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| Patriot Cdr: |
Nathanael Greene |
British Cdr: |
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| Killed: |
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Killed: |
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| Wounded: |
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Wounded: |
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| Captured: |
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Captured: |
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| Old District: |
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Present County: |
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  Seven years of British determination to bring South Carolina to her knees met failure. The spirit that had long resisted royal edict and church canon, the fierce desire and indomitable will to be masters of their own destinies, and the dauntless courage that had carved a new way of life from a wilderness were again threatened by oppression; so, little difference was felt among nationalities and creeds, causing a unity to grow among the new world "peasants and shepherds" that shook the foundations of old regimes. By mid-summer of 1781, the Continentals under Major General Nathanael Greene had gained virtual control of South Carolina. The retreating British, disillusioned and sick with summer heat, united forces under Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart at Orangeburgh and began their march to Charlestown. Early in September, the 2,300 well-equipped British camped in cool shade beside the gushing springs of Eutaw, little dreaming that a fairly large Patriot army was close upon their heels. Major General Greene, hearing of General George Washington's plan to encircle and embarrass the British at Yorktown in Virginia, determined to prevent southern aid from reaching the beleaguered Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis. Contingents under generals Marion, Pickens, Lee, and lieutenant-colonels William Washington, Hampton, among other South Carolina leaders, were called together, and reinforcements from other states joined them. These 2,092 poorly-equipped, underfed, and near-naked Americans camped on September 7th on the River Road at Burdell's Plantation, only seven miles from Eutaw Springs. Strategy for the ensuing attack is accredited to the genius of the dreaded "Swamp Fox," Brigadier General Francis Marion, who knew every foot of the Santee swamps and river. Robert D. Bass asserted in his 1959 book, entitled, "Swamp Fox," that Major General Nathanael Greene gave command of all Continentals to NC Brigadier General Jethro Sumner, and command of all Militia to Brigadier General Francis Marion. After organizing his army for attack, Major General Nathanael Greene moved down the Congaree Road to Burdell's Tavern, only seven (7) miles from his enemy. At 4 a.m. on September 8th, he marched from Burdell's, his army in four columns, each detailed to its place at Eutaw Springs. Lt. Col. William Henderson led the advance with the SC State Troops and Lt. Col. Henry Lee's Legion. Brigadier General Francis Marion came next with the Militia of North Carolina and South Carolina. Brigadier General Jethro Sumner followed with the Continentals, and Lt. Col. William Washington brought up the rear with his 3rd Regiment of Continental Dragoons (VA). In his deployment, Brigadier General Francis Marion sent Brigadier General Andrew Pickens to the extreme left. In the center, he posted NC Col. Francois DeMalmedy and the Militia of North Carolina. And from his own Brigade, he formed the right wing. Lt. Col. William Henderson (SC) covered the left wing and Lt. Col. Henry Lee and his Legion (VA) covered the right wing of all State Troops and Militia units. September 8th dawned fair and intensely hot, but the Patriots, on short rations and with little rest, advanced in early morning light toward the springs. At their approach the surprised British left their uneaten breakfast and quickly threw lines of battle across the road in a heavily-wooded area. Behind them in cleared fields stood a large brick home with a high-walled garden. The woods and waters of Eutaw Creek were on the north. Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart quickly realized what was happening and he formed his troops in one line across the Congaree Road. On his extreme right, he posted Major John Majoribanks and a flank battalion behind a thicket a hundred paces in front of Eutaw Creek. In the center, he posted the 3rd Regiment of Guards and Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger's Loyalists, both under Cruger's command. On his left, he posted the 63rd Regiment of Foot and the 64th Regiment of Foot, their flank in air, but supported by Major John Coffin and his cavalry. He also posted Major Henry Sheridan and sharpshooters from the New York Volunteers in the exceedingly strong brick house of Patrick Roche, which stood in the field west of Eutaw Springs. Heavy firing soon crackled and boomed through the shady woods. At first the center of the Patriot line caved in, but while opposing flanks were fighting separate battles, Major General Greene restored the center with the North Carolina Continentals. The whole British line then began to give, but Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart quickly pulled up his left-flank reserves, forcing the Patriots to retreat under thunderous fire. The encouraged British shouted, yelled, and rushed forward in disorder; whereupon Major General Greene (according to J. P. Petit) "brought in his strongest force: the Maryland and Virginia Continentals, Kirkwood's Delawares, and Lt. Colonel Washington's South Carolina [sic - Virginia] cavalry . . . with devastating effect." Both the British and the Continentals were astonished to see Marion's Militiamen, steady, unfaltering, and advancing life veterans into the enemy's hottest fire. "The