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 The British called their fortified outpost "Fort Motte," a name it would retain into modern history. The military significance of Fort Motte was that it served as a supply depot for British supplies from occupied Charlestown to Camden and Ninety Six. It was a prime target for the Continental Army and the South Carolina militia. On May 12, 1781, Brig. Gen. Francis Marion and Lt. Col. Henry Lee set the outpost on fire and forced the British garrison to flee back to Charlestown. Fort Motte was ereceted around the mansion of Mrs. Rebecca Motte on Mount Joseph Plantation. Since only a protracted siege or cannon could reduce the fort, it became the principal depot for the convoys moving supplies up from Charlestown to the backcountry British outposts. It was garrisoned with the 2nd Battalion of the 84th Regiment of Foot led by Lt. Donald McPherson, with a troop of Hessian dragoons and some Loyalist militia. The mansion was situated on Buckhead Hill and was surrounded by a deep trench, along which had been raised a parapet. Opposite the mansion stood another hill on which there was an old farmhouse. Brig. Gen. Francis Marion with Lt. Col. Henry Lee decided to take the fort, and since Lt. Col. Lee had more experienced men, Brig. Gen. Marion gave him the honor of reducing the fort. Lt. Col. Lee placed his 6-pounder such that it would rake the northern face of the enemy's defensive works. His men dug a trench towards the fort 400 yards away. Lt. McPherson had a small artillery piece, but he was never able to put it to use. Lt. Col. Lee then summoned Lt. McPherson and asked if he wanted to surrender, which he politely declined. He was hoping that a relief column from Camden would soon come to his aid. It was not long before the retreating army of Lord Rawdon could be seen in the distance of the fort's defenders. Brig. Gen. Marion knew that Lord Rawdon could reach his position within 48 hours, so he decided upon a desperate strategy. He sent Lt. Col. Lee to ask Mrs. Motte is she would let his men burn her fine home, and she readily agreed. Waiting until noon when the roof had become hot and dry, Lt. Col. Lee ordered the house to be set on fire. Weems wrote that Mrs. Motte lent the Patriots a bow and "African arrows." However, William Dobein James was there and in his book about Marion he wrote, "the house was not burnt, as is stated by historians, nor was it fired by an arrow from an African bow, as sung by poets. Nathan Savage, a private in Marion's brigade, made up a ball of rosin and brimstone, to which he set fire and slung it on the roof of the house." As the roof caught fire, Lt. McPherson sent a detail aloft to rip off the burning shingles. Capt. Samuel Finley fired upon those on the rooftop with his 6-pounder with grapeshot. When Lt. McPherson's men began jumping from the burning house, he raised the white flag. Brig. Gen. Marion lost two men - Lt. Cruger and Sgt. McDonald, who had been commissioned a lieutenant before he fell. As soon as the British and Loyalists laid down their arms, Brig. Gen. Marion sent his men to the house to help put the fire out. He offered the enemy generous terms. When they marched out, Lt. Col. Lee accepted the surrender of the British regulars, while Brig. Gen. Marion accepted the surrender of the Loyalist militia - this is how fractured the Patriots were at that point in time - Continentals versus militia. Mrs. Motte invited both the Patriot and British officers to dine with her that night. The dinner was marred when one of Lt. Col. Lee's officers, Cornet William Butler Harrison, had ordered three Loyalists to be hanged. Brig. Gen. Marion was seated at the table when Lt. McPherson received the news of this hanging. Brig. Gen. Marion leapt up from the table and stormed out of the mansion, arriving to find two dead Loyalist on the ground and one swinging from a noose. He ordered the man cut down and strongly told Lt. Col. Lee's men that he was in charge and that he would kill the next man who harmed any prisoners. |
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Brig. Gen. Francis Marion - Commanding Officer Lee's Legion led by Lt. Col. Henry Lee with 300 men in the
following known units: 1st NC Regiment of Continentals led by Maj. Pinketham Eaton
with 115 men in three known units: Nash County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Warren County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: 1st Continental Artillery Regiment of VA, 1st Battalion led by Capt. Samuel Finley with one 6-pounder Nottoway County Volunteers (VA) - Capt. Charles Troy Berkeley County Regiment detachment led by Col. Richard Richardson,
Jr., Lt. Col. Hugh Horry, Maj. John Gamble, with six (6) known
companies, led by: Horry's Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col. Peter Horry, with four
(4) known companies, led by: Kingstree Regiment detachment led by Col. Archibald McDonald,
Maj. John James, with three (3) known companies, led by: New Acquisition District Regiment detachment of three (3)
known companies, led by: Georgetown District Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Alexander
Swinton, with two (2) known companies, led by: Cheraws District Regiment detachment led by Col. Lemuel Benton,
with two (2) known companies, led by: Kershaw Regiment detachment led by Col. John Marshall, Lt.
Col. Frederick Kimball, Lt. Col. James Postell, with one (1)
known company, led by: Lower Craven County Regiment detachment led by Col. Hugh Giles,
with one (1) known company, led by: |
Lt. Donald McPherson - Commanding Officer 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), 2nd Battalion (Young Royal Highlanders) led by Lt. Donald McPherson with 80 men Frederick Starkloff's Troop of Light Dragoons led by Corp. John Ludvick with 58 men Artillery - 1 Cannon Loyalist Militia - 45 men - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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© 2012 - J.D. Lewis - PO Box 1188 - Little River, SC 29566 - All Rights Reserved