The Battle of Fishdam (also Fish Dam)Ford, November 9, 1780, was a comeback victory for American General Thomas Sumter. His band of South Carolina militiamen withstood an assault by regular British troops while inflicting three times as many casualties and forcing the enemy to withdraw. The British were led by the despised Major James Wemyss and included detachments of the 63rd Foot and a company of Partisan Legion Dragoons. Wemyss had received intelligence on Sumter’s whereabouts and ordered a nighttime attack on the popular rebel leader’s camp. When the attack came, the alert rebels poured shot into the British; having slept on their arms. Wemyss’ men were driven off by the intense firing; Wemyss himself was captured. This defeat by militia over British regulars and the hated Partisan Legion proved a recruiting bonanza for Sumter, while further frustrating British attempts to control the Carolinas.
Background
The British invaded South Carolina in the early spring of 1780 and Charleston fell on May 12th, resulting in the capture of the entire American Southern Continental Army. The British immediately sought paroles from what was left of local rebel resistance in the low country. They also advanced into the backcountry; setting up a string of outposts from Georgia to the border of North Carolina. Lt. General Charles Cornwallis, left in command when his superior General Henry Clinton returned to New York City, was confident he could placate the south with the help of local Tory ‘friends.’ Assured by his officers that the remaining patriot resistance could be readily managed, Cornwallis believed that all would be in place by the fall to advance into North Carolina.
In August, Cornwallis destroyed the resurrected Southern Continental Army, led by Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, at the Battle of Camden, August 16, 1780. Two days later Tarleton smashed Colonel Thomas Sumter’s force at Fishing Creek, August 18, 1780. But by late August into September, His Lordship’s plans to move his army north from Camden had started to unravel. North and South Carolina rebellious militias refused to quit and go home. Cornwallis was spending far too much time and resources dealing with a growing number of attacks on British patrols and outposts. Besides the ever-annoying Thomas Sumpter, who continued to gather backcountry cohorts to carry on the fight, of particularly frustration was the emergence of a new upstart along his eastern flank and low country; a former Continental officer who had escaped capture at Charleston – Colonel Francis Marion, later to be titled ‘Swamp Fox.’
Major James Wemyss Joins the Most Hated British Officers’ Club
Cornwallis believed that to invade North Carolina, it was imperative that his western and eastern flanks be secured. To the west, British Major Patrick Ferguson was successfully gathering a large force of Tory militia. But the east was causing problems. To bring the low country back into the fold, Cornwallis ordered his 63rd Regiment of Foot, under Major James Wemyss, to go after Colonel Francis Marion and his guerrilla fighters. But more so, His Lordship was determined to squash any further resistance among rebel ‘marauders.’ He wrote to Wemyss that the major was to march through “the country from Kingstree Bridge to Peedee, and returning by the Cheraws.” He was to remove all weapons from those he believed untrustworthy and of those he was to, “punish the Concealment of Arms and Ammunition with a total Demolition of the Plantation.” And the most controversial, Wemyss was given free rein to hang anyone he so chose, without evidence or trial.
Wemyss left Camden on September 5th and throughout the month, he aggressively adhered to Cornwallis’ instructions. By the time Wemyss was through, he had left behind a sixty mile long, fifteen-mile-wide path of destruction and terror. Men were hanged and structures torched; homes, farms, businesses, churches, etc., as the over productive major sought to smother rebel resistance with force. By the time Wemyss was done, both Patriot and Tory communities suffered. Marion and patriot militia for the most part were unaffected and remained at large. And not only did Wemyss’ become the second most hated British officer of the south, behind Banastre Tarleton, he became the greatest recruiter for the American cause. Vindictive residents whose homes were torched and families terrorized swarmed to the guerrilla banners. At September’s end, Wemyss claimed his raid a total success and marched back toward Camden. But by then, the British Army under Cornwallis had begun the invasion of North Carolina.
British Plans to Invade North Carolina Ran Into a Stone Wall; Literally
While still waiting on word of Wemyss’ raid, General Cornwallis decided he could wait no longer and marched his army north. On September 23, 1780, His Lordship had advanced only as far as Charlotte, twenty some miles over the North Carolina border, before halting. As the British army marched into the town, they ran into fierce and unexpected resistance by rifled militia hidden in the street’s buildings and behind a stone wall. At the Battle of Charlotte, September 26, 1780, Colonel William Richardson Davie and 150 riflemen and mounted militia embarrassingly blackened the British army’s eye. The stalwart militiamen shattered three charges by Legion cavalry, led by the incompetent Major George Hanger, before the Americans, flanked by British infantry, conducted an orderly and professional withdrawal. While Cornwallis sent out patrols to gain intelligence before continuing his march north, a renewed and severe outbreak of Yellow Fever caused him to remain in Charlotte for several days. But the worst news arrived on October 14th.