fire redoubled; our officers behaved with the greatest bravery, and the militia gained much honor by their firmness," Major General Greene later reported to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. To Major General Baron von Steuben he wrote that "such conduct would have graced the veterans of the Great King of Prussia. Brigadier General Francis Marion's Militia units fired seventeen (17) rounds - near the limit of their flintlocks endurance. Then, with ammunition exhausted, they retired in good order, leaving the fighting to Brigadier General Jethro Sumner's Continentals. "My Brigade behaved well," Marion later wrote to Lt. Col. Peter Horry. The Continentals moved forward with spirit. As the Patriots advanced, the left of the British line fell back in disorder, and Lt. Col. Henry Lee, wheeling his infantry upon them, increased the enemy's confusion. In the center, Lt. Col. Cruger's line held, British regulars meeting Continentals in hand-to-hand fighting, bayonets meeting bayonets, and swords clashing on swords. But the confusion on the British left soon affected the center, and when the Marylanders delivered a terrific fire, the whole British line, except for Major Majoribanks flankers, sagged, faltered, and began retreating. The British fled in every direction and the Patriots took over their camp. Only Major John Majoribanks, on the British right flank and pushed far back into the woods near Eutaw Creek, was able to hold his unit together. Major Henry Sheridan took hasty refuge in the brick home, Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart gathered some of his men beyond, and from this vantage they "picked off" many American officers and men. Major General Nathanael Greene then sent Lt. Col. Washington's cavalry to deal with Major Majoribanks, but penetrating the woods with horses was too difficult, so Lt. Col. Washington tried to encircle and rout, thus exposing himself to dangerous fire. His horse was shot from under him, he himself was wounded, and his company practically ravaged. When a hand-to-hand fight developed, a British soldier poised his sword over the wounded Lt. Col. Washington, but Major Majoribanks saw this and gallantly turned it aside. Washington was now his prisoner. In camp, eating the deserted breakfast, and feeling the battle was won, the hungry and thirsty Patriots began plundering the English stores of food, liquors, and equipment. Thoroughly enjoying themselves they ignored their leaders' warnings and commands. Major Majoribanks, realizing the disorder, fell upon them. Major Sheridan and Lt. Col. Stewart pounded at their right, and Major John Coffin came in from their left. The stunned Americans fought this impossible situation bravely, but they were quickly put to flight from the British camp. After more than four hours of indecisive battle under a merciless sun both armies had had enough. Casualties were extremely high. "Blood ran ankle deep in places," and the strewn area of dead and dying was heart-breaking. Major General Greene collected his wounded and returned to Burdell's Tavern. Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart remained the night at Eutaw Springs but hastily retreated the next day toward Charlestown, leaving behind many of his dead unburied and seventy of his seriously wounded. The gallant Major John Majoribanks, wounded and on his way to Moncks Corner, died in a slave cabin on Wantoot Plantation. He was buried beside the road, but when lake waters were to cover that area his remains were removed by the S.G.P.S.A. to their present resting place at the Eutaw Springs Battlefield memorial. The total casualties came to 1,188, according to Rev. M. H. Osborne. Many were buried where they fell, therefore the whole battlefield is a hero's cemetery, sacred to the memory of courageous men. Patriot blood shed at Eutaw Springs was certainly not shed in vain. This last major battle in South Carolina completely broke the British hold in the South and, more important, denied needed aid to the North. Only six weeks later, Lord Cornwallis succumbed to General George Washington at Yorktown, and American independence was assured. According to Benson J. Jossing in his Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution - the Patriots lost 152 killed, 424 wounded, and 40 missing; the British lost 85 killed, 72 wounded, and 500 captured as prisoners. |
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Major General Nathanael Greene - Commanding Officer, with
the following known Aides-de-Camp: Continental Army led by Brigadier General Jethro Sumner (NC) in the following units: MD Continental Brigade led by Col. Otho Williams (wounded) with 400 men in two regiments: MD 1st Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Eager Howard (wounded)
with the following six (6) known companies, led by: MD 2nd Regiment led by Major Henry Hardman with the following
five (5) known companies, led by: NC Brigade of Continentals led by Brigadier General Jethro Sumner with 350 men in four (4) regiments: 1st NC Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Baptiste Ashe with the
following ten (10) known companies, led by: 2nd NC Regiment led by Major Reading Blount with the following
eight (8) known companies, led by: 3rd NC Regiment led by Major John Armstrong with the following
five (5) known companies, led by: 4th NC Regiment led by Lt. Col. Henry "Hal" Dixon
(wounded) with the following two (2) known companies, led by: VA Brigade of Continentals led by Lt. Col. Richard Campbell (killed) with 350 men in two battalions: VA 1st Battalion led by Major Smith Snead with the following
five (5) known companies, led by: VA 2nd Battalion detachment led by Capt. Thomas Edmunds (wounded) with unknown number of men Lee's Legion (VA) led by Lt. Col. Henry Lee and Major John
Rudolph with 160 men in the following five (5) known companies: 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons (VA) led by Lt.
