This page is dedicated to the memory of the men and women of the South Carolina backcountry – The Little River Regiment. These Patriots helped turn the tide of the American Revolution.
Visit The Little River Regiment Main Page for more details.
If you have an ancestor or anyone you know of who fought with the Little River Regiment, and they are not listed, please contact me to have them added. This page is a work in process, and will be getting updated with new information as it comes in.
Names are listed in alphabetical order. Click on the links to learn more.
Benjamin Adair
Private
Son of Joseph Adair, Sr.
Memorial page for Benjamin Adair (1736–3 Sep 1823) at Find a Grave
James Adair, Sr.
Private
Son of Joseph Adair, Sr.
Memorial page for James Adair (15 May 1752–18 Aug 1818) at Find a Grave
Listed on the DAR Memorial at Duncan Creek Presbyterian
Joseph Adair, Sr
Commissary
Pension Application SC100
Memorial page for Joseph Adair Sr. (1711–1789) at Find a Grave
Listed on the DAR Memorial at Duncan Creek Presbyterian
Joseph Adair, Jr
Deputy Commissary
Son of Joseph Adair, Sr.
Memorial page for Joseph Adair Jr. (12 May 1733–17 Oct 1812) at Find a Grave
Listed on the DAR Memorial at Duncan Creek Presbyterian
William Blakely
POW for one day after Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
“Honest Bill Blakely”
Memorial page for Pvt William “Honest Bill” Blakely Sr. (12 May 1760–12 May 1847) at Find a Grave
Andrew Burnsides
Escaped, Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
– That this applicant was in actual service from the Siege of Ninety Six to Hayes defeat and the last of November 1781 –
Pension application S9300
Levi Casey
Lieutenant Colonel
Pension Application SC1246
Memorial page for Levi Garrett Casey (c.1752–3 Feb 1807) at Find a Grave
Captain Levi Casey at Carolana
John Cook
Private
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
John Cummings
Captured as a POW – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”He also served a tour of duty under Colonel Joseph Hayes that martyr of liberty who was so inhumanly butchered by a Band of Tories at Edgehill’s old field”…
Pension application R2577
James Dillard
Captain
Pension Application S6797
Earlier, a Corporal and a Sergeant Major. 1780, a Captain under Col. James Williams. Promoted to Major in 1781. Later under BG Andrew Pickens as Colonel of Little River District Regiment after the death of Col. Joseph Hayes.
Green Spring, Kings Mountain, Williams’s Plantation, Cowpens, Bush River #2
Laurens County, SC Spring 2024
Memorial page for Capt James Dillard (1755–4 Dec 1836) at Find a Grave
James Dillard at Carolana
Mary Ramage Dillard
Patriot
wife of James Dillard
Memorial page for Mary Ramage Dillard (1757–1795) at Find a Grave
Jonathan Downs
Major
Taken as a POW – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”That in the year of 1781, he was one of the number taken prisoner by Major William Cunningham and his party, at Hayes’ defeat, a station commanded by
Col. Hayes in Ninety-Six District for the particulars see Ramsey’s History of So. Ca. Vol. 1, page 450″…
Pension application W21000
William Dunlap
Private
Escaped – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”During which time an engagement took place at Hay’s defeat [Hayes’ Station, November 19, 1781], when Seventeen persons were killed including Colo. Hays and Lieutenant Neill”…
Pension Application W2723
Thomas Entrekin
Private
Escaped – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”was marched to join Genl. Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] at Ninety Six with whom they continued until detached to defend the frontier settlements from the ravages of Tories and then attached to the command of Col Joseph Hayes with whom he was at the station bearing his name when they were attacked by Major Bill
Cunningham of Bloody Memory and many of their numbers most inhumanly butchered on the spot.”
Pension application W7112
Memorial page for Pvt Thomas Entrekin (25 Oct 1759–19 Jul 1839) at Find a Grave
James Ferris
Private
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Reuben Golding
Survivor @ Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781, saved by a friend
Pension Application S21770
Benjamin Goodman
Private
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC3208
John Greer
Private
Elder at Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church
Josiah Greer
Captain
Mentioned in Pension application of James McNees (McNeese) R6802
Captain Josiah Greer at Carolana
Joseph Griffin
Private
Pension Application S21247
Clement Hancock
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC3554
Memorial page for Clement Hancock (1732–18 Nov 1781) at Find a Grave
Robert Hanna
Escaped – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Christopher Hardy
Lieutenant
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC3590
Joseph Hayes
Colonel
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC21
Captain Joseph Hayes at Carolana
Greaf Irby
Private
Born circa 1765 in Virginia
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC4190
Joseph Irby, Sr.
