Wednesday, April 24 (7:00 pm) – Saturday, April 27, 2019 (5:00pm)
Led by: Edward G. Lengel
HQ: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Tour Registration: $495.00
The year 1780 was a pivotal turning point in British strategy as London renewed its effort to crush the American rebellion. The British high command decided to concentrate its efforts in the Southern colonies, where reinforcements from the local Loyalist population was much anticipated. Charleston was captured in May, bagging an American army of 5,000 men. Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates’ army was routed at Camden in August. Lt. Gen Charles Lord Cornwallis thought the war should move north to Virginia, a source of men and supplies for the Rebels. Cornwallis’s strategy would trigger the battles of Kings Mountain, Cowpens, and Guilford Courthouse in late 1780 and early 1781.
At our opening “meet and greet” on Wednesday evening, Ed Lengel will provide a brief lecture on the August 16, 1780 Battle of Camden, which shattered—for a time, at least—the military reputation of General Horatio Gates and seemed to forever destroy patriot hopes in the Carolinas. As our bus departs the following morning, Ed will set the stage for the unlikely series of battles that completely reversed the course of war in the south.
On Day One we explore some lesser known but nonetheless important battle sites from the late summer and autumn of 1780 that began to turn the tide. Our day begins at Musgrove’s Mill. In August 1780 this site formed an important loyalist redoubt. Not yet aware of the Camden defeat, patriot militiamen from Georgia and South Carolina joined Tennessee Over Mountain Men under Colonel Isaac Shelby to try and capture the redoubt. On August 19, the patriots lured loyalist forces away from Musgrove’s Mill and dealt them a stinging defeat. Next, we proceed to Fishdam Ford, where British redcoats under Major James Wemyss attempted a surprise attack against General Thomas Sumter’s South Carolinians on the early morning of November 9, 1780. American victory here boosted patriot recruiting throughout the south. Next, we visit Blackstock’s Plantation battlefield, where on November 20 Sumter followed up his victory at Fishdam with a stunning victory over Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, but left the field severely wounded.
On Day Two, we follow the road to the battle that cast its shadow over Fishdam Ford and Blackstock’s: The Battle of Kings Mountain. In the morning we follow traces of the Overmountain Victory Trail, operated by the National Park Service, stopping at beautiful Lake Whelchel for refreshments and a discussion of the rare convergence of forces that contributed to the patriot victory. Next we travel to Kings Mountain National Military Park, for an in-depth study of this vital clash on October 7, 1780, that effectively destroyed loyalist strength in the Carolinas and ended the life of Major Patrick Ferguson.
Day Three focuses on the climactic Battle of Cowpens. We spend the entire day studying the battle at Cowpens National Battlefield—a field that is usually given only passing attention in larger-scale tours but which richly awards close attention. We begin by tracing Daniel Morgan’s rapid retreat before Tarleton’s advancing forces from Grindal Shoals to Burr’s Mill and finally Cowpens, and then survey the patriot forces (now including militia under Andrew Pickens) and get “the lay of the land.” Next, we walk in the footsteps of Tarleton as he began his advance in the early morning of January 17, 1781 at the Green River Road and continued across the field—absorbing a crashing charge by William Washington’s cavalry before succumbing to the classic double envelopment that proved to be the decisive action of the war in the south.
What’s included: motor coach transportation, three lunches, beverage and snack breaks, a map and materials package, all admissions and gratuities, and the services of an experienced tour guide and historian. Tour participants are responsible for transportation to the headquarters hotel, and securing a room reservation, if necessary. Dinner is on your own. Tour goes out rain or shine. Please see our policy page for information about cancellations
Hotel: We have arranged with the headquarters hotel for a group rate of $119.00 per night plus tax (double or single occupancy) which includes a complimentary hot and cold buffet breakfast. Our hotel will be the Home 2 Suites Hilton, 1285 Old Springdale Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730. To make a reservation, please call the hotel at 803-980-6000 and use Group Code AHT. This rate is guaranteed until April 3, 2019. If you have any problems, please contact Bruce Venter at 703-785-4373.
Our Tour Guide/Historian: Dr. Edward G. Lengel is an independent historian who was director and editor in chief of the Papers of George Washington Project and a history professor at the University of Virginia. He also served as chief historian at the White House Historical Association. He is an award-winning author of four books on George Washington including the critically acclaimed General George Washington: A Military Biography. His forthcoming book is a biography of “Light Horse Harry” Lee. He is a much sought after lecturer and tour guide. Ed is also the author of several books on World War I, including To Conquer Hell, Thunder and Flames and the recently released Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Great War’s Lost Battalion.
Register Online: $495.00
Register by phone, e-mail or postal mail:
- Phone: 1-703-785-4373
- Email us at: info@AmericasHistoryLLC.com
- Postal mail: America’s History LLC, P. O. Box 1076, Goochland, VA 23063
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To completely understand the road to victory in the South a visit to the Battle of the Waxhaws or as we call it locally Buford’s Massacre should be your first stop on any tour The influence of this American disaster came the rallying cry of the Southern Patriots’ “Give Them Tarleton’s Quarter” It was the “Alamo” moment of the Revolutionary War. It helped immensely in the recruiting effort and most decidedly influenced the neutral position of many SC residents to side with the American cause. If you have never visited the site of Buford’s defeat the entire battlefield is open before you and it’s story told on informational kiosks and monuments. The Friends of the Buford Massacre Battlefield are available to work with your tour groups in explaining the impact of the battle the events leading up to the battle and the aftermath.
Thank you for your comment endorsing the Waxhaws battlefield as a site to visit. I have been there myself with Charles Baxley’s group. In fact, at our 2018 Williamsburg conference, I specifically identified that our book sales donation would be put towards the Campaign 1776 effort to save land at the Waxhaws.
I asked Ed Lengel who is leading our SC tour to comment about visiting the Waxhaws on our April tour. Ed said his tour is focusing chronologically on the autumn and winter of 1780-81. He felt the Waxhaws battlefield would fit better into a different tour that emphasized events in the spring of 1780. As Ed said, “We’re not ignoring [the Waxhaws] or understating [its] importance—it’s just part of a different campaign.” So we may develop a different tour to be offered in 2020 that would include the Waxhaws.