The sound of canons and muskets rang out on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Don’t worry, this wasn’t the start of a war. Instead, it was part of the Allendale County SC250 Committee’s monthlong Revolutionary Days to honor and remember South Carolina’s important role in winning American independence 250 years ago.
“This country was founded by people seeking freedom, including people who were wanting to be able to express their freedom of religion,” said Richard Lee Herron, a member of the Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). “If we don’t keep that memory alive, eventually it will be lost.”
That’s why Herron and other members of SAR chapters all over the country work to preserve American history and values through reenactments, presentations and other events.
He and other members of the Georgia Society SAR’s Brier Creek Skunk Brigade traveled to Allendale County to participate in Revolutionary Days.
Festivities kicked off with the Allendale County SC250 Committee unveiling interpretive markers at Cohen’s Bluff and Johnson’s Landing.
“A lot of love and time was put into it,” said Rachael Sharp of designing the markers.
The Allendale County native serves as secretary and co-chair of the Allendale County SC250 Committee.
The markers, just like the one dedicated the prior weekend at Burton’s Ferry, commemorate the history of the riverside properties. They were designed by Adams O'Cain.
“The Savannah River was a very critical, strategic, and important waterway during the American Revolution. It was the main transport and communication route between Savannah and Augusta. Water was the cheapest way to transport goods,” said Dr. John Derden, a history professor who has taught at multiple Georgia colleges.
He explained how goods could travel 30 miles on land for the same price as 3,000 miles on the water.
Cohen's Bluff and Johnson’s Landing are a few miles down the Savannah River from Brier Creek Landing in Georgia, site of the Battle of Brier Creek in 1779.
“The battle was fought in Georgia but had a profound impact in South Carolina. It’s one of least known battles but one of most important battles of revolutionary war,” said Derden, who briefly spoke at the Cohen’s Bluff ceremony but later gave a detailed history of the brief battle at USC Salkehatchie.
The battle came after British troops moved south when things stalemated in the northern colonies.
“They thought there would be a significant reservoir of loyalist Tory support,” said Derden.
In December 1778, the British sent Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell on an expedition mission. He and his troops quickly took Savannah, Ga.
They then journeyed to Augusta, Ga. in February 1779 where they didn’t meet much resistance, but they didn’t find as many loyalists to sign up for their cause as they hoped. They only stayed in Augusta for two weeks before withdrawing back down the Savannah River.
Patriot forces fighting for American independence, led by Gen. John Ashe, were across the river and started a slow pursuit of the British. The Patriots made their way into Georgia to Brier Creek where they found the bridge had been burned. Ashe and his troops made camp at Brier Creek as they worked to rebuild the bridge.
“Ashe has 1,100 poorly trained men whose enlistments are about to expire. They’re footsore, tired and hungry,” said Derden.
While the Patriots sought to defeat the British and retake Savannah, the British had a surprise for the Patriots.
On March 1, 1779, a group of British advanced to Brier Creek where they made noise with canons and guns. This was a distraction as another group of British snuck up from behind and attacked.
Around 3 p.m. on March 3, 1779, “Ashe gets notice from a horseman that the British are coming in 15 minutes. The Americans are completely unprepared,” said Derden of how they were camping and hadn’t even distributed ammunition.
The American Patriots were no match for the British who had more artillery and had bayonets on their weapons.
The Americans’ muskets would prove to be insufficient since they had to be reloaded after every shot. Many Patriots ran into the river and surrounding swamp to try to evade the British. Many Patriots drowned trying to cross the river.
“The battle only lasted 15 or 20 minutes, but then the British started hunting down the Patriots,” said Derden.
An estimated 400 Patriots were lost at the battle compared to only 16 on the British side.
American Gen. William Moultrie was quoted as saying that this “defeat endangered South Carolina and extended the war a year.”
“I had an ancestor in the Brier Creek battle. Looking over the river, it brings home to me the struggles they went through trying to gain freedom from England. It was a special place to be,” said Herron of being at the Allendale County events.
Following the unveiling at Cohen’s Bluff, the Skunk Brigade fired four canons.
Later in the day, they fired muskets and had a collection of their roadkill hats on display at USC Salkehatchie’s atrium.
“Native Americans already used skins for hats and things. The pioneers adopt some of that culture. There weren’t a lot of places to buy clothing in the backwoods, so people made their own. They made hats to keep their heads warm,” said Herron.
He encourages Americans to remember their history to gain a better understanding of who they are and where they’ve come from.
Anyone interested in joining SAR can contact Herron at rlherron4@gmail.com.
The Allendale County SC 250 Committee has more events planned every weekend in January.
Find a complete calendar of events at www.allendalesc250.com/revolutionary-days.