USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 25
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"When I wrote you before, though I thought it eli- gible to prepare for the worst, yet I had hopes that things would not have been so serious; but the aspect they now wear, induces me to believe, that this state,* deplorably weak in itself, will need every support yours can give it: I am therefore under the necessity of ordering fifty men from the first regiment, and also
*Georgia.
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thirty men from the artillery. with two field-pieces, with everything proper for action."
The occasion of these alarms was the well authen- ticated reports received from St. Augustine, that a British army, under Gen. Prévost, was about to invade Georgia. On April 18th Gen. Moultrie replied to Gen. Howe: "I received yours by express, last night, and shall order the first detachment off to-morrow morn- ing; the remainder of the first regiment and the artil- lery will march off on Monday, under the command of Colonel Charles C. Pinckney."
On the same date Maj. J. F. Grimké, Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Howe, sent the following order to Gen. Moul- trie: "I am directed by General Howe to request of you, that you would have the remaining part of the continental troops, amounting to one half the number and allowed by the president and council of your state, in immediate readiness for marching, upon re- ceiving the general's orders."
On April 24th Gen. Moultrie answered this order: "Our first detachment* marched off a few days ago, and Colonel Charles C. Pinckney with the second, went off yesterday." X * "I have order- ed the remainder of Thomson's and Sumpter's regi- ments to be ready to march on my receiving your fur- ther orders." X x * "Our number of con- tinental troops belonging to this state, amount to about fifteen hundred."
But Gen. Moultrie was too slow for Gen. Howe, for on the 26th, Major Grimké wrote again as follows: "I have to request your excuse if I did not deliver myself so explicitly as I was ordered to do in the last letter I wrote you by desire of Major General Howe. As I did not keep a copy, not having time to write it again,
*Consisting of 150 men of Thomson's regiment, under Major Wise, and 50 men of Sumter's regiment, under Lieut-Col. Henderson.
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I cannot refer to the order, nor do I at present recol- lect in what mode of expression I delivered myself. The order, sir, that it was my intention to transmit you, should have positively declared the necessity for the immediate march of the troops, forming and re- maining part of the continental battalions in the state of South Carolina. You will please, therefore, to order the troops you refer to, whom you say you have directed to be ready to march at a moment's warning, and consists of the other parts of Colonel Thomson's and Sumpter's regiments. They are to proceed to Fort. Howe, by the shortest road upon the Alatamaha, without touching at Savannah." To this Gen. Moultrie replied. on May 1st: "The excuse you request should rather be asked by me. as I neglected to inform you, that your orders were very explicit. and I accordingly put them in execution, excepting for Thomson's, in lieu of which I sent the first regiment, as they are better clothed and disciplined."
The appearance in Georgia of so formidable a force had the effect of deterring Prévost from invading that State, and Gen. Howe then determined to "carry the war into Africa" by marching into East-Florida, but the country through which they passed was so barren, and the season so unfavorable that upon reaching the St. Mary's river and capturing and destroying Fort Tonyn, it was decided, on July 11th, to go no farther. Gen. Howe, with the Georgia troops, and, it appears, a portion of the South Carolina troops-among them the detachment from Thomson's regiment under Maj. Wise -returned to Savannah: while Col. Pinckney with the other South Carolina troops returned by water to Char- lestown. The South Carolina troops remaining with Howe lingered out a summer season in Georgia, and when the autumn came the British army again found work for them to do.
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On November 27th, Gen. Howe wrote from Zubly's Ferry to Gen. Moultrie advising him that the British were again about to invade Georgia, and requesting the assistance of more South Carolina troops. In an- swer to this Gen. Moultrie wrote, on the 28th: "I have sent an express to Col. Huger to expedite his march, leaving his baggage and weak men behind to come up more at leisure. I shall get Col. Henderson's battalion off I hope to-morrow; Thompson's regiment is not far from you,* they are taking the shortest rout to Purisburgh." Although Gen. Moultrie wrote "Thompson's regiment", it appears to have been only a detachment of that regiment, for Gen. Huger wrote, on December 28th, to Gen. Moultrie: "I am just now turning out my regiment with Thompson's detach- ment, and few of the Georgia continentals, with or- ders to take the field immediately"; and we find by Col. Thomson's order book that he, with the major part of his regiment, was at this time aiding the civil authorities and militia about Orangeburgh to subdue certain disturbers of the peace, and was patrolling the Edisto and Savannah rivers in order to keep out "Florida scouts" and protect the frontier settlers from Indians.