Private
Born September 10, 1728
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC4192
Joseph Irby, Jr.
Private
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application SC4191
William Irby
Escaped – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Was at a nearby spring fetching water at the time of the battle.
Pension Application SC4193
Joseph Kerr
Joseph Kerr was known as the Crippled Spy.
Pension Application
Joseph Kerr Pension Application Transcript
Southern Campaigns Transcript
Joseph’s pension application has his own personal testimony, including –
“his Declarant has been a cripple from his infancy; properly termed an invalid and not subject to military duty-at the pressing solicitation of his suffering neighbors who were exposed to the ravages of the enemy, this Declarant went to GenL McDowell in Rowan County (as he now thinks) and offered his services to him as a “Spy”-The offer was thankfully received and the Declarant entered the service in that character”
… joined CoL Williams as a spy-he thinks it was Rowan County-By this time, the above named CoL Steen, who commanded the South Carolina “Refugees” had joined CoL Williams-from there they marched near to the Cowpens in order to join what were called the “Overmountain troops”, under the command of Col’s Sevier, Cleveland and Shelby”
…”This Declarant gained easy access to them by passing himself for a tory-as tories were then numerous in that part of the Country-He believes, but in this he may be mistaken, that Ferguson’s strength including british and tories, was not exceeding fifteen hundred-He ascertained from the tories that, they intended, on the evening of that day to go from Quin’s old place to the top of Kings mountain, (crossed out-in order) and to remain there a few days in order to give protection to all the “rebels” who would join Ferguson’s standard-After obtaining this information and making these discoveries, this Declarant returned the next day to Cols Sevier, Shelby, Cleveland and Steen having staid [sic] all night at the house of a tory who lived about ten miles from Quinn’s old field-He reached our encampment about sunset-The officers immediately collected round this Declarant in order to ascertain what his discoveries had been-He gave a brief but circumstanial [sic] account of them to the said Sevier, Shelby, Cleveland, Steen, and Williams, whose name has been unintentionally omitted in his last references to the officers-Williams was present at each counsel that was held-The conclusion was, that they would march that very night-in the direction of Kings mountain-A distance he believes, of about twenty seven miles or perhaps only twenty six-Sevier, Cleveland, Shelby, Steen & Williams with their troops, reached Kings mountain the next day (having marched all night) about 10-oclock-and completely surprised Ferguson and his troops by surrounding them-Sevier occupying one position, Cleveland another, Williams another Shelby another and Steen another-The engagement he thinks lasted about an hour but in this he may be mistaken-the defeat of Ferguson was complete-about two hundred and fifty were killed on the ground-many wounded-of which number was CoL Williams who was wounded in several places-A mortal wound in the groin as this Declarant believes, terminated his Life on the next day after the battle before 12 oclock-This Declarant well remembers conversing with him after the battle-He knew he must die, and did so, cheerfully resigned to his fate.”
Kings Mountain
On October 6th, all Patriots gathered at the Cowpens in northern South Carolina. Major William Candler brought roughly 30 men of Col. Elijah Clarke’s Georgia regiment. The officers gathered and traded what little intelligence each of them had about Major Patrick Ferguson and his army. Col. James Williams brought forth Joseph Kerr, a spy under Lt. Col. James Steen, who had actually gone into Major Ferguson’s camp the night before and knew the exact layout of the Provincials and Loyalists positions on top of Kings Mountain. It was quickly decided to leave the infantry behind and for all men with good horses to immediately ride – all night if necessary – to catch the enemy unprepared on top of Kings Mountain. Sadly, it rained all night and well into the next day, with the sun poking out soon after their arrival at their destination.
Source: Carolana – Kings Mountain
Joseph is not interred here, this is a DAR memorial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Laurens County, SC. Captain James Dillard is buried nearby, his memorial is on the left in the first photo.
Benjamin Kilgore
Colonel
Pension Application SC4591
…from 27 May 1780 when I was made a Prisoner of while on duty as above & Sent
to Charleston & there kept, ’till I made my escape, Returned Home, I took command of the Regiment this day, all my Superior Officers being killed…”
Source: Pension Application SC4591
In 1774, Benjamin married a young woman named Anna McCreary. They settled in Duncan’s Creek, South Carolina. They had one child, James Kilgore who was born in 1775.
