November and December 1775 — The “Snow Campaign” - The Spartan Regiment and other Patriots, under Col. Richard Richardson, set out to attack a Loyalist unit that had camped in Indian territory (present-day Greenville County) for safety. Thomas Sumter participated in this as Col. Richardson's Aide-de-Camp. The patriots marched through several feet of snow in early December to accomplish this.

Col. Richardson arrived with a relief force at the Siege of Ninety-Six in mid-November of 1775. The Loyalists, abiding by the terms of the "treaty," had disbanded most of their forces. Col. Richardson refused to abide by the "treaty" and rounded up their leaders and sent them to Charlestown under arrest.

As soon as the army was collected at Fort Granby the line of march was begun by way of Weaver's Ferry on the Saluda River. On December 22nd, Col. Richardson detached 1,300 troops to attack the camp of Capt. Patrick Cunningham that had stopped to rest on Cherokee lands. Capt. Cunningham warned his men to fend for themselves and they all ran into the woods. He was able to escape on horseback and hide at a camp at the Great Cane Break on Reedy River.

Col. Thomas Fletchall was found hiding in a hollow sycamore tree on Fair Forest Creek, and was sent down to Charleston with a company of Patriots.

After Capt. Patrick Cunningham had been defeated at Great Cane Brake, Col. Richardson considered the upcountry to be pacified and turned his army homeward. He couldn't stay because winter was coming and his army had no tents, their shoes were worn out, and they were badly clothed. Along the way home, it snowed for thirty hours, dumping two feet on the weary Patriots.

Mission commanded by Col. Richard Richardson of the Camden District Regiment with Aide Capt. Thomas Sumter. Included units from:

Camden District Regiment with six (6) companies led by:

Capt. John Bond

Capt. William Lang

Capt. John Nixon

Capt. Robert Patton

Capt. Richard Richardson, Jr.

Capt. Matthew Singleton

Spartan Regiment led by Col. John Thomas, Sr., Lt. Col. John Lisle, Sr., and Maj. Thomas Gordon with eight (8) companies totalling 200 men, led by:

Capt. Andrew Barry

Capt. Thomas Brandon

Capt. John Carter

Capt. Moses Gordon

Capt. Joseph Jolly

Capt. John Steel

Capt. James Steen

Capt. John Thomas, Jr.

New Acquisition Militia led by Col. Thomas Neel, with nine (9) companies totalling 200 men, led by:

Capt. Hugh Bratton

Capt. William Bratton

Capt. William Byers, Sr.

Capt. Peter Clinton

Capt. James Duff

Capt. Thomas Kirkpatrick

Capt. Andrew Love

Capt. John Moffett

Capt. John Mullen

Fairfield Regiment companies led by:

Capt. Robert Allison

Capt. John Barclay

Capt. Joseph Brown

Capt. Andrew Hemphill

Capt. Alexander Turner

Little River District Regiment companies led by:

Capt. Michael Dickson

Capt. Fullington

Capt. John Rogers

Capt. John Wallace

Capt. James Williams

Ninety-Six District Regiment companies led by:

Capt. James Butler, Sr.

Capt. David Dickson

Capt. John Hammond

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

Independent Company of Rangers led by Capt. Robert Ellison

Independent Company of Rangers led by Capt. Ezekiel Polk

SC 3rd Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. William Thomson with three (3) companies led by:

Capt. Nathaniel Abney

Capt. Francis Sinquefield

Capt. Thomas Woodward

NC Provincial Troops led by Lt. Col. Alexander Martin (NC 2nd Regiment), with two companies:

Capt. George Davidson

Capt. John Armstrong

Mecklenburg County (NC) Militia led by Col. Thomas Polk, with Capt. Cromisle.

Rowan County (NC) Militia led by Col. Griffith Rutherford & Col. Francis Locke

New Bern District (NC) Militia led by Col. Richard Caswell

Tryon County (NC) Militia led by Col. William Graham

Total American Forces - ~4,500

Ninety-Six District Loyalist Militia commanded by Col. Thomas Fletchall

Companies of the New Acquisition District Loyalist Militia led by:

Capt. Richard Pearis

Capt. John Mayfield

Capt. Benjamin Wofford

Capt. Mathew Floyd

Capt. David George

Capt. Patrick Cunningham

Capt. Evan McLaurin

Capt. Thomas Edgehill

Capt. Jacob Fry

Capt. Jones

Capt. James Phillips

Capt. George Zuber

Capt. William Hunt

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