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  Seven years of British determination to bring South Carolina to her knees met failure. The spirit that had long resisted royal edict and church canon, the fierce desire and indomitable will to be masters of their own destinies, and the dauntless courage that had carved a new way of life from a wilderness were again threatened by oppression; so, little difference was felt among nationalities and creeds, causing a unity to grow among the new world "peasants and shepherds" that shook the foundations of old regimes. By mid-summer, 1781, the Continentals under Major General Nathanael Greene had gained virtual control of South Carolina. The retreating British, disillusioned and sick with summer heat, united forces under Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart at Orangeburg and began their march to Charleston. Early in September, the 2,300 well-equipped British camped in cool shade beside the gushing springs of Eutaw, little dreaming the Continentals were close upon their heels. Maj. Gen. Greene, hearing of Washington's plan to encircle and embarrass the British at Yorktown, determined to prevent Southern aid from reaching the beleaguered Lt. Gen. Charles Lord Cornwallis. Contingents under generals Marion, Pickens, Lee, and colonels William Washington, Hampton, and other South Carolina leaders were called together, and reinforcements from other states joined them. These 2,092 poorly-equipped, underfed, and near-naked Americans camped on September 7th on the River Road at Burdell's Plantation, only seven miles from Eutaw Springs. Strategy for the ensuing attack is accredited to the genius of the dreaded "Swamp Fox," Brig. Gen. Francis Marion, who knew every foot of the Santee swamps and river. September 8th dawned fair and intensely hot, but the Americans, on short rations and with little rest, advanced in early morning light toward the springs. At their approach the surprised British left their uneaten breakfast and quickly threw lines of battle across the road in a heavily wooded area. Behind them in cleared fields stood a large brick home with a high-walled garden. The woods and waters of Eutaw Creek were on the north. Heavy firing soon crackled and boomed through the shady woods. At first the center of the American line caved in, but while opposing flanks were fighting separate battles, Maj. Gen. Greene restored the center with North Carolina Continentals. The whole British line then began to give, but Lt. Col. Stewart quickly pulled up his left-flank reserves, forcing the Americans to retreat under thunderous fire. The encouraged British shouted, yelled, and rushed forward in disorder; whereupon Maj. Gen. Greene (according to J. P. Petit) "brought in his strongest force: the Maryland and Virginia Continentals, Kirkwood's Delawares, and Lt. Colonel Washington's South Carolina cavalry . . . with devastating effect." The British fled in every direction and the Americans took over their camp. Only Maj. Majoribanks, on the British right flank and pushed far back into the woods near Eutaw Creek, was able to hold his unit together. Maj. Sheridan took hasty refuge in the brick home, Lt. Col. Stewart gathered some of his men beyond, and from this vantage they "picked off" many American officers and men. Maj. Gen. Greene sent Lt. Col. Washington's cavalry to deal with Maj. Majoribanks, but penetrating the woods with horses was too difficult, so Lt. Col. Washington tried to encircle and rout, thus exposing himself to dangerous fire. His horse was shot from under him, he himself was wounded, and his company practically ravaged. When a hand-to-hand fight developed, a British soldier poised his sword over the wounded Lt. Col. Washington, but Maj. Majoribanks saw and gallantly turned it aside. In camp, eating the deserted breakfast, and feeling the battle was won, the hungry and thirsty Patriots began plundering the English stores of food, liquors, and equipment. Thoroughly enjoying themselves they ignored their leaders' warnings and commands. Maj. Majoribanks, realizing the disorder, fell upon them. Sheridan and Stewart pounded at their right, and Coffin came in from their left. The stunned Americans fought this impossible situation bravely, but they were put to flight from the British camp. After more than four hours of indecisive battle under a merciless sun both armies had had enough. Casualties were extremely high. "Blood ran ankle deep in places," and the strewn area of dead and dying was heart-breaking. Maj. Gen. Greene collected his wounded and returned to Burdell's Plantation. Lt. Col. Stewart remained the night at Eutaw Springs but hastily retreated the next day toward Charlestown, leaving behind many of his dead unburied and seventy of his seriously wounded. The gallant Maj. Majoribanks, wounded and on his way to Moncks Corner, died in a slave cabin on Wantoot Plantation. He was buried beside the road, but when lake waters were to cover that area his remains were removed by the S.G.P.S.A. to their present resting place at Eutaw Springs Battlefield. The total casualties came to 1,188, according to Rev. M. H. Osborne. Many were buried where they fell, therefore the whole battlefield is a hero's cemetery, sacred to the memory of courageous men. Patriot blood shed at Eutaw Springs was certainly not shed in vain. This last major battle in South Carolina completely broke the British hold in the South and, more important, denied needed aid to the North. Only six weeks later, Lord Cornwallis succumbed to Maj. Gen. George Washington at Yorktown, and American independence was assured. According to Benson J. Jossing in his Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution - the Patriots lost 152 killed, 424 wounded, and 40 missing; the British lost 85 killed, 72 wounded, and 500 captured as prisoners. |
