USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 26
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"One of the opposition papers in England, the St. James' Chronicle, announces, in an epigram, a miracle on Sullivan's Island:
"'By the Red sea, the Hebrew host detained,
Through aid divine, the distant shore soon gained;
The waters fled, the deep a passage gave,
But this God wrought, a chosen race to save.
373
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
"'Though Clinton's troops have shared a different fate,
'Gainst them, poor men! not chosen sure of heaven,.
The miracle reversed, is still as great-
From two feet deep, the water rose to seven.'
"Two other stations are represented on this plan *- the rear guard, of which the foundation may still be seen, as the foundation of the Episcopal Church, and the quarter guard, on or about the site of the new Moultrie House. These were spoken of by British writers, as efficient means of resisting their combined attack, but they had no opportunity of showing what they might have done; they never fired a gun. They also say, that the inlet which ran across the low land. called curlew ground, was covered by heavy cannon, mounted and pointed in the fort; but this, also, is an excuse. The annexed plan of the fort, copied from Drayton's Memoirs, will prove that not a single gun, of any description, was mounted on the eastern part of the fort. A great part of the eastern portion of the fort was unfinished, and exposed to the intended at- tack of Clinton's bayonets.
"The riflemen, under Colonel Thomson, were much amused with the grape shot, and the effects of shoot- ing a pocket full of bullets into a crowd of their ene- mies, at every discharge; for they could not suppose that any one of their balls could ever miss its object.
"For his good conduct on this occasion, Colonel Thomson received the thanks of Governor Rutledge; and of Congress .- See vol. i., of Moultrie's Memoirs, page 183.
"Moultrie takes but little notice of Colonel Thom- son's agency on this memorable occasion. The effects of his fire were not known until long after the revolu-
*Dr. Johnson's copy of a plan from Drayton's Memoirs. +President Rutledge.
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THE HISTORY OF
tion. The British officials and their ministry did not like to acknowledge it; the reputation of their navy was made to bear the disgrace of this defeat; the army was not suffered to come within gunshot of the Americans.
"American version of Sir Peter Parker's despatches to the Lords of Admiralty.
İ's
"My lords, with your leave, An account I will give, That deserves to be written in metre; For the rebels and I Have been pretty nigh Faith, rather too nigh for Sir Peter.
"With much labor and toil,
Unto Sullivan's Isle, I came fierce as Falstaff or Pistol,
But the Yankees,* add rat them!
I could not get at them, Most terribly mauled my poor Bristol!
"Bold Clinton, by land,
Did quietly stand, While I made a thundering clatter;
But the channel was deep, So they only could peep, And not venture over the water.
"Devil take them, their shot Came so swift and so hot, And the cowardly dogs stood so stiff sirs,
That I put ship about, And was glad to get out, Or they would not have left me a skiff, sirs.
"But, my lords, never fear, Before the next year, Although a small island could check us, The continent whole, We will take, by my soul, If these cowardly Yankees will let us.
It was a happy thing for America that this flotilla
*The British called all Americans "Yankees", but it was a sobri- quet which Southerners were never proud to acknowledge.
375
.
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
was so soon repulsed; had they made another attack, they might have effected a landing. Colonel: Thom- son had, by this time, expended all the ammunition provided for his two cannon, and would have been compelled to spike them, and rely on his infantry and small arms, to oppose the enemy in their march to Fort Sullivan. For this purpose, he had about seven hundred and fifty excellent marksmen to oppose two thousand British infantry."
* *
"From this time, Colonel Thomson continued ac- tively engaged, wherever duty or danger required his services. Under General Howe, he lingered out* a summer campaign in one of the most sickly parts of Georgia, where inaction and disease, more wasteful than war, reduced the numbers and spirits of his brave companions in arms, until the British forces, under Colonel Campbell, defeated Howe,; and overran that State. Next he served under General Lincoln, in his various, endeavors to protect the Carolinas, by confin- ing the enemy within the limits of Georgia, and, final- ly, to expel them, by the attack on their entrench- ments at Stono. In these harrassing duties, his expo- sures brought on a fever, when in the neighborhood of Purisburg, and he retired for a while under furlough.
"Colonel Thomson also served under Count D'Es- taing, in his well known disastrous siege of Savannah, in which it became evident, as previously demonstra- ted in the siege of Newport. Rhode Island, that a man high in rank at the Court of France, and high in the favor of his king, was not. intuitively, a skillful ad- miral or able general. It was probably lucky for the Count that he was wounded at Savannah. He had
*He was not with Howe in the summer of 1778.
