 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
| Patriot Cdr: |
|
Loyalist Cdr: |
|
| Killed: |
|
Killed: |
|
| Wounded: |
|
Wounded: |
|
| Captured: |
|
Captured: |
|
| Old District: |
|
Present County: |
|
 Col. Francis Marion wanted to take Georgetown because he needed supplies of salt, clothing, and ammunition for his men. The capture of Georgetown would also be a great blow to British morale in the lowcountry. Col. Marion moved his partisans across the swamp to "White's Bay," north of the Black River and the Sampit River. He sent out Maj. Peter Horry with two companies on a reconnaissance mission towards Black River; and, he sent out Capt. John Melton with Capt. John Milton (of GA) to the Sampit Road towards Allston's Plantation. At White’s Plantation just outside of Georgetown, Maj. Peter Horry found Capt. James Lewis and his company of Loyalists slaughtering cattle. The Loyalists were ultimately dispersed, however, only after a number of Maj. Peter Horry's men were seriously wounded, and Capt. Lewis was killed. Marion later reported that Barefield was wounded. On the 17th, Marion wrote to Brig. Gen. Harrington from Black Mingo: "The day I got (to Georgetown) they received a reinforcement of 200 Tories under Captains Barefield and Lewis from Pee Dee. The next day the Tories came out and we scummaged with them. Part (of them) I cut off from the town, and drove the rest in, except the two men killed, and twelve taken prisoners, our loss was Lt. Gabriel Marion…Capt. Barefield was wounded in his head and body, but got off. Captain James Lewis, commonly called `otter skin Lewis' was one killed. I stayed two days within 3 miles of the town, in which time most of the Tories left their friends and went home.” In his report to Gates of the 20th Marion stated that in his recent encounter outside Georgetown he had lost Lt. Gabriel Marion, one private also killed, and three wounded, while killing three loyalists and taking 12 prisoners. He went on to say "Many of my people has left me & gone over to the Enemy, for they think we have no army coming in & have been Deceived, as we hear nothing from you in a great while, I hope to have a line from you in what manner to act & some assurance to the people of support." The combined Loyalist force in the area at the time then numbered some 200, though prior to his attack Marion had understood there were only 50. While in the area, Marion learned that the garrison at Georgetown contained 80 regulars, "with swivels and cohorns on the parapets." |
|||
|
|
|
||
|
Col. Francis Marion - Commanding Officer Kingstree Regiment detachment led by Maj. Peter Horry, with
two (2) known companies, led by: |
Georgetown Regiment of Loyalist Militia led by Capt. James Lewis with 200 men, including Capt. Miles Barefield - |
||
 |
 |
© 2009 - J.D. Lewis - PO Box 1188 - Little River, SC 29566 - All Rights Reserved