Francis Marion’s area of Operations August 1780
2nd Regiment of the South Carolina militia
As a follow-up to my earlier post: http://seekingliberty.org/2018/07/26/july-1780-continentals-attempt-quick-victory-against-british-in-south-carolina/
… August 1780 is a very busy and transitional month in the colony of South Carolina:
10AUG1780: While the British make their way into the interior of this colony, Gov. John Rutledge authorizes Francis Marion to take command of the militia east of the Santee River. So the question now is, does Francis Marion become a Colonel of the militia or is he still a Lt. Col. in the Continental organization?
12AUG1780: Lord Cornwallis’ forces cross the Santee at Nelson’s Ferry and arrive at Camden on the 13th of August making quick work at moving inland with no real resistance.
15AUG1780: Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates storms into South Carolina and orders Francis Marion and his men to seize all the boats along the Santee River. This group of militia then moves away from the Continental Army north of Camden (Rugeley’s Mill) to the west side of Camden opposite the British army on the other side of the Wateree River. The next day’s events would unfold without the aid of any South Carolina militia groups as Gates and the Continentals think they have this under control.
Stay tuned .. 16AUG1780 is a day that will set the tone for the rest of this war.