Laurens, South Carolina

Right here, on this land, a small band of Patriots risked everything against a much larger Loyalist force! It's the site of the Battle of Musgrove Mill. On 1780, about 200 Patriot militiamen planned to attack what they thought was an equal number of Loyalists camped near the Enoree River. But the Loyalists had recently been reinforced, swelling their numbers to around 500, including provincial regulars — American Loyalists trained and equipped like British troops, drawn from the New Jersey Volunteers and DeLancey's Brigade out of the post at Ninety Six. The Patriots couldn't retreat or charge, so they set up a defensive position behind logs and brush on a ridge and waited. The Patriots lured the Loyalists into an attack. The battle was fierce, but the Patriots held their ground, inflicting heavy casualties and ultimately winning a surprising victory! Today, Musgrove Mill State Historic Site preserves this important battlefield. You can walk the grounds, imagine the clash, and learn more about the people who fought here.