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| Reenactors portraying South Carolina Patriot militia of the New Acquisitions District (York County, SC) gathered for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Williamson Plantation (Huck's Defeat) 2018. |
Greetings everyone!
On Saturday, July 14th my travels took me back to Historic Brattonsville in McConnells, South Carolina for the 2018 reenactment of the Battle of Williamson Plantation (also known locally as the Battle of Huck's Defeat) which took place on the site on July 12, 1780.
In my previous blog post, I told the story of the battle and its significance in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. This surprise Patriot victory was a major morale booster to the upcountry Whig militias, and ended a six week reign of terror by Loyalist Captain Christian Huck of Tarleton's British Legion.
The reenactment of the battle is an annual event that draws around 15,000 people each year to Historic Brattonsville and features several events, Revolutionary War encampments, rifle and cavalry demonstrations, and reenactments of events that led up to the battle itself.
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| Reenactor portraying a American Patriot militiaman. |
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| Reenactors portraying members of Tarleton's British Legion cavalry dragoons. The British Legion was made up of American Loyalists from northern colonies who fought as Provincials in the British army. The Legion consisted of both cavalry and infantry. |
One of the best reenactments of the event tells the story of the infamous reaping hook incident that took place on the porch of the Bratton homestead where Martha Bratton, wife of Patriot militia Colonel William Bratton, was threatened by a Loyalist officer with a reaping hook and another Loyalist officer, Lieutenant John Adamson, coming to her defense.
The reenactment of the incident takes place on the actual porch of the historical Bratton Home where the event took place on the afternoon of July 11, 1780. The home is the oldest house in York County.
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| Historian Michael Scoggins of the York County Historical Society tells the gathered crowd the story of the reaping hook incident at the Bratton home the day before the Battle of Williamson's Plantation. |
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| Reenactor portraying Captain Christian Huck of Tarleton's British Legion. |
The South Carolina Sons of the American Revolution conducted a wreath laying ceremony, which included the unveiling of portraits of both Colonel William Bratton of the Patriot New Acquisitions District militia and Captain Christian Huck of the British Legion.
Just before the reenactment, I spotted a couple of beautiful butterflies on some of the summer flowers growing near one of the historic houses.
The following are a few more photos of the encampments and then photos of the reenactment itself.
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| Reenactors portraying members of the New York Volunteers Provincials rolling paper cartridges. Provincials were American Loyalists enrolled in the British military. |
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| Musicians entertaining the crowd gathering for the battle reenactment. |
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| Reenactor portraying Martha Bratton speaking up in defense of the Loyalist officer who saved her life the day before. This drama is based on an actual event that occurred during the aftermath of the battle. |
Well folks, I hope that y'all enjoyed my photos of this event. Please let me know what y'all thought in the comments below. Also be sure to check out my blog post about the Battle of Williamson Plantation (Huck's Defeat) and the events leading up to it and their overall significance in American military history.
