Mobley's Meeting House
RETURN TO INDEXVictory: Patriot
Troops: Patriot militia 100–200 - Loyalist militia approx. 200
The Battle of Mobley's Meeting House (also sometimes called Gibson's Meeting House) was an engagement that occurred during the American Revolutionary War in the Mobley Settlement, Fairfield County, South Carolina during the southern campaign of Lord Cornwallis. On 8 June 1780, a small body of Whig militia led by Colonel William Bratton surprised a gathering point of Tory militia at Mobley's Meeting House, about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of present-day Winnsboro. Many of the Tories tried to escape by descending a steep embankment; this attempt led to more casualties than were caused by the actual firefight. A few Tories holed up in a blockhouse but were flushed out and defeated. The Loyalists who had fled from Beckhamville ten days before were now under the command of Col. Charles Coleman and they encountered Capt. John Hampton (of Col. Daniel Horry's SC Light Dragoons, which was recently disbanded) and captured him as well as Capt. Henry Hampton (recently released from the SC 6th Regiment when it disbanded in February of 1780) and thirty slaves, two or three wagons, and thirty horses. The two ex-Patriot captains were sent to Camden.
The New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia met at Bullock's Creek Presbyterian Church to talk about what to do about the approaching British forces after the fall of Charlestown less than a month earlier. They learned that SC Brigadier General Andrew Williamson had surrendered, taken British protection, and had given his parole. Col. Samuel Watson and Lt. Col. William Bratton resigned their commands and said that further resistance was useless, and advised their men "to do the best they could for themselves." The attack occurred at daybreak with an assault on the church and blockhouse. The Whig forces attacked from three sides, leaving the fourth uncovered as it was thought that its steep embankment was too hazardous to climb for an attack or to descend in a retreat. However, during the confusion and panic, a number of Tories attempted just that and were injured in the process. The Patriots lost no men and captured a large stand of guns that were stacked in the yard, along with a about 30 prisoners. The Loyalists lost three officers killed, five other men killed, and 16 badly wounded. The prisoners were sent to Hillsborough, NC. The success at Beckhamville and at Gibson's Meeting House doubled the Patriot's ranks.
The New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia met at Bullock's Creek Presbyterian Church to talk about what to do about the approaching British forces after the fall of Charlestown less than a month earlier. They learned that SC Brigadier General Andrew Williamson had surrendered, taken British protection, and had given his parole. Col. Samuel Watson and Lt. Col. William Bratton resigned their commands and said that further resistance was useless, and advised their men "to do the best they could for themselves." The attack occurred at daybreak with an assault on the church and blockhouse. The Whig forces attacked from three sides, leaving the fourth uncovered as it was thought that its steep embankment was too hazardous to climb for an attack or to descend in a retreat. However, during the confusion and panic, a number of Tories attempted just that and were injured in the process. The Patriots lost no men and captured a large stand of guns that were stacked in the yard, along with a about 30 prisoners. The Loyalists lost three officers killed, five other men killed, and 16 badly wounded. The prisoners were sent to Hillsborough, NC. The success at Beckhamville and at Gibson's Meeting House doubled the Patriot's ranks.