Col. William Washington (captured) with 80 men in three (3) known
companies: 1st Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons (VA) detachment led by Capt. John Watts with Lt. Richard Simmons 1st Continental Artillery Regiment of Virginia, 1st Battalion
in two units: All Militia units commanded by Brigadier General Francis Marion (SC): NC State Troops and Militia, led by Col. Francois DeMalmedy. NC Light Dragoons Regiment (State Troops) led by Col. Francois
DeMalmedy*, with Major William Buford (wounded), Major Richard
Goode, Major Nathan Gordon, and Major Herndon Haralson**, with
the following twenty-five (25) known companies, led by: Wake County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt.
Col. Thomas Wooten and Major Tanner Alford, with six (6) known
companies, led by: Orange County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Lt.
Col. Thomas Farmer, with six (6) known companies, led by: Rowan County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Major
Martin, with six (6) known companies, led by: Lincoln County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Major Francis McCorkle, with three (3) known companies, led by: Caswell County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Lt. Col. Archibald Murphy, with three (3) known companies, led
by: Anson County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Richmond County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Guilford County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Lt. Col. John Humphreys, with two (2) known companies, led by: Randolph County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by
Major Thomas Dougan, with two (2) known companies, led by: Wilkes County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two (2)
known companies, led by: Surry County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two (2)
known companies, led by: Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led
by Major James Rutherford (killed), with one (1) known company,
led by: Montgomery County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Sullivan County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Washington County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Duplin County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Major
Ivey, with one (1) known company, led by: Edgecombe County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two
(2) known companies, led by: Gates County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Tyrrell County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: SC 1st Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Lt. Col. William Henderson (wounded) and Major John Adair (Aide-de-Camp), with 200 men in the following units: SC 1st Regiment of State Dragoons (State Troops) led by Col.
Wade Hampton and Major John Moore, with 72 men in six (6) known
companies, led by: SC 2nd Regiment of State Dragoons (State Troops) led by Col.
Charles S. Myddleton (wounded), with 150 men in five (5) known
companies, led by: Camden District Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by
Col. Thomas Taylor, Lt. Col. John Hunter, with five (5) known
companies, led by: Fairfield Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Col.
Richard Winn, with five (5) known companies, led by: 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Col.