It is said that in 1776, Anna Kilgore was riding a horse holding her small one year old son in front of her. She was attacked by Indians and scalped and she and James were left for dead on the banks of the Enoree River. James survived.
Source: Meet Colonel Benjamin Kilgore
Memorial page for Benjamin Kilgore (1738–1802) at at Find a Grave
Captain Benjamin Kilgore at Carolana
Laughlin Leonard
Captain
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Mentioned in the Pension Application of James Tinsley
Memorial page for Laughlin Leonard (unknown–18 Nov 1781) at Find a Grave
Robert Long
Private
Step-son of Joseph Adair, Sr.
Pension Application S7157
An article dated May 31, 1859 in the Charleston Mercury, entitled “From the Laurensville Herald, Old Recollections,”
“In the “Annals of Newberry,” pages 41 and 42, it is clearly proven that Col. Tarleton [of British infamy] left Tea Table Rock in Newberry District, S.C., on the 9th of January 1781, en route for Cowpens; and that he was eight days marching from that point to Cowpens, a distance of 75 miles. History has represented him as pursuing Morgan at this time with all haste. But here seems a discrepancy, and I think the authority given above sufficient to establish the fact of Col. Tarleton’s leaving the Tea Table Rock on the 9th of January – the battle of Cowpens being on the 17th. This difference in the statements in history, has suggested the inquiry in my mind as to where Col. Tarleton was during those eight days. Failing to glean additional light from all histories of that period within my reach, I have endeavored, through other sources, to trace it out. As yet, I have only been able to find out where he spent one-and-a-half days of that time. As the fact of his spending one-and-a-half days in Laurens District at that time, and his object in so doing is not generally know, the following recollections, for which we are indebted to a friend, may not prove uninteresting to your readers:
“Col. Tarleton, after leaving “Tea Table Rock” on the 9th of January, proceeded to what was then known as Duncan’s settlement on Duncan’s Creek, which runs through the northeastern portion of Laurens District. Here he halted at the house of Robert Long, a well-known Whig, who had done enough hard fighting in the cause of liberty to render Tarleton particularly anxious to capture him. Here (at Long’s), Tarleton fixed his headquarters. Dwelling in the same neighborhood, and not far from Long’s, lived another prominent Whig, named McCrary – whose descendants still live there, as also do those of Long- whom Tarleton was eager to capture also. Long was absent from home when Tarleton took possession of his house; but when returning, and being within a few miles of his home – his heart beating with the fond anticipation of meeting his wife and children, and in their arms for a moment to forget his toils, and to gather new strength to battle for his bleeding country – he was astonished when, on meeting a friend, he was told of the occupation of his house by Tarleton. Turning aside, he wended his way to the house of his friend McCrary, there to seek shelter and concealment. Tarleton, with his lynx-eyed followers, was not long in finding out that McCrary and Long were both at the house of the former. He immediately sent out a patrol to capture them. McCrary and Long seeing the patrol coming along the road, ran out the back of the house, endeavoring by that mode to escape; they were quick in this attempt, yet not enough so to elude the vigilant eye of the patrol, who gave chase. McCrary made his escape through the woods, but Long was captured and brought back to the house, which they fired, and proceeded to a convenient tree for the purpose of hanging their prisoner, their orders being to kill them in case of capture. The patrol remained mounted, except the few whose duty it was to hang Long. The rope was placed around his neck, and one of the party had begun to climb a tree for the purpose of fastening it to a limb, when several loaded guns in the house, which they, in their hurry, had not discovered, coming in contact with the flames of the burning building, began firing off, one at a time. The Tories, suspecting it to be a party of Whigs coming to the rescue, put spurs to their horses, leaving Long standing beneath the tree, from which he immediately escaped. The alarm was given in camp, and another patrol sent out, but they failed in finding an enemy.
