Battle of Mobley's Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Mobley's Meeting House |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Patriot militia |
 Loyalist militia |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| William Bratton |
Robert Coleman |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 100–200 | about 200 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| none | few | ||||||
The Battle of Mobley's Meeting House was a small but important fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on June 8, 1780, in what is now Fairfield County, South Carolina. This battle was part of the southern campaign led by Lord Cornwallis for the British.
In this battle, American fighters, called Patriots or Whigs, surprised a group of British supporters, known as Loyalists or Tories. The Loyalists were gathered at Mobley's Meeting House. This place was about 6 miles (10 km) west of today's Winnsboro.
Many Loyalists tried to run away by sliding down a steep hill. More of them got hurt this way than from the actual fighting. Some Loyalists hid in a small fort called a blockhouse. But the Patriots forced them out and won the battle.
This victory was one of several small wins for the Patriots. These wins helped boost their spirits after big defeats earlier in 1780. It also led to more organized resistance from leaders like Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion.
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Why Did This Battle Happen?
The British had a plan to take back control of their colonies in the southern United States. This plan was going well in 1779 and early 1780. They had captured Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. They also defeated most of the American Continental Army troops in South Carolina. This happened at the Battle of Waxhaws in May 1780.
After these wins, the British controlled South Carolina and Georgia. They set up small bases to find and recruit Loyalists. They also wanted to stop Patriots from causing trouble.
One of these British bases was at Rocky Mount. It was near the Catawba River. Another base was at Shirer's Ferry, by the Broad River. This second base was a meeting spot for Loyalist fighters.
How Did the Battle Start?
Loyalists in the area started raiding and stealing from Patriot homes. In early June 1780, they set up a camp at Mobley's Meeting House. This spot was about 12 miles (19 km) north of Shirer's Ferry. It was on a high hill near the Little River.
The Loyalists were led by Colonel Robert Coleman, Colonel Joseph Fleuquinyan, and Captain William Nichols. They had stolen many things from Patriots, especially from the Hampton family. They had even sent John and Henry Hampton to Lord Cornwallis as prisoners. The Loyalists were waiting for British help at their camp.
Meanwhile, Richard Winn, a Patriot leader, started gathering his supporters. By June 7, he had about 100 to 200 men. These men were mostly from the York County area of South Carolina. Their main leaders were Colonel William Bratton, Colonel Edward Lacey, and others. Colonel Bratton had been leading Patriot fighters since 1775.
Many of these Patriots had just defeated another Loyalist group at Beckhamville the day before. Colonel Bratton was chosen to lead the attack on Mobley's Meeting House. They rode there that day and arrived early in the morning. They saw that the Loyalist camp was not well-guarded. Even though it had a strong blockhouse and meetinghouse, it seemed easy to surprise. So, they planned a surprise attack.
What Happened During the Battle?
The Patriots attacked at daybreak. They charged the church and the blockhouse. The Patriot forces attacked from three sides. They left the fourth side open because it had a very steep hill. They thought it would be too hard to climb for an attack or to go down for an escape.
However, during the confusion, many Loyalists tried to escape down that steep hill. Some of them were hurt while trying to get away. Not many people were hurt in the actual fighting. Most injuries were from falling down the hill.
The Patriots got back much of the stolen property. They also captured many Loyalist prisoners. These prisoners were sent to North Carolina. Patriot reports said they had no one killed or captured in the short battle. The Loyalists had a few killed and captured.
What Happened After the Battle?
After the battle, some Patriots went to North Carolina. Others stayed in South Carolina and went home. Colonel Turnbull, the British commander at Rocky Mount, sent his soldiers to get revenge. These soldiers were called the New York Volunteers.
They went on a destructive rampage. They destroyed Richard Winn's farm. They also burned the home of Reverend John Simpson. They attacked a small group of Patriots defending Colonel William Hill's ironworks.
Even after the ironworks were destroyed, Patriots kept fighting. This led to Thomas Sumter becoming a very important Patriot leader. The Patriots got their revenge on the British soldiers in July at Huck's Defeat. Another Loyalist gathering in North Carolina was also defeated on June 20 at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill.
Why Was This Battle Important?
Even though it was a small battle, Mobley's Meeting House was a big win for the Patriots. This battle and the one at Beckhamville were the first Patriot successes after many defeats. The Patriots had lost battles at Charleston, Monck's Corner, Lenud's Ferry, and Waxhaws.
There were still more tough times for the Patriots. But small victories like Huck's Defeat and Ramsour's Mill kept their spirits up. These wins gave them the courage to keep fighting. The British won more battles in August 1780, at Camden and Fishing Creek. But on October 7, 1780, a big Patriot victory at Kings Mountain finally started to turn the war around.
Where Is It Today?
Mobley's Meeting House was about 6 miles (10 km) west of today's Winnsboro. It was located near the Little River. There is a marker nearby on SSR 18, about 1.5 miles (2 km) west of the actual site. There used to be a road that went past the meeting house, but you cannot get to it today.