On the 29th, Gen. Howe's army was totally defeated by Col. Campbell, and Savannah fell into the hands of the British. In this fight the South Carolina troops, including Maj. Wise's detachment of the 3rd regiment, formed the right wing of Howe's army, which was commanded by Gen. Isaac Huger. In the meantime Major-General Benjamin Lincoln, a New Englander whom Congress had sent to relieve Gen. Howe, had arrived in Charlestown and assumed command there. As soon as he could collect reinforcements, he marched
*Where they had probably 'spent the summer.
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for the Savannah river, arriving at Purisburgh on Jan- uary 3rd, 1779,-too late to save Howe. That evening he was joined by Howe, and the next day by the South Carolina troops.
Gen. Lincoln remained at Purisburgh, with the Con- tinental troops and some militia, having skirmishes with the enemy almost daily, until April. when he moved his army up to Black Swamp. twenty-five miles above; leaving a small force at Purisburgh. On the 20th of April Gen. Lincoln marched off up the river. leaving Gen. Moultrie with a force of 1200 men at Black Swamp. Two days later Gen. Lincoln wrote back, ordering Gen. Moultrie to send up Gen. Huger with the remaining Continental troops, excepting de- tachments of the 2nd and 5th regiments (numbering 220 men), to the number of 1000 men. The 3rd regi- ment was, therefore, with Lincoln, and shared the for- tunes of his army as he marched up on the South Caro- lina side of the Savannah, and crossed that river and marched down on the Georgia side. The army was engaged in only a few skirmishes, it is true, but the long march through a rough, thinly settled country was more trying to the health and spirits of the men than a pitched battle would have been.
While Gen. Lincoln was marching up and down the banks of the Savannah river "inspiring the inhabi- tants of the country with confidence", Gen. Prévost crossed the Savannah river. on April 29th, with about 3000 men and marched for Charlestown. But Gen. Moultrie with about 250 Continentals and 1000 militia lately arrived from Orangeburgh. was between Pré- vost and Charlestown, and delayed his march in every possible way: all the while sending despatches to Lin- coln requesting him to send reinforcements, and to re- turn to South Carolina with his army in order to save Charlestown. Gen. Moultrie was joined at Charles-
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town by a considerable militia force, and by a skillful- ly arranged piece of deception Prévost was made to believe that the town would be surrendered; but when time enough had been gained to bring Gen. Lin- coln's army, which had recrossed the Savannah and was marching to Moultrie's relief, uncomfortably near to Prévost all proposals of surrender were withdrawn. It was then too late for Prevost to attempt to storm the works around Charlestown, and he withdrew to the neighboring sea islands.
On the 20th of June, Gen. Lincoln made an unsuc- cessful assault on Prévost's trenches at Stono, and the next day Col. Grimké wrote a letter to Mr. J. Kean in which he stated that "the left of our line was com- posed of continental troops, under Gen. Huger"; and we may presume that the detachment of the 3rd regi- ment was there.
A few days after Lincoln's attack on his trenches at Stono, Prévost embarked his army for Beaufort, where he left a part of his force and repaired to Savannah with his main army.
About the 1st of September Count D'Estaing, with a French fleet, appeared off Charlestown bar and an- nounced to Gen. Lincoln that he was ready to assist him to lay siege to Savannah. On September 5th Gen. Lincoln ordered all officers and soldiers to join their respective regiments. This brought Col. Thom- son and all of the officers and men of the 3rd regiment to their places. On the 23rd of September, Lincoln's army joined the French, and encamped before Savan- vah. On the 4th and 5th of October their batteries opened on the British works, and on the 9th an as- sault was made, which resulted in the defeat of the allied forces. The 3rd regiment lost its major, (Samuel Wise), one Lieutenant, (Bailey) and 10 of the rank and
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file; while one captain, (Farrar) two lieutenants, (Gas- ton and DeSaussure)* two sergeants and twenty-four of the rank and file were wounded-making a total of 41 killed and wounded .;
From certain documentary evidence now before us, we are led to the conclusion that Col. Thomson and Lieut. Col. Mayson both resigned their commissions in the 3rd regiment about the beginning of the year 1780. It is on the following evidence that we base our conclusion :
Extract from a letter from Gen. Lincoln to Lieut. Col. Marion, dated Charlestown, November 25th, 1779: "I will inquire into the reason why the officers of the Third are absent, I must find some officers who belong to another corps to do duty in that Regiment."+
Order from Major Edmund Hyrne, Deputy Adjutant General, to Lieut. Col. Peter Horry. dated February 11th, 1780: "You are this day in orders for the third Regiment, and the General desires me to inform you that your presence is immediately and absolutely ne- cessary. We have certain intelligence of the British Troops having landed and we are just informed that sail are now off Stono."§
Letter of same date. from Major Hyrne to Lieut. Col. Peter Horry: "I am sorry to have troubled you with my letter of this date by the Express. Col. Hen- derson, (before the order was issued,) informed the General he had altered his mind and would accept the appointment, and he is accordingly appointed Lt. Col. of the third."['
*It appears from Gen. DeSaussure's pamphlet that both of the wounded lieutenants died of their wounds.
