The affair at Wateree 236 years ago – Columbia SC Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin

Today, the Columbia SC Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin remembers General Sumter at Camden, just a few miles east of Columbia, 236 years ago.

From Battles of the United States, By Sea and Land by Henry Barton Dawson, published 1858:

=====

The affair at the ford of the Wateree, South Carolina, August 15, 1780

The approach of General Gates, with the respectable force under his command, had rendered it necessary for the enemy to concentrate his forces, and to strengthen his positions.

Accordingly, Camden, in South Carolina, was selected as the head-quarters of the army; and to that place the smaller garrisons repaired, and stores of all kinds were carried there to meet the several requirements of the greatly increased force which quartered there.

While the enemy was thus drawing together his forces, General Gates received information from General Sumter, who was on the western bank of the Wateree, that a strong detachment of the enemy was on its way from Fort Ninety-six, bringing with it a quantity of stores; and that if he could be supplied with artillery to secure a redoubt, which covered the ferry over which this detachment was to pass the Wateree, he would be enabled to intercept it.

Although General Gates was very near the main body of the enemy, he immediately detached a company of artillery, with two field-pieces, one hundred infantry from the Maryland line, and three hundred men from the North Carolina militia, the whole under Lieutenant-colonel Woolford, to strengthen General Sumter.

With this powerful reinforcement General Sumter immediately moved along the western bank of the Wateree, the enemy’s guards, from Elkin’s Ford to Whitear’s Ferry, five miles below Camden, retiring before him, crossing the river, and joining the main body at the latter place.

The redoubt which covered the Wateree Ford was surprised on the morning of the fifteenth of August, when seven of its garrison were killed and Colonel Cary and thirty prisoners were taken, together with thirty-eight wagons loaded with corn, rum, &c.

And during the same day the detachment of regulars from Fort Ninety-six, upwards of seventy in number, with six wagons loaded with clothing, a large quantity of baggage, &c., was added to the trophies of victory.

The troops under General Sumter appear to have sustained no loss.

=====

Unfortunately, the General’s success was short-lived.

In his Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution, published in 1850, Benson John Lossing provided a summary of the success on August 15th and the subsequent losses just a few days later:

=====

On the seventh of August Sumter attacked a British post on Hanging Creek. Immediately after that engagement, he re-crossed the Catawba.

In the meanwhile, General Gates, with his army, had arrived in the neighborhood.

Advised by Sumter that a British detachment, with stores for the main army at Camden, was on its way from Ninety-Six, Gates ordered that officer to intercept it, and detached to his aid one hundred infantry and a company of artillery of the Maryland line, and three hundred North Carolina militia, all under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Woodford, of Virginia.

They captured a redoubt at the Wateree Ford, in Fairfield District, and, intercepting the escort from Ninety-Six, they secured forty-four wagon loads of stores and clothing, with a number of prisoners.

On the seventeenth, Sumter was informed of the defeat of Gates, near Camden.

Continuing up the Catawba (here called Wateree), he managed to elude the pursuit of Colonel Turnbull, whom Cornwallis had sent after him, and, on the eighteenth, encamped at the Fishing Creek, near the Catawba, a little above the Great Falls.

Here he determined to allow his wearied troops to repose.

But a more vigilant and active foe than Turnbull was upon his trail.

Cornwallis, anxious to capture Sumter, dispatched Tarleton to overtake and smite him.

With one hundred dragoons and sixty mounted light infantry, that officer pressed forward, without halting, in pursuit of his prey.

Crossing the Catawba at Rocky Ford, he got into the rear of Sumter, and fell upon his camp while resting, the patriot leader having had no intimation of his approach.

The Americans were routed, with great slaughter.

More than fifty were killed, and three hundred were made prisoners.

All the stores, clothing, and prisoners, captured by Sumter on the fifteenth, fell into Tarleton’s hands.

This blow laid South Carolina in submission at the feet of the royal troops, none but Marion, the wily ” Swamp Fox,” and a few followers, remaining in arms against the king.

=====

The Columbia SC Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin shows with an image of the Wateree, circa 1968.

Columbia SC Commemorative Silver Half Dollar Coin