THREE
MONTHS IN 1780
Michael
C. Scoggins,
Friday, 12 May: After a siege of about two weeks, Maj. Gen.
Benjamin Lincoln surrenders the entire Southern Continental Army in
Col. Abraham Buford and about 350 Virginia
Continentals are camped at Lenud’s Ferry on the Santee River on their way to
reinforce
Capt. John McClure, a veteran of the 3rd South Carolina Regiment, is at Monck’s Corner with a company of militia from
Thursday, 18 May: Having received intelligence of that Buford
is retreating back to North Carolina, along with fugitive Gov. John Rutledge of
South Carolina, Clinton dispatches his second-in-command, Lt. Gen. Charles,
Earl Cornwallis, with a corps of some 2500 infantry, cavalry and artillery, to
follow Buford and apprehend his force. Maj. Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Highlanders leads a provincial corps into the western part of the state,
heading for Ninety Six. (Tarleton, 26-7; Draper, King’s Mountain, 68)
Monday, 22 May:
Friday, 26 May: Buford leaves Rugeley’s Mills above
Saturday, 27 May: Seeing that his main army is advancing too
slowly to catch Buford, Cornwallis detaches Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton,
commander of the British Legion, with 130 Legion cavalry, 100 Legion infantry
and 40 troopers of the 17th Dragoon Regiment to intercept Buford.
(Tarleton, 27)
Monday, 29 May: Tarleton catches up to Buford at the Waxhaws
in
Wednesday, 31 May: McClure arrives at the home
of his uncle Justice John Gaston in
Thursday, 1 June:
Cornwallis arrives in
Saturday, 3 June: Clinton’s third proclamation revokes the
militia paroles of 1 June and orders the militia to declare their allegiance by
20 June or be considered enemies of the Crown. (Tarleton, 73-4; Draper, King’s
Mountain, 46; Lambert, 97)
Sunday, 4 June: Cols. John Thomas Sr., Thomas Brandon and
Lt. Col. James Lisle (or Lysle) hold a meeting and agree to concentrate their
troops and form a camp near Fair Forest Creek about four miles from the present
site of Union, SC. (O’Neall, 33; Saye, 11)
John Harrison of Sparrow Swamp on Lynches Creek is
commissioned major and authorized to recruit up to 500 men for a Loyalist
regiment called the South Carolina Rangers. This regiment is based at Camden
and operates between Camden and the Pee Dee River from June 1780 until summer
1781. (Tarleton, 117; Lambert, 115-6; Clark, 1:97-108)
Houseman summons the inhabitants of the Fishing
Creek and Rocky Creek communities in Chester County to an assembly at
Alexander’s Old Field (now Beckamville) on Rocky Creek. Handbills are
circulated notifying the inhabitants of the area that they are required to
assemble at the old field, “give in their names as loyal subjects of King
George, and receive British protection.” (Ellet, Women, 3:159)
Monday, 5 June: Clinton departs Charleston for New York
aboard the HMS Romulus and leaves Cornwallis in command of the British
Army in the South. (Tarleton, 32)
Brig. Gen. Andrew Williamson, commander of the
Ninety Six District Patriot militia brigade, assembles his officers and men,
reads Clinton’s capitulation terms, and makes arrangements to surrender his
command and take parole from a Loyalist officer named Capt. Richard Pearis.
(Lambert, 106-7)
Houseman visits the home of Justice Gaston on upper
Fishing Creek and asks Gaston to persuade the local rebel militia to turn in
their arms and sign the oath of allegiance at Alexander’s Old Field the next
day. Gaston refuses and informs his nephew John McClure, who along with his
brother Lt. Hugh McClure, Lt. John Steele, and Justice Gaston’s sons, spends
the night recruiting volunteers in the Fishing Creek, Rocky Creek and Sandy
River communities of Chester County in order to launch a surprise attack on
Houseman the next day. (Gaston, Southern Presbyterian)
Tuesday, 6 June: About 200 men assemble at Alexander’s Old
Field in the morning to sign the oath of allegiance and “take protection” from
Col. Houseman. McClure and 32 Whigs launch a surprise attack on Houseman’s
troops and disperse the assembly. Four Tories are killed and several are
wounded, while two of McClure’s men are wounded in the skirmish. (Craig,
Chester Standard; Gaston, Southern Presbyterian; Ellet, Women,
3:159-60, 176-7, 217; Draper MSS, 9VV12, 15, 19, 37, 177, 159-60;
Lipscomb, Names, 22:33)
(Date approximate): The New Acquisition (York
County) militia meet at Bullock’s Creek Presbyterian Church in York County. The
regiment commanders, Col. Samuel Watson and Lt. Col. William Bratton, have been
informed of Buford’s Massacre and Gen. Williamson’s capitulation to Pearis.
