Battle of Great Cane Brake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Great Cane Brake |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
 American Revolution militia reenactors in upstate South Carolina (2016). |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 British Loyalists |
 United States militia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Capt. Patrick Cunningham | Col. Richard Richardson Maj. William "Danger" Thomson |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 500 | 1,300 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 6 killed wounded unknown 130 captured |
1 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Great Cane Brake was a small fight that happened on December 22, 1775. It was part of the American Revolutionary War. This battle took place in what is now Greenville County, in South Carolina.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
When the American Revolution began, the new government in Charles Town faced a problem. Many people in the upcountry of South Carolina supported the British King. These people were called "King's men" or Loyalists. The new American government was made up of "Patriots."
Both sides wanted to be friends with the Cherokee Native Americans. This area was not very settled, so their friendship was important. Both the Patriots and the Loyalists promised to give the Cherokees supplies like ammunition for hunting.
In October 1775, the Patriot leaders in Charles Town sent a large amount of gunpowder and lead to the Cherokees. But a group of Loyalists, led by Patrick Cunningham, stopped the wagon carrying these supplies. The Patriots tried to get the supplies back but failed.
Because of this, the Patriot leaders decided they needed to stop the Loyalists' power in the upcountry. They gathered a very large group of citizen soldiers, called militia, led by Colonel Richard Richardson. The Loyalists were greatly outnumbered and had to retreat. By late December, Colonel Richardson had about 5,000 troops. He had also captured the main Loyalist leaders.
The Battle of Great Cane Brake
On December 21, Colonel Richardson ordered 1,300 of his men to go after the remaining Loyalists. These men were led by Major William "Danger" Thomson. They marched about 25 miles through the night. It was cold, and there was rain and snow.
The Loyalists were camping in a thick area of tall reeds, called a "Brake of Canes." They were burning cane stalks to stay warm. The burning stalks made popping and crackling sounds. This helped Major Thomson's men. Because the ground was wet and the cane was noisy, Thomson's soldiers almost completely surrounded the Loyalist camp before they were seen.
The Patriots attacked at dawn. Patrick Cunningham, the Loyalist leader, quickly escaped on a horse without a saddle. He shouted for his men to save themselves. The Patriots won the battle. They got back the ammunition that was meant for the Cherokees. They also captured 130 Loyalist prisoners. These prisoners had to sign a paper promising not to fight against the Patriots again. Only about five or six Loyalists were killed. Major Thomson had to stop his men from hurting the prisoners. Some of the prisoners were sent to Charles Town in chains.
What Happened Next
Even though the Patriots won, a very heavy snowstorm hit the next day. This caused a lot of trouble for the militia. They had been called to duty quickly and did not have enough warm clothes or tents. Some soldiers were badly hurt by the cold and got frostbite. Because of this snowstorm, the whole event became known as the "Snow Campaign."
Colonel Richardson thought his victory had made the upcountry peaceful. However, the Cherokees soon joined the Loyalists. This led to a very harsh civil war on the South Carolina frontier.
Where It Happened
The exact spot of this small battle is not known for sure. But it happened near the Reedy River, about 7 miles southwest of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Today, there is a historical marker on Fork Shoals Road, south of Old Hundred Road (County Road 565), that tells about the battle.
