causes of their adherence to the enemy. Some had taken commissions, beesten they thought that ly so doing they could shield their neighbors from others more rapacious. Others gave other reasons, but all agreed that the sentiments in those aldress s were never the lan- Kuage of their hearts.


6. The tranquility that signed in every part of the state towards the close of the year 1751, was favorable to the salling together of the Assembly the meeting of which had boa interrupted ever since the fall and Farreader of Charles- iwn. Many inhabitants, who had never salmittel to the British, and who had lately been exchanged as prisono's in Vir ginia and Pennsylvania son returned to the state. Antwort them were many civil offers of the state and skap member- of the Legislature. In this favorable coadition of affair- This was adored to be held at the usual player, or a year to them as




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