+December 29, 1778.
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something to show for his defeat-a set-off. In this unfortunate expedition. Colonel Thomson had en bark- ed with all his family influence, with the highest hopes of success. His son, William, his three sons-in- law, and two nephews, accompanied him to Savannah, under D'Estaing; their mortification at the result was sore, indeed.
"In these battles, in the previous severe duties of the campaign, and in the subsequent exposure and suf- ferings of his regiment, little or no mention is made in history of the services rendered by Colonel Thom- son. Justice has not been done him; probably, be- cause he was always attached, with his light troops, to the command of some officer of high rank, to whom his services were inestimable, in scouting and skir- mishing, but not reported in the line of battle. By his own meu, he was designated by the sobriquet, 'Old Danger'. Even General Moultrie, when speaking of the battle of Sullivan's Island, uses the expression, 'I had seven hundred and fifty men under Colonel Thom- son,' although in a detached command, about three miles off from him. Drayton, in his account of it, does not even give, on his map of Sullivan's Island, the po- sition defended by Colonel Thomson.
"When Charleston was beleaguered by General Clinton,* Governor Rutledge was advised to withdraw from the city, that he might be better able to annoy the enemy, and cut off the aid and supplies that they might otherwise obtain from the country. For this purpose, the rangers were withdrawn from the defence of Charleston, and kept in active service in Orange- burg District. The governor's family had been pre- viously withdrawn, like most of those who could effect it, and were residing near where Stateburg now
*In 1780.
377
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
stands, at the house, I believe, of Colonel William Richardson, owned and occupied by his son, the late lamented Judge J. S. Richardson. Such was the con- fidence of Governor Rutledge in Colonel Thomson's character, that when informed of the surrender of Charleston, he committed the care of his family to Colonel T., requesting that he would escort them with his own family to some place of safety. The governor remained in the State, with the hope of keeping up a resistance to the victorious British army. The indis- position of Mrs. Rutledge prevented their prompt re- moval, and thwarted this arrangement. In two or three days after the appointed time, Colonel Thom- son's house was surrounded by a body of tories and British troops, and he was made a prisoner, with his son, William Russell Thomson, then about seventeen years of age.
"The father was sent down to Charleston, and con- fined many months in the 'Provost,' in the same damp vaults that are under the present Custom House .* He was there confined at the time of Gates' defeat. But his son was left at home, with the family, on parole. This elegant establishment was called Belleville. The British made it one of their garrisons, and stockaded it for defence. Various officers were in command of it, at different times, and of very different dispositions; some behaving with great rudeness and brutality, while others were polite, and even kind. It was the misfortune of young Thomson to displease one of the former description, who did not appear to resent it, until removed to the command of Fort Granby, oppo- site to Columbia. He then wrote to his successor, at Belleville, to hang young Thomson for a breach of pa- role, without trial or evidence. Fortunately, this offi-
*The old post-office.
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THE HISTORY OF
cer was a just and humane man; his name was Stew- art. He did not like the duty imposed on him, and contrived to drop the letter where it would fall into the hands of the family. Young Thomson saw that it was neck or nothing with him, and watched for an opportunity of making his escape. While standing near one of the sentinels, for this purpose, a poor, half- starved pig, belonging to the garrison, had escaped from his pen and passed close to them. Thomson had a fellow feeling for the pig, and thought that both of them might escape by the same means. He, therefore. persuaded the sentinel to catch it, and started with him in the pursuit. The pig, not being overloaded with fat or food, ran out at the sally-port, and they, whooping and holloing after him, continued the chase, until they had driven the animal out of gunshot. In the pig chase Thomson lost his hat, but he saved his neck. He soon joined Sumter's division,* where a horseman's cap was obtained, much more becoming than his old slouch. His excellent mother soon de- vised means for sending him a change or two of clothes, and he was free.
"Colonel Thomson was kept in close confinement until his health was much impaired. He was then permitted to return on parole to Belleville. It só happened that the officer in command was relieved in a day or two after Colonel Thomson's return. Wheth- er from private instructions, caprice, or other motives unknown, this officer marched Colonel Thomson back with him to Charleston. He was, however, soon per- mitted to return to Belleville, which continued to be occupied as a British station. About this time it was attacked by the Americans, and to this day some of the bullet marks may be seen in the house. While he
*Brigade.
