USA > South Carolina > The history of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1780-1783 > Part 23
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1 Letter to Colonel Lee, Campaigns in the Carolinas, 356.
2 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 141.
VOL. IV. - S
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upon the return of Pickens, Clarke, and McCall from North Carolina, Clarke proceeded into Georgia with his troops, accompanied by McCall with a part of his regi- ment from South Carolina. About the 12th of April both these officers were seized with the small-pox. Clarke took a retired situation with a suitable guard until he recovered, during which time the command of the troops in Georgia was confided to Lieutenant-Colonel Micajah Williamson. McCall returned to Carolina, and unfor- tunately for his people and their cause, died from the disease.
When the Georgians returned to their country, they dispersed into parties of ten or twelve men each, so as to spread themselves over the settlements, appointing a place of rendezvous. When these small parties entered the settlements where they had formerly resided, says the historian of Georgia, general devastation was presented to their view; their aged fathers and youthful brothers had been hanged and murdered, their decrepit grandfathers were incarcerated in prisons, where most of them had been suffered to perish in filth, famine, or disease; and their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and young children had been robbed, insulted, and abused, and were found by them in temporary huts more resembling a savage camp than a civilized habitation. There is damning proof of the truth of this unvarnished tale, says this author, and the reader may imagine the feelings of the Georgian of that day and the measure of his resentment. Mercy to a Loyalist who had been active in outrage became inadmissible, and retalia- tion and carnage ensued.1 The Whig captains, Johnson and McKoy, with a few active followers, had taken a position in the swamps of the Savannah River, and were employed in watching the communications between Augusta
1 McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 362.
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and Savannah. They had frequently intercepted boats laden with provisions and other stores, which they secured or destroyed. To put a stop to this, Colonel Browne, who commanded the British garrison at Augusta, detached Lieutenant Kemp of the King's Rangers with ten soldiers and twenty militia to dislodge them. McKoy, hearing of the advance of the party, took an advantageous position near Mathews's Bluff and attacked them, though much superior in number to his own, killed the officer in com- mand and fifteen of his men, and compelled the remainder to retreat precipitately to Augusta.
Hearing of Colonel Harden's party in the neighborhood of Coosawhatchie, Colonel Browne ordered his royal militia to repair to Augusta to defend it; but they, covered with crimes, had no inclination to be cooped up in a garrison, lest they might be taken and receive the punishment due to them for their criminal offences. Many of them fled to the Indians and joined them in warfare against the frontier settlements.
Having called his troops, Browne determined to strike at Harden. He marched with the greater part of his own force and a number of Indians to drive him from the neighborhood.1 Guided by one Wylley, he encamped in a field at Wiggins's Hill for the night.2 Harden, joined by Johnston and McKoy, had advanced within a mile of the place where Browne was encamped, unaware of his approach. The two parties were then in striking distance, each ignorant of the other's position. Harden, first learning
1 Colonel Browne states his force to have been one hundred soldiers and seventy Indians, and that he was joined by four hundred loyal militia (Curwin's Journal, 653).
2 McCall, the historian of Georgia, represents Wylley as a captain in the British service, but Browne states that he was one of those who had taken the oaths and obtained protection, and on this occasion acted as guide and betrayed them (Curwin's Journal, supra).
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of Browne's position, decided to attack at once, hoping to carry Browne's encampment by surprise. Browne, it is said by McCall, had been warned by Wylley of the dan- gerous position he had taken, and the necessity to be on the alert when opposing an officer of Harden's enterprise, but, imprudent, and possessing no quality of an officer but courage, he had retired to a house some little dis- tance from the camp and had gone to sleep. By some intelligence Browne's officers were apprised of Harden's approach, and were forming their ranks when Harden's troops commenced the attack. The contest lasted half an hour, when, overpowered by superior numbers and discipline, Harden was compelled to retreat, which he effected in good order and carried off his wounded. The American loss was seven killed and eleven wounded. The loss of the enemy was about the same.1 Colonel Harden returned to an island in Coosawhatchie swamp, upon which, like Marion at Snow Island in the Pee Dee, he had established his headquarters. There his wounded were left until recovered. These wounded were for some time sheltered and furnished with food and other necessaries by three Whigs, William Rawls, Colton Rawls, and Leonard Tanner. Unfortunately Tanner was taken prisoner by some neighboring Loyalists while he was engaged in this service, and murdered because he would not discover the place where the wounded were concealed. Still greater atrocities followed. Among the prisoners taken at Wig- gins's Hill was Wylley, who had piloted Browne's detach- ment to Mathews's Bluff, and who they alleged had treach- erously led the detachment into that difficulty. He was
1 Colonel Browne states that the militia under his command during the action deserted to a man and joined Harden, who, thus reënforced, the next morning renewed the attack, but was again repulsed (Curwin's Journal, 654).
