Battle of Orangeburgh (jul 6, 1781 – jul 12, 1781)

Description:

Lt Col Francis Rawdon’s and Stewart’s forces united at Orangeburg with a combined force of 1,200 to 1,500 men. Due to the extreme heat, Rawdon made night marches but nonetheless, some 50 of his men died from heat exhaustion.
On July 6, Marion had circled eastward of Rawdon’s army with 400 horsemen. He tried, on the 7th, to ambush Stewart, who had (according to Marion) 300 infantry and 50 cavalry, but Stewart took a different road than expected and got through to Orangeburg safely. A detachment under Colonel Peter Horry did, however, capture 3 sutlers’ wagons containing rum and wine. For 2 days, the Patriots tried to lure the British out of the town, without success.
On July 12, with most of the major South Carolina forces with him, including those of Sumter and Marion, Greene reached Turkey Hill Creek a small branch of the North Edisto about four miles above Orangeburg. Marion and Sumter accompanying him, and escorted by Lee and Washington’s dragoons, he then went to personally examine British ground at Orangeburg. Rawdon was deployed around brick courthouse, one wing resting against the jail and the other against the bridge over the Edisto.
Greene therefore decided not to attack. However, in his pension statement, Richard Bearden, of Spartanburg, S.C., states, “Some Canonading passed between the armies.” Greene remained at Turkey Hill until 6 pm, and then marched to Myddleton’s plantation where he held council of war.

Added to timeline:

Date: