Battle+of+Eutaw+Springs

 September 8, 1781 in Eutawville, South Carolina That Battle of Eutaw Springs was a battle of the [|American Revolution] that started on September 8, 1781 in Eutawville, South Carolina. It was the last major encounter of wars in the Carolinas. In the early 1781, [|Major General] [|Nathanael Greene] of the Continental Army began a campaign to end British control over the South Carolina back country. His first major job was the capture of the British controlled Village of [|Ninety- Six]. On May 22, 1781, Greene laid siege to the defensive village. After nearly a month Green became aware that reinforcements under [|Lord Rawdon] were coming from [|Charleston]. Forces under Greene’s command attacked Ninety- Six on June 18, but were pushed away. To avoid facing the force controlled by Rawdon, Green retreated to [|Charlotte, North Carolina]. Rawdon followed Green for several days, but was forced to abandon the search because his men were tired by days of forced marching and lack of supplies to continue. Besides the fact that Ninety- Six was the only remaining British outpost, Rawdon decided to burn and abandon it and he left the Garrison to Charleston. In poor health, Rawdon sailed to England in late August, leaving Charleston under the command of Colonel [|Alexander Stewart]. After Rawdon left, Greene turned his army around and headed back to Charleston. His men were tired because of so many days marching and in combat. He set up camp above the [|Santee River] to let his men rest. On August 22, his force prepared to face the remaining British forces stationed in Charleston. Colonel Stewart led a force of 2,000 men from Charleston's British garrison in search of Greene's army. The force camped at Eutaw Springs, about 10 kilometers east of present-day [|Eutawville], then in Charleston District.

[|Battle of Eutaw Springs Video]



[|Nathanael Greene] was a Major General of the continental Army in the [|American Revolutionary war]. He was one of the most trusted generals of the, Washington's friend and comrade-in-arms. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank. He came from the war with a reputation as George Washington’s most gifted and dependable officer. In August 1774, Greene helped organize local militia which was chartered as the [|Kentish Guards] that October. He was only allowed to serve as a private in the group because of a slight limp he had since birth. He later commanded the [|Rhode Island militia] and became a brigadier general in the Continental army, acting in the siege of Boston in 1776. His performance impressed General George Washington, who gave Greene the command of Boston after the British left the city. At the age of thirty- four Greene was promoted to become the youngest Major General. He began to obtain many expensive volumes on [|military strategies], and began to teach himself the art of war. In December 1774, he was on a committee decided by the assembly to edit the militia laws.



[|Francis Rawdon- Hastings],[| 1st Marquess of Hastings], British soldiers and governor- general of India was the son [|Sir John Rawdon]. He was called Lord Rawdon, and was educated at Harrow and Oxford, and later joined the army in 1771 as ensign in the 15th foot. His life then on was spent entirely in the service of his country. In 1775 to 1782 he was in the American war. From 1783 to 1813 he held a few high appointments at home, and took an active part in the business of the House of Lords. From 1813 to 1823 it was the period of his labors in India. After that in his last years of life he was governor of Malta. In America Rawdon served at the battle of [|Bunker Hill], Brooklyn, White Plains, Monmouth and Camden, at the attacks on Forts Washington and Clinton, and at the siege of Charleston. He was engaged in many important operations of the war. He raised the corps at Philadelphia, called the Irish Volunteers, and had a victory at Hobkrirk’s Hill. Which he had command of a small force, because of it he gained superior military skill and determination against a much larger body of Americans. In 1781 he was invalided. The vessel he took to return to England as captures and carried into Brest. He was releases and on his arrival to England he was honored by [|George III]. He created him and English peer in March 1783.