Robert Long’s Revolutionary War Service
Born, County Antrim, Ireland
By his own account: “born in the County of Antrim in Ireland about the year 1763 or [17]4.”
Family emigrates to Pennsylvania
At 4 or 5 months old, then on to South Carolina “in two years after” — to the Little River District homestead he lived on the rest of his life.
His father, Daniel Long, dies
Robert was about four. Daniel appears to have died before completing his own land grant application.
His mother remarries — Joseph Adair, Sr.
Susannah (Murdough) Long marries the Duncan Creek elder who raises Robert as a stepson.
The Snow Campaign passes through
Robert Long later recalled seeing James McNees serving as a lieutenant here, under Capt. John Rodger — “this deponent being then under age,” he did not yet serve himself. The earliest event he speaks to in any surviving record.
His only brother, Samuel, dies
Age 19. Buried at Duncan Creek.
Cherokee line, the Saluda — and East Florida
Under Capt. Thomas Dugan, then Capt. Josiah Greer, Lt. Col. Robert McCrery, and Brig. Gen. Andrew Williamson.
Pursuit of “Col.” Boyd
~36–37 days on horseback, same Greer/McCrery command, with Maj. Thomas Brandon, chasing a Tory force of roughly 500 aiming to join the British at Savannah. No stopping point is named.
Stono
On foot against the British, under Capt. Joseph Greer (Josiah’s brother, now in command) and Maj. Robert Gillam.
The Creek Nation
Two months on horseback against the Creek Indians, same captain, Maj. Gillam, and Gen. Williamson — whose warning to the target, Alexander Cameron, Robert Long himself suspected came from Williamson, “then a traitor,” a full year before Williamson’s actual defection.
Beyond Augusta, toward Camden
Under Capt. Joseph Greer and Lt. Col. Robert McCrery: marched beyond Augusta, then toward Charleston under Col. Andrew Pickens — but the city had already fallen (12 May 1780) before they arrived. Marched instead to Camden, where Gov. John Rutledge sent them home, dismissing them, per family telling, “a little below Augusta at a place called the ‘Ridge'” — the same road the Piney House sits on. On this same retreat, McCrery’s whole company surrendered to the Tories.
Refugee, then regular: Hammond’s Store to war’s end
A refugee “from the British and Tories,” serving on horseback under Col. Joseph Hayes and Capt. Samuel Ewing, then joining Gen. Sumter and Gen. Morgan.
Militia pay settled
Audited Account No. 4659, paid via power of attorney to Robert Hanna, witnessed by James Montgomery, J.P.
Justice of the Quorum
Signs and administers oaths in neighbors’ pension petitions — Samuel McKinney, James Tinsley, John Gamble — styled “Robert Long, Esq.” and “J.Q.”
His own pension file, S7157
Three sworn declarations and a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions — the source for everything above. Pensioned at $40/year, commencing 4 March 1831.
Dies at Duncan Creek
Aged 80, per his own gravestone. His 1830 will was not proved until 1842 — the gap that once made his death look two years later than it was.
Companion piece: Robert Long’s Six Tours — a map.