Tag: volunteers

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.

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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.

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