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Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene - Commanding Officer Maj. Edmund Hyrne - Aide-de-Camp to Greene Continental Army led by Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner (NC) in the following units: MD Continental Brigade led by Col. Otho Williams with 400 men in two regiments: MD 1st Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Eager Howard with the
following six (6) known companies, led by: MD 2nd Regiment led by Maj. Henry Hardman with the following
five (5) known companies, led by: NC Brigade of Continentals led by Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner with 350 men in four (4) regiments: 1st NC Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Baptiste Ashe with the
following ten (10) known companies, led by: 2nd NC Regiment led by Maj. Reading Blount with the following
eight (8) known companies, led by: 3rd NC Regiment led by Maj. John Armstrong with the following
five (5) known companies, led by: 4th NC Regiment led by Lt. Col. Henry "Hal" Dixon
with the following two (2) known companies, led by: VA Brigade of Continentals led by Lt. Col. Richard Campbell with 350 men in two battalions: VA 1st Battalion led by Maj. Smith Snead with the following
four (4) known companies, led by: VA 2nd Battalion detachment led by Capt. Thomas Edmunds Lee's Legion led by Lt. Col. Henry Lee with 160 men in the
following five (5) known companies: 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col.
William Washington with 80 men in three (3) known companies: 1st Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons detachment led by Capt. John Watts with Lt. Richard Simmons 1st Continental Artillery Regiment of Virginia, 1st Battalion
in two units: NC State Troops and Militia, led by "Unknown" NC Light Dragoons (State Troops) led by Col. Marquis Francois
DeMalmedy*, Marquis of Bretagne with Maj. William Buford, Maj.
Richard Goode, Maj. Nathan Gordon, and Maj. Herndon Haralson**,
with the following twenty-five (25) known companies, led by: Wake County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt.
Col. Thomas Wooten and Maj. Tanner Alford, with six (6) known
companies, led by: Orange County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt.
Col. Thomas Farmer, with six (6) known companies, led by: Rowan County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Maj.
Martin, with six (6) known companies, led by: Lincoln County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Maj. Francis McCorkle, with three (3) known companies, led by: Caswell County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Lt. Col. Archibald Murphy, with three (3) known companies, led
by: Anson County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Richmond County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Guilford County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Lt. Col. John Humphreys, with two (2) known companies, led by: Randolph County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Maj. Thomas Dougan, with two (2) known companies, led by: Wilkes County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two (2)
known companies, led by: Surry County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two (2)
known companies, led by: Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led
by Maj. James Rutherford (killed), with one (1) known company,
led by: Montgomery County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Sullivan County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Washington County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Duplin County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Maj.
Ivey, with one (1) known company, led by: Edgecombe County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two
(2) known companies, led by: Gates County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Tyrrell County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: SC 1st Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Lt. Col. William Henderson, Maj. John Adair (Aide), with 200 men in the following units: SC 1st Regiment of State Dragoons led by Col. Wade Hampton,
Maj. John Moore, with 72 men in six (6) known companies, led
by: SC 2nd Regiment of State Dragoons led by Col. Charles S. Myddleton
(wounded), with 150 men in five (5) known companies, led by: Camden District Regiment detachment led by Col. Thomas Taylor,
Lt. Col. John Hunter, with five (5) known companies, led by: Fairfield Regiment detachment led by Col. Richard Winn, with
five (5) known companies, led by: 2nd Spartan Regiment detachment led by Col. Thomas Brandon,
with five (5) known companies, led by: New Acquisition District Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col.
