South Carolina – Historic Brattonsville

We visited yet another Revolutionary War battle site – the site of Huck’s Defeat, which can be seen at Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, South Carolina.

This county museum area preserves 18^th and 19^th century structures and the land where the battle took place. It also has a visitor center where we watched a short video on the battle.

First we’ll share the story of Huck’s Defeat, also known as the Battle of Williamson Plantation. The battle occurred on July 12, 1780 – two months after the British took Charleston, SC and three months before the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Loyalist Captain Christian Huck brutally ravaged the area, forcing allegiance to the king. On July 11^th Huck caught some Patriots with weapons and sentenced them for execution the following day. He also threatened Martha Bratton, trying unsuccessfully to ascertain the location of her Patriot husband, Colonel William Bratton. Martha later alerted her husband with a message sent via a slave and then William Bratton and about 150 other militiamen headed to attack Huck. They snuck up on Huck and his 115 men at night. A battle ensued, Huck was killed and his forces were mostly killed, wounded or captured. As for the Patriots – only one was killed and one was wounded. Those set for execution by the Loyalists were released.

A short trail through the woods leads to the battle area. The interpretive signs along the way help explain the battle.

Next we explored the area that preserves 18^th century buildings. This included the Bratton house and some other period structures. We learned a bit about Colonial textiles from an interpreter who was sewing a linen shirt.

blacksmith shed

Then we went to the area with 19^th century buildings which included an antebellum plantation home owned by William Bratton’s son, slave quarters, and a farm with live animals. This successful plantation produced large quantities of cotton through the labor of many slaves.

the farmer interpreter leads a chicken to the coop

gin house (for producing cotton)

After visiting Brattonsville, Musgrove Mill, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, Ninety Six, and, of course, Kings Mountain we were surprised at how many portray themselves as the pivotal turning point in the war. Our assessment is that they are ALL links in the chain that changed the sentiment of the South and contributed to the success of the Patriot cause.