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
was exulting with hopes that it might be taken, and he released, he was obliged to provide for the safety of his family, by making them lie down on the floor. This attack was simultaneous with that on Fort Motte, and was only intended as a feint to prevent a junction of the two British forces, the stations being within sight of each other. The double purpose was answered; when Fort Motte was taken, Belleville was evacuated.
"On the surrender of Fort Motte, a number of tories were found among the British regulars. Most of these were of German families, who originally settled Ame- lia township, and built Orangeburg. The Americans were about to retaliate on them as tories, the sever- ities inflicted on themselves as whigs. At that criti- cal moment Col. Thomson rode over to the American camp, and knew most of these, his Dutch neighbors. He represented to Colonels Lee and Marion,* that these people had been compelled to enter the British fort, and made to labor as artificers; that they had al- ways been harmless, and tried to keep aloof from both parties. Their release was secured. The Dutchmen, who had given themselves up for lost, now hurried off without thanking Colonel Thomson, or pausing to say 'Good by to you.' They scrambled over the breast- work instead of going through the gate, and some rolled over into the ditch, in trying to be the first out.
"In the general exchange of prisoners, effected by the address of Major Hyrne, Colonel Thomson was set at liberty, and immediately repaired to General Greene for service. From his knowledge of the country, he was particularly useful in scouting and cutting off the couriers and supplies of the enemy. In one of these
*General Marion.
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THE HISTORY OF
expeditions, a very young and inexperienced recruit was sent out with a detachment, on patrol. They fell in with a superior force of the enemy, and were hotly pursued. The young man was well mounted. and a good rider, but it was the first time that ever he had faced an enemy, and when the retreat commenced at full speed, he concluded that all the detachment would be cut off. His own comrades galloping close behind him, were mistaken for the enemy, and he called out for 'quarters!' He spurred on. still crying out 'quarter! quarter! quarter!' until he was actually within his own camp. Being then stopped, and asked why he continued to cry out 'quarter! quarter! when there was no enemy within half a mile of him, he de- clared that he had believed the enemy to be close upon him, and expected to be cut down at every leap of his horse.
"The whig ladies were sometimes permitted to en- ter Charleston, and Mrs. Thomson obtained from one of the British officers a passport for herself and little daughter, Charlotte. On her way down, she had an interview with her husband, and passed on. She made the intended purchases, and while so engaged, left her child in a room, only saying that a gentleman or two might step into the room, and she must not be fright- ened, he would not hurt her, but that she must keep in her bosom anything that he might place there. Accordingly while alone in the room, a gentleman en- tered, and looked anxiously around, then bowed to her, put a folded paper into her bosom. and went hastily out, without saying a word. The mother re- turned, and they left the city immediately; the father again met them, conducted them into General Greene's camp, and introduced them to the general. The little girl was asked by the general, if she had not some- thing for him, but she, having been much amused
3S1
ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
with the novelty of every thing that she saw, had for- gotten all that had passed in the room, and told him 'no.' He then asked more particularly for a paper, that had been put into her bosom, and she gave it to him. It has since transpired that General Greene had agreed with General Andrew Williamson for a partic- ular description of the British forces in Charleston, on condition that he should be screened from confiscation and other injury. General Greene did obtain the in- formation from Williamson, and it was probably in this way, through Colonel Thomson. The little daugh- ter of that day, is now the venerably Mrs. Charlotte Haskill, the only survivor of Colonel Thomson's large family. He had four sons and eight daughters. Of these sons, William and Paul lived to be married; Paul had no children; William left a fine family, among whose descendants the name is preserved and cherished. The daughters, we believe, were all mar- ried, and left families.
"At the commencement of the revolution Colonel Thomson was an indigo planter, living in the enjoy- ment of affluence and domestic happiness. His only motive for resistance, was a sense of duty to protect the chartered rights of his country, and the rights of British subjects in America. In the course of the rev- olution, he lost almost everything that was movable, from his plantation. His valuable stock of horses and cattle, with his negroes, were dispersed, and most of them lost. The camp fever and small pox had been introduced into his plantation, by the British troops, and about one hundred of his people died of these dreadful disorders. But none of his negroes ever left him to join the British, notwithstanding their prom- ises of freedom, their temptations, and their threats. One negro, named 'Abram,' had been intrusted by his master with the care of a favorite blooded horse, and
382
THE HISTORY OF
the enemy heard of it. All their endeavors to obtain the horse were of no avail with Abram, and at last. from threats they proceeded to execution. He was hung up, by the neck, three several times, until sense- less, but still refused to reveal the place in which he had concealed the horse. The name of Abram is gratefully spoken of by Colonel Thomson's family to this day, and his other faithful services recounted.