Thomas Brandon, with five (5) known companies, led by: New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment
led by Lt. Col. John Henderson (wounded), with three (3) known
companies, led by: Polk's Regiment of Light Dragoons (SC State Troops) detachment
led by Lt. Col. William Polk, with three (3) known companies,
led by: 1st Spartan Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Major
William Smith, with two (2) known companies, led by: Hampton's Regiment of Light Dragoons (SC State Troops) detachment
led by Lt. Col. Henry Hampton, with two (2) known companies,
led by: Roebuck's Battalion of Spartan Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment
of two (2) known companies, led by: Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons (SC State Troops) detachment
of two (2) known companies, led by: Orangeburgh District Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led
by Lt. Col. Jacob Rumph, with one (1) known company, led by: SC 2nd Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Brigadier General Francis Marion with 360 men in the following units: Kershaw Regiment of Militia (SC) led by Col. James Postell,
Lt. Col. Frederick Kimball, and Major Thomas Thompson, with seven
(7) known companies, led by: Berkeley County Regiment of Militia (SC) led by Col. Richard
Richardson, Lt. Col. Hugh Horry (wounded), and Major John Gamble,
with seven (7) known companies, led by: Horry's Light Dragoons (SC Militia) led by Lt. Col. Peter
Horry, with six (6) known companies, led by: Cheraws District Regiment of Militia (SC) led by Col. Lemuel
Benton, with five (5) known companies, led by: Maham's Light Dragoons (SC Militia) led by Lt. Col. Hezekiah
Maham, with three (3) known companies, led by: Lower Craven County Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led
by Col. John Ervin, with two (2) known companies, led by: Upper Granville County Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment
of one (1) known company, led by: Kingstree Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Col. Archibald McDonald and Major John James, with unknown number of men Upper Craven County Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Lt. Col. Maurice Murphy, with unknown number of men SC 3rd Brigade of Militia/State Troops led by Brigadier General Andrew Pickens (wounded) with 260 men in the following units: Little River District Regiment of Militia (SC) led by Col.
Joseph Hayes and Major Thomas Duggin, with six (6) known companies,
led by: Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment
led by Lt. Col. Hugh Middleton (wounded), with six (6) known
companies, led by: Upper Ninety-Six Regiment of Militia (SC) led by Col. Robert
Anderson, Lt. Col. William Farr, and Major Andrew Hamilton, Sr.,
with five (5) known companies, led by: Turkey Creek Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Col.
Edward Lacey, with four (4) known companies, led by: Hammond's Regiment of Light Dragoons (SC State Troops) detachment
led by Lt. Col. Samuel Hammond, with three (3) known companies,
led by: Lower District Regiment of Militia (SC) detachment led by Col. David Glynn, with unknown number of men Capt. Robert Davis - Regiment Unknown Capt. Uriah Goodwin (killed) - Regiment Unknown Total Patriot Forces - 2,080 * Col. DeMalmedy inherited several companies since their leaders got sick just before the battle began. ** Maj. Herndon Haralson (NC) led three (3) companies of mounted infantry, called the "Marshall Corps." One source claims that this might have been named after Lt. Col. John Marshall of the South Carolina militia. |
Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart (wounded) - Commanding Officer 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) led by Major Thomas Dawson
with 340 men 63rd Regiment of Foot detachment led by Major Charles Stewart and Capt. Hayes St. Ledger (killed) with 96 men 64th Regiment of Foot led by Capt. Dennis Kelly with 180 men
in three known companies, led by: Light Infantry & Grenadiers led by Major John Majoribanks with 281 men in the following units: 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs), Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies 19th Regiment of Foot, Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies 30th Regiment of Foot, Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies 84th Regiment of Foot Royal Regiment of Artillery: Provincials led by Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger with the following units: DeLancey's Brigade, 1st Battalionz NJ Volunteers, 2nd or 3rd Battalion led by Lt. Col. Isaac
Allen with 66 men NY Volunteers led by Major Henry Sheridan with the following
known companies: Coffin's Troop of Mounted Infantry led by Major John Coffin with 70 men Provincial Light Infantry led by Major Thomas Barclay with
108 men in the following known companies: Total British/Loyalist Forces - 1,396 British forces detached for a rooting party: British Regulars Six Flank Companies of the 3rd Regiment of Foot, 19th Regiment of Foot, 30th Regiment of Foot with 62 men 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) with 78 men 63rd Regiment of Foot with 29 men 64th Regiment of Foot led by Ensign Charles Layton with 63 men 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) with 8 men Provincial troops: NY Volunteers with 19 men NJ Volunteers, 3rd Battalion with 40 men South Carolina Loyalist Militia - unknown leader with unknown number of men Camden District Loyalist Militia detachment led by: Also present was British Capt. Henry Berry, 52nd Regiment, Deputy Adjutant General in South Carolina bearing a flag on prisoner exchange issues to Maj. Gen. Nathanael Green (POW) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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