 |
| See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
, Buford's Massacre and the Waxhaws. It was a battle that occurred while the Revolutionary War was in full-swing, on May 29, 1780. The battle took place around the area of Lancaster, South Carolina. Abraham Buford was the leader of the Continental Army forces and Banastre Tarleton led the Loyalist forces. British officer Tarleton sent forward a demand for Buford and his forces to surrender and Buford refused. Tarleton's calvary attacked Buford's men and some of them began to surrender. There was a truce and Buford tried to surrender. That truce ended when a shot hit Tarleton's horse and Tarleton was trapped under his now dead horse. The shot caused the Loyalists and the accompanying British troops to begin an attack. This kept going as Tarleton was still trapped and had no control over his men. Continental soldiers, including those who previously surrendered, were attacked by the Brits. 113 Continental soldiers were killed with sabers, 150 other Continentals were severely injured and were left where they were, and 53 were taken as prisoners by the British forces.It was the Waxhaw Massacre that became a part of a campaign to increase recruitment in the Continental Army. The massacre also created a lot more anger against the British. The act of his own men is something Tarleton knew was a mistake and once he was no longer trapped, he aided some of the Continental soldiers through ordering medical treatment for them. Casualties on the British side were 5 killed and 12 wounded.
For a more detailed account of the Waxhaw Massacre, see:
https://web.archive.org/web/20081217201035/http://www.rsar.org/military/sherm055.pdf