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turned over, it was said, by Browne to the Indians, who ripped him open with their knives in Browne's presence and tortured him to death. They stripped the inhabitants, both men and women, of their clothes, and then set fire to their houses.1 But the most tragic story of the time is that of Mrs. McKoy. This lady, a widow, whether a relative of Captain McKoy, who took so active a part here at the time, does not appear, had fled from her residence at Darien in Georgia into South Carolina for refuge. Her elder son, Rannal McKoy, a youth of seventeen years of age, was with Harden at Wiggins's Hill and was taken prisoner. His mother, hearing of his captivity, repaired at once to Browne's camp, having furnished herself with some refreshments which she presented to Browne as a means of obtaining more ready access. Browne accepted the refresh- ments, but turned a deaf ear to her entreaties, and would not permit her to have an interview with her son, whose fate she already foresaw. She was forced out of the camp. Captain Mckinnon, a Scotch officer, a soldier of honor, unused to such murderous warfare, is said to have remon- strated with Browne against hanging the youth, and to have given Mrs. McKoy some assurance that her son would be safe. Browne that night caused a pen to be made of fence rails about three feet high, in which he placed his prisoners and covered it over with the same materials. Mrs. McKoy, following her son, had come again to the camp, but was not permitted to enter it. Captain McKinnon, the advocate of humanity, was ordered out of the way. The next morning the prisoners, Rannal McKoy, Britton Williams, George Smith, George Reed, and a Frenchman
1 This is the story as told by McCall ; but it is due to justice to say that Colonel Browne denies it, and states that Wylley (or Willie as he spells the name) was killed instantly by an Indian chief with a tomahawk, because of their betrayal by him.
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whose name is not known, were ordered forth to the gal- lows ; and, after hanging until they were nearly dead, they were cut down and delivered to the Indians, who scalped them and otherwise abused their bodies in their accustomed savage manner.1 But notwithstanding these cruelties the people were not subdued. Captain McKoy soon returned to his station on the banks of the Savannah, and had the address to keep together a party sufficient to intercept supplies going up the river to the British garri- son at Augusta.2
In the meanwhile General Pickens, since his return from North Carolina, had been engaged in rousing the people in Ninety Six District, in which he was most zealously and ably seconded by the two Hammonds, Colonel Samuel Hammond and Colonel Le Roy Hammond. Colonel Samuel Hammond, joined by Major James Jackson of Georgia, was charged to pass into Georgia for similar purposes. Passing through Ninety Six District, they arrived on the Savannah River near Pace's Ferry, in what is now Edgefield County, about twenty-four miles above Augusta; there they were joined by Captain Thomas Kee of Colonel Le Roy Hammond's regi- ment, with a number of men. The next day Captain Kee was detached to attack a party of Tories assembled under a Captain Clarke at his residence on Horner's Creek, a branch of Stevens's Creek, in what is now Edgefield County. Clarke was killed and the company all made prisoners. The party then marched to Colonel Le Roy Hammond's mill on the Savannah, attacked the British post there, broke up the mill, and took all the provisions belonging to the enemy.
1 Colonel Browne admits the execution on the gallows of McKoy and eleven others, but alleges that they were executed because of the murder of Kemp and his party. He also admits that he ordered the horses of the plunderers of the king's stores to be burnt (Curwin's Journal, 654).
