John U.

Rees The Day it Rained Militia: Hucks Defeat and the Revolution in the South Carolina Backcountry, MayJuly 1780, by Michael C. Scoggins. Available from The History Press, 18 Percy St., Charleston, S.C., 29403. 2005. Softbound, 317 pages with endnotes and index, color covers, 12 maps, 30 color illustrations and photographs, 12 black and white illustrations, 6 appendices. $34.99. ISBN: 1596290153. Review by John U. Rees.

The Battle of Williamson's Plantation, South Carolina, also known as "Huck's Defeat, 12 July 1780. (Painting by Don Troiani, www.historicalimagebank.com)

I love a good quote, and the title of Michael Scoggins new work paraphrases another in a long line of soon regretted statements by military men: We have driven the [Continental] Regulars out of the country, and I swear that even if it rained militia from the Heavens, I would not value them. Capt. Christian Huck, British Legion dragoons, uttered these words on the morning of the Battle of Williamsons Plantation, 12 July 1780, also the day of his death. But Mr. Scoggins new work is not merely a vehicle for nicely turned, though unfortunate, phrases; in fact there is something for anyone with an interest in American history, be it military or otherwise. At the center of The Day it Rained Militia is the authors contention that the action at Williamsons Plantation, popularly known as Hucks Defeat, was a major catalyst in rousing the Carolinas Whig militia to action, giving lie to the invincibility of British light cavalry, and setting the stage for later victories at Kings Mountain and Cowpens.

The brief battle was fought between a force of approximately 135 Whig militia, and about 115 troops under Captain Huck, comprising detachments from the British Legion dragoons, NewYork Volunteers, and Loyalist militia. In the overall scheme of the War for American Independence Williamsons Plantation was a minor affair, but as students of that war well know, some of the smallest actions disproportionately influenced larger events. Mr. Scoggins begins his narrative with an excellent explanation of the geographical setting and the sociopolitical background of South Carolina backcountry settlement. Revolutionary events are also set in context with prewar occurrences such as the North/South Carolina border dispute, 176061 Cherokee war, and the 1771 Regulator Moderator conflict. The role of many political, business, military, and religious leaders is set out, and the influence of various religious sects and congregations emphasized. Early on in the book the formation of militia regiments, their leaders and members local connections and previous military experience, followed by the arrangement of South Carolinas Continental regiments, gives a solid footing for understanding the participants and events of 1780. Along the way the reader is introduced to many who later took part in Hucks Defeat, commanders and common soldiers, women and AfricanAmericans, with many insights into individuals characters and experiences. To my mind, one of the added benefits of the book is the authors solid, sufficiently detailed, overview of military and political events in South Carolina from 1775 to spring 1780. For those whose specific interest and knowledge revolves around the war in the north, the explanation of these occurrences, including many minor ones, adds immeasurably to the value of the work. The narrative gains intensity with the second chapter, where events begin to be recounted on an almost daily basis, each days happenings being grouped under a date heading. The period from 12 May to 30 July 1780 are dealt with in this manner, and it is here that The Day it Rained Militia moves further into the realm of microhistory, a form more often used for the American Civil War and other modern conflicts; it is quite satisfying to see this applied to an incident in our founding war. Throughout the narrative, and particularly in the events leading up to and immediately following the Williamsons Plantation action, the author nicely interweaves primary accounts, memoirs, veterans pension depositions, 19th century participant interviews, and even incorporates family and community oral history in an effort to resolve conflicting accounts or fill informational gaps. Along the way the author tells of military decisions and troop movements, constantly reminding the reader of the importance influence logistics had on any and all considerations and actions, at the base of which was simply finding food enough for both men and animals, while denying the same to the enemy. And there are little gems scattered throughout the narrative, giving insights on many aspects of campaigning and soldier life. Here are two: (page 92), Joseph McJunkin recalled the men referred to the camp at Clems Branch as Poor Hill or Starved Valley Sumpters men depended greatly on the generosity of the North Carolinians during these lean times: When we went over into North Carolina to half buy & half beg provisions We got some barley meal, & made batter we put it into a kind of crock dug a hole in the ground, set the crock in it, and covered it over with hot ashes and embers cooked it without salt, beef or bacon, and it tasted mighty sweet.; and (p. 132) a pithy aphorism by Lt. Gen. Charles, Earl Cornwallis to Lt. Col. Francis, Lord Rawdon, 15 July 1780, Cavalry acts chiefly upon the Nerves, & if ever it loses its terror it

loses its greatest force, followed by advice: let me conjure you to take care of the Cavalry & to give the most positive orders against small Detachments; they are always dangerous, especially under ignorant & careless officers Six appendices present transcriptions of participants 19th century pension applications, British commanders correspondence for June and July 1780, a discussion of the battlefields location as well as numbers involved in the action, Christian Hucks biography, and a list of men known to have been present at Hucks Defeat. The text is supplemented by four printed maps and seven mid to late 19th century localized area sketches drawn by inhabitants who knew participants, and, in one case, copied from a veterans handdrawn map. The work also contains portraits of commanders of both sides, several photographic reproductions of original letters and newspaper articles, plus a full color section with twentyeight photographs from a reenactment at Historic Brattonsville. The latter are a bit uneven in their worth, but do give an idea of how Crown and Whig forces were clothed in the summer of 1780, and add some immediacy to the subject. Given their value in supplementing the narrative it is unfortunate the work contains no listing of maps and illustrations. Here then is a paginated list to rectify that omission:
18 Carolina backcountry from 1787 William Faden map. 22 1772 survey South Carolina district map 24 177576 SC election district map 24 1778 SC election district map 28 (same as page 18) 42 Lord Cornwallis 47 Lord Rawdon 48 British fort at Rocky Mount (handdrawn map, 1871) 53 Lower Rocky Creek area (handdrawn map, 1873) 60 Richard Winn 80 Thomas Sumter 94 Catawba Indian land (handdrawn map, 1872) 106 British dragoon threatening Martha Bratton Following page 159 (color plates): Uniforms of Third South Carolina Regiment Banastre Tarleton John Adair Reenactment photos 210212 Four Hucks Defeat battlefield maps (handdrawn, 1857, 1876)

Knowing the reputation and worth of the modernday Historic Brattonsville site, I was interested to see that the location of the Hucks Defeat/Williamsons Plantation battlefield has been a point of contention, and has yet to be accurately identified. Former Site Director Charles LeCount notes that in 2001 the battlefield was thought to be about three quarters of a mile north of the current visitor center, an historic marker having been erected that year to commemorate the site (near the 1905 DAR battle monument). Further research by Mr. Scoggins solidly indicates the battle site is actually positioned about 150 yards directly behind the Brattonsville visitor center, but funds have yet to be found for archaeological verification All in all, I cannot support or deny Michael Scoggins thesis that Hucks Defeat played a seminal role in later military actions, leaving that decision to other readers. I can assert that the books major contributions lay in recounting little known but crucial events in the Revolutionary South and bringing our forbears, Whig and Loyalist alike, to life. Anyone

with an interest in our founding war, or wishing to learn more of events leading up to our Revolutions culminating campaign, will be well rewarded with this book. For those wishing to visit, Historic Brattonsville is located at 1444 Brattonsville Rd.,
McConnells, SC 29726.