September 8, 1781 and the Battle of Eutaw Springs destroyed any hope England had of reclaiming the southern colonies. But sixteen months earlier, that was nowhere near the case. American General Benjamin Lincoln had just surrendered the southern army at Charleston to British General Henry Clinton on May 12, 1780. The devastating loss of over five thousand men, three hundred cannon, and over nine thousand firearms was the largest capitulation of any American force in the war. The prisoners included roughly 2,500 Continental troops, among which was the Virginia Line of 750 soldiers, among the finest in Washington’s armies. What remained of the southern army, mainly a handful of militia regiments, regrouped while Maryland and Delaware Continental troop reinforcements were sent from the north. Over Washington’s advice, this new force was put under the command of Congress’ favorite and hero of Saratoga, General Horatio Gates. Gate’s rush to strike back at the British, now under General Cornwallis’ command, with an exhausted and undersupplied army, proved another formula for disaster.  No sooner had the two armies clashed at Camden, South Carolina on August 16, 1780, than Gates took to his horse and abandoned his command, galloping over two hundred miles north before halting. The result was another crippling loss for the Americans which almost assured England’s total control of the south. The only ray of hope for the Americans was the decisive defeat of British loyalists by Carolina militia and western ‘over the mountain men’ at the Battle of King’s Mountain on October 7, 1780.

Major General Greene Given Command of the Southern Army

Only after the incompetence of Lincoln and Gates, was Washington finally allowed to send his pick of generals to the southern campaign. Major General Nathanael Greene was put in command of the southern army, arriving on December 3, 1780. His lieutenant was none other than General Daniel Morgan of Morgan’s riflemen. Both men had proven themselves on battlefield after battlefield. They would supply the southern army the leadership which would serve the American cause well.  What was little more than a ‘shadow army’ of fifteen hundred disorganized and poorly shod men was quickly whipped into shape and reinvigorated with both supplies and the will to fight. Greene didn’t have to wait long before the British tested the new commander by drawing first blood.

Greene knew he didn’t have enough men to confront the British head on. Soon after taking command, he violated military convention by splitting his force. Greene sent a large detachment under General Morgan into the interior of South Carolina and Georgia to find much needed supplies while raising support for the rebellion amongst the divided civilian population.  Cornwallis’ saw an opportunity to destroy Morgan’s command and sent twenty-six-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton at the head of a large detachment to pursue and attack. Tarleton pushed his men hard to the point of exhaustion.  When he caught up to Morgan on January 17, 1781, the cocky dragoon boldly attacked head-on.  As Morgan later commented, he gave Tarleton, “a devil of a whipping”, destroying and capturing most of the flamboyant colonel’s entire command.     

General Greene’s Plan of Attrition

Even after Cowpens, Greene recognized that Cornwallis’ force was still too strong to challenge and initiated a campaign of attrition. Over the next two months, Greene’s small army remained just one march ahead of the pursuing British. Cornwallis was desperate to catch the illusive Americans and stripped his army to the bare essentials to catch up. Greene’s troops lived off the land and left nothing but crumbs for the trailing British. The chase carried into central North Carolina and by mid-March, according to one British officers, the army was “completely worn out.” On March 14, 1781, Greene decided the time was right to offer battle and prepared for Cornwallis’ army at Guilford Courthouse. Like Tarleton had done at Cowpens, the over-confident Cornwallis’ attacked head-on the next day, March 15^th.  Though by day’s end, the redcoats retained the field, the loss of men and supplies was devastating, made worse that Greene’s army slipped away in no less shape than they had been at the start of the battle.

Cornwallis Heads to Virginia While Greene Remains in the Carolinas

After Guilford Courthouse, Cornwallis decided he had no other option but to carry onto Virginia where he expected to resupply his army and strengthen it through reinforcements. Cornwallis had hoped that his opponent would follow him north, but Greene, with approximately 2,200 men under his command, stayed true to his primary mission and remained in the Carolinas. Cornwallis left roughly 2,500 British regulars in the Carolinas under the ample command of Lord Francis Rawdon. Rawdon had seen continuous action throughout the war, having led an assault on the redoubt at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. By the spring of 1781, the British presence in the south was greatly reduced. There were just two outposts in South Carolina, Fort Ninety-Six and Charlestown [Charleston], and in Georgia there were outposts at Augusta and Savannah.