The British western flank was composed of a large, 1,200-man force of Tory militia, led by British officer Major Patrick Ferguson, had been surrounded and destroyed at the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 6, 1780. A combination of Carolina militiamen and frontiersmen from western North Carolina (present day eastern Tennessee) labeled ‘over the mountain men’ had killed Ferguson along with nearly half his command either killed or wounded. The remaining Tories were captured with several loyalist leaders hanged. With his western flank gone and concern for what lay ahead, plus the growing number of sick to Yellow Fever, Cornwallis decided to regroup. The day after hearing the news of King’s Mountain, on October 15th, he retreated to South Carolina and Winnsboro, sixty-five miles south of Charlotte. From there, he hoped to nurse his army back to health while dealing piecemeal with the annoying militia problem.
Cornwallis’ Greatest Plague; the ‘Gamecock’ Thomas Sumter
Of all the rebellious militia leaders, of most concern to the British and targeted for elimination was Thomas Sumter. Cornwallis lamented to his favorite mastiff, Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton that Sumter “certainly has been our greatest plague in this country.” At the Battle of Fishing Creek, August 18, 1780, the British had their chance. Then Colonel Thomas Sumter had suffered a devastating, and embarrassing defeat. He was literally caught sleeping during an early morning surprise attack by Tarleton and his partisan Legion. Though barely escaping Tarleton’s wrath that killed, wounded, and scattered his command, within a few weeks’ time, Sumter’s popularity and resiliency regained over a thousand new recruits. Only eleven days since Fishing Creek, on August 29th, British General Charles Cornwallis wrote to his commander-in-chief, General Sir Henry Clinton that “the indefatigable Sumter is again in the field, and is beating up for recruits with the greatest assiduity.”
Whereas most men would have been finished after such a self-inflicted humiliation, few had Sumter’s tenacity to carry on the fight. Contemporary author John Buchanan wrote that “Sumter possessed a resiliency and an ability to inspire men when all seemed lost that defies explanation and begs admiration. He possessed an ability to command allegiance with a relentless fighting spirit. It was that command of allegiance in which Major General Horatio Gates wrote Washington in early September, 1780, that “[Sumter] has reinstated and increased his corps to upwards of 1,000 men.”
Prior to Battle
Mid-October and Major General Horatio Gates sought to retrieve some of his shredded reputation while waiting to be relieved from his command of the American Southern Army. One way was to harass Cornwallis’ Army at Winnsboro and Sumpter was the man on the spot. He ordered the over-confident leader to remain close to Cornwallis. One of Sumter’s faults was his exaggerated view of his own self-importance; to the effect that his actions alone could affect the entire war’s outcome. According to Colonel Richard Winn, Sumter told him that “it has been agreed that I shall march as near to Winnsboro as can be done with safety; this will draw Tarleton and a large body of infantry after us; this will weaken Lord Cornwallis…”
Early November brought the two combatants at Fishdam Ford closer in proximity. Sumter’s command, as was common among militia units, was fluid; some companies breaking off on various raids while others went home to harvest their fields before rejoining the militia when the need arose. Sumter had around 400 men under his direct command to keep an eye on Cornwallis’ army. Major Wemyss’ 63rd Foot had rejoined Cornwallis at Winnsboro. On November 7th, Wemyss approached Cornwallis with news that Sumter was camped at Moore’s Mill, only thirty miles northwest of Winnsboro. Cornwallis later wrote to Clinton “that he [Major Wemyss] had accurate accounts of his [Sumter] position…and that he made no doubt of being able to surprise and rout him. As the defeating of so daring and troublesome a man as Sumpter and dispersing such a banditti, was a great object, I consented to his making the trial on the 9th at daybreak.” Though Wemyss would honor the day of the attack, he would not do so for the timing
Wemyss was to take a mounted company of 100 men from his 63rd along with 40 dragoons Tarleton had loaned to Cornwallis. It must be assumed that Cornwallis would have preferred to send Tarleton himself after the gamecock, but the aggressive partisan leader was in the low country chasing after the Swamp Fox. Cornwallis also issued Wemyss another order that the overconfident major would later disregard; again, Cornwallis writing to Clinton, “…desiring, however, neither to put them [Tarleton’s 40 dragoons[ in front nor to make any use of them during the night.” Wemyss left Winnsboro on the night of November 8 leading his detachment of 140 mounted troops. Wemyss’ second in command, was the very young Lieutenant Henry Stark of the 63rd would lead the 100 mounted foot infantry. This selection of one so young as second would play a major role within seconds of the first shots fired.
