Lt. Col. Hezekiah Maham's dragoons charged right on through the men removing the planks and into the howitzer, driving artillerymen from the gun. Yet when he reached the spot he was again kept back by the riflemen. In reporting McCall's attack, he stated that his men had achieved a victory that would have done Honor to the most disciplined Troops. 8 British were killed or severely wounded, and 10 and several Loyalists captured. Simcoe has ever considered this action as the climax of a campaign of five years, as the result of true discipline acquired in that space by unremitted diligence, toil and danger, as a honorable victory earned by veteran intrepidity.". When they reached the bridge they quickly wheeled their horses under a volley of musket fire. After a heavy rain and a checked tide impeded his progress, he sent the boats back to Georgetown and concealed his men in a house until nightfall. The Patriots finally loaded their cannons with rocks and iron shards and fired on the Indians. Pickens very soon succeeded in breaking up the Tory settlements so effectually, that they were obliged to take refuge under the guns of Ninety-Six, and embody themselves for mutual protection under the command of [Brig.] The patriots fought several small battles but failed to win clear victories. Yorktown Battlefield Harding was captured by some Loyalists while on a scouting mission and he was taken to Col. Fanning's camp. That morning, he set out from Petersburg with a British force to destroy or capture the American goods. Capt. Major General Greene issued orders for this Light Corps to keep themselves in between Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis and the British prisoners captured at the Cowpens, who were being marched northward. Capt. On 21 May, Green camped on Bush River, arriving the next day at Ninety-Six. Much of the 1862 Yorktown battlefield encompasses the 1781 battlefield of the American Revolution. In response Cunningham and his men hanged Woods from a dogwood tree. A combined French and American force of about 18,000 soldiers and sailors surrounded him at Yorktown. They often wonder, and occasionally ask, what happened during this time, and why did the treaty take so much time to work out? His own horse shot out from under him, Watson then opened up his cannon on them on Marion and drove him back. In the course of what took place, Kolb was shot by one of the loyalists and his home burned down. John Rains of the Randolph County Loyalist Militia. Hinds's superiors. On March 2, a small Patriot force, commanded by Col. Benjamin Roebuck, who devised a plan to lure the Loyalists out of Williams Fort, the same fort attacked by Col. Joseph Hayes and Cornet James Simons on December 30, 1780. McCord's Ferry was along that line. Watson then removed his force that same day to Blakely's Plantation. The medical defenders offered no resistance at all. Holloway were able to move out of the swamp and to get into position, but Col. Ray's men were lost. After this, there was no more opposition. Unknown to the British, most of the town's military supplies had been evacuated earlier. Conclusion: American Victory, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan destroyed the captured baggage wagons, paroled the British officers, entrusted the wounded to the care of a few residents in the neighborhood, and, leaving his cavalry to follow him on their return from the pursuit, on the day of the battle he crossed the Broad River with his foot soldiers and his prisoners, the captured artillery, muskets, and ammunition. The Patriots totally routed the Loyalists, killed several, and took almost all of their arms. The British seek honorable terms of surrender, but Washington refuses as American forces were denied the that honor in Charleston, South Carolina, earlier in the war. It was forays like this which no doubt fomented Col. Abel Kolb's own murder, which took place on the night of 28 April. Gholson's men fired a volley into Col. Fanning's column, killing and wounding several. Cornwallis made a desperate attempt to ferry his forces across the York River to safety on the night of October 16. Edwards's brother, Edward Edwards, took command of the Loyalists and they finally defeated the Patriots. Conclusion: American Victory. The Battle of Yorktown marks the collapse of the British war efforts. Watson's regulars then continued their advance and Marion retreated to Cantey's Plantation file miles northwest of present day Greeleyville. The "Race to the Dan River" was over - Lord Cornwallis had lost. On March 1, Col. Hector McNeill with about 300 Loyalists attacked this post and took possession of the stores. A few of the enemy dismounted. Capt. Obtaining information about the approach of the convoy, Sumter, with Col. Edward Lacey and Col. William Bratton attempted to ambush it on a rising piece of ground, known as Big Savannah, a few short miles down the road from Thompson's Plantation, as it ran roughly southeast toward Eutaw Springs. John Clark at his own home at Horner's Creek with a small group of Loyalists. Lt. Col Bloodworth acquiesced and Jim took his place on the platform. David Godwin were killed, the Loyalists ran into a deep ravine, where they were shot at until those still capable surrendered. When Oliver Towles finished re-shoeing all of his men's horse, Major Cunningham's men killed him and his son and a slave boy, then set fire to all the buildings as they left. While waiting for Lord Charles Cornwallis to eventually make his way down to the