This article first appeared in The Times and Democrat in 1981.

Initially, the Americans had carried the day at Eutaw Springs, but the temptation to loot the deserted British encampment proved to be too great a temptation.

Unfortunately, the disorder prevented Gen. Nathanael Greene from totally destroying the opposing British forces.

Eventually, both sides reformed on the field of battle in the heat of the day, but there was not much fighting. Because his men had left their supplies behind and because the British controlled the only local water supply — the springs — Greene withdrew his forces.

Both sides claimed victory. The Americans certainly carried the field early in the day, but at day’s end, Greene withdrew, leaving the British the field. In 18th century terms, British historians refer to their “victory” at Eutaw Springs. However, as one of Stuart’s aides remarked, Greene was “Indefatigable in collecting troops and leading men to be defeated ...” He also noted that “the more he is beaten, the farther he advances in the end.” The British may have been left holding a clearing at Eutaw Springs, but to what purpose? General Greene’s forces had inflicted heavy losses and caused the enemy to retire closer to Charleston.

The British lost nearly 1,100 men at Eutaw Springs. More than 500 were captured and 600 were either killed or wounded. There are numerous reports that during the height of the battle the waters of the springs ran red with blood of the British wounded who crawled into the ravine for safety. The Americans lost 513 killed or wounded and 43 men missing in action, most of them POWs.

Congress received news of the battle with great jubilation and awarded Greene a gold medal. In the years following the Revolution, Eutaw Springs was featured in several poems as an example of patriotic valor. Philip Freneau, in a poem dedicated to the memory of those who fell at Eutaw Springs, wrote:

“At Eutaw Springs the valiant died; Their limbs with dust are covered o’er - Weep on, ye springs, your tearful tide; How many heroes are no more.”

Another 19th century poet, referring to the carnage, penned these lines:

“Where Eutaw’s fountains, tinged of old with gore, Still murmuring, swelled amid the bones they bore.”

Henry Timrod’s clarion call to another generation, “Carolina,” contained the stirring stanza:

“Hold up the glories of thy dead, Say how they elder children bled, And point to Eutaw’s battle-bed, Carolina!”

Today, if we use the words of Timrod, we cannot “point to Eutaw’s battle-bed.” The springs and the actual site of the battle are now under the waters of Lake Marion. There are, however, markers along the shore which record the deeds of Sept. 8, 1781, the Battle of Eutaw Springs, the last major revolutionary battle in South Carolina.

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