USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1775-1780 > Part 3
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CHAPTER XXV 1780
Sir Henry Clinton writes to Lord Germain : not a Continental officer or soldier in the field - All leaders of the Revolution prisoners or dead but one, John Rutledge - Royal authority might yet have been restored in South Carolina - Two hundred citizens congratulate the British com- manders - Their address considered - Popular belief that Congress in- tended to sacrifice the three Southern States - Its grounds stated - John Mathews's account and his action - French minister's letter upon subject- Duane's letter upon same - Resolution of Congress upon subject - Inju- dicious measures of British commanders - British commission to divide spoils - Immense stores and plunder taken - Bitter controversy over division of spoils between British army and navy - Difference between receipts and certificates given for stores taken - Great number of negroes taken and shipped away, others die - Sir Henry Clinton anxious to return to New York before arrival of French fleet - His instructions to Earl Cornwallis - Attempts to inaugurate ministerial scheme of subduing America by Americans - Handbill published and circulated - Proclama- tion of British commanders as peace commissioners - Effect counter- acted by Tarleton's massacre of Buford's men and Sir Henry Clinton's course - Sir Henry issues proclamation recalling paroles given, and call- ing upon all citizens to do military duty - Its disastrous effects - Con-
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CONTENTS
demned by British authors - Less candid view published by military authority in Charlestown - Mistaken treatment of the Scotch-Irish in upper country converts them into implacable enemies of Royal authority. 533-560
CHAPTER XXVI 1780
Sir Henry Clinton embarks for New York, leaving Earl Cornwallis in command in South Carolina - The positions of his forces - Lord Rawdon advances to the Waxhaws- New actors appear upon the scene - Parti- san warfare inaugurated - Sketches of Sumter, Marion, and Davie - The battle of Ramsour's Mill. 561-586.
CHAPTER XXVII 1780
Internecine strife in the upper country - Scotch loyal to the King, and rise with the advance of the British army - Bratton disperses the Tories at Mobley's Meeting-house - Tory uprising at Beckham's Old Field put down - Bratton hesitates to advise his neighbors, but himself joins Sum- ter - Lord Rawdon sends commissioner to meeting at Bullock's Creek - Colonel Hill addresses meeting - Companies organized under Hill and Neel -Colonel Turnbull sends Captain Huck to investigate affairs at Beckham's Old Field - Huck's character - Atrocities and murder com- mitted by Huck's party - Rev. John Simpson's house and library burned - Sumter moves into South Carolina, establishes camp at Clem's Creek, and gathers distinguished leaders around him : Hill, Neel, Richard Hamp- ton, Hammond, Clarke of Georgia, Bratton, McClure, and Lacey - Battle of Williamson's plantation - Bratton, McClure, and Lacey attack and defeat Huck's party - Huck killed - Mrs. Bratton's noble conduct - Affair at Stallions - Mrs. Stallions's tragic death - Colonel Ferguson sent by Cornwallis to Ninety-Six - His remarkable character and con- duct - Major Hanger joins Ferguson - His character - Their successful course - Whig congregation at Fair Forest - Romantic incident of Mrs. John Thomas warning her son of impending attack -Tories attack Colonel John Thomas, Jr., and are defeated - Colonel Browne, from Augusta, sends Hollingsworth into South Carolina in pursuit of Captain McKoy - Hollingsworth's atrocities and cruelty - Colonel Clarke attempts to organize party to join Sumter, but fails -Colonel Jones succeeds in doing so - Jones joins McDowell - McDowell and Jones are surprised by Dunlap, and their followers cut to pieces - Freeman rallies remainder - Edward Hampton pursues Dunlap, overtakes him, and destroys his party - The whole Up-Country ablaze - Summary of affairs. 587-616.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVIII
1780
Tyrannical conduct of British commanders - Lord Rawdon's instruc- tions to Rugeley in regard to deserters and those aiding them - Arrest of citizens of Camden - Effect of British violations of paroles - Colonel Lisle carries over a battalion of militia to Sumter - Davie crosses into South Carolina - Takes position in the Waxhaws - Follows up the blow at Williamson's plantation - Falls upon and captures convoy near Hanging Rock - Sumter joins Davie at Landsford - Council held, decides to attack the British at Hanging Rock and Rocky Mount - Sumter attacks Rocky Mount - Is repulsed - Davie again successfully attacks and defeats a party at Hanging Rock, and captures horses and arms in face of garrison - Detachments again meet at Landsford - Attack upon garrison at Ilang- ing Rock determined upon - British forces there - Plan of attack dis- cussed - Davie disapproves, but is overruled by Sumter- Account of the battle - Sumter at first successful, but battle lost by plundering British stores - Losses on both sides - Ferguson advances - Threatens North Carolina - McDowell calls upon Sevier and Shelby for assistance - Sevier sends party under Major Robertson - Clarke again makes head in Georgia, enters South Carolina, and is joined by McCall -Capture of Patrick Moore, noted Royalist - His escape - McDowell, Shelby, and Clarke attack Thicketty Fort and take it - Ferguson advances upon Shelby and Clarke - Culbertson's episode - Battle of Old Iron Works, or second battle of Cedar Spring - Both parties claim the victory - Losses on both sides - Summary of these affairs. 617-640.