Greene soon began a campaign to end British control over South Carolina’s backcountry. On April 25^th, Greene and Rawdon clashed at Camden on what has been called the Battle of Hobkirk Hill. Once again, though the British claimed victory, Greene led an organized retreat with much of his army intact, while the British suffered in the loss of irreplaceable men and supplies.  Rawdon returned to Charleston while Greene went on the offensive. On May 22, 1781, he laid siege to the British fortified village of Ninety-six, in southwestern South Carolina. After a month of skirmishing, Greene learned that Rawdon had left Charlestown to reinforce the garrison at Ninety-Six. A failed assault on June 18^th was the final attempt by the Americans to take the outpost. Afterwards, Greene gave up, heading north to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rawdon Pursues Greene. Americans Assume Offensive

Once more, a British army tried to catch the elusive Greene as the crafty American general wore down his opponent by keeping one march ahead. Eventually, Rawdon had to abandon the pursuit after his men were too exhausted and malnourished to continue. In spite of the fact that Ninety Six was the only remaining inland British outpost after the fall of Augusta, Georgia on June 6^th, (Savannah which was evacuated on July 11, 1782 was a coastal outpost), Rawdon decided to burn it and withdraw the garrison to Charlestown, South Carolina.  The long and arduous campaigning plus bouts of malaria had taken its toll on Rawdon’s health. He resigned and departed for England on July 20, 1781, leaving Colonel Alexander Stewart in command of the garrison at Charleston.

Greene’s army steadily gained strength in both supplies and additional militia reinforcements. By late summer he decided it was time to lay siege to Charlestown, England’s last major stronghold in the south. Greene placed Brigadier General Jethro Sumner in command of all Continental troops and the militia was led by competent Brigadier General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. As Greene’s forces approached, British Colonel Alexander Stewart decided to engage the Americans in battle to once and for all annihilate the elusive patriots. His men marched from Charlestown and camped on a patch of hills along the Santee River.

Battle of Eutaw Springs

American Forces

• General Nathanael Greene – Overall Command
• Brigadier General Jethro Sumner – Command of Continentals
• Brigadier General Francis Marion – Command of Militias

Continentals

• MD 1^st – Lt. Col. John Eager  MD  2^nd – Maj Henry Hardman
• NC 1^st Reg. – Col. John Ashe,  NC 2^nd Reg. –  Maj Reading Blount, NC 3^rd Reg. – Maj. John Armstrong,  NC 4^th Reg. –  Lt. Col. Henry Dixon.
• VA Brigade of Continentals – Lt. Col. Richard Campbell (killed)
  • VA 1^st battalion Maj. Smith Snead
  • VA 2^nd battalion detachment Capt. Thomas Edmunds (wounded)
• 1^st Reg. Artillery of Virginia  (two 3 pounders and two 6 pounders)
• Lee’s Legion – Lt. Col. “Lighthorse Harry” Henry Lee
• 3^rd Regiment of Continental Light Horse Dragoons – Lt. Col. William Washington (wounded and captured)
• 1^st Regiment of Continental Light Horse Dragoons detachment – Capt. John Watts

Militia & State Troops

• Col. Francois DeMalmedy – 25 detached regiments of the NC Light Dragoons
• 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd South Carolina State Regiments
• SC County Militias: Camden, Fairfield, Spartan, New Acquisition, Polk’s Reg., Hampton’s Reg., Roebuck’s Reg, Hill’s Reg., Orangeburg, Kershaw, Berkely, Cheraws, Mahams, Lower and Upper Craven, Kingstree Reg., Upper Granville, Little River, Lower Ninety Six, Turkey, Hammonds, Lower Dist.
• Thomas Sumter was present and notably led South Carolina militiamen who prior to Eutaw, continuously plagued the British under Cornwallis.
• Horry’s Light Dragoons
• NC County Militias: Wake, Orange, Rowan, Lincoln, Caswell, Anson, Richmond, Gilford, Randolph, Wilkes, Surry, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Sullivan, Washington, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Tyrell.

