Cheraw’s Revolutionary War history remembered [South Carolina]

More than 230 years after their death, British soldiers who perished in Cheraw during the American Revolutionary War will be remembered in a special service this November at Old St. David’s Cemetery.

What began as a conversation between Cheraw Mayor Scott Hunter and local physician Dr. Joe Newsom three years ago, evolved into extensive research for British natives and Cheraw residents Noel and Stephanie Briggs.

“In our conversation, Dr. Newsom mentioned that while Cheraw gave attention to the Civil War, our Revolutionary War history was also rich,” Hunter said. “That reminded me what I had always heard about the graves of the unknown British soldiers. With Noel’s and Stephanie’s British heritage, I knew they would be interested.”

Several books, with references to the graves of these soldiers, have been written, including “History of the Old Cheraws,” by Alexander Gregg, the rector of St. David’s Church from 1846 until 1859.

After Hunter approached the Briggs, requesting their assistance identifying the soldiers buried at Old St. David’s Church, Stephanie Briggs spent more than two years researching anything she could find regarding the British soldiers’ time in Cheraw.

The soldiers, from the Fraser Highlanders 71st Regiment of Foot, served in the army of King George III. Encamped in Cheraw during the summer of 1780, these men fought in more battles and skirmishes in both the Northern and Southern Campaigns than any other British regiment. Following the Fall of Charleston to the British in May 1780, Lord Charles Cornwallis ordered detachments from the Regiment to Cheraw. Arriving in Cheraw on June 9, 1780, the soldiers camped near the Great Pee Dee River, not far from Old St. David’s Church.

Searching the British Public Records Office in London as well as libraries and museums in the United States and the United Kingdom, the Briggs also made contacts with researchers in several other countries in their attempt to complete the task requested by Mayor Hunter. The Briggs confirmed that the original Commanding Officer of the Highlanders left the Regiment to return to England. He later died, after an illustrious career, and was buried in Westminster Abbey in London. However, the Briggs’ research indicated two officers and several men from the Regiment had indeed died from fever contracted in Cheraw during the summer of 1780. Unfortunately, neither the major who commanded them, nor the surgeon who treated the men, made any reference to the deaths of their soldiers, or their names, in their correspondence, probably due to the restrictions placed on them.

So while the names of the 71st Highlanders who died in Cheraw that summer of 1780 will forever remain a mystery, they will be commemorated at a special service to be held in the cemetery at Old St David’s Church on Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. At that time, a new headstone and markers at the graves will be dedicated, telling future generations more of the story about these soldiers of the Fraser Highlanders, who died with honor serving their King, far away from their Scottish homeland.

Also, during that weekend, there will be a “Round Table Workshop” held in the conference room of the Cheraw Police Department on Nov. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. At that time, researchers and historians from the organization, Southern Campaign of the American Revolution (SCAR), will meet to share information on the Revolutionary War in the southern states. This session will be free, and the public is welcome to attend, although space may become limited.

Liberty: The American Revolution - PBS:

LIBERTY! is a six-part series of one-hour documentaries for PBS. It describes how the American Revolution evolved and how a new nation was born in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, using actors, Revolutionary era scholars, and eyewitness accounts of the time. LIBERTY! is hosted by award winning journalist and ABC news anchor, Forrest Sawyer. Edward Herrmann is the narrator. It was originally broadcast Nov. 23 - 25, 1997.

EPISODE 1: “The Reluctant Revolutionaries” 1763-1774

In 1763, the capitol city of America is London, George Washington is lobbying for a post in the British army, and no one thinks of Boston harbor when they hear talk of tea parties. In a dozen years, the colonies are on the brink of rebellion. What happens to bring this country so quickly near war with England?

EPISODE 2: “Blows Must Decide” 1774-1776

A total break from Great Britain remains hard for Americans to imagine, even after shots are fired at Lexington and Concord. Words push matters “Over the Edge” in 1776. Common Sense argues that it is the natural right of men to govern themselves. The Declaration of Independence declares this same idea a “self-evident” truth. For Americans, there is no looking back. There will be war with England.

EPISODE 3: “The Times That Try Men’s Souls” 1776-1777

Days after the Declaration of Independence is signed, a British force arrives in New York harbor. Washington and his troops are driven to New Jersey. With only a few days of enlistment left for many of his volunteers, a desperate Washington leads his army quietly across the Delaware River on the day after Christmas, 1776, to mount a surprise attack on a sleeping garrison in Trenton.

EPISODE 4: “Oh Fatal Ambition” 1777-1778

The “united” states remain in dire need of funds and military support. Congress dispatches Benjamin Franklin to France in hopes of creating an alliance which will provide both. Meanwhile, a British army marches down the Hudson River trying to cut off New England from the other colonies. The British are crushed by Americans at Saratoga. The French enter the conflict on the American side.

EPISODE 5: “The World Turned Upside Down” 1778-1783

The British hope to exploit the issue of slavery and to enlist the support of loyalists in the south. They fail. After a series of brutal engagements, the British army heads for Virginia, only to be trapped by the miraculous convergence of Washington’s army and the French fleet at Yorktown. The end of the war is at hand.

EPISODE 6: “Are We to Be a Nation? 1783-1788

Peace comes to the United States, but governing the world’s newest republic is no simple task. Congress is ineffectual and individual states act like sovereign nations. By the time the Constitutional Convention convenes in 1787, many wonder if the country can survive. The long ratification process helps define what sort of nation the United States is to be—a process that continues to this day.

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/liberty_episodes.html

You can watch the first 5 (of 6) episodes here:
http://libertymaven.com/2008/03/23/liberty-the-american-revolution-from-pbs-video/984/

Hamilton was the commanding officer of a the NY Artillery Regiment at the time of Trenton; further, he had been ill and left a sickbed when Washington began to cross the Delaware, so intimate field action as shown would have been unlikely. He was instrumental in that battle setting up his cannon at the top of a hill in Trenton and raining cannonballs down at the Hessians.

Yorktown was different. By that time Hamilton had been an aide-de-camp to Washington and had had a falling out with the General since he wanted to get more battlefield action. At Yorktown, Washington gave Hamilton the honor of commanding three infantry battalions (he had, by now, left artillery and was a light infantry officer) to march against the toughest British position (redount #10).

It is interesting to note that Hamilton's original NY Artillery survives now as the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, and is the oldest unit in the US Army. As you likely know, after the RevWar, the army was disbanded. The only exception was the NY Artillery regiment since they were assigned duty at West Point to guard the arms deposited there.

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