2 Ramsay's Revolution, vol. II, 236-238 ; McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 362, 366.
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Joined by two or three hundred men from Colonel LeRoy Hammond's regiment in a few days, Colonel Samuel Ham- mond's force was now so increased as to justify the detach- ment of Major Jackson to cross into Georgia and to join the troops collecting on that side of the river.1
On the 16th of April, that is three days after Harden had captured Fort Balfour, and the day after Marion and Lee had laid siege to Fort Watson, Lieutenant-Colonel William- son of Georgia, in the absence of Colonel Clarke, who was ill with the small-pox, having reassembled their men at the ap- pointed rendezvous on Little River, marched to Augusta, where he was joined by some militia from the southern part of that State with a few men from Burke County. Williamson took position at twelve hundred yards dis- tance from the British lines, and fortified his camp. If Browne had moved out at once and attacked him, the issue would probably have been favorable to the British, as they had the advantage of the artillery. But Browne was de- terred by the exaggerated reports of Williamson's strength. General Pickens at this time, as before mentioned, with about four hundred men of Anderson's regiment, was manœuvring between Augusta and Ninety Six, to pre- vent the garrison of that place, under Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger, from reinforcing Browne, having Colonels Bran- don and Hayes hovering on the eastward of Ninety Six to recruit their forces and intercept supplies from that quarter.2
About the 15th of May Colonel Clarke, having so far re- covered from the small-pox as to resume his command, came into camp, bringing with him a reenforcement of one hun- dred men. About this time a Major Dill collected a party of Loyalists, with the intention of joining Browne and
1 Memoirs of Colonel Samuel Hammond, Johnson's Traditions, 507.
2 McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 367.
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forcing the Americans to raise the siege, but Clarke de- spatched Captains Shelby and Carr with a party of moun- taineers and Georgians, who surprised them on Walker's bridge on Brier Creek, killed and wounded a number, and dispersed the rest without sustaining any loss.1 Believing himself now secure against the necessity of a retreat, Clarke sent the horses of his troops with a guard of six men to Beech Island, below Augusta, on the Carolina side. Browne, learning of this, despatched a party of regular troops, militia, and Indians down on the river bank and in canoes to cut off the guard and bring off the horses. Clarke ordered Shelby and Carr at once in pursuit, but too late ; Browne's detachment succeeded in the enterprise, killed the guard, and were returning with the booty when Shelby and Carr, lying in wait in a thicket, attacked them, and following their example, spared the life of none that fell into their hands. Nearly half of the detachment of the enemy were killed and the rest ran away. The horses were recovered without loss.2 Thus had Pickens been gathering his forces around Augusta, which was practically in a state of siege from the 15th of May.
General Greene having determined upon the investment of Ninety Six, his first object was to prevent the garrison's escape into Georgia, and for this purpose ordered Colonel Lee thither with all despatch; and thus it was that, while Lord Rawdon was sending message after message to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Cruger to abandon the post, Pickens on the one side and Greene upon the other, independently of
1 Captain Moses Shelby was a brother of Colonel Isaac Shelby ; he had served at the siege of Savannah and at Cowpens (King's Mountain and its Heroes, 171, 417). Captain Patrick, or Paddy, Carr had been an Indian trader, a reckless and brutal man, who had served at King's Mountain (Ibid., 124, 125, 340, 341).
2 McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 368.
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each other and with different motives, were alike manœu- vring to prevent his doing so. Lee, with his usual prompt- ness and vigor, began his march in the course of a few hours after the surrender of Maxwell, proceeding thirteen miles that evening. Resuming his march at a very early hour next morning, he pressed forward with the utmost expedition, relieving his fatigued troops by occasionally dismounting his dragoons and mounting his infantry. Approaching Ninety Six in the course of his march, he de- tached a squadron of horse under Major Rudulph towards the post with the hope by his sudden dash of seizing pris- oners, from whom information could be obtained of the state of the garrison. Rudulph, concealing his approach, appeared suddenly near the town, but was not so fortunate as to find a single individual of the garrison without the lines. From two countrymen whom he seized he learned that Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger, hearing of Greene's ad- vance upon Camden, had been industriously engaged in strengthening his fortifications and was determined not to abandon his post. This information Lee at once forwarded to Greene, thus removing any apprehension on his part that Cruger would attempt to reinforce Browne. Lee reached the vicinity of Augusta on the third day of his march, having covered seventy-five miles from Fort Granby in that time. And row again Lee met with his usual fortune of reaping where others had sown.