Combatants
British Commanded by Major James Wemyss of the 63rd Foot
- Detached 63rd Regiment of Foot led by Lt. Henry Bethune Stark (acting second) with 100 men (some sources give 63 men)
- Detachment of British Legion Cavalry led by Lt. Moore Hovenden with 40 men
- Total Force 140 (some sources state 104)
Americans commanded by General Thomas Sumter of the following detached companies:
- Eight companies of the Turkey Creek Regiment led by Col. Edward Lacey
- Five companies of the New Acquisition District Regiment led by Lt. Col. William Bratton
- Three companies of the Fairfield Regiment led by Col. Richard Winn
- Two companies of Hill’s Regiment of Light Dragoons led by Col. William Hill
- Two companies of the 1st Spartan Regiment led by Major William Smith.
- Two companies of the 2nd Spartan Regiment
- Three companies of the Kershaw Regiment
- One company each of the Camden District (Colonel Thomas Tayler), Lower District, Upper-Ninety-Six District, Little River District, Polk’s Regiment of Light Dragoons
- An assortment of detached men from the following Regiments: Richmond County and Burke County
- Total American strength: 400 men
Battle
A Tory named Sealy of dubious character, rode with Wemyss as his guide. Sealy had recently been taken by Sumter and while at the rebel camp, convinced his captors of his conversion to the patriot cause. As soon as Sumter released Sealy, he rode to the British and offered to lead Wemyss’ to Sumter’s encampment. Wemyss thought to further Sealy’s use by assigning him an additional mission; when the attack began, Sealy, along with five dragoons, were to find Sumter and either capture or kill him. To complicate matters, Wemyss failed to inform his second, Lt. Stark, of Sealy’s extra mission, or that Cornwallis explicitly ordered that there be no night attack.
Wemyss arrived at Moore’s Mill at midnight and discovered the wily militia commander had shifted his camp. Residents informed Wemyss that Sumter had moved down the Broad River five miles to Fishdam Ford, on the east bank; present-day border of Union and Chester counties. Rather than approach the new rebel camp cautiously and wait for dawn to initiate the attack, he disobeyed Cornwallis’ order against a night attack. Wemyss’ command rode hard to Fishdam Ford, arriving at around 1 AM. Accordingly, Wemyss had intelligence from local Tory residents as to the exact location of Sumter’s tent; near the road by the Ford, and detached Sealy and his dragoon escort.
Though facing over three to one odds against experienced and hardened militia fighters, the eager British commander prepared to attack. At the rebel camp, 200 yards of open ground lay between the ford and encamped men; spread around and behind the field. True to character, as he had done at Fishing Creek, Sumter went to bed without further orders for security. However, his officers had learned their lesson. Colonels Lacey, Bratton, Winn, Hill, and Tayler, were leery of camping so close to the British. Campfires were built and the men were ordered to lay on their arms beyond the firelight. Sentries were set and ordered to remain alert.
A little after 1 AM on November 9, 1780, Major Wemyss ordered the attack. Author Buchanan explained what happened next. “Wemysss bumped into Sumter’s pickets, who got off five rounds that, as it turned out, decided the outcome of the fight. Wemyss was shot off his horse. With a shattered knee and broken arm, he was out of the fight. Lt. Henry Stark took over. He was ignorant not only of Cornwallis’ expressed orders to Wemyss, but also of the ground before him and the strength of the enemy. He gave the order to charge and the British horsemen galloped in the darkness against an invisible enemy. But [for the Americans] the British were quite visible, for they rode into the light cast by rebel campfires.”
Next we turn to Colonel William Hill, known for his role in the defeat of British Legionnaire Captain Christian Huck, July 12, 1780. He wrote that the British “collected in great numbers around their fires and began to plunder, not supposing they would meet with any interruption, and while they were in the position around the fires the Americans, taking advantage of the light, poured on them such a fire that they killed and wounded a great many.” Though young and inexperienced, Lt. Stark acted more the professional soldier than Wemyss’. He immediately pulled his men back a short distance and had them dismount and fight on foot.
