The American Revolution in South Carolina

Godfrey's Savannah

August 27, 1781


Patriot Cdr:

Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
British Cdr:

Lt. Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck
Killed:

0
Killed:

0
Wounded:

0
Wounded:

0
Captured:

0
Captured:

0
Old District: 

Charles Town District
Present County:

Colleton County

Failed ambush, Brig. Gen. Francis Marion vs. Lt.Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck.

Brig. Gen. Marion wanted to attack a British force under Lt. Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck as they returned to the Edisto. He made preparations to ambush them at Godfrey’s Savannah on the night of August 27th. Some of his troops failed to follow orders and the ambush had to be aborted.


As Loyalist refugees poured into Charlestown, leaders quickly formed them into groups of 400-500 to ravage the countryside south of the city. To discourage Patriots from striking back, Lt. Col. Balfour send a British force under Lt. Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck to seize the rice from plantations along the Combahee River. He also sent newly-created dragoon regiments with the foragers for protection.

Col. William Harden reported Lt. Col. von Borck's expedition to Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene and asked for reinforcements to stop them. Maj. Gen. Greene gave Brig. Gen. Francis Marion the option whether to support Col. Harden and Brig. Gen. Marion decided to take a mounted force to help out.

Brig. Gen. Marion detached a force under Capt. George Cooper to create a diversion near Dorchester and Moncks Corner. On August 22nd, he left his dismounted men with Lt. Col. Hezekiah Maham and rode off with Lt. Col. Horry's cavalry and 200 hand-picked men from his brigade.

After covering 100 miles, Brig. Gen. Marion joined Col. Harden, who had been monitoring Maj. Fraser's progress. Col. Harden was not able to take the field, but he sent Maj. Charles Harden with 80 men to go with Marion. While he was camped at Horse Shoe, Marion was joined by Col. William Stafford with 150 men.

Brig. Gen. Marion wanted to attack Lt. Col. von Borck at Godfrey's Savannah on the night of August 27th, but some men failed to follow orders and he had to abort this plan.

Known Patriot Participants

Known British/Loyalist Participants

Brig. Gen. Francis Marion - Commanding Officer

Georgetown District Regiment led by Col. John Ervin, Maj. Samuel Cooper, with 200 men

Horry's Light Dragoons detachment led by Lt. Col. Peter Horry, with 15 men

Lower Granville County Regiment led by Col. William Stafford, with 150 men

Upper Granville County Regiment detachment led by Maj. Charles Harden, with 80 men


Total Patriot Forces - 445

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-

-

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-

Lt. Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck - Commanding Officer

30th Regiment of Foot - "Unknown," with 150 men

Artillery - "Unknown"

Hesse-Kassel Fusilier Regiment von Ditfurth led by Lt. Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck with 180 men

SC Royalists led by Maj. Thomas Fraser with 150 men in the following known units:

SC Light Dragoons - Capt. Archibald Campbell with Lt. Stephen Jarvis

NC Independent Dragoons - Capt. Robert Gillies

Queen's Rangers detachment led by Capt. John Saunders with 80 men

Cunningham's Troop of Dragoons Loyalist Militia led by Maj. William Cunningham with 100 men


Total British/Loyalist Forces - 660


© 2009 - J.D. Lewis - PO Box 1188 - Little River, SC 29566 - All Rights Reserved