Eutaw Springs - September 8, 1781

Historical map of the Battle of Eutaw Springs

Following months of back-and-forth fighting across the Carolinas, British and American forces clashed on September 8, 1781 near Eutaw Springs, South Carolina. American troops under Nathanael Greene surprised a British foraging party and captured more than 400 men. However, instead of immediately pursuing the rest of the army, the Americans stopped to raid the British camps, as shown on this map from the West Point Atlas of American Wars. This delay gave Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart’s British soldiers time to fortify their position in a brick house. The Americans were ultimately unable to break their line and were forced to retreat.

Learn more: Battle of Eutaw Springs