SC & the battles of the Revolutionary war - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

SC & the battles of the Revolutionary war

8-2.5—Summarize the role of South Carolinians in the course of the American Revolution, including the use of partisan warfare & the battles of Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Kings Mountain, & Eutaw SpringsSlide2

SC conflicts that Affected the war

American forces thwarted the British attempt the split the colonies & won the a victory at Saratoga, NY

A turning point in the war for the Americans

Victory resulted in an American alliance with France Afterward, the British turned to SC in hopes finding a large number of LoyalistsVideo: Battle of Saratoga (9:55)Slide3

Battle of Sullivan’s island

June 28, 1776

A fleet of more than 9 British ships sailed into the Charles Town harbor.

2,500 British soldiers and 270 cannons.British forces attempted to take Charles Town by attacking Sullivan’s Island.Protected by unfinished fort.Constructed of palmetto logs and sand.Around 400 men and 31 cannons guarded Charles Town.Other side of Island lay smaller fort.Constructed of palmetto logs and brick. Guarded by 300 men and 2 cannons.

British failed due to tides and resistance from the spongy palmetto

logs and sand, which protected Fort Sullivan.

British withdraw, leaving for New York.200 British casualties (dead and wounded).Less than 40 Patriot casualties.Slide4

Battle of Charlestown

British return to S.C. in 1780

Nearly 9,000 British troops sail from NY City

First take Savannah, Ga and move up to Charlestown.British navy blasts through forts guarding harbor. Six week siegeThe British blockaded and cut off supply lines that lead from Charlestown HarborPatriot forces led by General Benjamin LincolnBritish forces led by Henry ClintonPatriot troops who were trapped on the peninsula were forced to surrendered in May 1780

Charlestown falls to the British May 1780

Nearly 5,000 Continental soldiers taken prisoner

British seize most of their weapons, ammunition, and food supplies.British also take Beaufort, Ninety Six, Camden and GeorgetownOne of the biggest British victories

Low point for the PatriotsSlide5

British response to SC

British hoped that they would gain control of the state through large numbers of state Loyalists and the neutral colonists to help win the war

But, the British changed their parole terms and forced paroled Patriots to take up arms against their countrymen

At the same time, The British, along with American Tories, treated SC harshly: they burned churches, looted & confiscated homes, harassed and exiled citizensThis behavior turned South Carolinians against the British. Partisan bands were formed as a result.Slide6

Patriot partisans led by Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, & William Harden were fighting both the British regular troops and the Loyalists forces using hit & run tactics all over the stateSlide7

Battle of Camden August 16, 1780

Patriot Leader: Major General Horatio Gates

British Leader: General Charles Cornwallis

Patriot Goal: Take back Camden from the BritishGates made many mistakesLed his men through swampy, thick forested areas occupied by many LoyalistsHe ignored advice to travel through farmlandTroops sick from heat, humidity, and limited dietPlaced his weakest soldiers (militia) on left side across from British dragoons and Hessians soldiers, which were more experienced and better trained than the Patriot militia.The British fired guns and began bayonet charge.

The Patriot militia on the left fled the battlefield

The better trained Continentals were left vulnerable

They were overwhelmed by British forcesGates retreated and fled north on horsebackMajor defeat for the Continental ArmyHoratio Gates disgraced and replaced by Gen Nathanael Greene

About 800 Patriot soldiers were killed and 1,000 captured

Less than 70 British soldiers killed and 350 woundedSlide8

Battle of kings mountain Oct 7, 1780

British Leader: Major Patrick Ferguson

Only British soldier in the group

The rest of the soldiers were LoyalistsPatriot Leader: William CampbellBritish & Loyalist forces had stopped on the top of Kings Mountain in a place they thought was safe to set up campMountain men from North and South Carolina were fed up with the harsh behavior of the Tories and British decided to put a stop to itThe “Over Mountain Men” (Patriots) fought Guerilla warfare against the camp on Kings Mountain from behind the same rocks and trees the British thought were keeping them safeThe British & Tories sustained heavy casualties Slide9

Battle of kings mountain

The British tried to surrender, but were offered no quarter by the Patriots in retaliation of the harsh treatment the British had bestowed upon the Patriots throughout SC

The Battle of Kings Mountain is considered a turning point in the Revolutionary War because the British forces began to retreat from the upcountry Slide10

Battle of Kings Mountain

Video (8:16)Slide11

The Battle of Cowpens

Showed a cooperation between the Continental Army and the partisan forces

Patriot (Partisan) Commander; Daniel Morgan

British Commander: Banastre TarletonTarleton had 1,100 Loyalists and British RegularsEncounters about 300 sharpshooters (1st line)They deliver well aimed shots (targeting officers)After firing shots, fall back behind Gen. Pickens’ troops.

General Pickens’ troops

1,000 soldiers

2nd line of Continental soldiersFire one or two shots Retreat behind third line of Continental soldiers

3

rd

line of Continental soldiers

Continentals mistake an order and begin an orderly retreat

Reloading their rifles while retreating

British forces think they have Continentals on the run

Continentals turn toward British forces and fire point-blank

Partisans

had a reputation among the British for turning tail and

running

The American commander (Andrew Pickens) counted on this reputation for his battle plans

Instead, the partisans lured the British forces into their guns, taking a victory!

Resulting in the first time a British force of mostly regular troops had been defeated by the Americans

At least 100 British soldiers killed and more than 200 wounded.

500 British soldiers taken prisoner.

25 Continental soldiers dead and 124 wounded.Slide12

The Battle of Cowpens

Cornwallis and the British retreated to North Carolina to fight and wait for supplies

Eventually they retreated back to Virginia leaving their remaining forces in the SC backcountry to be evacuated or reclaimed by the partisan forces and/or Greene’s Continental Army that was pushing toward the coastSlide13

Video 2:18Slide14

Colonel Isaac Hayne

Partisan parolee Colonel Isaac Hayne was captured near Charleston in July 1781

The British used his punishment as an example to help stem the Patriot advance

They hanged him as a traitor of the British crown after only a brief trialNathanael Greene issued a proclamation stated that he would retaliate against the British forcesSlide15

Battle of Eutaw Springs Sept 1781

Last major battle of Revolution in SC

Patriot Leaders: Gen. Nathanael Greene

Francis Marion, William Washington, and Andrew PickensAbout 2,200 soldiersBritish Leader: Lieutenant Col Alexander StewartLess than 2,000 soldiers and LoyalistsGreene launched an attack on British Militia and Continentals were winningDrove British out of their campPatriots made huge mistakePatriots looted the British camp

Starving troops ate breakfast left behind at British camp

British troops reorganized and counterattacked

Patriots forced to retreatBritish victory with high priceMore than 600 soldiers killed, wounded or missing

Patriots had more than 500 soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

The British army weakened, which led to the final surrender at Yorktown, VASlide16

Acknowledgements:

this presentation was adapted from Kimberly Simpson’s PowerPoint Presentation