Great Savannah
RETURN TO INDEXVictory: American
Troops: United States 150 - Great Britain 38
The Battle of Nelson’s Ferry (also called Great Savannah), August 20, 1780, was Colonel Francis Marion’s first battle as a partisan militia leader. It was also the first of many victories for the former Lt. Colonel of Continental troops. A man of small stature, his cautious nature combined with bold and daring aggressive attacks against his enemy would make him one of the largest figures in the southern partisan war against Tory and British troops. But in August, 1780, he had yet to earn the title ‘Swamp Fox, that which his enemy called him out of respect. On August 19, Marion learned of the gates defeat at the Battle of Camden. Marion continued his march without telling his men of the American defeat. That night, Marion had received information that a large group of American prisoners from the Camden defeat were camped with a strong British guard on Thomas Sumter's abandoned plantation at Great Savannah. The plantation was 6 miles above Nelson's Ferry on the Santee River. Even though Marion's force was outnumbered, he prepared for a surprise attack at dawn.
After dark on August 20 or 25, Marion initiated a surprise attack to release those prisoners. The Patriots killed or captured 22 British Regulars and two Loyalists. One of the prisoners was wounded. Ironically, of the freed Continentals, 85 refused to be liberated. They decided to accept whatever fate awaited them rather than be bound to Marion’s ragtag militia. Although the remainder of the freed men followed Marion, all but three had deserted him by the time he reached his camp in the Snow’s Island swamps. Their loss had little effect on Marion’s band of warriors, who remained devoted to their commander and his effective guerilla tactics. Of those released, 85 of the American prisoners refused to accept their liberation, and instead continued to Charleston as prisoners, either disgusted with their leadership at Camden or else simply weary of fighting. Marion then took the rest of those released, and the prisoners he had taken, towards Kingstree. On August 26, Marion crossed Lynches River at Witherspoon's ferry. The Continentals who had come with him subsequently moved up towards Wilmington, and most were ultimately reunited with their units.
After dark on August 20 or 25, Marion initiated a surprise attack to release those prisoners. The Patriots killed or captured 22 British Regulars and two Loyalists. One of the prisoners was wounded. Ironically, of the freed Continentals, 85 refused to be liberated. They decided to accept whatever fate awaited them rather than be bound to Marion’s ragtag militia. Although the remainder of the freed men followed Marion, all but three had deserted him by the time he reached his camp in the Snow’s Island swamps. Their loss had little effect on Marion’s band of warriors, who remained devoted to their commander and his effective guerilla tactics. Of those released, 85 of the American prisoners refused to accept their liberation, and instead continued to Charleston as prisoners, either disgusted with their leadership at Camden or else simply weary of fighting. Marion then took the rest of those released, and the prisoners he had taken, towards Kingstree. On August 26, Marion crossed Lynches River at Witherspoon's ferry. The Continentals who had come with him subsequently moved up towards Wilmington, and most were ultimately reunited with their units.
