Bass, of the elusive american general thomas sumternicknamed the carolina gamecock, for his fierce fighting styleand his campaigns against the british army in the south during the american revolution. The illfated campaign of thomas sumter, februarymarch 1781. General charles lord cornwallis considered sumter such an annoyance that he called him one of his great plagues. General sumter is preparing for a manoeuver down into the lower parts of the state, and he requires your aid to carry it into effect. Lives of lee and sumter lee family digital archive.
He is remembered for leading troops in south carolina against british forces. Sumter resigned his commission as of september 19, 1778, and returned to the high hills of the santee. Thomas sumter, the countys namesake, fight the british in the revolutionary war, and to have received a tract of land from general sumter. This individual was a mixedblood who married into the catawba. When we hear the name sumter, if we are reasonably knowledgeable of our countrys history, the first thing that pops into our minds is fort sumter lately much in the news where the first shots of the war between the states were fired. His fighting spirit was so relentless that one british general said he fought like a gamecock. Thomas sumter was born on month day 1768, at birth place, south carolina, to thomas sumter and mary jameson or gemstone sumter. Army for the civil war as a southern unionist, despite his heritage as a virginian whose home state would join the. Thomas sumter united states general and politician.
Between the bass book on francis marion, known as the swamp. He next served as a militia sergeant in the cherokee war in 17601761. My exwifes grandmothers maiden name was sumpter, and she was descended from the generals brother william. In the same letter, greene admitted, in what respect general morgans. Born in virginia in 1734, thomas sumter settled in st. He served as an officer in the virginia militia during the french and indian war and in conflicts against the cherokee on the frontier. At the end, of that campaign he escorted a troop of cherokee leaders to.
In february 1781, thomas sumter emerged from his threemonth. Print collection topics public figures sumter, thomas, 17341832 genres. On this day in history, august 18, 1780, brigadier general thomas sumter is routed at the battle of fishing creek. The contents to both volumes follow the authors preface below. American soldier thomas sumter served as an officer in the american revolution. Thomas sumter, for whom the county was named, founded the town of stateburg and in 1786 promoted it for the future state capital. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. Sumter county south carolina aghp sumter, district, south carolina situated a little southeast of the center of the state. An artist sketched a picture of what joseph benenhaley, an ottoman turk who served general thomas sumter as a scout during the revolutionary war, may have looked like.
Hidden for centuries, sc descendants of ottoman turks come. Santee river runs on its west border and lynchs creek on its northeast boundary. Thomas sumter routed at the battle of fishing creek august. General thomas sumter s vast land holdings and home were located on a bluff overlooking the santee basin about six miles from nelsons ferry. In the fifth general assembly 17831784 he returned to his accustomed place in the house. General thomas sumters service to his country during the revolutionary war is well known. Between the bass book on francis marion, known as the swamp fox, and sumter, known as the gamecock, these tow men caused cornwallis and tarleton unmitigated fear, discomfort and harassment. It was eventually named in honor of revolutionary war hero brigadier general thomas the gamecock sumter. Thomas sumter students britannica kids homework help. General thomas sumter, gamecock 1961 in robert duncan bass papers, 19551972. Despite a troubled relationship between sumter and francis marion, the famed swamp fox, greene ordered marion to cooperate with sumter for this expedition. Thomas2 sumter william1 was born august 14, 1734 in hanover co. George henry thomas july 31, 1816 march 28, 1870 was a united states army officer and a union general during the american civil war, one of the principal commanders in the western theater thomas served in the mexicanamerican war and later chose to remain with the u.
On november 9, 1780, he was attacked by major james wymess at fish dam ford on the broad river, but this time, he was victorious. Hartleys biographies of american revolutionary war generals lighthorse harry lee and thomas sumter were published together in one volume, entitled, life of major general henry lee, commander of lees legion in the revolutionary war, and subsequently governor of virginia. General sumter was a significant egoist, but never fled from battle or from the face of danger. Congressman, general thomas sumter highlighting his military contributions during the war of independence and his subsequent. Thomas sumter united states general and politician britannica. The sumter county museum is a private nonprofit institution whose mission is to promote the history of old sumter district through the preservation and exhibition of objects, manuscripts, and documents, which relate the story of this area of south carolina.