British Forces

• Colonel Alexander Stewart – Commander (wounded)
• 3^rd Reg. of Guards – Maj. Thomas Dawson
• 63 Reg. of Foot – Maj. Charles Stewart
• 64^th Reg. of Foot – Capt. Dennis Kelly
• Light Infantry & Grenadiers led by Major John Majoribanks (mortally wounded)
• Light infantry & Grenadiers of the 3^rd Reg. of Foot
• 19^th Reg. of Foot Light Infantry & Grenadiers – Edward Fitzgerald
• 30^th Reg. of Foot Light Infantry & Grenadiers
• 84^th Reg. of Foot
• Royal Reg. of Artillery (seven pieces)

Loyalists – 1,396 total

• Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger – commander of militia
• Delancey’s Brigade – of New York City
• New Jersey and New York Volunteers
• Major John Coffin’s Troop of Mounted Infantry
• Light Infantry – commanded by Thomas Barclay
• SC Loyalist Militia
• Camden Militia

Americans Position to Attack

On September 7^th, Greene camped his force of 2,092 men along the River Road at Burdell’s Plantation, seven miles from Eutaw Springs. Greene’s strategy organized his command into three lines of battle with the militia in front, followed by the continentals, and dragoons bringing up the rear.  Greene’s plan placed the militia up front as he and Morgan had successfully done in previous battles. American commanders never expected more than one or two volleys from the militia before they turned and ran. At which point the Continentals would step forward and smash the British pursuit. However, General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion’s extensive knowledge of the Santee swamps and river and the tenacity of his militia disproved past expectations.  In fact, Marion’s men fired off multiple volleys as they advanced into the hottest fire of the battle, behaving as hardened veterans. Greene later reported to Congress they had “gained much honor for their families by their firmness.”  And in a letter to Major General Baron von Steuben, he wrote that “such conduct would have graced the veterans of the Great King of Prussia.”

The morning of September 8^th dawned fair and intensely hot. At 4 AM, the patriots, on short rations and with little rest, advanced from Burdell’s Plantation towards the Eutaw Springs.  They marched in four columns as per their place in the line of battle. Lt. Col. William Henderson led the advance with the South Carolina militia. He was followed by Lt. Colonel Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee’s Legion (of light infantry and mounted dragoons).  General Marion came next with the North and South Carolina’s state militias. The Continentals followed the militia under Brigadier Jethro Sumner. The 3rd Regiment of Continental Dragoons under Lt. Colonel William Washington brought up the rear.  When the militia deployed, Henderson’s militia covered the left wing and Lt. Col. Lee and his Legion covered the right wing of all militias. At the center of militia, Marion posted Col. Francois DeMalmedy and the North Carolina militias while on the left he sent Brigadier Andrew Pickens and on the right, Marion’s own brigade.

British Deploy

The British had camped at the Wantook Plantation with the waters of Eutaw Creek on their north. As the men were sitting down to breakfast, they were interrupted by the approach of the Americans. Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart quickly responded and formed his troops in a line of battle across the Congaree Road.  Behind his men and in cleared fields to the west of Eutaw Springs, stood the home of Patrick Roche, a large brick home with a high-walled garden. On his extreme right, Stewart posted Major John Majoribanks with a flank battalion behind some thickets and a hundred paces before the creek; these combined companies of light infantry and grenadiers were among the finest troops in the British army – for more of this type of formation see British Army Command and Structure on Revolutionary War Journal. Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger’s Loyalists along with the 3^rd Regiment of Guards, both under Cruger’s command, were positioned in the center. On Stewart’s left were the 63^rd and 64^th Regiments of Foot, their flank in the air (resting on no natural or artificial obstacle) which was supported by Major John Coffin’s cavalry. So too, Stewart placed sharpshooters from the New York Volunteers at the Roche brick house, commanded by Major Henry Sheridan.      

