Dec 22, 1775
The Battle of the Great Cane Brake is the only pitched battle ever to occur in Greenville County. 200 Tories who had stolen shot and powder intended for the Cherokees were hiding in the most remote area they could possibly imagine. They were hiding in the midst of a dense thicket of river cane growing along the banks of the Reedy River in southern Greenville County.
When William “Danger” Thompson got word of this location he led a group of 1300 Patriot militiamen from a camp at Hollingsworth Mill on Rabon Creek in Laurens County. It was bitter, bitter cold and the militiamen travelled all night.
They reached the Cane Brake at dawn and began to circle the Tory camp. Before the encirclement was complete, shots rang out and a short battle began. 4-6 Tories were killed, one Patriot was wounded. 130 Tories were captured and 70 escaped to Richard Pearis’ plantation at the Reedy River falls.
As soon as the prisoners were bound for a two week journey to Charleston, it began to snow. It snowed for the next 30 hours. The last hour and a half was a soaking, blinding sleet with no shelter. This was the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in Greenville County. The snow was 18” deep. As the prisoners marched to Charleston there were bloody footprints in the snow. This event has forevermore been known as the Snow Campaign.
The picture provided is Patriot’s Grove. This is where the battle occurred. In 1876 the Hopkins family planted a grove of about 40 pecan trees to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The trees you see here are 148 years old.
The Hopkins family has owned this site since 1834 and, after 7 generations, maintain it to this day.
Posted to Facebook 12/21/2024
Photo above is from a visit to Patriots Grove, June 2024 – LMB