They state their belief that any further opposition to the British is useless,
then resign their commands and advise each of the men “to do the best they can
for themselves.” (Hill, 6)
Wednesday, 7 June: Richard Winn, a former
Continental officer from Fairfield County, learns of a Tory assembly at
Mobley’s Meeting House (also known as Gibson’s Meeting House) on the Broad
River near Winnsboro. Unable to recruit any militia to oppose them in his own
community, he travels to Chester and York County and enlists Capt. McClure and
Col. Bratton to help him disperse the Tories. (Winn, 1)
Thursday, 8 June: Winn leads militia under McClure and Bratton
in a successful attack on Tory militia commanded by Col. Charles Coleman at
Mobley’s Meeting House. The Tories are dispersed with some casualties, and the
Whigs capture their provisions and arms. (Winn, 1; Lipscomb, Names,
22:33; Ellet, Women, 1:240, 3:177; Ellet, Domestic History,
182-3)
Cornwallis turns over command of the upstate to Lt.
Col. Francis Lord Rawdon at Camden, leaves him with about 700 men, and returns
to Charleston. Rawdon garrisons Camden with his own regiment, the Volunteers of
Ireland, along with the 23rd and 33rd Regiments of Foot,
the British Legion infantry, and several regiments of Loyalist militia. He
supplies Rocky Mount with about 150 New York Volunteers commanded by Lt. Col.
George Turnbull and a troop of British Legion dragoons under Capt. Christian
Huck. Hanging Rock is garrisoned by Maj. John Carden and the Prince of Wales
Regiment along with a detachment of British Legion infantry under Capt. Kenneth
McCulloch. (Tarleton, 85-7, 92; Boatner, 486, 919, 941, 1036)
Ninety-Six District Loyalist militia under Maj.
William “Bloody Bill” Cunningham attack Brandon’s Camp in Union County. Brandon
is defeated and retreats across the Broad River into York County. Maj. Joseph
McJunkin of Union, who was in the battle, states that it occurred on the 8th or 10th of June. (O’Neall, 33; Saye, 11; Draper, 14VV169; Craig, Chester
Standard; Lipscomb, Names, 22:35)
Saturday, 10 June: Rawdon arrives in the Waxhaw settlement in
Lancaster County, sets up camp at Leslie’s House, and issues an address to the
local inhabitants urging them to return to their plantations and accept British
protection. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/123-5; Tarleton, 86)
Gen. Williamson disbands the Ninety Six District
militia brigade; he, Col. Andrew Pickens, Col John Thomas Sr., and the other
militia officers give their paroles to Capt. Pearis. (Tarleton, 85; Lambert,
106-7)
Turnbull learns that McClure and Bratton, in command
of the rebels in the upper Fishing Creek area of Chester and York Counties, are
using Rev. John Simpson’s meeting house (Upper Fishing Creek Presbyterian
Church) as a base of operations. He dispatches Capt. Huck with the Legion
dragoons and a detachment of Tory militia under Lt. Col. James Ferguson (from
the lower Fishing Creek and Rocky Creek area) to attack the rebel camp. Huck
probably camps for the night at Philip Walker’s Mill (now Lando) in Chester
County. The rebel militia under McClure and Bratton, who have been using
Fishing Creek Church as a base, learn of Huck’s approach and retreat back into
northern York County. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/158-9; Draper MSS,
9VV10-12)
Col. Ferguson visits his brother Samuel and
sister-in-law Isabella on Rocky Creek and unsuccessfully attempts to persuade
Samuel to join the Loyalist militia. (Ellet, Women, 3:198-201)
Cols. Thomas and Lisle, learning of Brandon’s
Defeat, make plans to relocate their camps to safer areas and to continue the
fight against the British and Tories. (Saye, 11)
Sunday, 11 June: Huck arrives at Fishing Creek Church early
Sunday morning, expecting to find Rev. Simpson and his congregation attending
worship service. Huck finds the church empty because Simpson and most of the
men in his congregation have joined McClure and Bratton’s militia company. Huck
burns Simpson’s home, library and the meeting house. Ferguson’s Tories kill
William Strong, a young rebel militiaman, and wound another during a raid on
the neighboring home of Mrs. Janet Strong, a sister of Justice Gaston.
(Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/158-9; Winn, 28; Draper MSS, 9VV12; Moore, 3-4)
Rawdon issues a proclamation to the people of
Charlotte, advising them to keep the peace and harvest their crops. He warns
them of the consequences of armed resistance to the British. He writes
Cornwallis and states that the Catawba Indians, fearing an attack by British
troops and Cherokee Indians, have fled to NC with everything they could carry,
and states that “the neighborhood is totally destitute of grain or any kind of
dry forage.” (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/2/11/123-5, 127-8)
Rev. William Martin, a Covenanter minister, preaches
a sermon at the Covenanter Church on Rocky Creek, Chester County. He denounces
the massacre at the Waxhaws and encourages his congregation to take up arms
against the British. (Ellet, Women, 3:164; Ellet, Domestic History,
177-81)
Monday, 12 June: A group of Martin’s Covenanters assemble
seven miles above Rocky Mount under Capt. Ben Land. They are attacked by
British dragoons from Rocky Mount and dispersed; Land is killed in a sword
fight with the dragoons. Another party, assembled at a nearby blacksmith shop
two miles away, are also attacked by the dragoons, and one Covenanter is
killed. The dragoons proceeded to Martin’s home, arrest him, and take him to
Rocky Mount where he is jailed. (Ellet, Women, 3:164-5; Ellet, Domestic
History, 182)
The
New Acquisition Regiment assembles at Hill’s Iron Works on Allison Creek, York
County. One of Rawdon’s officers meets them there and attempts to persuade them
to take British protection; instead, the men decide to continue their
opposition to the British. They elect William Hill as colonel and Andrew Neal
as lieutenant colonel to replace Watson and Bratton. (Hill, 6-7)
Fair Forest and Spartan militia regiments hold a
convention at Bullock’s Creek Church in York County, and vow to continue their
resistance against the British, under the command of Cols. Brandon and John
Thomas Jr. (O’Neall, 33; Saye, 12)
Turnbull acknowledges receipt of a proposal from
Lord Cornwallis to join “three Carolina independent companies” of SC Loyalist
militia to the New York Volunteers. Turnbull agrees to command the militia and
train them but is reluctant to enlist them in the Volunteers. These three
companies are most likely the militia from the Rocky Creek and Rocky Mount area
commanded by Lt. Col. Ferguson and Maj. John Owens. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO
30/11/2/147-8; Winn, 4-7; Moore, 6-7, 22; Clark, 1:152)
Wednesday, 14 June: Huck and Ferguson return to
Rocky Mount after destroying Rev. Simpson’s meeting house. (Cornwallis Papers,
PRO 30/11/2/158-9)
Lt. Col. Neal and the New Acquisition Regiment set
out from Hill’s Iron Works to attack Tory settlements on the Broad River in
eastern Union County, leaving only a small garrison of 12 to 15 men at the iron
works under Col. Hill. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/162-3; Hill, 8)
A Loyalist militia regiment is established at Camden
and placed under the command of Col. Henry Rugeley, a wealthy Camden merchant
who owns Rugeley’s Mills. (Clark, 1:147-8; Lambert, 117)
(Date approximate): Whig militia under Col.