CHAPTER XXIX 1780
Major Wemyss marches to Cheraw - Atrocities committed by British and Tories - Wemyss returns to Georgetown - Major McArthur with Seventy-first Regiment posted at the Cheraws -The Harrisons, men of bad character, given commissions by the British - The Seventy-first Regiment suffers from the climate - Bloody episode of the capture and escape of the Ayers - The affair at Hunt's Bluff - The Whigs capture Colonel Mills, with convoy of sick - Mills escapes - Ardesoif's proclamation, car- rying out Sir Henry Clinton's - Public meeting at Williamsburg thereon - Major James sent to learn definitely as to its terms - His interview with Ardesoif thereon - His escape and organization of nucleus of Marion's br :- gade - Mariou chosen leader - Tory murders - Tarleton marches again t
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CONTENTS
the Whigs - McCottry pursues Tarleton - Tarleton, disguised, deceives Mr. Bradley, a Whig - Bradley arrested - His treatment - Hugh Horry joins Marion - Marion arrives and takes command of brigade - On the move - Attacks Gainey - Major James's exploit - Marion ambuscades a party of Tories - Summary of engagements. 641-654.
CHAPTER XXX
1780
De Kalb marches with the Maryland and Delaware line for the relief of Charlestown -- Sketch of De Kalb - His arrival with Lafayette - His march to Deep River, North Carolina - General Caswell prepares to join him with North Carolina, and General Stevens with Virginia, militia - Washington desires Greene to succeed Lincoln, but Congress appoints Gates - Gates arrives and supersedes De Kalb - He advances - His mis- taken line of march - Suffering of his troops - Threatened mutiny - The way prepared for Gates- Lord Rawdon falls back from Hanging Rock - Caswell joins Gates - Want of discipline in Caswell's militia - Gates's difficulties increase - Refuses the assistance of White and Wash- ington's dragoons - Approaches the enemy without cavalry - Encum- bered by women, children, and baggage - Positions of the two armies - Expresses reach Lord Cornwallis, at Charlestown, of Gates's approach - He sets out immediately for Camden - Stevens joins Gates - Gates enter- tains spy from Camden - Sumter informs Gates of approach of British wagon train and convoy ; proposes to capture it - Gates assents, details Colonel Woolford to assist him- Sumter captures convoy and train - Gates orders an advance - His disposition for battle - Offends Colonel Armand - Has no returns of his troops - His estimate of his force - Calls a council - Determines to fight - Lord Cornwallis determines to attack Gates - Ignorant of each other's movements, both armies advance to battle - Cornwallis's disposition - Collision of advance parties - Gates's surprise at movement of Cornwallis - Calls council - De Kalb advises retreat - Stevens declares it too late - Disposition for battle - Accounts of the battle - Gates's incompetency - He is defeated and flees - Rout and slaughter ensue - Death of De Kalb - Davie meets Gates - Gates orders him to fall back - Davie refuses - Davie sends message to warn Sumter - Cornwallis dispatches Tarleton to overtake Sumter and rescue prisoners - Tarleton surprises Sumter, and cuts his party to pieces - Sumter escapes. 655-685.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXI
1780
Ferguson receives express from Turnbull telling of Sumter's attack upon Hanging Rock, and orders to join him - Ferguson sets out to do so - McDowell, Shelby, and Clarke thereupon determine to attack the British post at Musgrove's Mills, exposed by Ferguson's absence - McCall, Hammond, Williams, and Brandon join the expedition - Sketch of Will- iams and Brandon - Shelby, Clarke, and Williams in joint command - Their rapid march - Collision of advanced parties - Colonel Innes com- mands British force - Its composition - Battle of Musgrove's Mills takes place - Account of it - In the moment of victory express arrives inform- ing Shelby and Clarke of Gates's defeat - They decide to retreat with their prisoners - Retreat successfully conducted - Losses in the battle - Women visit the battle-field - Marion rescues the prisoners taken by the British at Camden - Some of the rescued prisoners desert - Major James surprises Wemyss near Williamsburg, and takes prisoners - Marion retreats to North Carolina. 686-702.
