Eutaw Springs

Battle Overview

The Battle of Eutaw Springs was a significant engagement fought during the American Revolutionary War on September 8, 1781. It took place near present-day Eutawville, South Carolina, in the southern United States.

The British forces, led by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart, were stationed at Eutaw Springs to protect the nearby town of Charleston. The American forces, commanded by General Nathanael Greene, were seeking to drive the British out of the area and secure a major victory in the South.

The battle began in the early morning hours when the American forces launched a surprise attack on the British encampment. The initial assault was successful, with the Americans pushing the British back and capturing several artillery pieces. However, the British rallied and counterattacked, driving the Americans back.

The battle then devolved into a series of intense and brutal skirmishes as both sides fought for control of the field. The fighting was particularly brutal in and around the Spring House, a fortified position held by the British. Despite suffering heavy casualties, the Americans managed to push the British out of the Spring House and gain control of the field.

The battle was ultimately a victory for the Americans, who inflicted significant casualties on the British and forced them to retreat to Charleston. However, the victory was not without cost, as the American forces suffered heavy losses as well.

The Battle of Eutaw Springs is considered one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolutionary War, with both sides suffering significant casualties. It was also one of the last major engagements of the war in the Southern United States.

Primary Sources

There are several memoirs and personal accounts of the Battle of Eutaw Springs that provide valuable insights into the experiences of the soldiers and officers who fought in the engagement. Some of the most notable accounts include:

1. The Memoirs of General William Moultrie: William Moultrie was a general in the South Carolina militia who fought in the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His memoirs, which were published posthumously, provide a detailed account of the battle from his perspective.
   • Moultrie, William. Memoirs of the American Revolution, so Far as It Related to the States of North and South Carolina, and Georgia. Vol. I. New York: David Longworth, 1804.
2. The Narrative of Colonel Henry Lee: Henry Lee was a cavalry officer in the Continental Army who fought in the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His narrative, which was published in 1812, provides a detailed and vivid account of the battle, including descriptions of the fighting in and around the Spring House.
   • Lee, Henry. Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States. Washington, DC: Peter Force, 1827.
3. The Memoirs of Sergeant William Seymour: William Seymour was a sergeant in the Virginia Continental Line who fought in the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His memoirs, which were published in 1859, provide a detailed account of the battle, including his experiences during the fighting and his observations on the tactics employed by the American and British forces.
   • Seymour, W. A Journal of the Southern Expedition, 1780-1783. Papers of the Historical Society of Delaware. Historical Society of Delaware, 1896. https://books.google.com/books?id=hjs7nQEACAAJ.
4. The Memoirs of Major Joseph McJunkin: Joseph McJunkin was a militia officer from South Carolina who fought in the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His memoirs, which were published in 1849, provide a detailed account of the battle, including his experiences during the fighting and his observations on the leadership of the American and British forces.
   • McJunkin, Joseph. “Memoirs of Major Joseph McJunkin – Revolutionary Patriot.” South Carolina Tories (blog), 1837. http://sc_tories.tripod.com/memoirs_of_major_joseph_mcjunkin.htm.

Secondary Sources

Dunkerly, Robert M., and Irene B. Boland. Eutaw Springs: The Final Battle of the American Revolution’s Southern Campaign. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 2017.