SC250 Highlights
Historical Sites
Celebrate South Carolina’s 250th with museums across the state that bring Revolutionary-era stories to life through artifacts, interactive exhibits, and local legends. Plan your visit to uncover the people, places, and pivotal moments that shaped our state and our nation’s beginnings.
New Richmond
August 2, 1775
Thomas Brown, a Loyalist supporter, was staying at New Richmond, home of John Gordon, close to the line that would become the border between Edgefield and Aiken Counties. A mob of Liberty Boys approached the house and called Brown out and attempted to have him sign Articles of Association in support of the Patriot cause. Brown refused, and after a brief scuffle he was knocked unconscious and carried to Augusta, where he burned, partially scalped and tarred and feathered. With the help of a sympathetic guard he later escaped to the backcountry of South Carolina for asylum. He promptly aligned himself with the anti-revolutionary elements in that area, and later traveled to West Florida where he was eventually given command of the King’s Rangers.
Hammond’s Mill
April 13, 1781
Hammonds Mill on the Savannah River was the property of Samuel and LeRoy Hammond, and at the time of this confrontation was occupied by a group of Loyalists. Captain Thomas Key of Colonel LeRoy Hammonds militia, attacked and defeated the Loyalists, capturing many and commandeering the provisions stored there. Damage to the mill made it unusable for storage or protection.
Beech Island
May 15, 1781
Patriot Colonel Elijah Clarke had sent his cavalry horses under guard to Beech Island for forage. They were attacked by a force of militia and Indians and the horses seized, but on the return journey they were attacked by Captains Shelby and Carr and routed. The horses were recovered and nearly half of the Royalist detachment killed.
May 24, 1781
Fort Grierson near Augusta, defended in part by a Loyalist company of South Carolina Militia had been captured by the Patriots. A group of the Militia deserted and made their way down the Savannah River, attempting to avoid contact with any Patriot forces. On May 24 they met a company of Patriot horse guard who were camped on the Carolina side of the river. The Patriots were unable to detain the fleeing Militiamen, who managed to escape across the river.
Fort Galphin
May 19 – 21, 1781
George Galphin’s fortified residence and trading center at Silver Bluff on the Savannah River was strategic to the British plan to enlist the Indians as their allies against the Patriots. The fort had been captured by the British and was garrisoned by Captain Samuel Roworth and a detachment of King’s Rangers, a company of New Jersey Volunteers, some Loyalist Militiamen and a group of armed slaves. Lt. Colonel “Light Horse Harry” Lee (father of General Robert E. Lee) was on his way to assist Colonel Elijah Clarke in Beech Island. He proceeded to Ft. Galphin where he was joined by a group of Militiamen under Colonel LeRoy Hammond. Lee turned command over to Major Michael Rudolph, Rudolph hid the bulk of his forces in the surrounding woods and feigned a frontal attack on the fort which retreated, drawing the Loyalist forces out of the stockade, leaving the gates open. The Patriots then stormed the fort and took possession of it, capturing 180 of its defenders. The annual “Royal gifts” to the Indians, stored at Galphin’s, were captured and the gifts of gunpowder, small arms, projectiles, blankets and rum were distributed to the patriot forces.
Dean’s Swamp
May 24, 1781
Revolutionaries had established a prison camp at Deans swamp near the present town of Salley, SC. British Commander William Cunningham, determined to liberate these loyalists, marched on Deans swamp and camped close by In the ensuing attack his forces were routed by a detachment sent by Brigadier General Andrew Pickens and fled into the swamp.
They were pursued in a surprise attack at sunset by the mounted militia of Captains Michael Watson and William Butler. The Loyalists fought fiercely, killing Captain Watson, but the Patriot forces’ charge threw them into confusion so that many were killed by the swords of the cavalry.
A Plan of General Williamson’s Encampment
Near Adam’s Ferry on the Savannah River
This a map drawn by Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell who was in charge of the British forces occupying Fort Grierson in Augusta. It details the encampments of the Colonial forces across the Savannah River in South Carolina under the command of General Andrew Williamson, who was preparing to attack the fort and seize control of Augusta. Arrayed against the British were approximately 1000 troops under Colonels Neel, Thomas, Hammond, Winn, Goodwin, Singleton and Kershaw.
Campbell had arrived in Augusta in early February, 1779. He soon received intelligence that the Rebel forces were waiting to be reinforced by Colonels Lee and Pickens before making their assault. As the Rebels had commandeered all of the boats on the river, the British were unable to mount a counter offensive.
Campbell was also awaiting reinforcements from Savannah, which was under siege by the British and Loyalist forces, but no troops could be spared to be sent to his aid. Choosing discretion over valor, Campbell abandoned Augusta in late February and marched his contingent to Savannah, leaving Augusta open for the Rebel forces to occupy. Ironically, Williamson’s reinforcements never materialized, as Lee and Pickens had continued on to Ninety Six, South Carolina.
Williamson was later captured by the British, joined their forces and was made a Brigadier General in the King’s army.