SC & the battles of the Revolutionary war 8-2.5—Summarize the role of South Carolinians in the course of the American Revolution, including the use of partisan warfare & the battles of Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Kings Mountain, & Eutaw Springs

SC conflicts that Affected the war American forces thwarted the British attempt the split the colonies & won the a victory at Saratoga, NY A turning point in the war for the Americans Victory resulted in an American alliance with France Afterward, the British turned to SC in hopes finding a large number of Loyalists Video: Battle of Saratoga (9:55)

Battle of Sullivan’s island June 28, 1776 A fleet of more than 9 British ships sailed into the Charles Town harbor. 2,500 British soldiers and 270 cannons. British forces attempted to take Charles Town by attacking Sullivan’s Island. Protected by unfinished fort. Constructed of palmetto logs and sand. Around 400 men and 31 cannons guarded Charles Town. Other side of Island lay smaller fort. Constructed of palmetto logs and brick. Guarded by 300 men and 2 cannons. British failed due to tides and resistance from the spongy palmetto logs and sand, which protected Fort Sullivan. British withdraw, leaving for New York. 200 British casualties (dead and wounded). Less than 40 Patriot casualties.

Battle of Charlestown British return to S.C. in 1780 Six week siege Nearly 9,000 British troops sail from NY City First take Savannah, Ga and move up to Charlestown. British navy blasts through forts guarding harbor. Six week siege The British blockaded and cut off supply lines that lead from Charlestown Harbor Patriot forces led by General Benjamin Lincoln British forces led by Henry Clinton Patriot troops who were trapped on the peninsula were forced to surrendered in May 1780 Charlestown falls to the British May 1780 Nearly 5,000 Continental soldiers taken prisoner British seize most of their weapons, ammunition, and food supplies. British also take Beaufort, Ninety Six, Camden and Georgetown One of the biggest British victories Low point for the Patriots

British response to SC British hoped that they would gain control of the state through large numbers of state Loyalists and the neutral colonists to help win the war But, the British changed their parole terms and forced paroled Patriots to take up arms against their countrymen At the same time, The British, along with American Tories, treated SC harshly: they burned churches, looted & confiscated homes, harassed and exiled citizens This behavior turned South Carolinians against the British. Partisan bands were formed as a result.

Patriot partisans led by Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, & William Harden were fighting both the British regular troops and the Loyalists forces using hit & run tactics all over the state

Battle of Camden August 16, 1780 Patriot Leader: Major General Horatio Gates British Leader: General Charles Cornwallis Patriot Goal: Take back Camden from the British Gates made many mistakes Led his men through swampy, thick forested areas occupied by many Loyalists He ignored advice to travel through farmland Troops sick from heat, humidity, and limited diet Placed his weakest soldiers (militia) on left side across from British dragoons and Hessians soldiers, which were more experienced and better trained than the Patriot militia. The British fired guns and began bayonet charge. The Patriot militia on the left fled the battlefield The better trained Continentals were left vulnerable They were overwhelmed by British forces Gates retreated and fled north on horseback Major defeat for the Continental Army Horatio Gates disgraced and replaced by Gen Nathanael Greene About 800 Patriot soldiers were killed and 1,000 captured Less than 70 British soldiers killed and 350 wounded

Battle of kings mountain Oct 7, 1780 British Leader: Major Patrick Ferguson Only British soldier in the group The rest of the soldiers were Loyalists Patriot Leader: William Campbell British & Loyalist forces had stopped on the top of Kings Mountain in a place they thought was safe to set up camp Mountain men from North and South Carolina were fed up with the harsh behavior of the Tories and British decided to put a stop to it The “Over Mountain Men” (Patriots) fought Guerilla warfare against the camp on Kings Mountain from behind the same rocks and trees the British thought were keeping them safe The British & Tories sustained heavy casualties

Battle of kings mountain The British tried to surrender, but were offered no quarter by the Patriots in retaliation of the harsh treatment the British had bestowed upon the Patriots throughout SC The Battle of Kings Mountain is considered a turning point in the Revolutionary War because the British forces began to retreat from the upcountry

Battle of Kings Mountain Video (8:16)

The Battle of Cowpens Showed a cooperation between the Continental Army and the partisan forces Patriot (Partisan) Commander; Daniel Morgan British Commander: Banastre TarletonTarleton had 1,100 Loyalists and British Regulars Encounters about 300 sharpshooters (1st line) They deliver well aimed shots (targeting officers) After firing shots, fall back behind Gen. Pickens’ troops. General Pickens’ troops 1,000 soldiers 2nd line of Continental soldiers Fire one or two shots Retreat behind third line of Continental soldiers 3rd line of Continental soldiers Continentals mistake an order and begin an orderly retreat Reloading their rifles while retreating British forces think they have Continentals on the run Continentals turn toward British forces and fire point-blank Partisans had a reputation among the British for turning tail and running The American commander (Andrew Pickens) counted on this reputation for his battle plans Instead, the partisans lured the British forces into their guns, taking a victory! Resulting in the first time a British force of mostly regular troops had been defeated by the Americans At least 100 British soldiers killed and more than 200 wounded. 500 British soldiers taken prisoner. 25 Continental soldiers dead and 124 wounded.

The Battle of Cowpens Cornwallis and the British retreated to North Carolina to fight and wait for supplies Eventually they retreated back to Virginia leaving their remaining forces in the SC backcountry to be evacuated or reclaimed by the partisan forces and/or Greene’s Continental Army that was pushing toward the coast

Video 2:18

Colonel Isaac Hayne Partisan parolee Colonel Isaac Hayne was captured near Charleston in July 1781 The British used his punishment as an example to help stem the Patriot advance They hanged him as a traitor of the British crown after only a brief trial Nathanael Greene issued a proclamation stated that he would retaliate against the British forces

Battle of Eutaw Springs Sept 1781 Last major battle of Revolution in SC Patriot Leaders: Gen. Nathanael Greene Francis Marion, William Washington, and Andrew Pickens About 2,200 soldiers British Leader: Lieutenant Col Alexander Stewart Less than 2,000 soldiers and Loyalists Greene launched an attack on British Militia and Continentals were winning Drove British out of their camp Patriots made huge mistake Patriots looted the British camp Starving troops ate breakfast left behind at British camp British troops reorganized and counterattacked Patriots forced to retreat British victory with high price More than 600 soldiers killed, wounded or missing Patriots had more than 500 soldiers killed, wounded or missing. The British army weakened, which led to the final surrender at Yorktown, VA

Acknowledgements: this presentation was adapted from Kimberly Simpson’s PowerPoint Presentation