Brandon and Capt. Andrew Love of the New Acquisition attack and defeat a
Loyalist company at the plantation of John Stallings (Stallions) on upper
Fishing Creek in York County. Stallings’ wife, who is Capt. Love’s sister, is
accidentally killed in the battle. (Young, Union Times; Draper
MSS, 13VV144-5, 13VV184-7, 14VV169, 14VV177-8; Saye, 13)
Thursday, 15 June: Turnbull writes Cornwallis and reports that
Colonels Bratton, Patton, Winn, and others have abandoned their plantations and
“gone amongst the Catawba Indians.” He reports that corn is becoming scarce but
that there is an Irish settlement on Turkey Creek and Bullock’s Creek (in
western Chester and York Counties) with abundant provisions. He observes that
these people have become “very violent” and proposes sending troops to “settle”
them. He also proposes the destruction of Hill’s Iron Works in York County,
which is producing ordnance for the rebels and serving as the New Acquisition
Regiment’s base. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/158-9)
Col. Matthew Floyd and 30 Loyalist militiamen from
the Broad River area arrive at Rocky Mount, complaining of their treatment by
local Whigs. Turnbull appoints Floyd commander of the Upper District Loyalist
militia, and appoints his son Abraham Floyd as captain. Turnbull receives
several expresses informing him that rebel militia from Hill’s Iron Works are
attacking Tory settlements in Floyd’s neighborhood. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO
30/11/2/162-3; Tarleton, 93; Lambert, 119; Ellet, Women, 3:179)
(Date approximate): Neal is joined by Lt. Col.
James Lisle and a battalion of militia from the lower Broad River, Enoree River
and Tyger River areas of Union and Newberry Counties. Tarleton notes that after
the fall of Charleston, Lisle had taken advantage of Clinton’s proclamation and
“exchanged his parole for a certificate of his being a good citizen.” He was
then made second-in-command of Matthew Floyd’s Loyalist miltia regiment, but
“as soon as the battalion was completed with arms and ammuntion, he carried it
off to Colonel Neale.” (Tarleton, 93)
Friday, 16 June: Huck sets out early in the morning from Rocky
Mount with his Legion dragoons and 60 militia under Capt. Floyd, with the goal
of destroying the iron works and dispersing the rebels camped there. Once again
he uses Walker’s Mill as his forward camp. Turnbull writes Cornwallis informing
him of the situation, reiterates that he is running low on provisions, and asks
for more proclamations. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/162-3; Moore, 3)
(Date approximate): Lt. Alexander Chesney, a
Loyalist officer from the Pacolet River area, commands a group of Tory militia
in a skirmish on Bullock’s Creek, “where the rebel Party was defeated in
attempting to cross the ford.” This is probably a reference to Bullock’s Fork,
a branch of Thicketty Creek, Cherokee County. (Moss, Chesney, 18-9)
Sunday, 18 June: Huck attacks Hill’s Iron Works while Neal is
still in the Broad River area with most the New Acquisition Regiment. The
garrison under William Hill puts up a fight but is driven back by Huck’s
superior force and retreats into NC. Huck destroys the forge and all the
buildings, including Hill’s home and all of the Negro houses, and confiscates
all of Hill’s slaves. Huck them moves down to uppper Fishing Creek and camps at
Walker’s Crossroads, where he sends out word that the locals should take
protection and swear allegiance to the king. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO
30/11/2/171-2; Tarleton, 117; Hill, 8; Collins, 24-5; Draper MSS, 9VV289;
Moore, 4)
Monday, 19 June: Spartan, Fair Forest and New Acquisition
militia rendezvous at Tucaseegee Ford on the Catawba River in NC, where they
meet Col. Thomas Sumter, former commander of the 6th South Carolina
Regiment. They hold a convention, elect Sumter to be their leader, and
commission him brigadier general. (O’Neall, 34; Hill, 8; Winn, 2)
Huck holds his meeting at Walker’s Crossroads and
attempts to get the locals to take the oath of allegiance and accept British
protection. Most of the attendees are older men who are not already in arms
against the British; for the most part they refuse to sign the oath. Huck
harangues and threatens the locals and confiscates all of the horses fit for
military service. The majority of the men are forced to walk home. (Hill, 9;
Collins, 24; Draper MSS, 9VV289)
Tuesday, 20 June: Rowan County, NC militia under Brig. Gen.
