The Southern Campaign
Raging from 1775 to 1783, the American Revolutionary War was a period of scrappy rebellion—an uprising of the original 13 colonies and its hardy residents against the British crown—which ultimately led to the formation of the United States of America. Many notable battles took place in the northern colonies, but it was the conflicts in the Carolinas, fought in its swamps and marshes, its fields and mountains, that secured America’s victory.
With the war in the north at a stalemate, and rich agricultural resources and rumors of Loyalists (colonists still loyal to the crown) awaiting them, the British forces set their sights on the Southern colonies. The Southern Campaign saw the British capture of integral port cities in Savannah and then Charleston, up along the coast to Georgetown. Rickie Good, museum curator and director of the Revolutionary War Center in Camden, says that this signifies when Camden became a “keystone” in the battle for the South. “Camden itself—the city, the location of the town—is on a major trading route,” she explains. “If you look at the map of outposts that the British set up in South Carolina … there’s an arc across the state, and Camden is in the center.” Having already captured the major port cities, the British found Camden’s centralized location crucial for running supplies and keeping the war alive.
Contrastingly, the Patriots saw the retaking of Camden as a catalyst of sorts to take back Charleston and eventually to eradicate the British from South Carolina. What makes this time in history even more fascinating is the resilience that characterized the many South Carolinians, a melting pot of people from all backgrounds and walks of life, who played a part in it. To Good, these people and their stories are what should motivate visitors and locals to prioritize exploring this chapter of American history in South Carolina. With so many stories— more than 200 battles and skirmishes worth—within reach, delving into Revolutionary War history in the Palmetto State might seem overwhelming. When asked for specific sites and recommendations, Good herself quips, “It would be easier to tell you where not to go!”
A great place to start is the Revolutionary War Center in Camden, which tells the story of the Southern Campaign and the Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site, which depicts another significant Patriot win. Fort Fair Lawn in Moncks Corner is one of the most pristine, intact, original American Revolutionary War fortifications in South Carolina, if not the country, and the national park sites of Cowpens and Kings Mountain are must-sees for the impact their resulting victories had on the outcome of the entire war. Many sites also offer reenactments, like Historic Camden’s Revolutionary War Days. While visiting the Palmetto State, walk the paths that were once trekked by Patriot and Loyalist soldiers. Visit the settlements of the men, women and children who lived this immortal period of American history. So many incredible stories have been preserved, and you can discover it for yourself in South Carolina.
Bringing History to Life
With 35 years of service in the Marine Corps and years curating for museums, it seems fated that Kim Stacy happened upon a reenactment in Greenfield Village, Michigan, in 1982 and found a new calling. What he discovered was a tight-knit community passionate about sharing “the gospel” of the American Revolution. Passion for learning is at the heart of every project that Stacy approaches, both for furthering his own and igniting the learning of others. Now residing in Camden, Stacy spends his days researching, lecturing, portraying an 84th Highlander (among others) and putting on creative programs in hopes that by planting these seeds of learning, he will inspire the next generation of historians to pass on the flag.