Meanwhile, during the confusion of the initial attack and shadowy figures racing to and fro amidst the crash of muskets, Sealy and his dragoons rushed Sumter’s tent near the ford. According to Colonel Winn, “Before he [Sumter] could put on his clothes, they were up with him. By jumping a fence and running through a briar patch he saved himself.” It was reported that Sumter hid from his attackers along the bank of the Broad River during the battle’s fury.
Stark ordered his regular infantry to fix bayonets and advanced on the rebels. But Sumter’s men were not daunted by British steel. Colonel Thomas Taylor’s men received the 63rd Foot like regulars and fired a volley at close range. Though some of Taylor’s men were bayonetted, the final axe fell when Colonel Edward Lacey’s men fired from the woods along the British flank.
At that stage in the battle, Lt. Stark wisely withdrew his men from the field. It was not an organized retreat to assess the enemy while caring for his wounded. Stark marched what was left of his command the thirty miles back to Winnsboro. He left his dead and wounded (Weymss among the later) under a flag and in the command of a sergeant major at a home near the ford. Sumter’s men had also left, but unlike the British, they had not gone far. They returned a couple hours after daybreak and discovered the British wounded. Sumter showed up at noon and ordered the British wounded who were still alive to be treated well, including the loathed Major Wemyss.
Casualties
The battle had lasted twenty minutes. Casualty counts by most sources generally concur. For the Americans, there were 4 killed and 10 wounded for a total of 14. A very small percentage of the four hundred or so militiamen who fought that night. Wemyss’ loss was far more critical. There were 4 killed, 23 wounded, including Wemyss, and 14 were captured for a total of 41. Considering that approximately 150 British attacked the rebel camp (some sources place the number at just over a hundred), Weymss lost nearly one third of his command.
Aftermath
For Sumter, the battle’s outcome was a godsend. The crafty rebel leader spread the word that his militia had stood firm against an attack by British regulars and beat them off. New recruits filled Sumter’s ranks. When Lt. Stark reported the results of the attack to his British superiors, Cornwallis was furious. It was reported that he referred to Wemyss as the “Mad Trooper.” However, always cautious when reporting to his superior in New York, Commander-in-Chief General Henry Clinton, Cornwallis expertly ‘dressed’ the facts. On December 3, 1780, he wrote to Clinton from Winnsboro (spelt Wynnesborough): “…The Major immediately proceeded to attack him…and succeeded so well as to get into his camp…the enemy’s arms were not secured…and some of them got their rifles…and with the first fire wounded Major Wemyss…and put the cavalry into disorder. The 63rd then dismounted and killed and wounded about seventy of the rebels, drove several over the river and dispersed the rest.” As to the young Lt. Stark leaving his wounded behind and racing back to the arms of the British army, Cornwallis blamed it on lack of information writing, “…a very young officer who knew the ground nor Major Wemyss’ plans nor the strength of the enemy, some few of which kept firing from the wood on our people who remained in the enemy’s camp…our troops came away before daybreak leaving Major Wemyss and 22 sergeants and rank and file at a house close to the field of action…”
Frustration and patience worn thin, Cornwallis would later turn to his most successful deputy to deal with Thomas Sumter; Lt. Colonel Tarleton, newly returned from his bid to try and catch the illusive Francis ‘Swamp Fox’ Marion. But history would soon show that even the Legion commander’s aggressive tactics would run afoul against Sumter’s hardened militia; resulting in Tarleton’s first loss – though Tarleton never admitted it.
As for Wemyss, he recovered from his wounds, but would remain lame for the rest of his life and may have lost the use of one arm. He gave his parole to Sumter and convalesced in Charleston until he was exchanged. sometime in late January, 1781. Cornwallis wanted nothing to do with Wemyss who was listed as unfit for duty. Soon after the exchange, he was sent to New York City with the thankless job of reporting the loss at Cowpens. By June of that year, Wemyss was in London where he remained in the army, eventually being promoted to Lt. Colonel. As an epilog, Wemyss would eventually return to America and buy a small farm on Long Island where he remained until his death in 1833, age 85.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT THOMAS SUMTER AND THE WAR IN THE SOUTH, CHECK OUT THESE RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON AMAZON
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RESOURCES
American Revolution in South Carolina. “Fishdam Ford”
Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. 1997: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY.
Purvis, Randy V. “Major James Wemyss: Second Most Hated British Officer in the South” 2018: Journal of the American Revolution.
Rankin, Hugh F. North Carolina in the American Revolution. 1971: University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. NC.
Walter, Edgar. Partisans and Redcoats: The Southern Conflict That Turned the Tide of the American Revolution. 2001: Harper Collins, New York, NY.