The American Revolution in South Carolina - The Battle of Hammond's Store




The American Revolution in South Carolina

Hammond's Store
December 29, 1780

Patriot Cdr:	Lt. Col. William Washington	Loyalist Cdr:	Lt. Col. Thomas Waters (GA)
Killed:	0	Killed:	~100
Wounded:	0	Wounded:	included in above
Captured:	0	Captured:	40
Old District:	Ninety-Six District	Present County:	Laurens County
Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan was camped on the Pacolet River and he received intelligence that Col. Thomas Waters had banded together the Loyalists at Fair Forest. These Loyalists were destroying the settlements of Patriot families between Ninety-Six and Winnsborough. Brig. Gen. Morgan dispatched Lt. Col. William Washington's dragoons and 200 mounted militia to attack the Loyalists. On December 29, 1780, Lt. Col. William Washington engaged a Loyalist militia unit under Lt. Col. Thomas Waters (GA) at the battle of Hammond's Store near modern Clinton, South Carolina. The Loyalist losses were about 100 men killed or injured beyond recovery. The Continentals took 40 prisoners and captured 50 horses, without the loss of a man. Lt. Col. Washington caught up with Lt. Col. Thomas Waters after a forty-mile ride behind British lines. Maj. Thomas Young of the 2nd Spartan Regiment later wrote, "When we came in sight we perceived that the Tories had formed in a line on the brow of the hill opposite to us. We had a long hill to descend and another to rise. Lt. Col. Washington and his dragoons gave a shout, drew swords, and charged down the hill like madmen. The Tories flew in every direction without firing a gun. We took great many prisoners and killed a few."
Known Patriot Participants		Known British/Loyalist Participants
Lt Col. William Washington - Commanding Officer 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col. William Washington, Maj. Richard Call, with 75 men in the following three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt. William Barrett - Capt. William Parsons - Capt. James Simons 1st Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons detachment led by Capt. John Watts, with 10 men Little River District Regiment detachment led by Col. Joseph Hayes, with three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt. Robert Gillam, Jr. - Capt. William Harris - Capt. John Ridgeway, Sr. 2nd Spartan Regiment detachment led by Maj. Thomas Young, with one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Benjamin Jolly Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment detachment led by Maj. Samuel Hammond, with one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Moses Liddell Total Patriot Forces - 285 men		Lt. Col. Thomas Waters - Commanding Officer Savannah Militia (GA) led by Lt. Col. Thomas Waters with 250 men - - - - - - - - - - - - - -