Category: American Revolution

Where Does the Fox Go When there is Pressure from Predators?

Having lived at the edge of a swamp for twenty years, it is a well known act of nature that has fox, deer and other animals seek the refuge of a swamp for protection. Now, while this sounds like a lot of standing in water, it is not, for even these animals will seek out dry ground in the middle of swamps, creeks or rivers to offer them not just protection, but the ability to hear when predators approach.

So when Francis Marion (later to be known as the Swamp Fox) had stung the larger British forces with a prisoner release expedition, that caught Cornwallis’ attention, as well as a skirmish that resulted in 15-30 British regulars taken near Kingstree, he sensed that he needed to regroup with his men back towards where they first rendezvoused earlier in the month at Witherspoon’s Ferry and then on to land in between the Great and Little Pee Dee rivers at a place called Britton’s Neck. This became home for his forces from about 27AUG until 03SEP1780.

When in camp, Marion used letters to communicate with his forces as well as attempts at communicating with the Continental Army. The first day in camp he wrote Lt. Col. Peter Horry who was still burning boats on the Santee River to disrupt the supply lines from Charles Town to Camden to frustrate the British forces there. Marion commanded Horry to come to Britton’s Neck with as many men as possible. Being late August, there were many volunteers who had to opt to harvest crops at their farms and so by the time early September came, Marion commanded only 50 men.

Also during this time, Marion penned General Gates who had fled to North Carolina, asking “Where is the army?” Marion had no logistical support from any government or military authority and was feeling quite isolated.  Having gotten the attention of the British high command, two months AFTER Cornwallis assured Gen Clinton in New York City that South Carolina was secured and that North Carolina was next on his list.

This delay of Cornwallis due to the actions of Marion’s militia was key towards keeping the British from joining with the British forces in New York to crush Gen. George Washington’s Continentals and end the quest for all of the American colonies that were seeking independence from the British Empire.

-SF1

NOTE:

  • The book “The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution“
  • Free resources placed online by J.D. Lewis at http://www.carolana.com

Both of these resources have been invaluable in this series of posts reflecting back 238 years ago this month. Please consider these resources for your own research of these events.

 

27AUG1780: Surprise Night Attack by Marion’s Militia Captures British Regulars

Irregular warfare will always surprise traditional military thought. Cornwallis’ response to the militia victory in releasing 150 prisoners was designed to chase the patriots into the swamp or back to their homes. Instead, Marion directs Maj. James to take 150 men and move TOWARDS the British force advancing on Kingstree.

In a night move, the patriot force is able to engage part of the 300 man (some sources claim 500 man) British force under Wemyss. While both sides lose about 15 men, it is estimated that between 15-30 British regulars are captured. This skirmish, won again by the militia, will infuriate Cornwallis who expected a quick suppression of “farmers with pitchforks”.

Rather quickly, Francis Marion has adapted from a Continental officer to a freedom fighter, complete with the honorable characteristics of never engaging the enemy in a way that would cause considerable hardship on the fighting men, in this case, volunteers whose hearts are about defending their families, homes, and communities. The fact that the 150 man force was content with a small win allowed the psychological edge to follow as the local communities would see this as a cause that had yet to expire. Hope in a future without the British Empire was not desired by the majority, however, actions taken by the British military when on South Carolina soil would be remembered for generations.

SF1

25AUG1780 Early Morning Hours: Marion Awakes His Militia on its First Mission

My previous post talked about how intelligence was leaked to Francis Marion about 150 Maryland prisoners of war held at Thomas Sumter’s abandoned house on the north savanna of the Santee River guarded with 90 British. Knowing that “leaks” can happen in either direction, he kept this information from his men as they went to bed on August 24th and were awakened before dawn on the 25th to ride to the first Francis Marion led militia effort (as well as his first military expedition leadership effort in the three months since the fall of Charles Town (Charleston, SC)).