+See South Carolina and American General Gazette, Oct. 29, 1779. #Gibbes's Documentary History, 1781 and 1782, page 4.
¿Ibid, page 10.
( Ibid, pages 10, 11.
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The next service required of the 3rd regiment was to assist in the defence of Charlestown against the fleet and army which Sir Henry Clinton brought from New York against that city in February, 1780. Col. Thomson was not with the regiment during the siege. Dr. Johnson, in "Traditions of the Revolution", says that he was on detached service in Orangeburgh Dis- trict; and John Lewis Gervais, Deputy Paymaster General for the Southern Department, writes, in his diary of March 10th: "Col. Thomson is forming a camp near Orangeburg, to put a stop to plunderers." Moses Young writes, in his journal of April 4th: Col. Thomson raising men-has got 20". J. L. Gervais, in a letter written from Georgetown, dated April 28th, says: "By our last advices, Gen. Caswell was, with 1000 men, near Col. Thomson. Gen. Williamson was expected last Sunday at Orangeburg, with 900 men- say 600." "Col. Thomson was at Orange- burg with 200 men."" "Major Vanderhorst, formerly in the first regiment, arrived yesterday from Colonel Thomson." And when Charlestown finally fell, one lieutenant-colonel is the only field officer* re- corded as having been surrendered by the 3rd regi- ment-and that lieutenant-colonel was doubtless Hen- derson.
.. The reorganization of the Continental Army might have caused the resignation of Col. Thomson. Instead of having regiments with full colonels, the army was organized into SS battalions, each commanded by a lieutenant-colonel. This was done to accord with the arrangement in the British army, and facilitated the exchange of prisoners. It is likely that this change, coupled with his long illness, caused Col. Thomson to
*The major of the regiment having been killed at Savannah.
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resign his regular commission, and resume charge of a militia organization.
Not long after the surrender of Charlestown Col. Thomson was captured and paroled. While at home under parole he was arrested, charged with having broken his parole, and taken to Charlestown where he was confined in the basement of the old "Exchange" for some time. When he was finally released and ex- changed he immediately reported to Gen. Greene, says Dr. Johnson in "Traditions of the Revolution", and was put to scouting. If he had never resigned his commission in the 3rd regiment he would, most likely, have resumed command of the remnants of that regi- ment after the fall of Charlestown.
Very little is known of the part taken by the 3rd reg- iment in the defense of Charlestown, but in order to show here what is known of the part taken by that regiment it will be necessary to again have recourse to extracts from journals and documents of that day, and histories written since:
We learn from Gen. McIntosh's journal, and from Gen. Moultrie's Memoirs, Vol. II, page 80, that Captain Goodwyn,* of the 3rd regiment, was killed by the be- siegers on April 26th; and when Charlestown finally surrendered on the 12th of May, 1780, the British re- turns show that the 3rd regiment surrendered one lieu- tenant-colonel, nine captains, six lieutenants, one sur- geon, one surgeon's mate, 19 sergeants, 14 drummers, and 208 of the rank and file: making a total of 259.
By the surrender of Charlestown the regiment was
*The roll of officers of the 3rd regiment, taken from Gen. DeSaus- sure's pamphlet, shows that there was a Captain Robert Goodwyn and a Lieutenant Wm. Goodwyn of this regiment, but it also shows that they both resigned May 30, 1778; but from the statenients of Generals McIntosh and Moultrie we must conclude that Gen. DeSaus- sure was mistaken as to one of them.
