On this day 250 years ago, a detachment of two companies of Rangers (53 men) from the newly-formed 3rd South Carolina Regiment commanded by Major James Mayson and Captains John Caldwell and Moses Kirkland, captured Fort Charlotte in western South Carolina as the first military action in the South Carolina interior in the Revolution. The fort’s commander and 15 men surrendered without firing a shot. The Rangers captured1,050 lbs. of gunpowder, 18 cannon, 15 muskets, 83 casks of musket cartridges, 2,521 musket balls, and 343 iron cannonballs.
Mayson was an immigrant from Scotland who would continue to command the 3rd South Carolina forces until captured at Charleston in 1780. Captain Caldwell continued to serve in the regiment and would end up murdered by Loyalists in 1781. Kirkland defected to the Loyalists five days after the capture of Fort Charlotte.
Sources: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=168566; https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_ninety_six_kirkland.html; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=9185; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=168566; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22268194/james-mayson; https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/patriot_military_sc_captains.htm
Today, July 12, 2025, McCormick County will conduct a reenactment to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the capture of Fort Charlotte.
On This Day In The Revolution 