William Lee Davidson and Col. Francis Locke attack and defeat Loyalists under
Lt. Col. John Moore at Ramsour’s Mill, Lincoln County, NC. Sumter’s men learn
of the attack and head to Ramsour’s to assist the North Carolinians; they
arrive too late for the battle but obtain much-needed provisions and supplies
captured by the NC militia. (Tarleton, 91, 118; Davie, 7; O’Neall, 34; Hill, 8;
Moss, Johnson, 41; Moore, 8; Boatner, 913-4)
Maj. Gen. Johann de Kalb, sent south by Gen. George
Washington with a brigade of Maryland and Delaware Continentals, learns of
Charleston’s surrender and camps at Parson’s Plantation, 35 northeast of
Hillsboro, NC. (Tarleton, 91-2, 119; Boatner, 1036-7)
Thursday, 22 June: DeKalb reaches Hillsboro and then advances
to Buffalo Ford on the Deep River, where he camps for two weeks. (Boatner,
1037)
Maj. Patrick Ferguson, in command of Ninety Six
District Loyalists, and Maj. George Hanger of the British Legion, arrive at
Fort Ninety Six. (Draper, King’s Mountain, 68)
c. Friday, 23 June: Moore’s Defeat at Ramsour’s
Mill prompts Turnbull to march into York County and camp at Maj. Brown’s
Crossroads (now Edgemoor) with Huck’s dragoons, some New York Volunteers and
the Tory militia under Capt. Floyd. He offers protection and paroles to locals,
only a few of whom “submit and embody.” (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/250-1)
Huck and Ferguson make an excursion into western
York County looking for rebels in the Bullock’s Creek-Turkey Creek community.
The Loyalists kill one man at Bullock’s Creek ford and a mile above the ford
they kill “good old Mr. Fleming, a man of 70.” (Draper MSS, 4VV120)
c. Sunday, 25 June: Capt. David Kinlock of the
British Legion brings a reinforcement of dragoons to Turnbull at Brown’s
Crossroads. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO
30/11/2/250-1)
Friday, 30 June: Cornwallis sends a letter to Clinton in New
York reporting the submission of Gen. Williamson at Ninety Six and the
dispersion of the rebels at Hill’s Iron Works, which “put an end to all
resistance in South Carolina.” He also mentions Moore’s Defeat at Ramsour’s
Mills. (Tarleton, 117)
Saturday, 1 July: Georgetown surrenders to the British.
(Date approximate): Lord Rawdon begins sending
emissaries into the rebel settlements, offering gold or “secret service money”
in exchange for loyalty and information on rebel movements. (Cornwallis Papers,
PRO 30/11/2/252-5; Moore, 2)
Sunday, 2 July: Kinlock rides twelve miles on reconnaissance
and returns to Brown’s Crossroads complaining of the heat and fatigue. Turnbull
sends him back to Rocky Mount and sends the Tory militia home to harvest their
wheat. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/250-1)
Tuesday, 4 July: Sumter’s rebels camp on the east side of the
Catawba River four miles from Old Nation Ford at Clem’s Branch. Turnbull
reports that they number “600 strong,” although their actual numbers are
probably less than half that figure. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/250-1;
Winn, 4; Bass, 57)
Rawdon sends Major Thomas Mecan and the 23rd Regiment of Foot from Camden up to the Waxhaws to reinforce that area.
(Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/250-1)
Wednesday, 5 July: Sumter sends a detachment to
threaten Rocky Mount and force Turnbull to retreat back to his post there. The
rebels advance as far as George Wade’s Mill on the east side of the Catawba
River, about ten miles above Rocky Mount. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO
30/11/2/250-1)
Thursday, 6 July: Fearing an attack from Sumter, Turnbull
returns to Rocky Mount. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/250-1)
Friday, 7 July: Sumter receives intelligence that the British
are at the Waxhaws; he moves down to that area, but finds that Mecan has left.
(Winn, 4)
Rawdon complains to Cornwallis about the bad effects
of Clinton’s June 3 proclamation. He reports that he has transferred Kinlock
and Mecan to Hanging Rock and has attached Rugeley’s Camden militia regiment to
Kinlock’s cavalry troop. He also notes that Turner’s militia (probably Col. W.
T. Turner’s Rocky Mount militia) are “mostly with the rebels.” One of Rawdon’s
“emissaries” named Lacey returns to Rawdon and gives him information on rebel
activities. This “Lacey” is Edward Lacey Sr., a noted Loyalist and father of
Capt. (later Col.) Edward Lacey, a prominent Patriot from Chester County.
(Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/252-5; Moore, 2; Clark, 1:152)
(Date approximate): Maj. William Richardson
Davie, commanding a troop of Rowan County, NC mounted militia, establishes a
post on the north side of Waxhaw Creek, Lancaster County. He is reinforced by
some SC militia under Maj. Robert Crawford, NC militia under Lt. Col. William
Haggins, and a company of Catawba Indians under their chief, General Newriver.
(Davie, 8)
(Date approximate): Lt. John Adamson, a Loyalist
officer from Camden, takes a company of Rugeley’s regiment to reinforce
Turnbull at Rocky Mount.
Sunday, 9 July: Kinlock pursues some rebels (possibly Davie)
“partly up the Waxhaws” but is unable to overtake them. Sumter returns to
Clem’s Branch and sends his men home for a few days to recruit and obtain
provisions. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/285-6; Winn, 4; Hill, 8-9)
Monday, 10 July: Turnbull receives intelligence that John
McClure has returned home to harvest his wheat and that William Bratton is
“publishing proclamations and pardons to who should return to their duty.”
Hoping to capture both men at home, that evening Turnbull dispatches Huck and
Lt. Benjamin Hunt with a troop of about 35 Legion dragoons; 20 mounted New York
Volunteers under Lt. John McGregor and Ens. Allan Cameron; and 50 mounted
militia under Col. Floyd, Lt. Col. Ferguson, Maj. Owens, Lt. Lewis, and Lt.
Adamson of the Camden regiment. Huck spends the night at the plantation of
Nicholas Bishop, a rebel militiaman who lives near Beckhamville and who is in
Sumter’s camp. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/285-6; Tarleton, 92-3; Draper
MSS, 15VV280-5; Joseph Kerr, FPA S13967)
Sumter’s men, having returned to their homes in York
and Chester County, learn from several sources that Huck has set out from Rocky
Mount on another excursion. They resolve to ambush him and destroy his force.
(Hill, 9; Winn, 4; Moore, 4)
Tuesday, 11 July: Huck stops off at Walker’s Mill in the
morning to grind some grain and then pushes on to the McClure home in
northeastern Chester County (now Rodman). Upon arriving, he finds James McClure
(younger brother of John) and his brother-in-law Edward Martin casting bullets.
Huck arrests the two young men, sentences them to be hanged the next day, and
sets fire to the house. Mrs. McClure sends her daughter Mary to Sumter’s camp
to warn the Whigs of Huck’s presence in the area. Huck’s force moves on towards
Bratton’s, stopping at the homes of William Adair, John Price and Edward Lacey
Sr. to pick up more provisions. Huck’s force arrives at the Bratton home late
that afternoon. Huck interrogates Martha Bratton, then moves on to the nearby
plantation of James Williamson (who has a large field of oats) and camps for
the night. Meanwhile, Whig militia from York and Chester under McClure,
Bratton, Hill, Neal, Lacey, Winn and others, numbering about 133 men, arrive at
Walker’s Mill and find Huck has left. They follow Huck’s trail into York County
during the night. Maj. John Owens of Ferguson’s regiment is taken prisoner at
the home of Edward Lacey Sr. and reveals that Huck is camped at Williamson’s.
The Whigs arrive at Bratton’s before daylight and make plans to attack Huck’s
force at dawn. (Tarleton, 92-3; Hill, 9; Winn, 4, 6, 8; Collins, 25-6; O’Neall,
34; William Bratton Jr.; Draper MSS, 5VV294-300; Moore, 4; Ellet, Women,
1: 243-4, 3:179-80)
Wednesday, 12 July: The Whig militia attack Huck
at daybreak and defeat the Loyalists. Huck and Ferguson are killed and Adamson
is seriously wounded. Loyalists losses number 21 killed with 29 wounded and/or
taken prisoner. Many of the militia flee the battlefield on foot. Ens. Cameron,
Lt. Lewis, twelve dragoons and twelve militia return to Rocky Mount that
morning, where they report to Turnbull on Huck’s defeat. At 1:00 PM Turnbull
sends a preliminary report to Lord Rawdon in Camden, stating that “this is a
very unfortunate affair.” Later that afternoon nine Volunteers and one dragoon
make their way back to Rocky Mount, and at 9:00 PM Turnbull sends a second
report to Rawdon, giving an update on the battle and his losses. (Tarleton, 93;
Hill, 9-11; Winn, 4-7; Collins, 26-7; Draper MSS, 5VV294-300; Moore, 4-7;
Ellet, Women, 1:242-6)
An express rider brings the “disagreable news” of
Huck’s Defeat “at Col. Braton’s on Fishing Creek” to the camp of Maj. Patrick
Ferguson, commander of the Ninety Six District Loyalist militia brigade.
