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Fast Facts
EDWARD LACEY
1775 Enlists as Captain in New Aquisition Regiment
1776 Cherokee Expedition
1779 Captain in Fairfield Regiment
1780 Colonel of his own Turkey Creek Regiment
Battles include Huck’s Defeat (Williamson’s Plantation), Rocky Mount, Carey’s Fort, Hanging Rock, Fishing Creek, King’s Mountain, Fish Dam Ford, Blackstocks, Cowpens, Fort Granby #1, Big Savannah, Orangeburgh #1, Siege of Ninety-Six 1781, St. James Goose Creek Church, Biggin’s Creek Bridge, Quinby’s Bridge, Wadboo Bridge #2, Eutaw Springs, Shubrick’s Plantation, and Edisto Island.
WILLIAM HENRY, JR.
1775 Capt. under Col. Thomas Neel – New Aquisition Regiment
1776 Cherokee Expedition
fought in several battles as independent militia
Battles include Huck’s Defeat and King’s Mountain
MALCOLM HENRY (son of William Henry, Sr.)
1776 Enlists in New Aquisition Regiment
1776 Cherokee Expedition
1780 Captain of his own Company of volunteers
Battles include Ramseur’s Mill, Rocky Mount, Huck’s Defeat, King’s Mountain, and Cowpens.
JOHN HENRY, JR. (son of WIlliam Henry, Sr.)
1781 Capt. under Col. William Bratton
fought in several battles as independent militia
Battles include Huck’s Defeat and King’s Mountain
WILLIAM HENRY, SR. and son ALEXANDER HENRY
fought in several battles as independent militia
Battles include Huck’s Defeat and King’s Mountain
PATRICK MCDAVID
1774 Served under Samuel Wlson (father-in-law) at Point Pleasant
Served in Captain Thomas Smith’s Regiment in Augusta, VA.
THOMAS LLOYD
STEPHEN LLOYD
There is evidence that Thomas and Stephen donated provisions to the patriots but did not fight.
JOHNSON
Unknown
06/20 Ramseur’s Mill
07/12 Huck’s Defeat
07/30 Rocky Mount
08/06 Hanging Rock
10/07 King’s Mountain
01/17 Cowpens
We Will Fight!
Patrick McDavid served in the Revolutionary War but not much is known about his time beyond what was mentioned in the last post (George & Patrick McDavid). There is much known, however, of the Laceys’ and the Henrys’ involvement.
Felix Walker, a U.S. Congressman (1817 – 1823) and son-in-law of William Henry, wrote about William in his memoir:
Mr. Henry was a reputable citizen, a plain, honest, reputable character; was a member of the Legislature, and was one of the first settlers in the frontiers of the Carolinas. He raised a reputable family of sons, all of whom took an active part in the Revolutionary War; of a decided military character, invincible courage, feared no danger, and always ready for the most eventful enterprise.
General Edward Lacey was the subject of a biography by M.A. Moore (1859) who described him as:
… five feet, eleven inches high; weighing about 170 pounds, with perfect symmetry of form and commanding aspect; he excelled in all the athletic exercises, which were the fashion of his day. His hair was black, his eyes dark; and an uncommonly handsome face, with fine address; he was a man of strong intellect, fond of pleasure, entirely devoted to his friends; generous to a fault; “and every inch a soldier.” [1]Life of General Edward Lacey by M.A. Moore
Two very different men, one who thrived on military life and one who just wanted to live a comfortable life in the backcountry with his family, but both were ready to fight for the land and the lives they had come to build in South Carolina. They may or may not have known each other well during their time in and after the war but 6 generations later their descendants, Paul Marie McDavid and Carl M. Henry, would meet halfway across the country and marry.
Edward Lacey had run away from home at 13 to join the military. Two years later, his father, Edward Sr., tracked him down and brought him home. He remained for about a year before leaving with William Adair for South Carolina. Mr. Adair gave him a good education and let him apprentice as a brick-layer, and when he was 24, he married Jane Harper. They had a nice life with a little place on the headwaters of the Sandy River and 3 sons by the start of the American Revolution.