CHAPTER XXXII 1780
Lord Cornwallis's critical position notwithstanding his great victory - Leaders of the Revolution all prisoners and Continental army destroyed, but new men spring up in their places -Sixteen battles fought in six weeks - Comparative losses and gains - Cornwallis's troops suffer from sickness - His difficulty in recruiting - Failure of scheme of conquering Americans by Americans-Severe measures taken by him to suppress the rising of the people - His unwise and cruel orders - Citizens at Camden hanged - Convention of Loyalist militia - Their agreement - Treatment of citizens in Charlestown - Balfour succeeds Patterson as commandant of the town - His character - Citizens arrested and sent to St. Augustine - Moultrie protests - Questions as to their paroles consid- ered - New paroles required of exiles -Christopher Gadsden refuses to give his, and is confined in the Castle at St. Augustine - Treatment of exiles - Certain citizens accept protection - The property of others con- fiscated - Effects of Cornwallis's administration. 703-730.
CHAPTER XXXIII 1780
Clarke leaves prisoners with Williams, and returns to Georgia - Will- iams safely conducts prisoners to Hillsboro, and is made Brigadier General
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CONTENTS
- Browne carries out Cornwallis's sanguinary orders - Clarke and McCall attempt the recovery of Georgia - McCall attempts to raise a force in Ninety-Six District - Pickens refuses to come out - McCall raises but eighty men - With these he joins Clarke - They advance upon Augusta, and lay siege to the town - Account of the siege - Siege raised - Colonel Cruger pursues Clarke, who escapes into North Carolina - Davie again in the field - Made Colonel of cavalry - Cornwallis, reenforced, marches to the Waxhaws- Davie's brilliant affair at Wahub's plantation - Corn- wallis crosses the Catawba and advances upon Charlotte - Davie opposes his advance - His fight with the British Legion - His little band keeps Cornwallis's whole army at bay -Cornwallis, at Charlotte, finds difficulty in obtaining supplies - Marion returns - Sends James to obtain informa- tion - Wemyss's brutal conduct - Hangs Cusack in presence of his wife and family - Marion returns from North Carolina - Attacks and defeats Tynes at Black Mingo- Postell captures De Peyster - Summary of events. 731-754.
CHAPTER XXXIV
1780
Ferguson's movements - Ambuscaded by McDowell at Cowan's Ford - Retires to Gilbert Town- Sends threats to the mountain men - His message rouses them, and they determine to destroy him - Shelby and Sevier send for Cleveland - Sevier borrows the public money from Adair, the entry taker - Shelby sends to Colonel Campbell, in Virginia, asking assistance - Campbell hesitates, but decides to join expedition - Camp at Sycamore Shoals - Expedition set out after prayer for divine assistance - Two men desert to the enemy - Line of march changed - Message sent by McDowell to Gates, asking for appointment of a leader - Mean- while Colonel Campbell requested to command - Cleveland's address to his followers - Major Candler, with party of Georgians, joins the expedi- tion- Sumter's men refuse to recognize Williams's appointment as Briga- dier General - History of his relations with Sumter and his followers, and of the causes of their opposition to him - Delegation sent to Governor Rutledge protesting against his appointment - Meanwhile, Lacey and Hill command Sumter's brigade - Williams, Brandon, and Hill organize party in North Carolina - Two parties march separately - Williams and Bran- don attempt to induce mountaineers to go into Ninety-Six - Lacey's great night ride to counteract their movements - He succeeds - All parties unite at Cowpens. 755-775.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXV
1780
Ferguson intent upon intercepting Clarke's fugitives - Awakens to the gathering clans around him - Informs Cornwallis, and promises to join him - His curious proclamation - His movements and dispatches to Cornwallis - Neither dispatch reaches his lordship - He takes posi- tion at King's Mountain - Position described - Interesting exploits of Whig spies - Colonel Campbell continued in command - Strength of the respective parties of Whigs- Dispositions made for the attack - Night march - And rain - Gilmer the scout's exploit - Position and strength of Ferguson's party ascertained - Plan of battle agreed upon - Battle fought between Americans, Whigs and Tories - No British troops pres- ent -Composition and strength of Ferguson's force - Characteristics of the Whig troops engaged - Final disposition for the fight - Account of the battle - Ferguson killed - De Peyster surrenders - Firing after white flag raised, partly accidental, partly in revenge - Further bloodshed - By mistake, Williams killed - Ferguson's heroic conduct - Losses on both sides -The mountaineers depart - Lacey and Hill remain in the neighborhood - Trial and execution of prisoners for treason. 776-805.
