Saturday, June 6
South Carolina is a state full of history; history dating prior to the Revolutionary War. Today, we went for a short (11 miles) drive to Eutaw (Utah) Springs. Eutaw Springs is the site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina.
In early 1781, Major General Nathanael Greene began a campaign to end British control over the South Carolina backcountry.
The battle of Eutaw Springs took place on September 8, 1781 when the armies of Major General Nathanael Greene (Commander of the Continental Army), and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart (Commander of the British Army) met near the limestone springs in Eutawville...
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| these springs are under Lake Marion today; most of the battlefield remains above the water |
Strategy for the attack is accredited to the genius of General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion. General Marion knew every foot of the Santee swamps and rivers. Lake Marion, the largest man-made lake in South Carolina is named for him.
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| view of Lake Marion from the battlefield |
In over three hours of brutal combat American and British forces traded musket volleys and bayonet charges. Both armies, evenly matched, had had enough. Casualties were high. 500 killed or wounded for the Americans, over 700 killed or wounded for the British forces.
Technically a British victory, the American forces decimated the British ranks forcing them, once again, to retreat to Charleston. This last major battle in South Carolina completely broke the British hold in the South and, more importantly, it denied needed aid to the British forces in the North. Only six weeks later, Lord Charles Cornwallis, Commander of the British forces, surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown.
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| exploring the battlefield |
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| Major Majoribanks (Marshbanks) was a British hero of the battle |
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| grave of Major Marjoribanks (Marshbanks) British hero of the battle |
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| we don't know who this grave belongs to. the headstone was unreadable; very faded |
The Eutaw Springs Battlefield Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
This is the first Revolutionary War Battlefield we have visited. It was an interesting and moving experience.
Til next time,
Ron, Dawn and Cooper
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