The Battlefield Where Patriot John Laurens Died
Discovery of the Tar Bluff Battlefield
Archaeologists with the South Carolina Battlefield Preservation Trust (SCBPT) have uncovered the battlefield where Revolutionary War officer John Laurens lost his life in 1782. The site, now part of a private quail hunting preserve, was located using a combination of historical evidence and modern technology.
A hand-drawn map by a British officer, LIDAR scans of the terrain, and metal detectors led the team to the battlefield on the banks of the Combahee River. Artifacts such as musket balls, a bayonet, and howitzer grapeshot helped them retrace the battle and pinpoint the spot where Laurens fell.
John Laurens: A Reckless Patriot
Born into a wealthy slave-trading family in 1754, Laurens was educated in Europe before joining George Washington’s “military family” as his aid-de-camp in 1777. Despite his reckless bravery, he befriended Marquis de Lafayette and Alexander Hamilton.
At the Battle of Tar Bluff, Laurens was supposed to be bedridden with malaria. However, when he heard of the upcoming skirmish, he left his sickbed to fight. Despite his weakened state, he led 50 men to secure the Combahee River.
The Ambush at Tar Bluff
While Laurens’ troops were setting up their howitzer artillery, the British spotted them and set up an ambush overnight. In the morning, as Laurens and another soldier attempted to deploy the howitzer, the British struck. Laurens was killed in the ensuing battle, and the howitzer was captured.
Preserving the Battlefield
The Tar Bluff battlefield will be preserved as part of the South Carolina Liberty Trail, a driving route that highlights Revolutionary War battlefields in the state. The trail also includes the path that Laurens took to Tar Bluff, known as “Laurens’ Run.”
Laurens’ Legacy
Laurens’ advocacy for manumission, or the freeing of enslaved people, made him an outspoken abolitionist in South Carolina. He argued for the formation of “black battalions” in the Continental Army, and for the emancipation of enslaved people after the war.
Conclusion
The discovery of the Tar Bluff battlefield sheds new light on the life and death of John Laurens, a brave and reckless patriot who fought for the ideals of the American Revolution. The preservation of the battlefield and its inclusion in the South Carolina Liberty Trail ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