CHAPTER XXXVI 1780
Cornwallis harassed by Davie as he lies at Charlotte - Rumors of Ferguson's defeat - Cornwallis sends Tarleton to Ferguson's assistance - Tarleton reluctantly obeys - Rumors of Ferguson's defeat confirmed - Cornwallis precipitately retreats - Difficulties of his retreat through the Waxhaws - Is taken ill - Rawdon assumes command - British take position at Winnsboro - Their plan of campaign disconcerted - Disposi- tion of the troops for defence - Governor Rutledge appoints Sumter Brigadier General, and puts him in command of all South Carolina militia - His instructions to Sumter - Marion also appointed Brigadier General - Whole country from Santee to Pee Dee in arms - Tarleton sent to crush Marion - His brutal conduct at Richardson's plantation - Marion retreats - North Carolina militia advance from Charlotte - Davie follows Cornwallis into South Carolina - Sumter again takes the field - Wemyss attacks Sumter at Fishdam and is defeated - Himself badly wounded and taken prisoner - Tarleton recalled from pursuit of Marion to meet Sumter - His rapid march across the State - Sumter seeks battle at Williamson's
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CONTENTS
plantation, but British refuse to meet him - Tarleton attempts to sur- prise Sumter, but fails- Sumter takes position at Blackstock - Tarleton attacks him there, but is defeated - Sumter badly wounded - Tarleton claims the victory, but British as well as American authors deny it - Clarke and McCall attempt to raise the militia in Ninety-Six - Are joined by Colonel Few, who assumes command - Cruger sends Colonel Allen to attack them - Battle takes place at Long Cane -Clarke and McCall and Lindsay wounded - Few defeated - Atrocities of Buford massacre repeated - Lindsay killed after battle. 806-834.
CHAPTER XXXVII
1780
Events in the Northern States during the year 1780 - Arrival of the French fleet - Washington endeavors to procure reinforcements to his army - Estimates of its strength - Its weakness not owing to numbers sent to South Carolina, but to the low condition of public sentiment at the North - Washington's difficulties in obtaining supplies - Action of Congress allowing supplies in kind to be furnished - New Jersey's action thereon - Bills drawn on Jay and Laurens - Greene resigns as Quarter- master General - Miserable condition of Washington's army - Committee of Congress visits it, but affords no relief - Mutiny of Connecticut regi- ments - Lafayette returns from France with news of the coming of another French fleet - Fleet arrives - Arrangements for cooperation with it - French troops disembark at Newport - British navy, reenforced, blocks up Newport harbor and "bottles up" the French - Arnold's treason follows, and André's execution - Controversy over committee of Congress's report -Continental and French armies go into winter quarters - Review of what had been accomplished in South Carolina during this year, with tables of battles and casualties. 835-858.
INDEX
859
1
MAPS AND PLANS
Frontispiece MAP. THE BATTLE-FIELDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1775-80
BETWEEN PAGES
MAP OF BATTLE OF FORT MOULTRIE, 1776
139-140
MAP OF CHARLESTOWN NECK, 1779 . . 355-356
PLAN OF SIEGE OF CHARLESTOWN, 1780 . . 444-445
PLAN OF BATTLE OF CAMDEN . · . . 672-673
PLAN OF BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN
·
. 780-781
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HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE REVOLUTION
CHAPTER I
1775
THE battle of Lexington in 1775 precipitated the war of the Revolution, just as that of Fort Sumter in 1861 did the War of Secession ; and although the condition of affairs rendered the commencement of hostilities in each of these cases imminent, if not inevitable, each party sought to throw the blame of beginning the war upon its opponent. But when public affairs have reached the pass that armed men confront each other, it is useless to ask who struck the first blow. Neither party will forbear to strike when it sees its advantage to do so. Nor does the striking in such cases always depend upon the volition of either of the parties who so stand before each other ; an accident may at any time bring on the collision.