The British continued, during the war, the customary sending of annual presents to the Indians, and thus secur- ing to the Royal government their allegiance and assist- ance. It happened that this was just about the time for the presents to be sent, and Clarke, on the lookout for their coming, had ordered some of his men down the river to intercept them. The boats containing the goods appeared as expected, and were at once attacked by the party Clarke
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had sent who drove their guard into Fort Galphin, or Fort Dreadnought, as it was sometimes called, the boats lying under cover of its guns. This fort, as it was called, was, like Fort Motte, a small stockade around the farmhouse of George Galphin, who had been a deputy superintendent of Indian affairs. It was situated on the north, or South Caro- lina, side of the Savannah River, twelve miles below Augusta, and was garrisoned by two companies of Colonel Browne's infantry. The stream, though narrow here, is deep, and riflemen among the trees which covered its bank swept the decks of the boats not provided against such an attack. Here Clarke was carefully guarding this invaluable prize when joined by Pickens and now some days after by Lee.1 This latter officer had been preceded by one of his officers, Captain O'Neall, with a light party of horse charged with the collection of provisions and information, and from this officer he learned the pleasing intelligence when at some distance. Upon reaching the neighborhood, Colonel Lee was complimented with the request to undertake the re- duction of the post, and he detached Major Rudulph of the Legion upon the enterprise. A strong detachment of Georgia and South Carolina troops, the latter consisting of Colonel Hammond's regiment except one company and what of Colonel Harden's regiment was with him, marched to cover and cooperate with Major Rudulph; but the fort capitulated on the 21st of May after little resistance and slight loss to the Americans; one man died of heat and fatigue, and 8 or 10 were wounded. The British lost 3 or 4 killed and 126 prisoners, including 70 commissioned officers and privates in the regular service. But the most valuable acquisition was a quantity of clothing, blankets, small arms, rum, salt, and other articles which were much
1 McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 370 ; Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 131.
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needed, and some ammunition and articles of military equipment.1
Colonel Lee, whose ambition and selfishness in the in- terests of his own command had embroiled himself and the Commander-in-chief with two of the three South Caro- lina generals, had now entered upon a service which brought him into contact, without bringing him under the command, of the third. Fortunately for the service, General Pickens possessed both a modesty and a tact which were at once illustrated upon his again coming to act with the Continental troops after serving with them in North Carolina. He appealed at once to Greene, represent- ing the destitute condition of the men under his command, and begged that they might be permitted to share in some part of the goods taken at Fort Galphin. He had been a favorite of Greene's in the North Carolina campaign, and Greene at once responded to his appeal, and authorized him to divide the whole according to his sense of justice and the good of the service. Pickens set aside the mili- tary stores for the public service, sent thirteen wagons with rum, salt, sugar, medicines, etc., for the main army, and divided the clothing into three equal parts, one of which he assigned to Georgia, another to South Carolina, and the third to the Continental troops. At Greene's sug- gestion the fowling-pieces, of which the number was con- siderable, were divided among the militia, only making the distribution the means of retaining them for a specified time in service.2 It having been arranged between Gen-
1 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 131 ; McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 371. Colonel Lee's account of this affair has not been followed, because Judge Johnson shows that he was not present ; and this is admitted by Mr. Lee in his reply to Judge Johnson (see Campaigns in the Caro- linas, 390).
2 Johnson's Life of Greene, vol. II, 132.
1
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eral Pickens and Colonel Lee that the latter should con- duct the operations against the post at Galphin's plantation while the former made the necessary arrangements and preparations for the complete investure of Augusta, upon the return of Rudulph from Fort Galphin General Pickens prepared for the purpose.
