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Major Benjamin Huger Revolutionary War Patriot, KIA 1746 -1779 |
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Major Benjamin Huger
Benjamin Huger was a member of the house of assembly and of the provincial congress, and took a prominent part in the revolutionary movement in South Carolina. On 25 February, 1776, he was made major of the 1st regiment of riflemen, afterward known as the 5th South Carolina regiment on the continental establishment, and had become known as a capable and promising officer, when his career was suddenly ended by the fire from the lines of Charleston as he returned from reconnoitring the position of the British under General Prevost, then before the town Benjamin Huger (SR) served with Francis Marion as a Major during the Revolutionary War (1775-83) and reported to be a friend of Lafayette. His grand son was Major General Benjamin Huger of the Civil War. The Life of General Francis Marion by Mason Locke Weems
March, 1997 [Etext #846] After spending two days of very welcome repose
with the elegant colonel Thatcher, we took leave and set out for
Hillsborough,where we met general Huger and colonel W.
White, of the horse,who told us the glorious news, that "Washington
had sent ona gallant detachment of continentals, who were now
in full march to aid South Carolina." continued later This third exploit of Marion rendered
his name very dear to the poor whigs, but utterly abominable to
the enemy, particularly the tories, who were so terrified at this
last handling, that, on their retreat, they would not halt a moment
at Georgetown, though twenty miles from the field of battle; but
continued their flight, not thinking themselves safe, until they
had got Santee river between him and them.
These three spirited charges, having cost us
a great deal of rapid marching and fatigue, Marion said he would
give us "a little rest". So he led us down into Waccamaw, where he knew we had some excellent friends; among whom were the Hugers and Trapiers, and Alstons; fine fellows! rich as Jews, and hearty as we could wish: indeed the wealthy captain, now colonel William Alston, was one of Marion's aids. These great people all received
us as though we had been their brothers, threw open the gates of
their elegant yards for our cavalry, hurried us up their princely
steps; and, notwithstanding our dirt and rags, ushered us into their
grand saloons and dining rooms, where the famous mahogany sideboards
were quickly covered with pitchers of old amber colored brandy,
and sugar dishes of double refined, with honey, for drams and juleps.
Our horses were up to the eyes in corn and sweet-scented fodder;
while, as to ourselves, nothing that air, land, or water could furnish,
was good enough for us. Fish, flesh, and fowl, all of the fattest
and finest, and sweetly graced with the smiles of the great ladies,
were spread before us, as though we had been kings: while Congress
and Washington went round in sparkling bumpers, from old demijohns
that had not left the garret for many a year.
This was feasting indeed! It was
a feasting of the soul as well as of the sense. To have drawn the
sword for liberty and dear country's sake, was, of itself, no mean
reward to honest republicans; but, beside that, to be so honored
and caressed, by the great ones of the land, was like throwing the
zone of Venus over the waist of Minerva, or like crowning profit
with pleasure, and duty with delight.
Georgetown county is full of historic associations. Lafayette and DeKalb landed at North Island, June 13, 1777, where they were entertained by Col. Benjamin Huger. On its territory thrilling engagements were had between Gen. Francis Marion and the British under Cornwallis and Tarleton In June, 1777, Major Benjamin Huger, an officer in the South Carolina regiment, was entertaining two visitors to America in his home. The Marquis de Lafayette and Baron Johann de Kalb had just arrived off the coast of South Carolina, about 50 miles south of Charleston, which was under British blockade. Upon setting foot in America, Lafayette took an oath, aloud, to live or die by the ideals of the rebellion. Major Huger was of French Huguenot descent and spoke French. At the table the Major noticed that Lafayette used a beautiful wood handled folding knife to cut some fruit. He admired it and thought of a similar knife that had accompanied his (grand?) father when he crossed the Atlantic to settle this new land. When Major Huger's (grand?) father passed on, the Nontron folding knife became a treasured part of his inheritance. It was a connection to his family's past. These two men, Lafayette and Kalb, left several days later to meet John Hancock in Philadelphia. Both men would bravely distinguish themselves in the American Revolution Death An attack upon the British at Stono ferry,
was now planned by Gen. Lincoln. Gen. Moultrie, was to throw over
on James Island, all the troops which could be spared from the
town, and make a feint on that side, or attack, if a favourable
opportunity offered; while the principal effort was to be made
by Lincoln, at Stono. He made the attack before Moultrie could
cooperate, (June 20) and the enemy remaining in their lines, and
being reinforced, obliged him to retreat. In this affair a few men were killed, and Col.
