The American Revolution

I. The year 1774

A. Preparations for war In SC:

1. The Commons House of Assembly=dissolved after Wilkes Controversy

2. The “General Meeting”:

a. Elected representatives who formed their own govt. in SC

in opposition to the Royal Governor

b. sent delegates to the 1st Continental Congressc. called for creation of an SC PROVENCIAL CONGRESS

I. The year 1774

3. PROVENCIAL CONGRESS replaced the GENERAL MEETING to oppose British

a. Lowcountry had majority of representation

b. Created 3 regiments of SC militia

c. Created Council of Safety

d. Set up a Secret committee to spy on brit. Action

e. New SC Constitution:

II. The year 1775

A. Lexington and Concord

1. British soldiers planned to march from BOSTON through LEXINGTONto CONCORD confiscate weapons

2. British and Patriot forces exchanged gunfire at LEXINGTON MA.

3. British and Patriots fought again that afternoon at Concord MA.

4. As British returned to BOSTON, they were fired at by patriot MINUTE MEN using hit and run fighting

5. Patriot militia SURROUNDED BOSTON, entrapping the brits inside

for the next several months.

II. The year 1775

B. In South Carolina:1. Breakdown of Patriots and Loyalists in SC

a. 1/3 of SC were Patriots who supported independenceb. 1/3 of SC were LOYALISTS who didn’t support indep.c. 1/3 of SC did not take a clear side (or took both!)d. Most LOYALISTS lived in Charleston and Backcountry

2. Why be a patriot in SC?a. Anger over taxation with out representationb. Anger over “british tyranny” and Desire for a return to

“self government”

II. The year 1775

3. Why be a “loyalist” in SC?

a. SC’s biggest customer was Britain!

b. Britain offered protection from other enemies

c. Many in the backcountry saw the Lowcountry Govt. as

a bigger threat than the British Govt!

d. Many in the backcountry had received big land grants from

the king (Germans in the townships)

e. It’s dangerous to fight the strongest military in the world!

II. The year 1775

4. 1st Battle of Ninety Six

a. Loyalist force attacked patriot force inside a fort

b. Result- both sides agreed to a cease-fire.

c. James Birmingham- 1st patriot death for patriots in SC

II. 1775

5. Battle of the Cane Break (Snow Campaign)

a. Patriot forces chased a loyalist militia into CherokeeTerritory

b. Patriots defeated Loyalists on Dec. 22 along Reedy River

c. Patriots considered the backcountry to be “Pacified” as a result of this battle

III. 1776

A. Battle of Breed’s Hill

1. Patriot militia had occupied BREEDS HILL, just outsideBOSTON

2. Brits charged at Patriots on top of Breeds Hill

3. Brits took the hill but lost many soldiers (pyrrhic victory)

4. RESULT: King declares Colonies to be in “OPEN REBELLION!” –declaration of war against colonies

III. The year 1776 B. 2nd Continental Congress

1. met after Lexington/concord.

a. created CONTINENTAL ARMY

b. George Washington = Commander of Army

2. On July 4th, 1776, the DEC OF INDEP was signed by cont. congress

a. SC signers: Thomas Lynch, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward

b. SC signers protested orginal wording which called slavery a “cruel war against human nature”. That part got dropped.

c. Preamble, declaration of rights, list of grievances, formalseparation

III. The Year 1776

C. Battle of Sullivans Island (June 28, 1776)

1. British invaded CHAS. (9 warships, 2,500 soldiers)

2. A small palmetto log fort on sullivans island protected CHAS

3. William Moultie and his small militia successfully defended the and drove off the brits!!

4. The brits would not try to attack SC again for 3 more years

II. The year 1776

D.

Fort Sullivan

IV. The War in the North

A. Arrival of Washington

1. he takes command of patriot militia outside boston

2. he gets cannons and drives brits out of boston

B. Battle of New York City

1. Brits attack NYC

2. Brits drive Washington out of NYC

3. Washington retreats across the Delaware river

C. Battle of Trenton and Princeton

1. Washington RECROSSES Del. Riv. to Surprise Brits on Chr. Eve!

2. patriots win 2 small battles at TRENTON and Princeton NJ

3. These battles BOOST PATRIOT MORALE!

D. Both Armies encamp for the winter of 1777

1. Brits= NYC

2. Americans= Morristown NJ

IV. The War in the North

E. New British Plan

1. What: Control Hudson River and cut off New England

2. Why: New England= “Hot Bed of rebellion”

3. How: send 2 armies to control HUDSON RIVER

a. Gen. John Burgoyne- lead army south

b. Gen. William Howe- lead army north

c. Both armies meet in ALBANY NY

F. A big British mistake:

1. Howe’s army took over PHILLY instead!! (oops!)

2. Patriots caught Burgoynes army at Saratoga NY

New York

Philadelphia

AlbanyAmerican victory at Saratoga NY!

British Take Philadelphia!