The American colonies were not prepared or ready to commit themselves to hostilities when the excitement or mistake of one, or of both, of the parties brought on the battle of Lexington. And so it was that rather than boast of and glory in this, the initiatory act of the war, as Ameri- cans now do, both the British and Americans disowned it, and took immediate steps to demonstrate to the world, and to perpetuate the testimony, that they severally were not the aggressors. The British officers alleged that they were fired on from a stone wall before they attacked the VOL. III. - B 1
2
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
militia company at Lexington ; while on the part of the Americans numerous depositions were taken, all going to prove that both at Lexington and at the bridge near Concord the first fire was received by them ; and care was taken to lay these depositions before the Continental Congress as early as possible, when that body met in May.1 So, too, the intelligence of the capture of Ticonderoga was imme- diately communicated to Congress, and the resolution adopted in consequence furnishes, says Marshall, strong evidence of the solicitude felt by that body to exonerate the government in the opinion of the people at large from all suspicion of aggression, or of provoking a continuance of the war by transcending the limits of self-defence.2 Even after the battle of Bunker Hill had been fought the Continental Congress sent "a decent, dutiful, and truly filial petition " to the king by the hands of Gov- ernor Penn of Pennsylvania, who, being called to its bar and examined by the House of Lords, thereon absolutely denied the charge that any designs of independency had been formed by Congress, and assured that body that the war was levied and carried on by the colonists merely in defence of what they thought their liberties ; adding, however, that the spirit of resistance was general, and that the colonists believed themselves able to defend those liber- ties against the arms of Great Britain.3
Such, at the time of the arrival of Lord William Camp- bell, Governor of South Carolina, was the extreme posi- tion of the revolutionists in the province.4
1 Marshall's Life of Washington, vol. II, 200, 207.
2 Ibid., 205, 206.
3 Annual Register, vol. XIX (1776), 95 ; Gordon's Amer. War, vol. II, 231.
4 Lord William Campbell was the third brother of the Duke of Argyle, and had married Miss Sarah Izard, daughter of Ralph Izard of South Carolina. See Hist. of So. Ca. under Roy. Gov. (McCrady), 709, 794.
3
IN THE REVOLUTION
It will be remembered that the Provincial Congress, which upon the receipt of the news of the battle of Lex- ington had been reconvened upon the 4th of June, 1775, that day being a Sunday, after divine service had been performed before it, had organized an Association which was practically a provisional government of the people. The instrument embodying this government having been prepared, was with great solemnity then signed by Henry Laurens, President of the Congress, and after the Presi- dent each member had affixed his name, whereby he bound himself under every tie of religion and honor to stand with his fellow-members as a band in defence of South Carolina against any foe, solemnly engaging that when- ever the Continental or Provincial Councils should deem it necessary, they would go forth ready to sacrifice their lives and fortunes to secure her freedom and safety. This was the first independent or revolutionary government set up in any of the colonies.
To carry on this government the Congress before it adjourned had appointed three committees and a Council of Safety, to which it had delegated large and compre- hensive powers.
1. There was the General Committee composed for con- venience of the representatives in that body from Charles- town, as they could easily be convened for the despatch of business, and also of such other members of the Con- gress as happened at any time to be in the town, who were required to attend. This body was both judicial and executive. It was its function to explain the regulations of Congress -- a vast power in itself - and to cause them to be executed. The immediate representative of the town had jurisdiction as to the collection of debts. A subcommittee of Inspection was formed to take cognizance of the arrival of vessels and of cargoes, and also of the
4
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
conduct of the people, and to report thereon to the General Committee, whose directions they were to obey. The representatives of the parishes and districts composed their local committees, and they were also assisted by commit- tees of Inspection.1
2. The Secret Committee of five persons, which had been appointed on the 16th of January, under a resolution couched in the following general terms, " calculated," as it was said, " to bear ample construction for the public service."
"Resolved that a secret committee of five proper persons be appointed by the President of this Congress to procure and distribute such articles as the present insecure state of the interior parts of this colony renders necessary for the better defence and security of the good people of those parts and other necessary purposes. Resolved that this Congress will indemnify and support the said committee in all their doings touching the premises." 2
The members of the committee were: William Henry Drayton, Arthur Middleton, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, William Gibbes, and Edward Weyman.
3. On the 3d of May a private letter had been received from Arthur Lee in London, intimating that a plan had been laid before the Royal government for instigating the negroes to insurrection, which seems to have been believed, and to have been regarded as more alarming because it was known that some of the negroes entertained the idea that the contest was for their emancipation. To meet, therefore, whatever might arise, a Special Committee was appointed to form such plans as they should think immediately necessary to be carried into execution "for the security of the good people of the colony." The members of the committee were: William Henry Drayton,
1 Memoirs of the Revolution (Drayton), vol. I, 175.
2 Ibid., 221 ; Hist. of So. Ca. under Roy. Gov. (McCrady), 786.
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