aka Cane Brake, aka Reedy River.

While those engaged at Ninety-Six were negotiating a truce, Col. Richard Richardson was already on its way into the upcountry to arrest the leaders of the Loyalist party. Richardson decided that his mission was not affected by the truce signed at Ninety-Six and proceeded to carry out his instructions.

Receiving intelligence that the most active leaders of the opposition were encamped on Cherokee land, he dispatched a force under Colonel William Thomson (SC 3rd Regiment of Rangers), which surprised the Loyalists on the morning of December 22 and defeated them in the Battle of Great Cane Brake. Most of the Loyalist band were captured and sent back to face charges of sedition in Charleston. However, Patrick Cunningham and Col. Joseph Robinson escaped to the Cherokee Nation.

The Great Cane Brake was located on the Reedy River in the southern portion of present Greenville County, The only location Colonel Richardson gives us is that the site was a long march of nearly twenty-five miles from his camp at Holhngsworth's Mill on Raborn's Creek (in present-day Laurens County, and the modern spelling is Rabon Creek). Luxuriant growths of cane were quite common in river valleys of the upcountry before the US Revolution.

SC 3rd Regiment (Rangers) led by Col. William Thomson and Maj. James Mayson with 500 men in the following eleven (11) companies:

Capt. Nathaniel Abney

Capt. Robert Anderson

Capt. John Caldwell

Capt. Robert Goodwyn

Capt. Charles Heatley

Capt. John Lewis Peyer Imhoff

Capt. Eli Kershaw

Capt. John Purvis

Capt. Edward Richardson

Capt. Samuel Wise

Capt. Thomas Woodward

SC Militia led by Col. Richard Richardson (Camden District Regiment) (unknown number of men):

Camden District Regiment companies led by:

Capt. Drakeford

Capt. John Nixon

Capt. Robert Patton

Capt. Matthew Singleton

New Acquisition District Regiment led by Col. Thomas Neel and the following five (5) companies:

Capt. William Bratton

Capt. Peter Clinton

Capt. William Gaston

Capt. Andrew Love

Capt. Ezekiel Polk

Spartan Regiment led by Col. John Thomas, Sr. and the following four (4) companies:

Capt. James Andrews

Capt. Andrew Barry

Capt. Robert Faris

Capt. John Thomas, Jr.

Ninety-Six District Regiment companies led by:

Capt. John Hammond

Capt. Adam Crain Jones

Capt. Thomas Langdon

Forks of Saluda District Regiment company led by Capt. Richard Pollard

Little River District Regiment company led by Capt. John Wallace

Fairfield Regiment company led by Capt. Joseph Brown

Independent Company of Rangers led by Capt. Ezekiel Polk

NC Provincial Troops led by Lt. Col. Alexander Martin and unknown number of men.

Ninety-Six District, New Acquisition Loyalist Militia led by Col. Joseph Robinson with Capt. Patrick Cunningham and about 200 men.

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