By 1775 tensions were mounting in the colonies and Edward Lacey, now 33, joined the New Acquisition District Regiment. With his previous experience in his younger years, he was appointed Captain under Colonel Thomas Neel.
The Henry family lived in the same area, just south of King’s Mountain and Malcolm Henry (son of William Henry) also joined the New Acquisition District Regiment under Neel. Neel’s unit was part of the Cherokee Expedition of 1776. The British had encouraged the Cherokee to wreak havoc among the southern colonies. The North and South Carolina militia responded by counter-attacking Cherokee towns.
At one point during this Expedition, they were crossing the Altamaha River when a man with a white flag was spotted on the bank. It was an express post from Congress:
General Williamson had his command formed into a hollow square and two large horses held in the center; he called on Capt. Edward Lacey to mount and stand on the backs of the horses and read the Declaration of Independence to his Regiment: for he had the most musical, clear, distinct voice and articulation of any office under his command. Having finished, Lacey cries out, “Thank God! We can now act on the offensive, as well as the defensive!” which was followed by three deafening cheers. [2]Life of General Edward Lacey by M.A. Moore.
In late 1776, Malcolm Henry left Neel’s regiment but continued to fight in skirmishes against the Tories as a volunteer, but not for any regularly organized corps. In October 1778, he rejoined Neel and was commanding his own company of volunteers by 1780. Although no specific incidents mention his brothers, William and Alexander, or his father, William Sr., it is known that they participated in the battles at Williamson’s Plantation (aka Huck’s Defeat) and King’s Mountain. It is likely that in other battles where Malcolm fought, they fought alongside him.
In 1779, Lacey had joined the Fairfield Regiment under Colonel John Winn and was promoted to Lt. Colonel and by June 1780, he was leading his own Turkey Creek Regiment (sometimes referred to as the Chester Troops or Chester District Militia).
Huck
Finding Captain Hook
By May of that year, Charleston had been taken by the British and Lord Cornwallis and Lord Rawdon were attempting to “persuade” patriot leaders and sympathizers to join the British forces. They even offered money for intelligence on the rebel movement and Edward Lacey, Sr. was among those approached. Lacey Sr. was described as “a little hump shouldered, cynical, and unhappy man. He would curse his son by the hour, even after the war, for being a Whig colonel.” [3] Nothing but Blood and Slaughter VII by Patrick O’Kelley He was offered a large amount of gold to persuade his son to abandon the Rebels and join the Loyalists. Colonel Lacey spurned the offer. He was not about to acquire wealth by the sacrifice of his country. His brother Rueben, however, seemed to serve the side that served him best. He caved to the bribes and the pressure from his father and joined the Loyalists in their fight at Rocky Mount.
One officer tasked with “persuading” those in the Carolinas was Captain Christian Huck (sometimes referred to as Hook). Huck was a foul-mouthed, arrogant man and he hated Presbyterians. He was quoted as saying, “even if the rebels were thick as the trees, and Jesus Christ would come down and lead them, (I) could defeat them.”
Huck’s favorite activity was harassing the locals. He plundered homes and terrorized the women, children, and elders while the men of age were out fighting for their right to be an independent country. There’s even a famous story about British soldiers killing a young man as he sat and read his bible. Captain Huck was the man responsible. He and his men burned down the Fishing Creek Meeting House, Rev. Simpson’s home and library, and William Hill’s Ironworks, a meeting place and key producer of ammunition and guns for the Whig militia.
The Rebels fled the area before Huck’s men arrived at Fishing Creek and gathered at a nearby encampment to reevaluate their situation. They needed a man to lead them and they elected Thomas Sumter. Although, no official commission was given at this time – it would become official at a later date – they now referred to Sumter as their General.
On June 18 1780, they learned that more than 1000 Tories had gathered at Ramseur’s Mill. 20 Patriots had been captured and were to be hanged the morning of June 20. Malcolm Henry, who had been appointed Captain of militia, was with Colonel William Graham’s men as they marched South toward Ramseur’s and met up with General Rutherford and General Sumter’s troops. The night of June 19, Malcolm and his men were sent as an advance guard to check out the British encampment and captured seven British officers during their reconnaissance.
