Sketch of the Waxhaw Massacre thought to be for a 19th century lithograph

The Waxhaw Massacre is an alternative name for the controversial Battle of Waxhaws that took place during the American Revolution on 29th May, 1780 in South Carolina, between a rebel force led by Abraham Buford and a mainly Loyalist force led by Banastre Tarleton. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, The Netherlands, Spain, American Indians Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez William Howe, Henry Clinton, Charles Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35°12... Official name The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridges Own) Colonel-in-Chief Duke of Cambridge Colonel-of-the-Regiment Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig Motto Or Glory Nicknames Binghams Dandies The Death or Glory Boys The Horse Marines The Tots The White Lancers Anniversaries Balaklava (20... Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet (August 21, 1754–January 25, 1833) was a British soldier and politician. ... Abraham Buford (July 21, 1747-June 30, 1833) was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, most known as commanding officer during the Waxhaw Massacre. Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, Buford quickly organized a company of minutemen upon the outbreak of war in 1775, eventually rising to the... Image File history File links Waxhaw_massacre_sketch. ... Image File history File links Waxhaw_massacre_sketch. ... The American Revolution was a political movement by 13 American colonies that declared independence and fought off British military efforts to regain control. ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35°12... Abraham Buford (July 21, 1747-June 30, 1833) was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolutionary War, most known as commanding officer during the Waxhaw Massacre. Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, Buford quickly organized a company of minutemen upon the outbreak of war in 1775, eventually rising to the... Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet (August 21, 1754–January 25, 1833) was a British soldier and politician. ...

The Battle

Col. Abraham Buford led a force of between 350 and 380 Virginian Continentals - the 3rd Virginia Detachment {composed of the 7th Virginia Regiment}; two companies of the 2nd Virginia Regiment and two six-pounders to assist the American forces in the siege of Charleston, South Carolina. Before arriving, they learned that the city had been taken, and turned back to Virginia. However, the British Col. Banastre Tarleton learned of this, and pursued with a force of roughly 230 men, consisting of 130 Legion dragoons, 100 Mounted British Legion infantry , and a three-pounder. In the event only an advance force of 60 dragoons from the 17th Light Dragoons and the British Legion cavalry, 60 mounted infantry from the British Legion and an additional flanking force of 30 British Legion dragoons and some infantry actually engaged in the main attack. 1 On May 29, 1780, Tarleton caught up with Buford in the Waxhaws - at a crossroads in what is now called Buford, S.C. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... The 7th Virginia Regiment was raised on January 11, 1776 at Gloucester, Virginia for service with the Continental Army. ... // Summary The 2d Virginia Regiment (the spelling most commonly used in period references) was authorized by the Virginia Convention, July 17, 1775, as a force of regular troops for the Commonwealths defense. ... Nickname: The Holy City, The Palmetto City, Chucktown Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights) Location of Charleston in South Carolina. ... Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet (August 21, 1754–January 25, 1833) was a British soldier and politician. ... Categories: Stub | British Army | Royal Air Force | Royal Navy ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Waxhaws is the name of both an extinct American Indian tribe and of a geographical area bordering North and South Carolina to the Southeast of the city of Charlotte, N.C. Waxhaws: the American Indian tribe The tribe became extinct due to a smallpox epidemic in the early 1700s... Buford is an unincorporated town in Lancaster County, South Carolina, at the intersection of Highways 9 and 522. ...

While waiting for his reserves to move up, Tarleton sent Captain David Kinlock to demand Buford's surrender. In his message he hugely exaggerated the size of his force -- claiming he had 700 men -- in the hope of swaying Buford's decision. Buford refused with the message:"I reject your proposals, and shall defend myself to the last extremity." 2Despite this he made the decision to keep marching rather than prepare for battle. When Tarleton's attack came, Buford waited until the enemy were within ten yards to give the order to fire. This had minimal effect on the oncoming cavalry, and resulted in a rout for the rebels. According to Tarleton's after battle report, the rebels lost 113 men killed, 147 wounded and left on parole, 2 six pounders and 26 wagons. The British lost 5 killed, 12 wounded, and 11 horses killed and 19 wounded.3

The battle has always been very controversial because following the breaking of Buford's line many of his men who surrendered were killed. Some rebel sources such as Adjutant Henry Bowyer, and Surgeon's Mate Robert Brownfield, claim that Buford belatedly raised the white flag, and that this was ignored by Tarleton. In Tarleton's account, his horse was shot from under him during the initial charge and his men, thinking him dead, engaged in "a vindictive asperity not easily restrained."4

Before the massacre, popular opinion held that the Southern States were lost to the American cause, and would stay loyal to Britain. The Waxhaw massacre may have changed the direction of the war in the South. Many who would have stayed neutral flocked to the American cause, and "Tarleton's Quarter!" became a rallying cry for the Whigs. This massacre was also directly responsible for the over-mountain men (from what is now Tennessee) forming a volunteer force that utterly destroyed Major Patrick Ferguson's command at Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Patriots (also known as Partisans, or Rebels) were British North American colonists who rebelled against the British monarchy during the American Revolution and established the independent states that became the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Patrick Ferguson (1744–1780), British Army officer. ... Combatants Patriot militia Loyalist militia Commanders William Campbell John Sevier Joseph McDowell Benjamin Cleveland James Williams† Isaac Shelby Patrick Ferguson† Strength 900 (+500 nearby) 1,100 (+200 nearby) Casualties 28 killed (including James Williams), 62 wounded 157 killed, 163 wounded, 698 captured (nine of the captured were later hanged for...

Monument and Grave at the site of the Waxhaw massacre in Buford, S.C.

It is interesting to note that American history books commonly included reference to the Waxhaw massacre up to the 20th century. Photo of Monument and Grave at site of Waxhaw Massacre Photo taken 10 February 2005, at site of Waxhaw Massacre in Buford, S.C., by the contributor, Alan Light. ... Photo of Monument and Grave at site of Waxhaw Massacre Photo taken 10 February 2005, at site of Waxhaw Massacre in Buford, S.C., by the contributor, Alan Light. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

External links

• Waxhaw massacre
• William Rhodes of the 2nd Virginia Regiment {for reference only}
• Stripes, Stars and Dollar Signs by Glen Collins {for reference only}This standard and 2 others captured in the battle were sold at auction June 14, 2006 "Flag Day"
• BanastreTarleton.org
• detailed account of the Waxhaw Massacre (.pdf file)