Americans Attack

According to the American Revolution in South Carolina website, heavy firing soon crackled and boomed through the shady woods. The battle soon progressed in a ‘see-saw’ action with first one side pushing in the other before being driven back, only to rally and force their enemy back again. At first the center of the patriot line caved in, but while opposing flanks fought separate battles, General Greene restored the center with the North Carolina Continentals. The whole British line then began to give, but then Lt. Col. Stewart quickly pulled up his left-flank reserves, forcing the Patriots to retreat under thunderous fire. The encouraged British shouted, yelled, and rushed forward in disorder; whereupon Greene played his ‘Continental Card,’ as he had done at Guilford Courthouse and Morgan unleashed at Cowpens. Greene brought in his strongest force, the Maryland and Virginia Continentals, including Kirkwood’s Delawares and Lt. Colonel Washington’s cavalry to devastating effect. As well, both the British and Continentals were astonished to see General Marion’s militiamen’s steady, unfaltering line advancing into the enemy’s hottest fire; unheard of for usually unreliable militia.  They would fire a total of seventeen rounds as they continually advanced, near the limit of their flintlocks’ endurance. Only with ammunition exhausted, did Marion’s troops retire in good order, leaving the fighting to the continentals under General Sumner. Marion would late write Lt. Col. Peter Horray that “my brigade behaved well.”

British Pull Back and Americans Take Their Camp

The Continentals continued to press the advantage. The British left fell back in disorder and when Lt. Colonel “Lighthorse Harry” Lee wheeled his infantry to attack, the enemy’s confusion was increased. The center, composed of militia and the 3^rd Regiment of Guards under Lt. Col. Cruger remained firm. British regulars and loyalists met the continentals in hand-to-hand fighting. Bayonets clashed bayonets and knives and swords slashed their enemies. Soon, the confusion on the British left affected the center and when the Marylanders delivered a terrific fire, the entire British line, except for the hardened veterans of Maj. Majoribanks flanker regiment, sagged, faltered and broke, fleeing in every direction. The patriots were hot on their heels and rushed into the British camp where they stopped. Having marched for days on end with limited and rationed food supplies, the abandoned breakfast proved too tempting for the Americans to pass up. As men sat and devoured the food, others pillaged the tents and rifled through personal belongings. Though officers tried to get the men moving again, most remained, figuring the enemy had been routed. They would do as every army had done since Alexander the Great; deemed as the rights of every soldier, they would seek the treasures of a defeated enemy.

Only Major John Majoribanks’ experienced flankers, who had been pushed far back into the woods near Eutaw Creek, were able to stay together as a unit. Meanwhile, Major Sheridan’s sharpshooters in the Rouge Brick home continued to lay down a devastating fire, picking off several American officers and their men. Greene knew the battle was not yet won. He saw that Majoribanks’ men posed a serious threat and sent Lt. Col. Washington’s cavalry to deal with them. However, the horses had a difficult time penetrating the woods. When Washington pulled back and attempted to encircle and rout the British from behind, he exposed his men to a devastating fire from Sheridan and Majoribanks’ men. His troops were ravaged and a hand-to-hand fight ensued with Majoribanks’ battalion. Washington’s horse was shot out from under him and he lay wounded. When a British regular poised his sword over the fallen cavalry leader, supposedly Lt. Col. Majoribanks rushed forward and turned the blade aside, saving Washington’s life, who became the colonel’s prisoner.

