Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month July 1781
By Compatriot Andrew Andy Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
SOUTH - July is a turning point, marking the end of fighting by the main armies until September when the final major battle occurs. Typically, victory will be almost within American General Nathanael Greene’s grasp but in a crucial moment British discipline will prevail and the victory won. As usual, victory will come at too high a price. There will still be minor battles or skirmishes, but it will be the last time that the two armies will meet in anything resembling a decisive battle.
The month of July came in hot and humid with heavy rains that flooded the lowlands making activity almost impossible. It was just as well, with the exception of the irregulars of the American army and cavalry of both armies, the foot soldiers were exhausted and worn down by the constant marching and fighting without sufficient food and supplies to maintain their strength.
Neither side was capable of further combat on a grand scale. For the British there could be reinforcements; for the American Southern Army there would be no reinforcement and any supplies would have to come from the country side.
While there would be engagements on a small scale, the main armies would draw back to recuperate. The British to the Charleston area and the Americans inland to the High Hills of Santee. The location is described as above the flood plains, enjoying good air, shade and pure spring water. Probably most important was freedom from mosquitoes and the resultant fever. Additionally, the countryside was sympathetic to the Revolution supplying both rations and recruits.
Greene remained in the hills building strength and health in those fit for duty as well as the sick and wounded. Greene and the main army remained there for six weeks, training both the army and the recruits who had come forward.
British Lt. Colonel James Stuart was left in charge at Orangeburg, while British General Lord Rawdon, with a small body of men, returned to Charleston. His health broken, sick in body and discouraged in spirit by his lack of success against Greene he placed Stuart in overall command of the British Southern Army. Then left the fever ridden lowlands and departed for England.
Not all the troops of both sides were so fortunate as to enjoy the basic stand down of the armies. American Generals Francis Marion and John Sumter with General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee’s horse were ordered to attack and take the main British supply depot at Monck’s Corner. Described as "not wholly successful" it would appear that the capture of 150 prisoners, 200 horses and a number of wagons would imply a victory, especially for guerillas. The departing General Lee went to join Greene in the hills. Sumter remained in the lowlands, holding Friday’s Ferry while Marion held Nelson’s Ferry.
VIRGINIA – Fortunately for the budding nation, communication between British Commander-in-Chief Sir Henry Clinton and General Charles Lord Cornwallis was slow, requiring eight days or more travel in one direction. To further confuse the issue, Lord Germaine, Secretary for Colonial Affairs, was constantly giving orders from his office in London for prosecution of the war His messages required one to three months to cross the ocean ,usually arriving too late to be effective.
Not only was the war active in Virginia but Commander-in-Chief General George Washington and General Rochambeau threatened New York City. Responding to the threat, General Clinton on July 8th ordered that 3,000 men from Cornwallis' command be sent to defend the city. Later he issued a second order which confused the issue. On July 20th, a third order required that the men be held in Virginia.
Responding to the first order, Clinton had begun a move toward Portsmouth to embark the men for New York. To do this, he had to cross the James River. Lafayette saw this as an opportunity to attack the rear guard when it was the only unit left to cross over. He split the American forces into 3 parts. General Anthony Wayne being sent to attack on one flank; General Lafayette to attack on the other, while General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben remained in reserve with his newly trained and unbloodied recruits.
Clinton, thinking that Lafayette might act in this manner, set up his troops in such a way that it appeared as if only the rear guard had not crossed over. Due to poor intelligence Lafayette fell for this stratagem. Wayne engaged his flank but was unable to make much progress. Clinton could have defeated Wayne at this point, but hesitated in order to prevent Lafayette from determining the true number of British troops remaining. Lafayette, thinking that he was engaged in an action with a rear guard, could have been attacked with the full force and fury of the British main body. Lafayette fell for the ruse, both he and Wayne might have been destroyed if the attack not begun at 5 p.m. which was late in the day. Then an exceptionally dark night fell, making further combat impossible, saving Lafayette’s army.
Lafayette withdrew under cover of darkness while Cornwallis continued to cross on his way to Portsmouth. From there he sent Colonel Banastre Tarleton to destroy stores in Bedford County. General Wayne and General Morgan were sent to prevent the accomplishment of his mission They prevented Tarleton from destroying the military stores but could not prevent his burning tobacco on the docks ready for shipment.
Tarleton, so dreaded prior to Cowpens, had lost much of his luster and was no longer as feared by the Americans who stood up to him with no repetitions of troops running in terror on his approach. He was prevented from doing any more significant damage and was left, to his embarrassment, with little to show for a 400 mile march in fifteen days.
Cornwallis, bombarded with orders and counter orders from both New York and London was unable to determine what to do until he received the order to hold the 3,000 troops and to occupy Old Point Comfort and Yorktown if possible. This was an order that he could understand. Yorktown would give him immediate access to the sea. However, Old Point Comfort was deemed by his engineers as a poor place to harbor ships of the Royal Navy.
On his own volition he seized Yorktown and Gloucester across the river, affording him control of the entire area and assuring a safe harbor for ships of moderate draft.
NEW YORK and the MAIN ARMY were not standing still. Washington had gotten Rochambeau and his troops to move to the New York area and an agreement to push Clinton out of New York city or to defeat him, and hopefully, capture General Benedict Arnold along with the other British military. Since the days when he had been pushed out of New York, Washington had longed to attack and reclaim the city. Not only would it give Washington the personal satisfaction of regaining control, but with an American army occupying the city there could be no argument in any future peace negotiation as to who had a right to the city and State. This would tie down the right to all of the northern states for the new nation.
Next comes August 1781, which appears on the face to be a month of little action by either side. However, it is only the calm before the storm.
References: Christopher Ward's "The War of the Revolution"; Bruce Lancaster's "The American Revolution"; Dan Higginbotham’s "The War of American Independence";Arthur Meier Schlesinger's "The Almanac of American History".
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