Cape Fear region, Major James H. Craig used his occupation of Wilmington to launch many incursions into the surrounding countryside to harass the local militias and any North Carolina Continentals that might enter his sphere of influence. When Brigadier General Francis Marion set out against the British at Parker's Ferry on this same day he sent Capt. The Patriots heard the horn, but they were not aware that a second enemy group was wandering nearby ready to attack. Col. John Harris] Cruger the commander at Ninety-Six, in a letter to Colonel Balfour which was intercepted, the following exclamation : "the exertions of the rebels have been very great -- they have stolen most of our new-made subjects in Long-Cane, and many to the southward of us, whose treachery exceeds every idea I ever had of the most faithless men. Col. Hector McNeill and his men were supposed to go across the swamp and move around Col. Wade's position to cut off any retreat across Beatti's Bridge. ; British: ? As the troopships were just leaving the Cape Fear River, Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford marched his army into the town. Conclusion: Inconclusive. Brigadier General Francis Marion seeing this ordered his men to halt their advance and go to the aid of Brigadier General Sumters men. Casualties: American: 25k&w; British: 16k, 32w, 52c. They dismounted their horses and opened fire on the Loyalists. The Battle of Yorktown was the last major engagement of the American Revolution (1775-1783) and was fought September 28 to October 19, 1781. Cornwallis' defeat at Yorktown brought a new group of British ministers to power early in 1782. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. He had just returned home to his family after being on campaign after fighting at Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Eutaw Springs. We then proceeded on for Pocataligo. Lt. Col. Watson Tadwell-Watson then removed his force that same day to Blakelys Plantation. On the morning of July 4, he looked out through the bored hole and saw a group of British waiting in front of Nelson's liquor store. Riddle stole Cleveland's horse then laid an ambush for him when he came to look for it. On April 2, a group of Chicamauga Indians arrived at Fort Nashborough. The commanding officer and party returned and gave Capt. After marching all day and night, the large Loyalist army arrived at Hillsborough in an early morning fog. The Loyalist force, commanded by Capt. Capt. The Loyalists moved into the Uwharrie Mountains. The British did not pursue them, fearing an ambush. Yorktown Battlefield The town at this time had a garrison of about 80 provincials and some few loyalists militia. A Patriot sentinel named Crouch spotted them and he immediately fired his gun. "Where is that hetacombe of robbers and muderers due to the vengeance of your injured country?". They also took several men prisoner, paroling all but 20 of them. Bass says Henry Hampton, while Sumter's report to Greene of May 2nd says merely Col Hampton. 13 loyalists were killed. The Whig force was routed, and lost 18 men killed and 18 captured. However, British leaders feared they might lose other parts of Britain's empire if they continued the war in America. Unfortunately, Spain's nominal contribution to the war was counterbalanced by the most ambitious territorial demand - the return of Gibraltar by Great Britain. John Howell, and his open boats, rescued 30 of them. This ill-fated boy [Gillies] was one of the band of music, and exclusively devoted in the field to his bugle, used in conveying orders. At the same time, Simcoe moved to scout Yorktown Phillips, in an advance on Richmond, marched to Manchester and destroyed 1,200 hogsheads of tobacco there. They also seized eight horses and several swords. As Soon as I Received Intelligence of Their approach, I Detached Cols Hampton and Taylor after them, but as they began to Retreat on Wednesday Night, Don't expect they will be overtaken. The American commander was surprised at the sight of the British and ordered his troops and one of the ships to open fire on the British. Conclusion: American Victory. He had tried to move his men quickly by forced marches. Leonhardt survived for another eleven days. Battle of Yorktown After conducting a reconnaissance of the camp, he moved to the camp at 1:00 A.M. A sentry halted the Patriots and asked for the password. They rode into the camp, terrifying the Loyalist militia. Conclusion: British Victory. He did not know that they were the enemy, and they lied to him that they were friends coming from Major General Nathanael Greene's camp to join up with Brigadier General Andrew Pickens. Brigadier General Francis Marion, meanwhile, also came up with the main body of his own army prior to Lt. Col. Watson Tadwell-Watsons arrival. Col. Alston realized that he was now out of options and decided to give himself up. Godfrey Dreher (Orangeburgh District Regiment of Militia) and his family drove off a detachment of Loyalists that had been sent from Fort Granby to arrest him. Brigadier General Francis Marion with a party of mounted militiamen left the Pee Dee region to head to the Dorchester area. Conclusion: American Victory. When there was no shots that morning they became more confident and waited in groups outside the door of the shops. The British had anchored near Jamestown on the James River, late that evening. Fanning later wrote, "I mounted my men and placed them in Concealment along the Road." A general place of rendezvous for Patriot forces