Ferguson is camped at Capt. Frost’s plantation on Pagett’s Creek, Union
County. (Moss, Johnson, 43-4)
Mrs. Jane Thomas rides some 50 miles from Fort
Ninety Six to inform her son, Col. John Thomas Jr., of a planned Loyalist
attack on his camp at Cedar Spring south of present-day Spartanburg. Thomas
with about 60 men prepares an ambush for the Tories, who attack during the
night with about 150 men and are driven off with several casualties. (Draper, King’s
Mountain, 73-5; Lipscomb, Names, 22:35; Hope, 16)
Thursday, 13 July: Lt. Hunt of Huck’s dragoons
arrives at Ferguson’s camp on Pagett’s Creek, and gives his own “imperfect
account” of Huck’s Defeat. (Moss, Johnson, 44)
Col. Thomas leads the Spartan Regiment north and
joins Col. Charles McDowell of NC. McDowell has about 300-400 militia camped at
Earle’s Ford on the North Pacolet River in northern Spartanburg County, near
the NC line. A band of about 40 Tories from Cedar Spring pursue Thomas and halt
at Gowen’s Old Fort on the South Pacolet River near the Spartanburg-Greenville
County line. Col. John Jones of Burke County, NC, leading a detachment of 35
Col. Elijah Clarke’s Georgia militia to join McDowell, surrounds and attacks
the Tories during the night. The Tories surrender and are paroled, and Jones
takes their horses and weapons. (Draper, King’s Mountain, 78-80;
Lipscomb, Names, 22:35; Hope, 16-7)
The
Continental Congress commissions Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates to command the
Southern Department. (Boatner, 159)
Friday, 14 July: Col. Alexander Innes, commanding a Loyalist
garrison at Fort Prince on the north fork of the Tyger River in western
Spartanburg County, dispatches Maj. James Dunlap and Col. Ambrose Mills with 14
dragoons of the American Volunteers and 60 Loyalist militia to attack
McDowell’s camp at Earle’s Ford. Dunlap reaches McDowell’s camp during the
night and attacks, but finds himself badly outnumbered and beats a hasty
retreat. (Draper, King’s Mountain, 80-2; Lipscomb, Names, 22:35;
Moss, Johnson, 46; Hope, 18)
News of Huck’s Defeat brings fresh recruits pouring
into Sumter’s camp on Clem’s Branch. (Hill, 10; O’Neall, 34; Moore, 7-8)
Rawdon writes Cornwallis informing him that DeKalb
has rendezvoused with Maj. Gen. Richard Caswell, commander-in-chief of NC
militia, at Coxe’s Settlement. (Cornwallis Papers, PRO 30/11/2/294-5)
Cornwallis writes to Clinton informing him that
DeKalb is at Hillsboro with 2000 Continental troops and is advancing to
Salisbury. (Tarleton, 118-20)
Saturday, 15 July: McDowell sends 52 mounted
men under Capt. Edward Hampton in pursuit of Dunlap. Hampton overtakes Dunlap
near the present site of Shiloh Church in Inman, Spartanburg County, and
launches a surprise attack in which eight Loyalists are killed. A running fight
ensues as Hampton pursues Dunlap back to Fort Prince. When Dunlap reaches the
saftey of the fort Hampton withdraws. Fearing an attack by McDowell, Innes
evacuates the fort. (Draper, King’s Mountain, 11; Lipscomb, Names,
22:35; Hope, 19)
Lord Cornwallis in Charleston sends a letter to Sir
Henry Clinton in New York, reporting intelligence from Lord Rawdon that DeKalb
is at Coxe’s plantation on the Deep River in NC, and states that Rawdon has
posted Lt. Col. Webster at Hanging Rock. He also gives a report on Huck’s
Defeat.
