The American Revolution in South Carolina - The Battle of Hammond's Store




The American Revolution in South Carolina

Hammond's Store*
December 29, 1780**

Patriot Cdr:	Lt. Col. William Washington (VA)	Loyalist Cdr:	Lt. Col. Thomas Waters (GA)
Killed:	0	Killed:	~150
Wounded:	0	Wounded:	included in above
Captured:	0	Captured:	40
Old District:	Ninety-Six District	Present County:	Laurens County

* aka Hammond's Old Store. ** Most sources assert this occurred on December 30, 1780. Brigadier General Daniel Morgan was camped on the Pacolet River and he received intelligence that Lt. Col. Thomas Waters had banded together the Loyalists at Fair Forest. These Loyalists were destroying the settlements of Patriot families between Ninety-Six and Winnsborough. Brigadier General Morgan dispatched Lt. Col. William Washington's dragoons and 200 mounted militia to attack the Loyalists. On December 29, 1780, Lt. Col. William Washington engaged a Loyalist militia unit under Lt. Col. Thomas Waters (GA) at the battle of Hammond's Store near modern Clinton, South Carolina. The Loyalist losses were about 100 men killed or injured beyond recovery. The Patriots took 40 prisoners and captured 50 horses, without the loss of a man. Lt. Col. Washington (VA) caught up with Lt. Col. Thomas Waters (GA) after a forty-mile ride behind British lines. Major Thomas Young of the 2nd Spartan Regiment later wrote: "When we came in sight we perceived that the Tories had formed in a line on the brow of the hill opposite to us. We had a long hill to descend and another to rise. Lt. Col. Washington and his dragoons gave a shout, drew swords, and charged down the hill like madmen. The Tories flew in every direction without firing a gun. We took great many prisoners and killed a few."
Known Patriot Participants		Known British/Loyalist Participants
Lt. Col. William Washington - Commanding Officer 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons (VA) led by Lt. Col. William Washington and Major Richard Call, with 75 men in the following three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt. William Barrett - Capt. William Parsons - Capt. James Simons 1st Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons (VA) detachment led by Capt. John Watts, with 10 men Little River District Regiment of Militia detachment led by Col. Joseph Hayes, with three (3) known companies, led by: - Capt. Robert Gillam, Jr. - Capt. William Harris - Capt. John Ridgeway, Sr. 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia detachment led by Major Thomas Young, with one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Benjamin Jolly Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia detachment led by Major Samuel Hammond, with one (1) known company, led by: - Capt. Moses Liddell Total Patriot Forces - approximately 285 men		Lt. Col. Thomas Waters - Commanding Officer Savannah Militia (GA) led by Lt. Col. Thomas Waters with approximately 250 men Also some Loyalists from Spartan District and Ninety-Six District in South Carolina. - - - - - - - - - - - -