IV. The War in the North

G. BATTLE OF SARATOGA

1. First major American victory

2. This stopped the british plan!

3. This boosted patriot morale!

4. This got the French to join americans!

IV. The War in the North

H. Valley Forge Winter Encampment

1. Patriot army camped at Valley Forge PA close to Brits in Philly

2. Cold winter- low food/supplies

3. Arrival of Baron Von Steuben:

a. Claimed to be a Prussian Military leader

b. Promised to Train the Continental Army

c. By Spring, he had trained the army to fight.

I. Stalemate in the North

1. British army in leaves Philly & returns to NYC

2. Washington followed Brits, performing well in battles

3. Neither side attacks for the rest of the war

The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

I. The British invade the South

A. A changing British plan:1. Because the war in the North is Stalemated, the British re focus

on the South2. Advantages to the British:

a. Loyalist support is stronger in Southb. The Southern Colonies are RICH!!

3. Plan: a. re-take Southern Colonies 1 at a timeb. eventually, Southern Brit. Army will connect the Brit army in NYC

The British Planto reclaim the colonies

New York City, 1778:(British Army of Henry Clinton)

Continental Army ofGeorge WashingtonPhiladelphia

SavannahCharleston

Fall of Savannah, December, 1778

Sir Henry Clinton Leads a new invasion of Charleston

I. The British Invade the South

B. The Fall of Savannah GA

1. Savannah GA fell easily to Brits in 1778

2. most of GA was re-claimed by brits

C. Siege of Charleston

1. Overall British General, Henry Clinton, led army from NYC

to SC and cut off Charleston from the rear.

2. General of South. Cont. Army: Benjamin Lincoln

3. Charleston fell to Brits in 1779 after a 6 week siege

V. The War in the South

D. Results of Charleston’s Fall:

1. Brits Captured ENTIRE SOUTHERN CONT. ARMY!!

2. Brits Captured Plantation, Supplies, Money, Etc.

3. militia volunteers were offered PAROLE (told not to fight brits)

4. Charleston became the Southern HQ for brit. Army

5. Henry Clinton returned to NYC and appointed CHARLES CORNWALLIS as COMMANDER OF SOUTHERN BRITISH ARMY

6. Brits establish forts in backcountry of SC

II. The Waxhaws Massacre

A. Abraham Buford lead a patriot militia toward Charleston

B. He turned his men back after hearing of Charleston’s fall

C. British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton pursued him to Waxhaws, on the NC/SC border

D. Tarleton's men killed Buford’s men, who were trying to surrender at the battle of the Waxhaws

Battle of the Waxhaws

Waxhaws Massacre

E. Patriots used this Propaganda against the British

1. Story people heard:

Tarleton refused to give protection or “QUARTER” to surrendering patriot militia

2. Truth:

Tarleton was trapped under his horse and could not tell his men to stop. Battles were often confusing

Waxhaws Massacre

F. After this, many neutral people became patriots

G. “Give ‘em Tarleton’s Quarter!” became the battle cry for Patriots in SC

H. This caused revolution in the south to become ruthless on both sides

III. Battle of Camden

A. After the fall of Chas:

1. Charles Cornwallis is made Commander of the British

army in the South

2. With no opposition, Cornwallis moves his army to Camden

SC

B. Congress sends a new patriot force into SC

1. Commanded by Horatio Gates (“hero of Saratoga”)

2. Mixed force (regulars and militia)

3. Gates marched his army towards Camden in Summer 1780

III. Battle of Camden

C. Gates’ and Cornwallis’ armies ran into each other at CAMDEN SC

1. Gates organizes his forces:

a. militia on his left: fled the battlefield

b. Continental on his right: fought well but got

surrounded by brits

2. GATES FLED THE BATTLEFIELD (ran all the way to NC)

3. Result: No Organized Patriot force left to defend SC!

Partisan Warfare in SC

IV. Partisan Warfare in SC

A. What is a partisan?

1. Organized resistance against an occupying army

b. Usually not connected to a regular army force

2. Why did Partisan warfare develop in SC?

a. The Continental army had defeated

b. Outrage over waxhaws massacre/other british brutality

c. The Brits changed the terms of the Militia Parole- now they had to

fight to support the Brits!

IV. Partisan Warfare in SC

B. Guerilla Warfare

1. Hit-run tactics, learned from indian fighting

2. Fighting the British in open battle was ineffective

3. Surprise, ambushes of british supply lines, camps, etc

D. BRUTAL!

1. Rejected standard rules of warfare

2. Often, very personal hatred led to brutal fighting on both sides!

3. No accountability to a higher officers who might limit brutality

E. Famous Leaders:

IV. Partisan Warfare in SC

1. Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)

a. Served as a cont. army officer before fall of CHAS- escaped before fall!

b. Used knowledge of SC lowcountry swamps to his advantage

c. Tarleton called him the “Fox” for his elusive tactics

2. Thomas Sumter (gamecock)

a. Served in Cont. army before fall of CHAS.