On the morning of June 20, Rutherford and Sumter’s men set out for Ramseur’s Mill but upon arrival, found that another company, commanded by Colonel Francis Locke, had attacked at sunrise and already defeated the enemy. It was a battle fought mostly in hand-to-hand combat with neighbor killing neighbor and brother killing brother. Though the Patriots were outnumbered, they were nonetheless victorious. The defeat lowered the morale of the Loyalists in the South and was a windfall for the Patriots as the British had stockpiled a huge quantity of supplies and materials there. Sumter’s men acquired much-needed horses, wagons, and provisions of all kinds.
Huck was enraged by the victory of these backcountry Christians and set his sights on tracking down their leaders. He had heard Captain John McClure and Colonel William Bratton were heading home to check on the harvest. Huck decided he would be there when they arrived. The Patriots, however, got wind of Huck’s plan and Lacey, McClure, Neel, Hill, and Bratton rounded up all the fighting men in the neighborhood (nearly 400) and set out to find Huck. William Henry and his eldest sons were among the men.
Captain Huck stopped at William and Mary Adair’s home on the way to Bratton’s and took possession of all their food. The Adairs were the family Edward Lacey had moved to South Carolina with as a young boy and when he learned what Huck had done he told Adair that they planned to attack Huck at Bratton’s house. William Adair warned him, “that the British would cut them all to pieces if they pursued and attacked them.” Lacey replied, “We will give them a good dressing before daylight.”
As the Patriots neared Bratton’s home, they received word that Huck’s men had moved on to Williamson’s plantation. This was only about 2 miles from Edward Lacey, Sr’s home and, fearing his father might try to warn Huck of their planned attack, Col. Lacey appointed 4 men to guard his father telling them to tie him up if he tried to escape. Sure enough, the elder Lacey eluded the guards and made way for Huck’s camp but was overtaken, brought back, and absolutely tied in his bed till morning. [4]Life of General Edward Lacey, M.A. Moore
The Patriots neared Williamson’s Plantation in the dark of night. Col. Lacey and Capt. John Mills approached the encampment to lay in wait. Lacey knew his brother Rueben was with the British and he also knew he would return home late in the evening to sleep in his own bed. As the story goes:
Ruben Lacey was blind of an eye, his horse blind of an eye, and his dog also blind of an eye. After midnight, here the blind all came; they hailed him with assumed voices.
“Who comes there?”
“A friend”
“A friend to whom?”
“A friend to – to the – the King.”
“So are we, but have unluckily staggered off in the rear of the army; where are you from?”
“From Huck’s camp.”
“Where is the encampment?”
“About Williamson’s house.”
“Where are the sentinels posted? For we must pass them, and get in before Reveille.”
“One is placed North, up the road, near the branch; one West, halfway towards Bratton’s; one South, down the road, one hundred yards from Williamson’s, and one East, towards the creek.”
After getting all the information they wanted from Blind Rueben, “Pass on friend,” said they, still with counterfeit voices. Col. Lacey and Capt. Mills immediately returned to their comrades and gave them the very important information.
It was now 3:00 a.m. on the morning of 12 July 1780. 133 Patriots formed their plan and split into 2 groups to attack from both sides. Lacey’s men would attack from the east. Neal’s men, who included William Henry and his sons, would attack from the west. The fence surrounding the plantation served as both a cover and a place to stabilize their muskets for accuracy.
As the sun rose at 4:32 a.m., the Loyalists were preparing breakfast and their horses for the day’s ride. Captain Huck had spent the night in the Williamsons’ house and demanded breakfast the next morning, threatening and terrorizing them all the while. As he was about to leave, he turned and said to them, “We have driven the Regulars out of the country, and I swear that if it rained militia from the Heavens, I would not value them.” Just as he said it, the first shots were fired, and Huck ran out the door to find out what was happening. He mounted his horse and with saber held high, he charged and immediately took two fatal shots to the neck. The swearing Captain was dead and South Carolina’s support and morale for the Patriot cause grew.
