Tag «Loyalist»

First time attending Fort Roberdeau Revolutionary War Days 2024

Patriot militia assemble at fort.

By Ken Bohrer of American Revolution Photos. September 1, 2024, Blog #75 It is always a pleasure to post my very good friend’s blog. Ken Bohrer, College Counselor, is also an outstanding photographer. He has devoted decades to recording American Revolution reenactment events like few others. His extensive portrayal of those dedicated to preserving our …

Battle of Hanging Rock

Battle of Ramsour Mill by Richard Luce

The Battle of Hanging Rock, South Carolina, August 6, 1780, was fought in present day Lancaster County south of Heath Springs. It was a patriot victory between rebel militia (North and South Carolina) that included Catawba Native Americans against a British outpost garrisoned by Tory regulars, mounted infantry of Banastre Tarleton’s Legion (Tarleton was not …

Southern Militia in the American Revolution

Militia attack through woods. Artwork by F C Yohn

“…we were a set of men acting entirely on our own footing, without the promise or expectation of pay.” –Militiaman Sixteen-year-old James Potter Collins Back country southern militiamen were cut from a far different mold than their northern counterparts. The war in the north, by design, was one of organized armies that marched, positioned along …

Battle of Rocky Mount

Militia attacking.

July 30, 1780. British Partisan Victory. A force of approximately 600 militia under Colonel Thomas Sumter attacked a fortified British outpost garrisoned by around 300 partisan regular troops and loyalist militia under Lt. Colonel George Turnbull. This was the first battle under the leadership of celebrated rebel leader Thomas Sumter since the fall of Charleston, …

Battle of Hanging Rock: Patriot Major Davie Strikes First

militia firing

July 30, 1780: American Victory. One week prior to the main Battle of Hanging Rock, a rebel reconnaissance mission surprised and butchered a loyalist force within view of a large British garrison. In July, 1780, militiamen of North and South Carolina flocked to the patriot banner of rebel leader Colonel Thomas Sumter after the July …

First Battle of Cedar Springs

Militia loading and firing.

This battle or large skirmish between partisan militia forces occurred on July 12, 1780. A rebel victory, though small in comparison, it gains importance when considered the first of many skirmishes and battles between loyalist and patriot forces that lead to the all-decisive Battle of King’s Mountain, October 7, 1780. On May 12, 1780, two …

Battle of Musgrove Mill: Renowned for its Ferocity

Rebel over the mountain men and militia fire upon attacking loyalists. Battle of Musgrove Mill.

August 18, 1780 American victory. Whenever large partisan militia forces collided, the struggle tended to be brutal and vicious. It had to be. It was personal. By 1780 the patriot and crown factions morphed into a bloody civil war. Mostly the antagonists formed into small raiding parties that attacked without warning. They killed and destroyed …

Battle of Fishing Creek

Dragoon and partisan cavalry.

Coming on the heels of the American disastrous defeat at Camden, August 16, 1780, The Battle of Fishing Creek, August 18, 1780, was but another feather in the cap of British Legion’s commander Banastre “Bloody Ben” Tarleton. And another depressing loss for the Americans. Tarleton led a fast moving, hard striking, ruthless corps of dragoons …

General Sullivan’s Expedition Against the Iroquois and the Battle of Newtown

Skoi Yase Heoweh gnogek Once a Home, Now a Memory: Iroquoian In the spring of 1779, Major General John Sullivan was selected to lead an expedition against the Iroquois Nation that was launched later that summer. Most of the Native American Confederation (known as the Longhouse Confederation) had aligned with the British. The campaign was budgeted by …