Quest For Knowledge Mini History Lesson For Today: On December 4, 1780, during the American Revolution, Colonel William Washington, a distant cousin of George, captured the entire loyalist regiment of Colonel Rowland Rugeley near Camden, South Carolina without firing a shot. Washington, along with his troop of Continental Light Dragoons, had been embroiled in guerilla type warfare with loyalists throughout the state of South Carolina. They had retreated to North Carolina briefly, but were soon ordered back by General Daniel Morgan, their new commander. The first enemy troops they came across were the loyalists of Colonel Rowland Rugeley, who had barricaded themselves in Rugeley’s house and barn. Washington’s men, who did not have the strength to immediately assault the Loyalists, devised a brilliant scheme. They rushed out to the nearby woods, cut down a large pine tree, and fabricated it to look like a cannon. They faced their faux cannon towards the Tories, saying that if they did not immediately surrender they would be bombarded into submission. Rugeley wasted no time, and surrendered his force without a fight. This would not be the last humiliation for the British in South Carolina. Little more than a month later at the Battle of Cowpens, a decisive blow would be dealt by the Americans.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:56:22 +0000
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