The Continentals Close In

Patriot Major General Nathanel Greene brought an all-star team with to Eutaw Springs. Almost every important American commander in the Southern Campaign served here, including Brigadier Generals Francis Marion and Andrew Pickens and Lieutenant Colonels William Washington and Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee. British Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart’s commanders included the most battle-hardened British officers left in South Carolina – Majors Henry Sheridan, John Marjorbanks, and John Coffin and Lieutenant Colonel John Harris Cruger.
For Stewart’s troops, September 8, 1781, began with chores and drills. Supplies were always low, and the soldiers had to supplement their meager rations with crops from nearby fields. Early that morning, parties had been dispatched to go foraging for sweet potatoes. Acting on intelligence from Patriot deserters about possible enemy activity in the area, Stewart also sent Loyalist and infantry under Major John Coffin on patrol.
A few miles from camp, Coffin’s cavalry rode straight into Greene’s vanguard, led by Patriot Major John Armstrong. Coffin pursued Armstrong and was ambushed by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee’s Legion, which killed and captured some of Coffin’s men. Meanwhile, sounds of gunfire drew the British foragers out of the woods and straight into the hands of the Patriots.
While Coffin’s surviving horsemen retreated to the British camp to raise the alarm, Greene formed his troops into three battle lines – militia in front of Continentals – on the colonial road that passed through here before the modern one you drive today. Holding formation, they advanced with full force toward Stewart’s battle position, which had been formed just west of Eutaw Springs camp. The fight was on.