Fighting for Independence: The Remarkable Felder Family and South Carolina’s Relentless Militia

“One family’s fierce stand for liberty in the brutal partisan war that shaped the American South.”

Book Review

Eleazer, John Brian. The South Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War: Captain Henry Felder and the Backcountry Defense. Charleston: The History Press, 2025.

Writers with ancestral connections often provide new insights into Revolutionary Era histories. This is true for John Brian Eleazer’s account of a South Carolina militia captain and his sons who served throughout the Southern conflict. The first-time author intertwines a micro-story of the Henry Felder family within the larger, bitter struggle between rebels, loyalists, and British soldiers. Felder and his seven sons were ardent Patriots, willing to put their lives on the line for freedom from perceived British oppression.

The Felder descendant strongly argues that South Carolina experienced prolonged, intense partisan and regular army combat, and the Felder family significantly contributed to the local Patriot cause. The author asserts that more battles and skirmishes took place in South Carolina than in any other state and that twenty to thirty percent of Rebel casualties in the entire conflict occurred in the Palmetto State. Furthermore, the highly kinetic contest exhibited aspects of a brutal civil war between small units of Loyalist and British forces and Rebel militias. Captain Henry Felder and his seven sons served extensively throughout the conflict in the Orangeburgh District militia as well as in state ranger and dragoon formations.

A nine-year-old Henry Felder arrived in America with his family from Switzerland. After a few years, both his father and mother passed away, leaving the young teenager with three hundred and fifty acres of land in the Orangeburgh area, which is located between Charleston and modern-day Columbia, South Carolina. Demonstrating an enterprising spirit, the young immigrant opened a general store, raised cattle, and acquired five thousand acres by the time of the rebellion. Archival evidence indicates that Felder opposed chattel slavery and uncommonly managed his vast tract of land with free labor.

Felder became an early advocate for independence. Community leaders appointed him to enforce the Continental Association by boycotting British goods, and in 1775, he was elected to the First South Carolina Provincial Congress. After the enactment of South Carolina’s first constitution on March 26, 1776, residents elected Henry Felder to the initial State House of Representatives. Two months later, Henry authored and signed the Orangeburgh Declaration, which characterized the new State constitution as “framed for the good, welfare, and Happiness for those who live under it.” This declaration is notable for uniting upland and low country support for the nascent Rebel government and establishing a course for South Carolina’s backing of the Continental Congress’s Declaration of Independence a few months later.

In addition to his legislative duties, Henry Felder actively served in the militia. One of his first responsibilities was patrolling the fork of the Edisto River to prevent supplies from reaching the Loyalists and the British. Felder must have achieved some success, as the Loyalists turned their attention to looting and burning his home. He continued to serve in the militia until February 1780, when the Loyalists attacked again and set fire to his house. Loyalists gunned down Henry while fleeing his burning home. Henry’s sons and wife survived the attack. However, Henry’s third son, John, would later die in combat at the battle of McCord’s Ferry.

In addition to the Felder family, the author traces another Patriot in his family lineage, Johannes Stephen Eleazer, along with his two sons. The elder Eleazer, being too old for militia service, provided food and horses throughout the conflict. One of his sons, Jacob, fought with the militia after the British capture of Charleston in 1780. Later, a grandson of elder Eleazer opened a tavern in Spring Hill, which operated until 1975 and is now a private residence, making it the oldest structure in the upper Lexington and Richland counties.

While the author highlights the contributions of his ancestors, he presents a compelling argument that militia units played a crucial role in the Rebels’ victory in the South. Militia units participated in all major battles, including notable successes at King’s Mountain and Cowpens. South Carolina militia units, featuring Henry Felder, Jr., distinguished themselves honorably at the intensely bloody battle of Eutaw Springs. The battle resulted in over fourteen hundred and fifty casualties and prisoners among forty-two hundred participants, marking one of the highest attrition rates of the war. Following Lord Cornwallis’ defeat at Yorktown, the South Carolina militia assisted Continental Army Major General Nathanael Greene in driving British and Loyalist forces out of the backcountry. In December 1782, the British evacuated Charleston, bringing the war in the South to a close.

The book’s strengths include extensive archival research into the Felder family. Prospective authors wishing to investigate their ancestors would benefit from replicating Eleazer’s research. Other strengths comprise numerous author-generated timeline charts and battle maps, which aid in placing the Felder and Eleazer family events within the context of the larger war. Despite many years of archival research and interpretation of family lore, readers sometimes desire more information beyond what is found in official records. For example, readers learn little about the family dynamics that could humanize the Felder clan and help them understand their motivations and feelings.

Furthermore, there is limited information about the specifics of the Felder men’s participation in and impact on the numerous battles and skirmishes in which they were involved. However, this lack of information is common in micro-histories, particularly those like the Felders, which do not leave extensive diaries and correspondence behind. Recognizing this issue, the author asserts that the story is unfinished and, perhaps, more information will emerge from publicizing Felder’s narrative.

The South Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War is a pithy introduction to the American Revolution in South Carolina for readers seeking a family-centered perspective. Furthermore, those interested in writing a micro-history, conducting genealogical investigations, or pursuing further research on the Rebellion in South Carolina will find this book helpful, particularly the copious appendices that present the research findings. Ultimately, Eleazer’s work is a valuable companion to more extensive and detailed accounts of campaigns and battles during the Revolutionary War in the South.