This is Long Cane Creek, perhaps the most notable waterway in pioneer South Carolina.
What’s the big deal? The big deal is in the name. This creek was named after the vast tall stands of river cane (Arundinaria gigantea) that grew in its bottomlands. Early settlers – following the counsel of the Native Americans – knew that wherever river cane grew, corn would thrive. Corn and river cane both belong to the plant family Poacea, and both require the same growing conditions.
When the early settlers arrived in the SC backcountry in the 1750s, they saw river cane 20’ tall. This was the tallest cane in they had ever seen. These pioneers realized they were looking at the most fertile land anywhere around, and it was a prime spot for development.
Long Cane Creek originates in Abbeville County and flows through McCormack County until it reaches the Savannah River. When the settlers arrived after the Treaty of Saluda (1755), the boundaries were undefined. The lack of a proper survey was one of the many conflicts and misunderstandings with the Cherokees, and the Long Cane Massacre (Feb 1, 1760) occurred on this creek during the 1st Cherokee War (1758-1761).
In the Revolutionary War there were two significant battles fought along this creek. This area was dominated by the British fort at Ninety Six, roughly 30 miles distant. Frequent foraging parties from the fort roamed throughout the area.
On Dec 11, 1780 the Battle of Long Canes was fought. A group of Georgians returning home after the Battle of Blackstocks (Nov 20, 1780) ran into a party of British provincials. This was a Patriot defeat in which Patriot commanders Elijah Clarke and James McCall were both wounded.
Then, on March 21, 1781, the Georgians were returning to the SC backcountry to link up with Andrew Pickens. They ran up against a foraging party led by the notorious Queen’s Ranger James Dunlop. This battle, known as Dunlop’s Defeat, was an overwhelming Patriot victory. This battle has been formerly known by some as the Battle of Beattie’s Mill, but extensive recent research has shown there was never such a mill or place in South Carolina.
Long Cane Creek. A beautiful and productive site. Ironically, a source of great conflict simply due to its fertility and productivity. The beauty of this area today gives scant clues to the blood stained history that lies underneath.
Posted to Facebook 11/2/2023