Before this point in the war, Marion was operating within the Continental line with infantry and other units. His operational structure now, at this desperate hour, was with volunteer militia who received no pay for their service. Freedom fighters who sacrificed time and sometimes their lives in securing their family, friend and communities from the tyranny of the British Empire.

Battle of Nelson’s Ferry / Great Savannah involved 23 killed or captured British regulars in order to release all the prisoners. Even after this heroic effort, MOST elected NOT to join Marion’s Militia. It is fairly certain that this was the first time British General Cornwallis heard of Marion.

Col. Francis Marion leadership that day included:

  • Lt. Col. Lemuel Benton (Cheraws regiment) with 16 men
  • Kingstree regiment led by Lt. Col. Hugh Horry and Maj. John James  with four (4) known companies, led by:
    -Capt. John James, Jr.-Capt. John McCauley, Capt. Robert McCottry, Capt. William McCottry
  • Berkeley County Regiment detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
    Capt. William Dukes
  • Lower Craven County Regiment detachment of one (1) known company, led by: Capt. Henry Mouzon

[Source material from JD Lewis at http://www.francismariontrail.com/ ]

The reaction of Lt. Gen. Charles Lord Corwallis is to issue this order to Maj. James Wemyss to move from the High Hills of the Santee to Kingstree:

“I should advise your sweeping the country entirely from Kingstree bridge to Pedee, and returning by the Cheraws. I would have you disarm in the most rigid manner, all persons who cannot be depended on and punish the concealment of arms and ammunition with a total demolition of the plantation.”

Cornwallis, who thought that he was done in South Carolina is now having to send troops back into the Kingstree district to suppress the momentum shift due to Marion’s surprise victory and release of 150 prisoners of war. Hope is renewed from this small 60 man force!

Irregular warfare is about to emerge, and the British are ill equipped strategically to counter act it.

SF1

Nationalism or Patriotism? PLUS, What About the National Anthem?

The friends, family and community-centric patriotism of the 1600 and 1700s could be triggered by this flag. This is the Union Jack representing the union between England (+Wales) and Scotland.  In time, as conditions worsened, the Union Jack was a symbol of tyranny of a state apparatus that went beyond protecting their citizen’s rights and became oppressive to life itself.

As the Bad Quaker explains in this article (where the quotes that follow are sourced from), there is a difference between nationalism and patriotism. The symbols (flag, song, etc) that originally were the pride of the patriot became stolen to reflect a nation-state whose attributes were not anything one would prefer in a friend’s character, but of someone you would keep at a distance.

.. consider if the word ‘nationalism’ were represented by the phrase ‘team spirit’ and the word ‘patriotism’ by the phrase ‘friends, family, and community’ ..

As the Bad Quaker points out, team spirit will always overlook the bad attributes of one’s team and always seeing the good in it.  In this, there is no performance or behavior that will cause one to switch loyalty over.

Friends, family and community are actually people that are to be defended from aggressive forces, or lifted up in times of trials .. a condition of the sacrificial love of others.

So the State is the source of nationalism, while the warrior is the source of patriotism.

So what about the symbols of the state, country or people group? This gets a bit more complicated but again, Bad Quaker has some insight into this:

The National Flag is a perversion of the warrior’s banner, a symbol of the nobility of his heritage and his independence.
The National Song is the socialist version of the many spontaneous songs that would breakout as warriors arose to defend their honor, singing songs of bravery and victory.
The Salute as a military gesture was once a source of common respect and trust among warriors, but twisted by the State it has become a tool for lesser men to show authority over true warriors.

The state has twisted and tainted what once was good and honorable. At its inceptions, the idea of America was a noble one but it was quickly hijacked for an agenda of power and control. Unfortunately, revolutions routinely provide much of the same oppression and tyranny that appeared before the conflict and warfare, and sometimes even more (i.e. French Revolution)

Bad Quaker goes on to explain:

… the heart of the patriot is naturally stirred as he sees the National Flag unfurled or as he hears the National Song because these things were once the property of the warrior. However they have been largely usurped by the State with the express intention of confusing the patriot. And we must see this, the State stole these things because nationalism is false and empty and it is only by theft and deception that the State can convince patriots to support its ongoing aggressions. It is only through deception and theft that the State can convince true warriors to fight its wars. Nationalism is void of bravery because nationalism sits behind a desk and sends others to fight. Nationalism is quick to wave a flag and just as quick to drop it on the ground as soon as the parade passes.

