Here’s my take on the new SC license plate –
There are 4 caveats that very briefly describe the Revolutionary War:
The Revolutionary War Began in Boston.
Saratoga was the Turning Point.
The Revolutionary War Ended in Yorktown.
The Revolutionary War was Won in South Carolina.
In the north, the war was at a stalemate after the Battle of Monmouth in June of 1778.
In Dec of 1778 Savannah fell and the British now had a toehold in the south.
15 months later, on May 12, 1780, Charleston fell. The Battle of Camden on Aug. 16, 1780 was an absolute disaster and was the lowest point of S.C. fortunes. 2 Continental armies had been captured or destroyed withinin 3 months.
Then, on Aug. 19, 1780, 200 Patriots defeated 500 Loyalists at Musgrove Mill on the Enoree River at the juncture of Laurens, Spartanburg and Union Counties.
Kings Mountain in Oct. and Cowpens on Jan 17, 1781 in S.C. were incredible victories and the tide had turned.
After Cowpens Patriot General Greene (Greenville’s namesake) then retreated to Virginia to resupply in the Race to the Dan. Greene then recrossed the Dan and fought Cornwallis in NC at Guilford Courthouse in March of 1781.
Guilford Courthouse began a series of battles in which Gen. Greene technically lost, but strategically won. The British kept the fields after these battles, but shortly had to retreat, never to return.
Hobkirk Hill in Camden on Apr. 25, 1781, The 2nd Siege of Ninety Six in May-June and Eutaw Springs on Sept 8 forced the British to retreat, retreat, retreat.
After Eutaw Springs the British were forced to live as refugees in Charleston for the next 15 months until they left in defeat on Dec 14, 1782.
Depending on your definition of a battle, Soutb Carolina had more battles than any other state. New Jersey can make a competing claim.
Over 400 battles were fought in our state. Some of the most heroic, and some of the most horrific, battles occurred here. South Carolina changed hand 3 times, leading to unparalleled death and destruction as each side sought retribution from the other.
South Carolina had a triumvirate of the greatest militia generals in the war. Francis Marion, Andrew Pickens and Thomas Sumter (alphabetical order) were unsurpassed in their ability to lead the common folk in war.
After Guilford Courthouse Cornwallis retreated to Wilmington where he remained for 10 months. After he resupplied, did he return to South Carolina to resume the fight? No. He headed north, where George Washington and the French fleet bottled him up at Yorktown, thus effectively ending the war.
However, the grit, determination and heroism in South Carolina is “Where the Revolutionary War was Won”.
Posted to Facebook 1/6/2026
