© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

"W" is for Williamson’s Plantation, Battle of [July 12, 1780]

South Carolina from A to Z logo

"W" is for Williamson’s Plantation, Battle of [July 12, 1780]. After the fall of Charleston, New Acquisition District [present-day York County] was reputedly the only district where no one took the King’s protection. Patriot raids led to a detachment of the British Legion, under the command of Captain Christian Huck, being sent to punish the rebels.

He responded vigorously by insulting the inhabitants and pillaging the countryside. On the night of July 11th he camped at James Williamson’s abandoned plantation in Brattonsville. A patriot force of 133 gathered and attacked the enemy at first light. Caught by surprise, Huck’s command of 120 men offered little resistance. Huck was killed, as were most of his men. Popularly known as Huck’s Defeat, the Battle of Williamson’s Plantation was the first significant check on the British advance since their victory at Charleston.

Stay Connected
Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.