Now the following is very important to note in the case of current events when there are people NOT standing for the national anthem and other people see that dishonoring. As a veteran, I served so that people could be free to NOT stand during a nationalistic focus at a sports event OR while in a government school. No one should be coerced or forced to “worship” a state flag EVEN when there are “patriots” around that see this flag as something that represents family, friends and community.

Unfortunately, the state has PAID (with your tax dollars) to have most major sporting events be preceded by the worship of the state flag and with the state song since the 1940s. Before this there was rarely any display like this AND before the so called “Civil War”, most people identified with their state and not with the federal or general government of the united States. (THAT is not a typo, many original documents capitalized the “S” in States while NOT capitalizing the “u” in united, for a reason)

Nationalism is the hollow dead emotion the State wants patriotism to become. Nationalism is the false pride in one’s self at the accomplishments of others, while patriotism is pride in individual accomplishment.

True story. The state is paranoid that its delusion may lose to real patriotism, so it will at every chance and especially with your dime make sure you are reminded every time there are sports played in the USA that you remember who you are to worship.

The bottom line:

.. there is no place for nationalism in a free society, patriotism and the warrior spirit are a natural and needed aspect of freedom. The trick is in separating the two, as Paul the apostle once said, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Nuff said!

SFI

 

When Alignment to a King Displaces Old Friendships, Example from 1780 South Carolina

Mural in Clarendon County, South Carolina – painting by artist: Terry Smith, Land O’ Lakes, Florida

Yesterday’s sole post included a snapshot of a small part of Carolina map that identified Thomas Sumter’s home near the Santee River area of South Carolina. This detailed 1775 map is described as:

An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina With Their Indian Frontiers, Shewing in a distinct manner all the Mountains, Rivers, Swamps, Marshes, Bays, Creeks, Harbours, Sandbanks and Soundings on the Coasts, with The Roads and Indian Paths; as well as The Boundary or Provincial Lines, The Several Townships and other divisions of the Land in Both the Provinces; the whole from Actual Surveys by Henry Mouzon and Others

Captain William Henry Mouzon II of Hugoenot descent, was educated in France, spoke the language very well and became a surveyor/ civil engineer. Henry Mouzon had known Banastre Tarleton from their boyhood days.

He was a lieutenant in the 3rd S.C. Regiment, then raised the King’s Tree Company and became its captain. This militia company numbered about 75 men when it disbanded after Charleston fell to the British in May 1780. Capt. Mouzon’s company reformed in July 1780, then joined Col. Francis Marion.

By 1780, so callous had British Dragoon commander Banastre Tarleton grown from a sense of duty to his King that he burned the Mouzon Plantation’s home on 07AUG1780. Mouzon’s daughter Ann was eleven years old and was on top of the smoke house at the time and was the first to see the British. She sounded the alarm for the rest of the family before Tarleton’s Green Dragoons burned it.

The Mouzon home was at Mouzon’s Landing, located at Puddin’ Swamp on the Black River where Mouzon fled that day into the swamp to safety. The home was technically on the edge of St Marks Parish.

Following this significant event, British Major James Wemyss burned out Patriots & Loyalists alike in a swathe 15 miles wide all along the 70 miles route from Kingstree to Cheraw along the Black River in 1780.

Shortly thereafter, on September 28, 1780, Capt. Mouzon was severely wounded in Francis Marion’s victory at Black Mingo Creek and forced to retire from further active service. He died in 1807 and is buried in the Mouzon family cemetery .

Both of these scenarios were captured in the 2000 movie “The Patriot” where the fictional character Benjamin Martin also had his house burnt down in front of him and had neighbors and militia fighters learn that their homes along the river had been burnt down as well.