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practically annihilated; another regiment took its place in the Continental line while its men were on parole, and when the few survivors were exchanged they probably joined other regiments.
The following account of Col. Thomson and his reg- iment is taken from Johnson's Traditions of the Revo- lution: (p. 90 et seq.)
"COLONEL WILLIAM THOMSON.
"Colonel William Thomson commanded the third regiment, called the Rangers; he being from the up- per part of Orangeburg District, soon filled his regi- ment with many of the best riflemen in the State, he being himself the inost practiced marksman in his command. The tories in the upper country having been influenced by Sir William Campbell, the royal governor, and his agents, commenced hostilities there, and afforded the new troops a fine opportunity for ex- ercise and for facing an enemy. The expedition was under 'command of General Richard Richardson,* of the militia, and was completely successful, but the cold and exposure was very severe to such soldiers. They had scarcely concluded this campaign, when news was received that Sir Henry Clinton was preparing, at New- York, a strong armament against the South. They were consequently ordered down to the sea coast, for its protection. Colonel Thomson was posted at the eastern end of Sullivan's Island, in a small battery of two guns, the brick foundation of which has lately been discovered, by the shifting of the sand. It was called the advanced guard, and was ordered to protect the island from the bayonets of Sir Henry Clinton,- his command of two thousand British regulars, being
*He was only a colonel at that time.
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then encamped within sight, on the western extremi- ty of Long Island.
"This gentleman was born in Pennsylvania, of Irish parents, about the year 1727, and removed with his father's family to South-Carolina, while yet a child. They settled on the west side of Congaree river. in what was called Amelia township, now known as St. Mathew's Parish. in Orangeburg District. This was at the time a frontier settlement, and young Thomson grew up 'amidst alarms and strife,' which trained his mind to deeds of enterprise and daring, and nerved his body to endure the toils and sufferings incidental to border warfare. The rifle became his favorite com- panion in all his excursions, and his sure reliance in danger. He planted with his father, and aided him in guiding the plough, in driving the team, and in all the other occupations of a country life .* Being socia- ble and friendly in his disposition, he became a favor- ite among his neighbors. secured their admiration by winning the prizes at every shooting match, and com- manded their respect and esteem by his uniformly cor- rect deportment.
"About the year 1763,+ William Thomson married Miss Eugenia Russell, born in that neighborhood, the half sister of Colonel William Heatly. Her father was a native of Massachusetts. and born of English parents who had settled in that then Province.
"In 1769 great commotions arose in the upper parts of the State, between what were called Regulators and Schofilites. At that time no courts were established out of Charleston, and lawless depredators. living near the Indian nations, plundered the industrious, honest
*In an affidavit, made in January, 1761, before Andrew Brown, J. P., relative to the will of James Beames, he spoke of himself as "Wil- liam Thomson, late Indian Trader in the Cherokees".
+Thursday, Aug. 14, 1755.
COLONEL WILLIAM THOMSON.
REPRODUCED FOR THE HISTORY OF ORANGEBURG COUNTY FROM AN OLD OIL PORTRAIT IN POSSESSION OF CHARLES T. HASKELL, ESQ., OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
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farmers, and escaped over the borders with the stolen horses and cattle. The parties aggrieved united to protect each other, soon took upon themselves to pun- ish the aggressors. and personal feelings no doubt hur- ried them on into some unjustifiable acts. They called themselves Regulators; the depredators appealed to the royal governor for protection, and a silly fellow, a Colonel Schovel, was sent up for that purpose. He encouraged them to assemble in arms, and bloodshed was barely prevented by the intervention of a few more discreet persons. They took their name from that of their colonel, and having been screened by the. royal authority, many of them and their descendants became royalists in the revolution, which commenced a few years after this event.
"Among the royalists of 1775, there were, no doubt, many conscientious, honest men.
"To soothe these irritations, and prevent future dep- redations, several additional courts were established in the upper country. one at Camden, one at Orangeburg, and one at Cambridge, in Ninety-Six, now Abbeville District. As soon as the establishments could be car- ried into effect, William Thomson was elected sheriff of Orangeburg District, as a man of the greatest influ- ence, energy, and decision. He entered on the duties of his office in June, 1772, and continued to be called upon in all difficulties and in all emergencies of a pub- lic nature that subsequently occurred.