b. Commander of all SC militia forces

c. His reckless fighting style earned him nickname of GAMECOCK

3. Andrew Pickens (Wizard Owl)

a. From Upstate of SC- often fought Cherokee

b. Signed parole but came out to fight after terms were changed

c. Famously fought at Cowpens and Pyles Massacre

IV. Partisan warfare

F. Trusted network of informants/spies assisted partisan forces- often women

1. Martha Bratton

2. Dicey Langston

3. Rebecca Motte

4. Jane Black Thomas

5. Emily Geiger

G. Effect of Partisan Warfare:

1. Most battle were small “skirmishes” – not always decisive but slowed the british effort

2. The slowing effort bought time for a new continental army to arrive

V. Battle of Kings Mountain

A. After victory at Camden, Cornwallis moved his army into NC

1. He put PATRICK FERGUSON in charge of a loyalist army to cover the

“flank” (side) of the main army

2. Ferguson moved into Western NC and challenged the over-mountain patriots in NC, TN, VA to support the brits or die!

3. These “overmountain men” travelled BY FOOT over mtns to attackFerguson, who had retreated back into SC

V. Battle of Kings Mountain

B. The Overmountain men caught Ferguson’s army at Kings Mountain SC-

1. They surrounded the hill and used their hunting skills to win

2. This was the FIRST BIG VICTORY SINCE THE FALL OF CHARLESTON!!

3. Many call this the turning point of the war!

4. Cornwallis has to retreat back into SC!

VI. The Battle of Cowpens

A. News of the Victory at Kings Mountain encouraged congress!

B. Congress took Washington’s advise by sending Gen. Nathanael Greene into SC

1. He took over Gates’ starving and half naked army in NC

2. He was expert and re-equipping his new army

C. Just before crossing into SC, he split his army:

a. He took half the army into PeeDee Region

b. He sent the other half into upstate under DANIEL MORGAN

V. War in the South

D. Morgan enters the Upstate

1. March to british at Ninenty-Six, “spirit up patriots” along the way

1. Morgans army was being chased by Banastre Tarleton

2. Morgan turned to face Tarleton at “The Cowpens”

3. The battle Plan:

a. 1st line: sharpshooters take 1-2 aimed shots, then fall back to 2nd line

b. 2nd Line: Pickens Militia- fire 1-2 volleys, retreat behind 3rd line

c. 3rd Line: Continental Regulars: stand and fight

d. Reserve: Continental Dragoon horsemen

V. War in the South

E. The battle:

a. Sharpshooters up front picked off brit officers and fell back

b. Militia fired their volleys and retreated off to the Left

c. Cont. Dragoons covered militia retreat on the left

d. Cont. regulars mistook a command and began ORDERLY retreat

e. This caused brits to charge Conts.

g. Conts. Turned and fired point blank at Brits!

h. BUT THAT MILITIA THOUGH!! They reformed on the American right!

i. Brits were Totally surrounded and Tarleton Fled!

F. After the battle, Greene recombined his forces and Retreated into NC

VII. Battle of Guilford Courthouse

A. Cornwallis’ army chased Greene up into NC, towards VA

1. This drew Cornwallis farther away from his base of supplies

B. Greene turned his army to face the Brits at GUILFORD COURTHOUSE

1. Greene organized his army similarly to Cowpens

2. The brit won battle, but at too high a cost (pyrrhic victory)

C. Cornwallis had lost so many, he couldn’t chase Greene’s army

1. He went to Willmington NC

2. He then went to YORKTOWN VA

D. Greene returned to South Carolina to challenge remaining british

1. British still held several military forts in SC’s backcountry

2. Greene’s goal would be to wear down the british in SC

VII. End of the War in the South

A. Battle of YORKTOWN

1. Washington’s army went south to Yorktown without Clinton Noticing!

2. Washinton was joined by a large FRENCH ARMY!!

3. FRENCH NAVY SHIPS went to Yorktown to block brits in!

4. after an american SEIGE, the British force at Yorktown SURRENDERED

B. MEANWHILE IN SOUTH CAROLINA…..(What has Greene been doing???)

1. Following Guilford Ct. House, Greene came to SC (there were still brits in SC)

2. He laid siege to British Fort at Ninety Six, SC

a. Siege was NOT successful- However….

b. Brits abandoned fort right after siege

3. British won another PYRRIC VICTORY at Eutaw Springs, SC- brits withdraw to CHAS

4. DEC. 14 1782- BRITS EVACUATE CHARLESTON SC!!!

Siege of Ninety-Six

VIII. Peace and Liberty!

A. After the Surrender at Yorktown and the Evac. Of Chas, British asked for peace

B. Treaty of Paris of 1783:

1. USA was officially recognized as its own country

2. USA GOT LAND:

a. From Great Lakes to North. Border of Florida

b. From Atlantic Ocean to Miss. River

3. British troops had to leave (they didn’t right away)

4. Americans agreed to pay all pre-war debts owed to british merchants