in this area was Cashua Ferry or Cashway Ferry on the Great Pee Dee River. "21st. The creek was later known as Hell Hole Creek. Culp of the North Carolina Militia decided it was time to return home. Cornwallis finally sent a large detachment across the river and they drove off the rebels. Marion had retired towards down the Santee Road and deployed his men at Mount Hope Swamp where he destroyed the bridge over the stream there. John Gordon. A mulatto man named Turner followed Capt. Outnumbered and outfought during a three-week siege in which they sustained great losses, British troops surrendered to the Continental Army and their French allies. As the British entered the town, some Patriots took pot shots at them and even managed to kill Loyalist Capt. To maintain stealth, soldiers do not to load or prime their weapons. 30th, the troops marched to Manchester, and destroyed twelve hundred hogsheads of tobacco. They then went to old Kenneth Black's home. Col. Alston and his men had just completed an unsuccessful chase after Col. David Fanning and had returned to his home, where his men set up their camp. But, it required all his firmness to prevent his North Carolina troops from deserting him. The Patriots were still to the southeast, but Col. Fanning learned that a small force of twenty-five men were camped at the New Hope River, between Col. Fanning and Brigadier General Butler. For the colonies, the long struggle for independence was leading to enormous debt, food shortages, and a lack of morale among the soldiers. Those in the tree could hear the beating of the drums as panic set in.*. As two of the sentries raised their guns, Capt. Riddle ordered Col. Cleveland to write out passes to certify that each of his captors were good Whigs. General George Washington and his Continental Army had a decision to make in the spring of 1781. The British could not keep up the pace with Col. Williams, so they halted for the night. With Col. Fanning out of action, and with Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis out of the state and being surrounded at Yorktown in Virginia, Acting Governor Alexander Martin decided to continue Governor Thomas Burke's plan to drive the British out of Wilmington. Land was at home and he gathered about 30 men. The British guard at Manigault's Ferry had chased after his brother, Capt. Yorktown The fort was a British post that protected a landing at Friday's Ferry on the Congaree River. Across the river was the plantation of Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr., the brother of Capt. Wade Hampton, who owned a store in the area had earlier been contracted to supply Fort Granby with provisions. Col. Fanning assumed that this meant the Patriots had been reinforced, so he ordered his men to disassemble and go separate directions. He reached the fort and briefly laid siege to it on February 19 by having his men build some "Quaker" cannons, then demanded the surrender of the fort. Greene later blamed the defeat at Hobkirk's Hill on Sumter, and indeed was so indignant at the latter's thinly disguised disobedience that he would have had Sumter arrested but from considerations arising from the state of the country at the time., "On the twenty-second we moved our encampment quite round Campden, the horse and infantry being sent about three miles down the Wateree there to procure forage, which having done, we returned to camp without anything of consequence happening. Lt. Col. Henry Lee (VA) established a camp at McQueens Plantation, south of the Ashley River, to cover the area between Charlestown and the Edisto River. He had four men killed and eight men wounded. If most people are asked what was the last battle of the American Revolution, the answer is often Yorktown. Brown's Mill was about a mile above the crossing at the old Rogers Mill. Herndon soon gathered a party together. John Saunders was the new commandant of Georgetown, and he sent out Lt. John Wilson with 35-40 of the Queen's Rangers up the Waccamaw River to capture Capt. Capt. French soldiers at Yorktown outnumbered Americans. Although Cornwallis drove Greene from the battlefield, the British had taken a battering. Lewis was given a group of men who were part of the rear guard at Dickey's Farm when they heard troops approaching at the far end of the road. John Postell, Jr. (Kingstree Regiment) and his men destroyed the stores at Wadboo Bridge, including 15 hogsheads of rum, a quantity of pork, flour, rice, salt, and turpentine. That same day, Cunninghams gang went to the house of Hilliard Thomas. Learning of their gathering, Tarleton moved with all haste to the site where about 500 were collected. Capt. He also ordered them to spread the word about the results of the battle of Guilford Court House to discourage any Loyalists from volunteering. Afterwards, Major Craig marched back towards the way he came - to Kingston, then to Wilmington. One of the Loyalists named Fair was also killed in this skirmish. He made preparations to ambush them at Godfreys Savannah on the night of August 27. It is all over. In the same letter reporting this skirmish, Sumter said: The Hessian horse is Gone Downwards Except Twenty five that Crosed from the fort at Motts & Went in to Camden With Majr Doyl [John Doyle].. Some of his troops failed to follow orders and the ambush had to be aborted. ), under Major James Craig captured Wilmington with little or no American resistance. Armstrong of the Legion cavalry, to reconnoiter. In any case, after the engagement Brigadier