History of the Loyalists: Defeat of Sumpter by Lieut.-Colonel Carleton and his Legion

Year
1893
Month
9
Day
6
Article Title
History of the Loyalists: Defeat of Sumpter by Lieut.-Colonel Carleton and his Legion
Author
James Hannay
Page Number
1
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
HISTORY OF THE LOYALISTS DEFEAT OF SUMPTER BY LIEUT.- COLONEL CARLETON AND HIS LEGION. The Army Advances Into North Carolina—The Rebels Repulsed at Augusta-Heroic Conduct of Col. Browne BY JAMES HANNAY. CHAPTER XXXIV. (Concluded.) The victory at Camden was as complete a triumph as was achieved by the British arms during the war, and being gained over an enemy three times as numerous as themselves by the British and Loyalist forces, may be remembered with pride by the descendants of the men who took so glorious a part. Yet it had but a slight effect on the British cause in South Carolina, for that cause was then past saving, thanks to the incompetence and neglect of General Howe and General Clinton in the early stages of the war. The forces of the rebels which ran away from the field with such alacrity that General Gates himself put 60 good miles of territory between his own person and the British, was soon collected again, and had lost very little even in reputation by the issue of the contest. Fighting against the rebellion in the year 1780, was like contending with the wind, and the result was equally fruitless. TARLETON’S RAID ON SUMPTER. Immediately after the battle of Camden Colonel Tarleton was the hero of a very brilliant exploit. Although General Gates had been defeated there still remained a considerable force of the enemy in South Carolina, under Colonel Sumpter, well furnished with arms and provided with cannon. On the evening of the battle of Camden Lord Cornwallis dispatched an order for Lieutenant-Colonel Turnbull to move instantly with the New York volunteers, Major Ferguson’s detachment of riflemen and the loyal militia, in pursuit of Sumpter, while on the following morning, as soon as the troops engaged in the battle had rested. Colonel Tarleton was detached with the legion cavalry and infantry, and the corps of light infantry to harass or strike at Sumpter, as he should find it most advisable when he approached him. For this purpose, he directed his course through the woods with 360 men and one piece of cannon marching up the east side of the Wateree, and in the afternoon he learned that Sumpter was retreating along the western bank of that river. At dusk the same evening Tarleton reached the ferry facing Rocky Mount, and perceived the camp fires of Sumpter's force, about a mile distant from the opposite shore. Sumpter's force consisted of 100 continentals, 700 militia and two pieces of cannon. During the night although he had not gained intelligence of Tarleton’s presence, he decamped, but early on the following morning Tarleton was again on his track. At noon Tarleton in his pursuit had reached Fishing creek but many of his men were in so exhausted a condition as to be unable to continue their march as rapidly as was necessary for the purpose of overtaking Sumpter. Under these circumstances Tarleton selected 100 of the legion dragoons and 60 of the infantry best able to bear fatigue, and continued to follow Sumpter, who was found encamped five or six miles distant along Fishing creek, a little above the Great Falls, unsuspicious of danger. Tarleton attacked so suddenly that the arms and artillery of the continentals were secured before the men could be assembled. Universal consternation immediately ensued throughout the American camp, and THE REBELS WERE ROUTED with great slaughter, 160 of the Americans were killed or wounded and upwards of 300 made prisoners. All the stores and prisoners which Sumpter had taken in his numerous raids were recaptured, and his cannon, baggage and supplies, besides 1,000 stand of small arms, fell into the hands of the British. The defeat of Sumpter destroyed the last organized rebel force that existed in South Carolina. South Carolina being clear of rebels, military considerations demanded that an advance should immediately be made into North Carolina, but this it appears could not be done immediately, because of the number of sick in hospital, the additions to the wounded due to the late battle, the deficiency in stores and the heat of the climate. In the meantime, however, messengers were sent into North Carolina by Lord Cornwallis directing the friends of the British government there to take arms and assemble immediately seize the most violent partisans and all military stores and magazines belonging to the rebels, Cornwallis promising to to march to their support as soon as possible. While this was done Major Ferguson's corps of rangers, and about 1,000 loyal militia were advanced to the western borders of North Carolina to hold communications with the inhabitants of Tryon county, until the British troops under Lord Cornwallis were in a condition to advance. MOBE REBEL TREACHERY. Lord Cornwallis had been relying on the fidelity of the inhabitants of Charleston to whom he had been most considerate, but