Monday, 17 July: Sumter sends DeKalb a letter reporting his
success at Williamson’s Plantation and describing the scattered dispositions of
Cornwallis’s troops in the upstate. He proposes to attack the British posts at
Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock while DeKalb takes Camden with his army. (Draper
MSS, 17VV16-8; Boatner, 159; Bass, 63)
Tuesday, 18 July: Cornwallis issues a proclamation forbiding
the unauthorized requisitioning of cattle and other provisions except by field
officers of the militia acting under his orders. (Tarleton, 122)
Thursday, 20 July: That evening, Maj. Davie
leads a troop of Carolina dragoons south of Hanging Rock to intercept a British
supply convoy heading from Camden to Hanging Rock. (Davie, 9; Lipscomb, Names,
22:35-6)
Friday, 21 July: DeKalb receives Sumter’s letter of the 17th,
but knowing that Gates is headed south
to take command he delays taking any action. (Bass, 63)
Having marched all night, Davie reaches Flat Rock in
Kershaw County in the morning and lays an ambush for the British supply convoy.
That afternoon he attacks the convoy, destroys the provisions and captures the
convoy escort. Fearing that he will in turn be ambushed, Davie heads back to
his camp by an unfrequented route. (Davie, 9; Lipscomb, Names, 22:35-6)
Saturday, 22 July: Davie is ambushed on his way
back to camp early in the morning by some Loyalist troops at Beaver Creek Ford.
The British gunfire kills or wounds most of Davie’s Tory prisoners while
inflicting only light casualties on Davie’s men. Davie returns to his camp on
Waxhaw Creek later that morning. (Davie, 9-10; Lipscomb, Names, 22:35-6)
c. Monday, 24 July: Sumter receives intelligence
that “Bloody Bill” Cunningham has crossed the Broad River into western York County.
He sends John McClure with a company of mounted militia to drive Cunningham
from the area. McClure chases Cunningham across Union County back to Ninety
Six, and captures four of Cunningham’s men in the process. (Ellet, 3:185-6)
Tuesday, 25 July: Gates reaches DeKalb’s headquarters at Coxe’s
Mill, NC, and takes command of the southern Continental army, consisting of
1200 Maryland and Delaware Continentals, three artillery companies and 120
dragoons of Armand’s (formerly Pulaski’s) Legion. (Tarleton, 120; Boatner, 159)
Thursday, 27 July: Gates begins marching south
from NC with his “grand army” to attack Camden. (Boatner, 161)
McClure returns to Sumter’s camp in the evening with
four of Cunningham’s men as prisoners. (Ellet, 3:185-6)
Friday, 28 July: Sumter moves his brigade from Clem’s Branch
to Land’s Ford on the Catawba River in Chester County, in preparation for
operations against Rocky Mount and Hanging Rock. John McClure is elected
colonel and John Nixon is elected lieutenant colonel of the Chester County
regiment. By this time Sumter has about 600 men under his command. (O’Neall,
34; Hill, 12; Lossing, 98; Johnson, 344; Bass, 63)
Sunday, 30 July: Sumter sends Davie to make a diversionary
attack on the British fort at Hanging Rock while he attacks Rocky Mount. Davie
attacks the camp of Col. Samuel Bryan’s North Carolina Royalists, inflicts
heavy casualties, and captures Bryan’s supplies and 60 horses. Meanwhile,
Sumter’s Brigade attacks Rocky Mount. During the initial attack, Col. Andrew
Neal and 7 privates are killed. Sumter realizes that the fort is more heavily
fortified than he was originally informed. After several more unsuccessful
attempts to take the fort, Sumter is forced to break off operations when a
torrential downpour of rain begins to fall. (Hill, 11-12; Winn, 8-10; Johnson,
344; Moss, Johnson, 50-1)
Col. McDowell, having moved his camp to Cherokee
Ford on the Broad River, detaches a party under Cols. Isaac Shelby, Elijah
Clarke, Andrew Hampton, and Maj. Charles Robertson to attack a Loyalist post
called Thicketty Fort or Fort Anderson on Thicketty Creek, Cherokee County,
commanded by Capt. Patrick Moore. The Whigs surround the fort and Moore
surrenders 93 men and a large supply of arms without firing a shot. ((Draper, King’s
Mountain, 87-8; Lipscomb, Names, 22:36; Moss, Johnson, 51;
Hope, 20-1)
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