"He was elected a member of the Provincial Legis- lature, under the royal government, and was a mem- ber of the convention which commenced revolution- ary measures, adopted a constitution, and organized the means for resisting Great Britain. When it was resolved to raise three regiments for this purpose in South Carolina, William Thomson was elected colonel of the Rangers, or third regiment, and immediately
·
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proceeded to enlist his men, under orders issued on the 17th June, 1775. Before his number was complete, and while employed in drilling his men, the royalists in Ninety-Six armed in opposition to the revolution- ary government. Col. Thomson had previously been out with William Henry Drayton and the Rev. Mr. Tenant, accompanied by Colonel Joseph Kershaw, of Camden, endeavoring to conciliate and restrain the disaffected in the upper and western portions of the State. Now, that the royalists assembled in arms, and attacked Colonel Williamson, at Cambridge, for- bearance ceased to be a pacific measure. Colonel Thomson marched with his command, under General Richard Richardson, captured all their officers, except Colonel Cunningham,* and crushed their hostile pro- ceedings. This was in the winter of 1775, and such was the severity of the weather that the expedition was designated 'the snow camp.'
"Scarcely had Thomson's regiment returned from this campaign, when news arrived that the British had assembled, in New-York, a fleet and army, under General Clinton, to attack Charleston and overrun the Southern States. After this British armament had appeared off Charleston bar, but had not yet either landed their army or entered the harbor, Colonel Thomson asked for leave of absence, that he might make some arrangements on his plantation, called Belleville, about one hundred miles from the city. A furlough was granted him for only two days. He im- mediately mounted his horse, rode home, effected his business, and returned to the city within forty-eight hours. This is a family tradition.
"The united attack of this British army and navy on Sullivan's Island, and their total defeat, on the 28th of
*Patrick, captain.
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June, 1776, are as well known as any part of the American history. But it is not generally known what an important part, in this defence, was perform- ed by Colonel Thomson's command. They were posted at the eastern extremity of Sullivan's Island, in a redoubt, called the advanced guard,' constructed of palmetto logs, with merlins, on a brick foundation. At this point, the army under General Clinton, num- bering two thousand regulars, was to make the gener- al attack, as soon as the fleet should become engaged with Fort Sullivan. They accordingly marched from their encampment on Long Island, down to the edge of the inlet, where it was fordable, except at high water. They were flanked by an armed schooner and sloop, and by a flotilla of armed boats from the fleet, with orders to reach the landing on Sullivan's Island, and rake the platform of the redoubt. while the army crossed over the inlet and stormed the little fort, which was entirely open on the west. Colonel Thom- son had but two cannon, and they were manned only by his rangers, who had never fired a great gun before this occasion. But, with small arms, they were the best marksmen in the State, and their commander, Colonel Thomson himself, was decidedly the best shot of the whole regiment.
"The flotilla advanced bravely to the concerted at- tack, cheered on by the army, paraded on the shore, within speaking distance of the boats. When within reach of his guns, Col. Thomson opened on them so well directed a fire that the men could not be kept at their posts; every ball raked the decks. The flotilla made repeated attempts to reach their destined point, and did come so near to it as to be within the range of grape shot. This being equally well directed, soon cleared the decks, and dispersed the flotilla.
"This attack by Clinton's regulars, on land, was well
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concerted, but not well executed. They intended that it should be made at the same time with that of Sir Peter Parker's fleet on Fort Sullivan. Clinton had two thousand British infantry, exclusive of the ma- rines and boatmen supplied from the fleet, which probably amounted to six or seven hundred more. He had, therefore, about two thousand regulars more than the whole command of Colonel Thomson, of which the Raccoon and other militia companies con- stituted a considerable portion. The force was suffi- cient to defeat Colonel Thomson, and then storm Fort Sullivan, as was intended. If Wellington had commanded instead of Clinton, he would probably have passed with more facility than he did over the river Douro, near Oporto. Clinton had the command of boats for transportation, of which Wellington had very few.
"Mr. Alexander Forrester, a near relation of the late Robert Elliott Rowand, left Charleston at the com- mencement of the revolution, and joined the British troops in this expedition. He said, in my presence, that he was in the schooner, and that it was impossi- ble for any set of men to sustain so destructive a fire as the Americans poured in upon them on this occa- . sion; that it was the destructive fire from Colonel Thomson's fort which prevented the flotilla from ad- vancing, and not the shoals and sand bars, as was al- leged; that it was the repulse of the flotilla which prevented General Clinton from fording the inlet, and not the depth of water.
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