“Long lived many years after the war, to enjoy the liberty he fought so hard to obtain. The spring, from which Tarleton procured water, is upon the plantation of Dr. Thomas Weir. Recently, whilst making some excavations below the spring, a cartridge box full of balls were found about six feet below the surface. It was presented by Dr. Weir to the museum at Greenwood, which has since been removed to the Laurensville Presbyterian College. [signed] LAURENS”
source http://oursoutherncousins.com/mccrary.html
John Mangum
Escaped – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Pension Application S16939
Thomas McCrary
Captain
Born circa 1737 in Ireland
Listed on the DAR Memorial at Duncan Creek Presbyterian
Pension Application SC2339
Memorial page for Thomas McCrary Sr. (1737–9 Jan 1793) at Find a Grave
Captain Thomas McCrary at Carolana
William Milwee
Captain
Captured as a POW – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”then in Actual Service with the Command of a company of men in defense of our Country was taken Prisoner by a party of men commanded by a Major William Cunningham [William “Bloody Bill” Cunningham] at the Plantation of Thomas Eghill [Hayes Station November 19, 1781] in Little River a Station Commanded by Colonel Joseph Hays”…
Pension application W9200
John Milven
Private
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
John Neel
Lieutenant
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Joseph Ramage
Private
Born June 5, 1747
Died 1825
Pension Application SC2341 (signed by Joseph Adair)
Memorial page for Joseph Ramage (5 Jun 1747–1825) at Find a Grave
John Ridgeway, Sr.
Captain
Born September 3, 1741 in Virginia
Killed in Action – Ridgeway’s Fort – September 3,1781
Captain John Ridgeway, Sr. at Carolana
Charles Saxon
Captain
Memorial page for Capt. Charles Saxon Sr. (10 Dec 1734–7 Oct 1816) at Find a Grave
Hugh Saxon
Private
Escaped – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”Hugh Saxon lost a considerable amount of property during the war and that the State of South Carolina paid said Hugh Saxon for some horses lost at Colonel Hayes defeat [Joseph Hayes was captured and hung with a number of his men by William “Bloody Bill” Cunningham sometime in November 1781]”…
“fn p. 15: compensation granted Hugh Saxon by the state of South Carolina for a sorrel mare taken by the enemy under Cunningham at Hayes station; mare valued at 90 pounds by William Dunlap & Lewis Saxon – May 16 1783.”
Pension application R9241
Memorial page for Hugh Marion Saxon (26 Nov 1754–19 Feb 1805) at Find a Grave
Lewis Saxon
Captain
Captured as a POW – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
…”Lewis Saxon was a soldier & officer in the revolutionary war; that this deponent & the said Lewis Saxon were together at the Battle of Stono, and were taken prisoner at Hayes Station in Ninety Six District…”
William Blakely statement from Pension application W21791
Yancy Saxon
Sargent
Born circa 1762
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Golding Tinsley
Pension application S18246
Application includes testimony from Robert Long, James Tinsley
Saved by a friend – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
Obituary – The Daily Constitutionalist and Republic Augusta, Georgia · Thursday, May 29, 1851
Memorial page for Golding Tinsley (1754–11 Mar 1851) at Find a Grave
James Tinsley
Lieutenant
Escaped POW – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
“I then continued on as a volunteer until and was present at the murder of Capt D. Williams, Col. Hayes and others by William Cunningham at the place formerly known by the name of Egehill [sic, Edgehill] Station [or Hayes Station] where I was taken prisoner in November 1781. On the night after the same day on which I was taken prisoner, I made my escape and then entered on the expedition against the Cherokee Indians…”
Pension application S21426
Captain James Tinsley at Carolana
James Williams
Colonel – General
Killed in Action – Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780
Captain James Williams at Carolana
Daniel Williams
Captain
Born circa 1763
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
18 years old
Eldest son of James and Mary Williams
Captain Daniel Williams at Carolana
Joseph Williams
Private
Born circa 1767
Killed in Action – Hayes Station Massacre, November 19, 1781
14 years old
Son of James and Mary Williams
Calvin Williamson
Captain
Pension Application S7949
Pension application includes testimonials from Robert Long and James Dillard.
Thomas Young
Major
Thomas Young joined the Little River Regiment at the age of 16. By the time he was 17, he had risen to the rank of Major. His memoir is an invaluable first-person account of many of the activities of the Little River Regiment, and of the times.
Memoir
Pension Application S10309
Memorial page for Thomas Young Jr. (17 Jan 1764–7 Nov 1848) at Find a Grave
Hayes Station Monument
DAR Memorial
at Duncan Creek Presbyterian
Resources
The Little River Regiment Roster at Carolana
The Little River Regiment at Familypedia