"When Charleston was recovered from the British. Colonel Thomson returned to his plantation, and dili- gently endeavored to restore his shattered fortune. He continued the cultivation of indigo, very success- fully, as long as he lived. His house was ever hospi- tably open to all travellers: his friends and neighbors were ever generously entertained at his plentiful board. To some he was too liberal and confiding; he involved his estate by securityship to a large amount.
"He continued subject to the calls of his country, whenever his services were needed for public purposes. and again became the sheriff of Orangeburg District. He was fond of the sports of the field and of the turf. and for his enjoyment in these he kept a choice collec- tion of hounds and horses. He enjoyed these pleasures the more, in proportion to the number of his associ- ates, and was as much amused with their errors and mishaps, as with their success in the hunt. To him they were very exciting scenes and incidents.
"Colonel Thomson's health having declined. he travelled to the Sweet Springs of Virginia, hoping for its restoration, but he died there on the 22d of No- vember, 1796. aged sixty-nine years."
The late Mr. Simms, in his book, "South Carolina in the Revolution", has also paid a tribute to Colonel Thomson and the 3rd. regiment, as follows:
"The resistance to the efforts of Sir Henry Clinton,
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
with the land army, at the east end of the Island, con- ducted by native riflemen, under Colonel Thompson, was such as to paralyze the enemy. This portion of the affair has been but little commented upon by our historians; yet the fire of Thompson's marksmen, with rifles, and from two small field-pieces, was such-and the British flotilla, advancing from Long Island upon the eastern end of Sullivan's, were so raked by the fire-that the men could not be kept to their guns. The decks were cleared, the flotilla dispersed, the en- terprise abandoned; yet the force of Clinton consisted of 2,000 British infantry, exclusive of some 600 or 700 marines and boatmen, supplied from the fleet; while Thompson's strength lay in his two cannon, a small redoubt of palmetto logs, and 700 rifles."*
Dr. Johnson also gives, in a letter to Col. Wade Hampton, dated June 27, 1842, another account of Col. Thomson's defeat of Clinton, which, while it does not differ materially from that given in his "Tradi- tions", adds some interesting facts. The following ex- tracts from Dr. Johnson's letter relate to Col. Thom- son and his regiment:
"Col. William Thompson, of Orangeburg District, having been appointed to the command of the 3d reg- iment, had his complement of men soon made up by the enlistment of some of the most expert Riflemen in the State; he himself being one of the most prac- ticed among them. He had the finest eye that. I ever saw in the head of mortal man.
"With but little experience in war, and certainly without having ever heard a cannon fired at an ene- my, the 2d and 3d regiments were ordered to oppose the best appointed armament that had then been equipped against any, part of the United States, not
*See also Southern Quarterly Review, 1848.
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THE HISTORY OF
merely sent for the capture of Charleston, but for the conquest of the three Southern States." [The force that] "Col. Thompson commanded, was stationed at the eastern extremity of Sullivan's Island, called the ad- vance guard, and ordered to protect it and fort Sulli- van from the bayonets of Sir Henry Clinton's infan- try, then eucamped on Long Island, within sight of the redoubt. He had but two pieces of cannon and it was then first proved that the riflemen make the best gunners for artillery. The plan of attack was this: while the fleet attacked the forts, the British army was to land and storm them, if not already abandon- ed. An armed schooner and a flotilla of armed boats were ordered to attack Col. Thompson's redoubt, in order to cover the landing of the infantry. They did, indeed, repeatedly make the attack, but were always received by the cool, well-directed fire of the Orange- burg sharp-shooters, then for the first time firing can- non, loaded with grape shot; the flotilla was always repulsed with great loss.
"Mr. Alexander Forester, a near relation of the Row- and family, was in South Carolina at the commence- ment of the revolution, and like many other consci- encious but mistaken men, believed that his first duty was to his king. He returned after the revolution, and told my father in my presence, that he was one of the detachment ordered to land on the eastern end of the Island; that he was in the armed schooner, and that in every attempt made to reach the position as- signed to them, the destruction from Col Thompson's two cannon was so great, and their decks so repeat- edly swept by grape shot, that even the seamen could not be made to work the vessel, and the landing of the British troops was thus prevented. Col. Moultrie well merited the praises bestowed on him for so ably defending the fort, called fort Moultrie, in compliment
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ORANGEBURG COUNTY.
to its gallant defender: but the no less successful and important duty performed by Col. Thompson, at his station, is not generally known. They who suffered by it were the least willing to acknowledge their de- feat, and ascribed their failure to other causes. In their official despatches, they said that the flotilla became embarrassed among the shoals, and the channel proved too deep for the infantry to cross over."