The post at Augusta was defended by two works, called Fort Cornwallis and Fort Grierson, constructed near the river bank, about half a mile distant from each other. Fort Grierson was erected near a ravine that falls into the Savannah about half a mile above the town, and Fort Cornwallis lower down the river. The forts were supplied with water from the river, but, situated on a plain not much elevated above the river bed, water could be obtained only by digging. Colonel Browne, commanding the British forces in upper Georgia, had his headquarters in Fort Cornwallis, which was garrisoned by about 320 pro- vincials, with 200 negroes, who, if not armed, relieved the regular troops of fatigue duties and work upon the fortifi- cations. Fort Grierson was defended by about 80 militia and two pieces of artillery. At a point equally calcu- lated to act upon either fort, Pickens constructed a small work for the purpose of using his artillery with security and effect. On the 23d of May a junction was formed by Pickens, Lee, and Clarke; and after reconnoitring the ground and the British works, it was determined to dislodge Colonel Grierson and to destroy or intercept him in his retreat to Fort Cornwallis. General Pickens and Colonel Clarke were to attack the fort on the north- west, while the militia and Major Eaton's North Carolina battalion,1 and some Georgia militia under Major Jackson,
1 Major Pinketham Eaton began his military career as a captain in the Third North Carolina Continental Regiment. His commission as captain was dated 16th of April, 1776, and on the 22d of November, 1777, he was
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were to pass down the river and attack the work upon the northeast, while Lee, with his infantry and artillery, took a position south of the fort, so as to support Eaton or keep Browne in check if he should come out to attempt to save Grierson's command in case he should evacuate his works and retreat to Fort Cornwallis. The cavalry, un- der Eggleston, were posted on the skirt of the woods to the south of Lee, ready to fall upon Browne's rear if he attempted to sally out. Discovering that Grierson was in a critical situation, Browne drew out a part of the com- mand and advanced with two field-pieces with the appear- ance of giving battle to save Grierson, who was warmly assailed by Pickens and Eaton. Lee opposed Browne, who, not deeming it prudent under existing circumstances to persevere in the attempt, confined his interposition to a cannonade, which was returned by Lee, with very little effect on either side. Grierson, finding that resistance would be vain, determined to abandon the position and throw his command into Fort Cornwallis. He attempted to retreat under cover of the river bank, but Colonel Clarke intercepted him, and his whole party were killed, wounded, or taken. The opportunity of revenge upon any of Browne's men was not avoided; and, indeed, it is said that Grierson had likewise rendered himself pecul- iarly odious to the Georgians by his cruel practices.1 In Georgia the war between Whig and Tory was now waged without quarter, and in this affair the Georgians bore the
promoted to be major. He had been General Jethro Sumner's most active assistant in raising the new levies, and was the first officer assigned to active service in the campaign of 1781. His early promotion, and the admiration which General Sumner had for him, is sufficient evidence of his skill and courage as a soldier ; and Lee testifies to his great amiability of temper, which had endeared him to his comrades. - No. Ca. in 1780- 81 (Schenck), 418.
1 McCall's Hist. of Ga., vol. II, 274.
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principal part. The killed were far beyond the usual pro- portion to wounded and prisoners - thirty were killed and only forty odd made prisoners. A few only of the Americans were wounded, and fewer still killed ; but, un- fortunately, among the latter was Major Eaton of North Carolina, who some accounts represent as falling gallantly at the head of his battalion, while others intimate that he was made a prisoner and put to death in cold blood.1 He had been but a short time in this service, but long enough, it appears, to have endeared himself to his comrades.
Pickens and Lee now pressed forward their measures against Fort Cornwallis, into which Browne had retired without rendering any assistance to Grierson. On his return to the fort, finding that he would be closely invested, he applied himself to strengthen his position in every part. It is said that he placed a prisoner, an aged citizen named Alexander, and others whom he had long in cap- tivity, in one of the bastions most exposed to the fire of the American batteries, one of which was manned by Captain Samuel Alexander's rifle company, thus exposing the father to be killed by the hand of his son, but which fate fortu- nately the father escaped. The Americans had but one field-piece, a six-pounder ; and they found great difficulty in the use of this, as the surrounding ground presented no swell or hill which would enable them to bring it to bear upon the enemy. At Lee's suggestion resort was had to the Maham tower which had been used so successfully at the reduction of Fort Watson. This tower, consisting of a pen of logs raised about thirty feet high, was thrown up under cover of an old frame house which Browne had allowed to remain near the fort. Browne made two sorties, one on the night of the 28th and one on that of the 29th ; but both of these were successfully met by the infantry of Lee's Legion.
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