Roberts, of the artillery, mortally wounded. His loss was greatly
and justly lamented. William Richardson Davie, lately deceased,
and afterwards so much celebrated as Gen. Davie, was among the
wounded. Prevost, soon after this, retreated along the chain of
islands on the coast, until he reached Port Royal and Savannah.
During the time Prevost lay before What rendered his fate the more melancholy, was, that the act was done by the mistake of his own countrymen. Death (elaborated) "Samuel Morrow came to present Chester County when quite young and at the commencement of the Revolutionary War joined the company of Capt. Philip Walker, Esq. in a regiment of Sough Carolina militia commanded by Col. John Winn of Fairfield. The unit marched for Charles Town but was met by troops returning who reported that Gen. William Moultrie had defeated the British on Sullivan's Island. In the Spring of 1779 he marched again under Capt. Walker to Orangeburgh where they were reviewed by Gov. John Rutledge, and proceeded on to Black Swamp and Two Sisters Ferry on the Savannah River. There they lay under Gen. Moultrie until word was received that the British army under Gen. Augustine Prevost was crossing the river into So. Carolina at Purysburg. Gen. Moultrie then made a forced march hoping to reach Coosawhatchie River bridge ahead of the British. They crossed Tullifiny River and awaited the arrival of the enemy. On May 3 a detachment, including Capt. Walker's company, went back and reinforced the main guard at Coosawatchie bridge and fought a brisk engagement in which Col. John Laurens was wounded in the arm. They were forced to retreat, burn the bridges, and fell trees to impede the enemy's march, and get into Charles Town first. One nite as the British lay on the outskirts of town an alarm was sounded indicating the enemy was going to storm the defenses. Major Benjamin Huger who was out with a party setting fire to tar barrels was accidentally kiled when fired upon by his own men. On June 19, the day before the battle of Stono,
they were landed on James Island and marched to the banks of Stono
River. There two row galleys, or gunboats, came to them, and that
nite went up the river to attack a small British vessel. The nite
was dark and the flash from every shot fired was clearly visible.
Not long afterward the Americans returned with their prize, and
four dead men and eight wounded. After the British left the area,
the American soldiers were brought back to Charles Town and discharged.
Son - Benjamin Huger II The Prospect Hill Plantation continued to exist, however, even after the cessation of rice planting. The plantation, as many of the former rice plantations in the Georgetown area, was purchased by a wealthy Northerner, Dr. Isaac E. Emerson of Baltimore. In 1906, Emerson purchased Prospect Hill and, over the ensuing 25 years, added several more plantations to his holdings, including Clifton, Rose Hill, Forlorn Hope, George Hill, Fairfield, Oak Hill, and Bannockburn. He combined these properties into one holding, which he named Arcadia. The main seat of Arcadia is the original Prospect Hill mansion and gardens, and has a fine history of its own. The home was started around 1790 by Thomas Allston, but was unfinished at his death in 1794. His widow then married Benjamin Huger II, son of Major Benjamin Huger of Revolutionary War fame. After her second husband’s death, Mrs. Huger sold the plantation to Joshua John Ward, as mentioned above. But prior to her sale of the plantation, the home had been the site of a visit by then President of the United States James Monroe.
Selling of 955 Acres in Georgetown No. 4 A Tract of land in Winyaw County containing by a late survey 955 acres more or less, butting and bounding on lands of Major N. Huggins, Mr. Frost, Mr. Roger Smith, Major C. Brown, and lands known by the name of Smiths Barony. This tract is particulary valuable for timber, lying near and adjoining several valuable plantations, and will be sold as the property of Major Benjamin Huger deceased, at the suit of the executors of James Laurens deceased. July 17m 1799 Died., on North Island , after a painful illness, Mrs. Elizabeth Huger, the amiable and much respected consort of the late general Isaac Huger, deceased. August 14, 1799.
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