some papers taken in the baggage of the American general officers at Camden disclosed the fact that upwards of 30 of the principal inhabitants of the place, who had received pardon, and protection from the British commanders, had held treacherous correspondence with the enemy, or been engaged in secretly advancing the interests of congress in South Carolina. These people were arrested and sent prisoners to St. Augustine, while others who had fought against the British troops with paroles in their possession were executed. Before the middle of September Cornwallis, having received reinforcements and stores, was able to begin his movement into North Carolina No great changes were made on the frontiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Browne being left at Augusta; Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger at Ninety-six, and Lieutenant Colonel Turnbull at Camden. Lord Cornwallis, with the principal column of the army composed of the 7th, 23rd, 33rd and 71st regiments of British infantry, the volunteers of Ireland, Hamilton’s North Carolina regiment, Bryan’s volunteer militia, four pieces of cannon and a detachment of cavalry marched by Hanging Rock towards the Catawba settlement, while the light and legion infantry, the main body of the British dragoons, with a three-pounder under Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, moved up the east side of the Wateree river. Charlottetown was now occupied by the British forces, but although it had some advantages of situation and in the way of tarnishing supplies, it was found that the people of the town and its vicinity were mainly hostile to the British cause and that the army was VIRTUALLY CUT OFF from the loyalists in other parts of the province. The British foraging parties were every day harassed by the armed inhabitants, convoys coming from Camden were attacked and individuals who were out as messengers for the British army were frequently murdered. While Lord Cornwallis was preparing to advance into North Carolina some important events were taking place on the western frontier of Georgia and South Carolina. About the beginning of September Colonel Elijah Clark, a rebel of Wilke county, Georgia, and Lieutenant Colonel McCall undertook to raise a sufficient force to capture the fort at Augusta, which was held by 250 Loyalists, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Browne. Clark and McCall, succeeding in getting together about 700 men for this enterprise and they reached Augusta on the 14th of September so suddenly that the garrison bad no previous intimation of their coming. In the vicinity of Augusta was an encampment of 200 Cherokee Indians, and these were called in by Browne to assist in the defense of the place. As the town of Augusta did not afford AN ELIGIBLE POSITION FOR DEFENCE, Colonel Browne directed his course towards Garden Hill, a plantation on the Savanah road. When the British and Indians reached McKay’s house it was discovered that the Americans, were already in possession of Garden Hill, Lieutenant Colonel Browne ordered an immediate attack and succeeded in dislodging the enemy, and taking possession of the buildings which were immediately loop-holed for the purposes of defense, and entrenchments thrown up about them. The Americans now attacked Browne’s position and summoned him to a surrender, which he refused to do. He had been severely wounded and shot through both thighs, and both he and his garrison were tortured by thirst, because the Americans had succeeded in cutting off their supply of water, but he still refused to surrender, and all the attempts of the Americans to dislodge him failed. Browne held out for four days, or until the 18th, when he was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Cruger, the commander of one of the deLancey battalions who held FORT NINETY SIX. Cruger had heard of Browne’s peril and withdrawing as many of his garrison as could be properly spared, and reinforced by a considerable body of militia, he at once marched to Browne’s assistance. As soon as Cruger’s force appeared Clark and rebel detachment fled to the mountains. Their loss in the siege was upwards of 60 killed and wounded and a Captain Asby and 28 others were made prisoners. As Asby and 12 of his men had been in the militia and borne arms in the king’s service and afterwards deserted to the enemy they were promptly hanged according to the orders which Col. Browne had received from Lord Cornwallis. For this Browne has been much censured, and Cornwallis has been accused of cruelty, but without any just cause. If deserters in time of war were not liable to military execution no army could be kept together. Browne’s gallant defense of Augusta and Cruger’s equally gallant rescue of him were the work of Loyalists, all the men engaged on that occasion being colonists who had joined the service of the crown. Browne’s force consisted mainly of Florida rangers and men of his own detachment of King’s Carolina rangers; While Cruger’s relieving force consisted of men of de Lancey’s first battalion and the 2d New Jersey volunteers.