Huck's Defeat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Huck's Defeat |
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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 |
Christian Huck † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 250 militia | 35 dragoons 20 New York Volunteers 60 militia |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 killed 1 wounded |
81 killed, wounded, or captured;24 escaped | ||||||
Huck's Defeat or the Battle of Williamson's Plantation was an important fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened in what is now York County, South Carolina, on July 12, 1780. This battle was one of the first times American Patriot militia won a victory in the southern part of the war.
Contents
Why Huck's Defeat Happened
In May 1780, the British army captured Charleston, South Carolina. This was the main American army in the South. The British then took over important government centers. These included Camden and Ninety Six.
The British believed they had crushed the American supporters in South Carolina. So, Sir Henry Clinton changed the rules. He said that people who had promised to stay neutral now had to choose a side.
On June 3, 1780, a new rule was made. Patriots, also called Whigs, had to swear loyalty to the king. If they did not, they would be seen as "rebels." Sir Henry Clinton then left for New York. He left Lieutenant General Charles, Earl Cornwallis in charge of the British army in the South.
South Carolina's governor had left when Charleston fell. So, the Whigs in the countryside chose their own leaders. They wanted to keep fighting against the British. They also fought against the "Tory" (Loyalist) militia. They felt these groups treated people very cruelly.
Before the Battle: Huck's Actions
Around June 1780, the British set up a base at Rocky Mount. This was near the North Carolina border. Lieutenant Colonel George Turnbull was in charge there. He commanded a British regiment called the New York Volunteers.
In early July, Turnbull sent Christian Huck to find rebel leaders. Huck was a captain in Tarleton's British Legion. He was also told to make people in the area swear loyalty to the king.
Huck was from Germany and had strong feelings against the Whigs. His property had been taken after the British left Philadelphia. He then joined the British army.
Huck and his men had caused trouble before. They had destroyed the home of a Whig leader, Rev. John Simpson. A week later, Huck attacked the ironworks of William Hill. Hill was another important Whig leader. These actions made many local people, who just wanted peace, join the Patriots.
After destroying Hill's Ironworks, Huck gathered the men in the area. Most of these men were too old to fight. Huck told them that even if Jesus Christ led the rebels, he would still defeat them. He and his soldiers then took all the men's horses. These actions earned Huck the nickname "the swearing captain." They also made the local people even angrier.
Huck's way of fighting was to be rough with women. He would take food and horses. He also threatened to imprison or kill anyone who resisted the British. This only made more men join the rebels. These rebels were forming a militia group under Brigadier General Thomas Sumter.
On July 11, 1780, Huck raided the home of Captain John McClure. He caught McClure's brother and brother-in-law with new bullets. Huck sentenced them to be hanged the next day.
Huck's group had about 35 British Legion dragoons (soldiers on horseback), 20 New York Volunteers, and 60 Loyalist militia. They then went to the plantation of Colonel William Bratton. This was another Whig militia leader.
One of Huck's soldiers threatened Col. Bratton's wife, Martha. He tried to make her tell where her husband was. But she did not. Huck's second-in-command stopped the soldier. Huck then arrested three older neighbors of the Brattons. He told them they would also be executed the next day.
Huck and his 115 men then camped for the night at James Williamson's house. Williamson was an elderly Whig. The five prisoners were locked in a corncrib to wait for their execution.
The Battle of Huck's Defeat
Mary McClure, John McClure's younger sister, gave information to the Patriots. A slave from the Bratton family named Watt also helped. With their help, the Patriot forces quickly moved toward Huck's camp.
About 150 Patriots arrived near Williamson's plantation that night. They were led by experienced militia officers. After looking around, they decided to attack Huck from three sides at once.
Huck's camp was not well guarded. Shortly after sunrise, at least two Patriot groups attacked at the same time. The British and Loyalist soldiers were completely surprised. Many were still asleep.
The Patriots rested their rifles on a fence. From there, they shot accurately at their enemies as they came out. Huck got on a horse to try and rally his troops. But he was shot in the head by John Carroll. Carroll had loaded two balls in his rifle.
Some Loyalists gave up, while others ran away. The Whigs chased them, seeking revenge. The Loyalists had many losses. Only twenty-four men escaped, according to Tarleton. The Patriots had only one killed and one wounded. The five prisoners were freed from the corncrib without harm.
Why This Battle Was Important
Even though only a small number of soldiers fought, the battle was very important. South Carolina historian Walter Edgar wrote that "The entire backcountry seemed to take heart." He meant that people in the countryside felt hopeful. The local militia had defeated soldiers from the feared British Legion.
Many volunteers came to join General Thomas Sumter's militia group. Edgar called Huck's Defeat "a major turning point in the American Revolution in South Carolina."
It was the first of more than thirty-five important battles in South Carolina in late 1780 and early 1781. All but five of these battles were Patriot victories. This series of successes was key to the major Patriot wins at King's Mountain and Cowpens.
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