On my post yesterday, Dorothy Pennachio mentioned Buford’s Massacre, also known as the Battle of Waxhaws, so I’m posting pics from that site. I visited here in January on the Cowpen’s Anniversary weekend. Tomorrow I’ll post Ninety-Six, then Eutaw Springs, followed by some miscellaneous pics. I may throw in Cowpens and Kings Mountain.
The Buford’s Massacre site is located at 262 Rocky River Rd, Lancaster, SC 29720, which is Rt. 522, just below Burford, SC – a little over five miles from the NC/SC state line. The town of Waxhaw is located in NC, just over the border, however the entire area both in NC & SC was known as Waxhaw at the time of the AmRev. Waxhaw is named after Siouan-language, Native American group that inhabited the region up until about 1720.
Colonel Abraham Buford commanded a force of Virginia Continentals who were dispatched to help defend Charleston; however upon learning of it’s capture, turned back towards VA. Cornwallis learned that South Carolina Governor John Rutledge was travelling with Buford after escaping Charleston, and he assigned Banister Tarleton to pursue and capture Rutledge. Tarleton caught up to Buford, and Buford stopped to engage the British here at the battle site.
Tarleton attacked with three detachments, leading the left flank himself and the British quickly crushed the Patriot lines. There is some debate as to what and why happened next, however the British proceeded to massacre the surrendering Continentals.
Not disputed is the reaction of the Patriots and Tarleton’s reputation as a brutal and barbaric enemy. “Tarleton’s Quarter!” meaning take-no-prisoners became a Patriot rallying cry. Word of the massacre influenced many neutral SC and back country settlers to join the Patriot cause.
Please also see descriptions/comments on the photos.
Solutions To History 