John Henderson (wounded), with three (3) known companies, led
by: Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment led by Lt. Col.
William Polk, with three (3) known companies, led by: 1st Spartan Regiment detachment led by Maj. William Smith,
with two (2) known companies, led by: Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment led by Lt.
Col. Henry Hampton, with two (2) known companies, led by: Roebuck's Battalion of Spartan Regiment detachment of two
(2) known companies, led by: Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment of two (2) known
companies, led by: Orangeburgh District Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Jacob
Rumph, with one (1) known company, led by: SC 2nd Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Brig. Gen. Francis Marion with 360 men in the following units: Kershaw Regiment led by Lt. Col. James Postell, Lt. Col. Frederick
Kimball, Maj. Thomas Thompson, with seven (7) known companies,
led by: Berkeley County Regiment led by Col. Richard Richardson, Lt.
Col. Hugh Horry, Maj. John Gamble, with seven (7) known companies,
led by: Horry's Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col. Peter Horry, with six
(6) known companies, led by: Cheraws District Regiment led by Col. Lemuel Benton, with
five (5) known companies, led by: Maham's Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col. Hezekiah Maham, with
three (3) known companies, led by: Georgetown District Regiment detachment led by Col. John Ervin,
with two (2) known companies, led by: Upper Granville County Regiment detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Kingstree Regiment detachment led by Col. Archibald McDonald, Maj. John James, with unknown number of men Upper Craven County Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Maurice Murphy, Maj. Tristram Thomas, with unknown number of men SC 3rd Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens with 260 men in the following units: Little River District Regiment led by Col. Joseph Hayes, Maj.
Thomas Duggin, with six (6) known companies, led by: Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col.
Hugh Middleton (wounded), with six (6) known companies, led by: Upper Ninety-Six Regiment led by Col. Robert Anderson, Lt.
Col. William Farr, Maj. Andrew Hamilton, Sr., with five (5) known
companies, led by: Turkey Creek Regiment detachment led by Col. Edward Lacey,
with four (4) known companies, led by: Hammond's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment led by Lt.
Col. Samuel Hammond, with three (3) known companies, led by: Lower District Regiment detachment led by Col. David Glynn, with unknown number of men Capt. Robert Davis - Regiment Unknown Capt. Uriah Goodwin (killed) - Regiment Unknown Capt.-Lt. John Finn (killed) - Artillery, Regiment Unknown Total Patriot Forces - 2,080 * Col. DeMalmedy inherited several companies since their leaders got sick just before the battle began. ** Maj. Herndon Haralson led three (3) companies of mounted infantry, called the "Marshall Corps." (?) |
Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart - Commanding Officer 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) led by Maj. Thomas Dawson with 340 men 63rd Regiment of Foot detachment led by Capt. Hayes St. Ledger with 96 men 64th Regiment of Foot led by Capt. Dennis Kelly with 180 men
in three known companies, led by: Light Infantry & Grenadiers led by Maj. John Majoribanks with 281 men in the following units: 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs), Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies 19th Regiment of Foot, Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies 30th Regiment of Foot, Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies Royal Regiment of Artillery: Provincials led by Col. John Harris Cruger with the following units: DeLancey's Brigade, 1st Battalion - 73 men NJ Volunteers, 3rd Battalion led by Lt. Col. Isaac Allen with 66 men, including Capt. John Barbarie NY Volunteers led by Maj. Henry Sheridan with the following
known companies: Coffin's Troop of Mounted Infantry led by Maj. John Coffin with 70 men Provincial Light Infantry led by Maj. Thomas Barclay with
108 men in the following known companies: Total British/Loyalist Forces - 1,396 British forces detached for a rooting party: British Regulars Six Flank Companies of the 3rd Regiment of Foot, 19th Regiment of Foot, 30th Regiment of Foot with 62 men 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) with 78 men 63rd Regiment of Foot with 29 men 64th Regiment of Foot led by Ensign Charles Layton with 63 men 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), 2nd Battalion (Young Royal Highlanders) with 8 men NY Volunteers with 19 men NJ Volunteers, 3rd Battalion with 40 men - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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© 2011 - J.D. Lewis - PO Box 1188 - Little River, SC 29566 - All Rights Reserved