As the battle raged between the British and American cavalry on the American left, the continentals continued ravaging through the British camp. Believing the battle won, they finished the deserted breakfast and plundered the English stores of food, liquor, and equipment – both military and personal. Several were rapidly getting drunk as most ignored their leaders’ warnings and commands to reform. The British were given time to reorganize and soon regained the offensive. Majoribanks light infantry and grenadiers led the attack and pounced on the unawares Americans. Major Sheridan and Lt. Colonel Stewart, with those troops he was able to rally, pounded the Americans on their right while Major Coffin attacked from their left. The stunned Americans threw down their treasures and grabbed their arms to meet the new threat bravely. However, the fierce British assault was too organized and the disorganized Americans drew back from the British camp. But not before a brutal hand-to-hand battle erupted in which participants later lamented the “blood ran ankle deep in places.”

After more than four desperate hours of continuous fighting, most of it close quarter, under a merciless sun, the two sides called it quits. Greene collected his wounded and returned to Burdell’s Tavern. Stewart’s troops remained on the field of battle at Eutaw Springs, but the next day, hastily retreated back to Charlestown, leaving behind the dead unburied and seventy of his seriously wounded. Major John Majoribanks, whose flanking regiment had dealt the Americans their worst blow and honorably held the field to throw back their enemy, had been mortally wounded. While carted towards Moncks Corner, he was drawn up in a slave cabin on the Wantoot Plantation where he died two days later and was buried alongside the road.

Casualties and Positioning of Armies

The Battle of Eutaw Springs was one of the hardest fought and bloodiest battles of the Revolution. The total number of casualties to both sides was 1,447. That is 34.4 % of all those who fought that bloody day or one in three who participated. It proved to be the highest percentage of combatant casualties who fought in any battle of the entire war. For the British, the casualty rate was over 44%, or nearly one in every two British soldiers who fought that day. That was the highest number of casualties sustained by any army of the entire American Revolution. Of the 2,200 Americans who fought, 139 were killed, 375 wounded, 60 were captured, and 18 missing for a total of 592. The British numbers were higher for of the 2,000 who fought, 85 were killed, 351 wounded, and 446 captured totaling 882. We also must remember this did not reflect the mortality of those shot or bayonetted. More than fifty percent of those wounded later succumbed to their injuries. Most soldiers were buried where they fell, in which the entire battlefield became a cemetery. The body of Major John Majoribanks, whose valent leadership and obstinate defense of his position saved the British army from total annihilation, was moved from its roadside location to the battlefield memorial.

Some accounts of the battle state that afterwards, both armies remained close by, expecting to resume the attack the next day. Only because of rain, which dampened the gun powder, did they call off the attack. However, Stewart (who had sustained a wound) did not remain on the field the next day, having retreated directly back towards Charlestown. Shortly after the battle, Greene had retreated some seven miles distant to Burdell’s Tavern. Though tactically, since the British obtained the field and remained through the night, the battle of Eutaw Creek is considered a British victory. However, as at Guilford Court House in which Cornwallis claimed the battlefield at the end of the day and therefore victory, Greene’s army remained intact while the British army was ‘shot up’ and devastated by the number of irreplaceable casualties.

End of British Influence in the South

Eutaw Springs became the last major battle in the south, having completely broken the British troops that had remained in the south. More importantly, it denied any needed aid in troops and supplies to the north. Only six weeks later, Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis succumbed to General George Washington at Yorktown, assuring American independence.  As to Stewart’s army, what was left had retreated to Charlestown where it basically remained bottled up until the end of the war in 1783. Greene’s army remained a force to be reckoned with. His Continental troops proved their mettle but more so, the militia had finally come into their own, standing before shot and maneuvering with all the skill and brave determination of any regular soldier. As far as most were concerned, the war in the south was basically over. Only partisan attacks between small groups of loyalists and patriots occurred with the occasional skirmish between foraging parties.

Youtube Video on the Battle of Eutaw Springs

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Of Further Interest on Revolutionary War Journal

RESOURCE

“American Revolution in South Carolina.” 

Bass, Robert Duncan.  Swamp Fox: The Life and Campaigns of General Francis Marion.  1959: Henry Holt Publishing, New York, NY.

Historynet.  “Nathanael Greene’s Steeplechase in the Carolinas, 1781.” 

Lumpkin, Henry.  From Savannah to Yorktown: The American Revolution in the South.  1981: University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, South Carolina.