* *
"In wishing you harmony and happiness, I beg leave to offer a toast, in which I believe all will cordially unite.
"Col. William Thompson and his gallant sharp- shooters of Orangeburg, as true in a fort as in a bush fight."
The following is an incomplete list of the officers of Thomson's regiment, made up from various sources:
RANK.
NAME.
APPOINTED.
REMARKS.
Colonel Lieut. Col.
Wm. Thomson Win. Thomson James Mayson
Ab: Jan. 1. 1777 June 18, 1775 Ab: Jan. 1, 1777
Promoted.
William Henderson Feb. 11, 1780
Major .*
..
James Mayson Samuel Wise
June 18, 1775 Ab: Jan. 1, 1777
Promoced. Killed at Savannah, Oct. 9th, 1778.
Adjutant .6
John Esom Charles Heatly
Ab: July 20, 1775+
Paymaster John Chesnut
June 21, 1775}
*On Dec. 2, 1775, a letter was addressed by Henry Laurens, President of the Council of Safety, to "Andrew Williamson, esq., Major in Col. Thomson's Regi- ment at Ninety-Six". This only meant that Major Williamson was, for the time being, serving under Col. Thomson-not that he belonged to the 3rd regi- ment.
From the Journal of Council of Safety for Jan. 11, 1776, we extract: "Col. Thomson and Major Ferguson of the rangers attended", &c. Maj. Ferguson probably bore the same relation to Col. Thomson that Maj. Williamson did, as recited above. He was not a Major in the 3rd regiment.
+"Col. Thomson attended the Council, and represented the necessity of having an Adjutant to the Regiment under his command.
"The Council taking the said representation into consideration,
"Resolved, That as the Congress had not appointed an Adjutant for the Regi- ment of Rangers, they can only approve of Col. Thomson's choice. and agree to recommend to the next Provincial Congress to provide the pay."-Journal of Council of Safety, July 10th, 1775.
"To Col. Thomson, for pay due to John Esom, Adjutant to his regiment of rangers, ........ £118 00 0" .- Journal of Council of Safety, Jan. 23rd, 1776.
#He was appointed on June 21st, but his commission was dated June 18th. See page 280.
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THE HISTORY OF
RANK.
NAME.
APPOINTED.
REMARKS.
Paymaster Surgeon Captain 66
WJohn James Haig* Alexander Rogers
Ab: Sept. 10. 1777 July 14, 1775
Samnel Wise
June 18. 1775
Ezekiel Polk
66
..
Promoted major. His company classed as vol- unteers.
66
John Caldwellf
Ely Kershaw
..
..
. .
66
Robert Goodwyng
..
. .
. 6
Moses Kirkland
..
..
. .
Edw'd Richardson
..
. .
..
..
Thos. Woodward
٠٠
..
Resigned Jan. 30, 1776.1
John Purvis
. 6
..
John Lewis Pever Imhoff
August, 1775 ..
Charles Heatly
66
Richard Winn
Mentioned 1876 66 ..
66
John Donaldson
Felix Warley
James Warley
66
. .
Richard Brown
October, 1776
..
Robert Lyles
Mentioned 1777
66
Thomas Taylor
1777
Resigned Oct. 1777#
..
J. Cara way Smith Maskall
1778
William Heatly, Jr.
Jesse Bakerº
John Buchananº
Wounded at Savannah, 1779.
..
Alexander Keithº Keithº
Thomas Marshallo
..
Richard Pollardo
..
Oliver Towlesº
Killed by "Bloody Bill" Cun- ingham's tories, Nov. 1781 **
Lieutenant John Lewis Peyer
Imhoff
June 18, 1775
Promoted Captain.
..
Charles Heatly.
..
..
Richard Winn
"Sir-Complaints have been frequently made to us, of great inconveniences arising to the regiment and detachments of rangers, from your non-attendance in person or by a sufficient deputy. It has been alleged, that long continued sickness has rendered you incapable of performing your duty; if this be true, you ought to have appointed proper clerks, and to have acquainted us with the cause of your absence. We desire you will immediately take such measures as will tend to the public service, and prevent further complaints in your de- partment.
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