General Sumter crossed Radcliffe's bridge and "disappeared on a circuitous route toward New Acquisition," finally reaching Waxhaws. When the Patriots engaged the ambush, Coffin surrounded the partisan's flanks and rear with cavalry. Sergeant Major John Perry led one party and Quartermaster Sergeant William Lunsford led the other party, both under Lt. Col. William Washington (VA). The Tories advanced upon the outpost and attcked it, capturing the outpost after a short fight. Victory at Yorktown led directly to the peace negotiations that ended the war in 1783 and gave America its independence. Why did the French send troops to aid the Continental Army in the War for Independence? Capt. McCoy and Harden, who soon hastened to the defense of the terrified Whigs, and coming upon the enemy, charged upon them and killed and routed them to a man, Colonel Brown escaping to the woods. On August 24, a party of SC Militia and Continental cavalry raided as far south as Daniel Island, just across the Cooper River from the city. The defeat at Yorktown caused a change in the British government. When McLeroth approached Thompson's, Sumter on February 24 (or possibly the 25th) retreated to Mrs. Nevertheless, his 95 North Carolina militiamen were attacked near Cole's Bridge, on Drowning Creek (now the Lumber River), by 300 Loyalists and 100 British soldiers (all of whom were presumably mounted) who had pursued them. The two forces skirmished at Wiggins' Hill, and Harden, outnumbered, was beaten off. Edwards and ten of his men were killed. Once again, the Patriots were forced back, scattering into the nearby swamp. Conclusion: American Victory. Joseph Jones. Conclusion: British Victory, After Lt. Col. Henry Lee captured 20 British at McCord's Ferry, he sent the prisoners off with Cornet George Carrington. Since the boy murdered at Piney Bottom was killed with a sword, Capt. As American troops hack at the abatis with axes, the British are alerted. Conclusion: British Victory. Conclusion: American Victory. But Lafayette had too few troops to stop Arnold. Subsequent writers embellished Marions reputation by portraying only his victories. Capt. and some managing to escape. They destroyed Tuckasegee and 15 other smaller towns. Conclusion: British Victory. The militia once again fled the camp, with some of them joining the Patriots. Howell set fire to the two rice schooners and escaped with the slaves. Charles Stirling, off Charleston. The British found one hiding and they offered to spare his life if he would tell them where other Patriots could be found. They then took possession of Cross Creek across the river and conducted operations into the countryside from there. Yorktown He found and lured Maj. John Coffin and a force of mounted infantry and dragoons into an ambush, in which Coffin lost 20 men. When Marion returned, he camped at Indiantown, at which time his force had dropped down to about 70 men. The hospital was burned and the Patriot's rode away. General John Alexander Lillington and had his men to destroy all the rigging of the ships tied up to the town's waterfront. After about a mile and a half, they encountered Col. Dudley with his baggage wagon. Conclusion: American Victory, Skirmish, Major John Singleton (?) In fact Coleman, doesn't give a reference, and may have been drawing on the even older source. Gen. Charles O'Hara. Without ammunition reserves most of the Patriots left the field of battle, allowing the British to safely fall back on Charlestown. He soon learned that Col. Thomas Wade was pursuing Loyalist Col. Hector McNeill because of his recent (Aug. 28th) raid on Fanning's Mill. In the morning, Rawdon marched his force to Wateree Ferry. He decided to break off the pursuit and take his cargo to Cox's Mill. Kirkwood. The Patriots turned back from the main column and discovered a group of stragglers. Conclusion: Inconclusive Victory. As he marched his men to the main British camp, Lt. Col. Tarleton ran into a large group of Loyalists who were also marching in to join up with Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis. Conclusion: American Victory, Brigadier General Marion wanted to attack a British force under Lt. Col. Ernst Leopold von Borck as they returned to the Edisto. Discover what it took for the United States to be independent as you explore the site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Brigadier General Pickens would exact his revenge against their whole nation in 1782. Afterward, Kolb's death seemed to have emboldened many of the loyalists in the Drowning Creek region. Major Eggleston's men had to ride through thick black jack oaks, which slowed their progress, therefore giving the British time to form and fire once before fleeing. Pension statement of John Chumbley of Amelia County, VA.: We remained a few days in Green's army at the draw works [Speedwell's Iron Works] till the retreat of the enemy commenced, and Green began to hurry. Capt. DeGloback's company rode to within forty yards of two pickets, and when they fired the Patriots charged. Returning about a mile, the Americans discovered three men in red coats, who fled, but being directly run down, surrendered. An admiral whose greed and anti-Semitism made him a pariahuntil he became a hero. Campbell and those taken were paroled, and the attackers withdrew, subsequently camping at Murry's Ferry on the Santee. On February 1, the militia dispersed at Cowan's and Beattie's Fords retreated to Torrence's (or Tarrant's) Tavern, some 9-10 miles from the Catawba, to regroup.