Nearby Events
No events found for this county.
Nearby Historical Sites
County Committee Contact Info
Contact Organization: Abbeville County Historical Society
Contact Phone Number: 864-378-4254
Contact Email: thowie@poweredbyrtc.com
After the British took Charleston in 1780, the South became the main theatre of the Revolutionary War, and South Carolina played a key role in securing the Patriot victory. In the backcountry of Abbeville County, settled in 1756 by the Scots-Irish and French Huguenots, neighbor fought against neighbor in a conflict that was more akin to a civil war. Figures like Andrew Pickens rose to prominence, leading the fight for independence. Brigadier General Andrew Pickens was an influential Patriot leader from Abbeville County. Of Scots-Irish and French Huguenot descent, he was married to Rebecca Calhoun, a survivor of the Long Cane Massacre. Pickens was a noted military leader during the Cherokee War, where the Native Americans nicknamed him “the Wizard Owl” for his cunning. When the Revolutionary War began, Pickens joined the Patriots and distinguished himself at the Battle of Kettle Creek. When Charleston fell in 1780, Pickens accepted a parole and agreed to stop fighting, but when Loyalists attacked his family and burned his home in Abbeville, Pickens rejoined the Patriot army and fought in the Siege of Ninety-Six and the Battle of Eutaw Springs. His militia was an important part of the victory at Cowpens, a major success for the Patriots. After the war, he joined the House of Representatives and worked to stabilize relations between the settlers and Cherokees. In addition to Andrew Pickens, many of Abbeville’s citizens had a role to play during the Revolutionary War. Dick Pickens was initially a slave owned by Andrew Pickens, who freed him. Dick fought alongside Pickens at the Battle of Cowpens and later accompanied him to Congress in Philadelphia. Another Abbevillian who made his mark was John Bowie, who also fought with Andrew Pickens. Despite suffering wounds in Savannah, he re-enlisted and served the Patriot cause until the war ended. Andrew Hamilton also remained enlisted for the duration of the war, fighting at Kettle Creek and the Siege of Ninety-Six, at one point becoming a prisoner of war. Many Abbevillians sympathized with the Loyalist cause, such as Alexander Cameron, an Indian Agent with a Cherokee wife and children who owned Lochaber Plantation. His attempts to keep the Cherokees neutral in the war earned him the enmity of local Patriots. Women and children were also impacted by this conflict. One such example is Anne Calhoun, who had lived among the Cherokees until she was 17. During the war, when roving bands of Tories clashed with local settlers, she stood up to them on several occasions, defending her property. Although a child when the war began, John McCord enlisted in a local militia at just 13 years old, serving under Joseph Pickens. These individuals, and many others, have stories that deserve to be told. Abbeville County was the site of many skirmishes, including the fight at Fort Independence in 1779 (Loyalist success), Cherokee Ford in 1779 (Patriot success), Dunlap’s Defeat in 1781 (Patriot success), McCord’s Creek in 1781 (Loyalist success), and Pratt’s Mill in 1781 (Loyalist success). There are many sites associated with the Revolution that may be visited. In the township of Donalds, visitors can see the Templeton-Hill-Drake Cabin, which was moved to its present location in 1999 but originally, the Battle of Dunlap’s Defeat was fought on the land surrounding this cabin. While in Donalds, visitors can also visit Greenville Presbyterian Church, whose cemetery is the resting place of more than 30 Revolutionary War soldiers. Although Fort Pickens itself no longer exists, the site of this Revolutionary War fort is marked with a historical marker and Picken’s cannon. Other areas of interest include the historical markers for the Treaty of DeWitt’s Corner, for Pratt’s Mill, for Lochaber Plantation, and many others—visit the Abbeville County Museum and the Abbeville County Welcome Center for additional information!
No events found for this county.
Contact Organization: Abbeville County Historical Society
Contact Phone Number: 864-378-4254
Contact Email: thowie@poweredbyrtc.com