Sumter again in the fieldoperations of the parties and leaders in the southposition of the british armyoperations of marion and sumtertarleton foiled by marionmajor wemyss defeated by sumtertarleton sent against sumterbattle of blackstock hilltotal defeat of tarleton by sumtersumter severely wounded and. Revolutionary war hero general thomas sumter owned home house plantation. The county was named for general thomas sumter, a general in the american revolutionary war. Thomas sumter was born in virginia, august 14, 1734 the son of william and.
The turks of sumter county are, by majority, of indian descent, however there are some lineages which most likely are of arabic descent. To which is added the life of general thomas sumter of south. Sep 22, 2015 a lady of french royal blood in the wilds of south carolina. Direct descendants of general thomas sumter photographs of. The union, led by president abraham lincoln and the republican party, opposed the expansion of slavery and rejected any right of. During the french and indian war, he served with the virginia militia in western pennsylvania and ohio. Thomas sumter august 14, 1734 june 1, 1832 was a soldier in the virginia militia, planter, brigadier general in the south carolina militia during the american revolution, and politician. The biography of the general on the city of sumter, sc webpage says that she was seven years his senior, making her born about 1727, but ive also seen other birth dates as early as 1723, and as late as the 1740s. A town, county, national forest and a fort in charleston are named after him. Sumter managed to escape and fled to charlotte, north carolina. General thomas sumter was also a very distinguished officer in the same war. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Life of major general henry lee, commander of lees legion in the revolutionary war, and subsequently governor of virginia.
Thomas jefferson to thomas sumter, july 23, 1821 created published. Robert d bass the revolutionary war hero whose men nicknamed him gamecock and for whom fort sumter. These sessions of the legislature vindicated sumters policy in offering slaves and booty as salary. He was later repeatedly elected to the united states house of representatives and to the united states senate, where he served from 18011810, when he retired. Trayton isaac hill came to thomas sumter academy during 9th grade and has chosen to run cross country, compete in archery, and in mens tennis. After the war, sumter was elected to the united states congress, first serving in the house of representatives from 1791 to 1801. Thomas sumter was surprised when charleston was surrendered to clintons besieging host by general benjamin lincoln. This was the 2nd location he lived in and the one used during the revolution and it was burned by tarleton. General thomas sumter was born in virginia, august 14, 1734 the son of william and patience sumter. George henry thomas july 31, 1816 march 28, 1870 was a united states army officer and a unio n genera l during the american civil war, one of the principal commanders in the western theate r tho mas served in the mexicanamerican war and later chose to remain with the u. Thomas sumter was born on 14 august 1734 near charlottesville, virginia. Thomas jefferson to thomas sumter, july 23, 1821 library.
Drained by black river and its branches and by brances of santee river. The life and campaigns of general thomas sumter robert bass on. Sumter county was established in 1785 though it did not take its present boundaries until 1902 with the town of sumter as. Thomas sumters dog days expedition journal of the american. Francis marion revolutionary history, clarendon county, sc. Have you found the information that you were seeking regarding the family of mary cantey who married general thomas sumter.
Sumter thomas sumter published version of a letter dated 23 aug. The county is named after general thomas sumter 17341832. As you can see, not only did the catawba indians fight under the comand of general sumter, but john nettles a leader of the tribe signed the sumter district petition attesting to the rev war service of david scott. Bass has written an extensive account on the life of thomas sumter, covering a chronological history of the controversial yet revered revolutionary war general. Thomas sumter august 14, 1734june 1, 1832 was a planter. Nov 14, 2014 a short biography of american revolution militia leader and u. County courthouse edit edit source sumter county courthouse 209 n florida street bushnell, fl 3359402 phone. Often recalled as a distinguished historian of the american revolution, the late dr. Congressman, general thomas sumter highlighting his military contributions during the war of. Although, he did not see action, he became involved in bringing word of the treaty, first to the indians and then to london.
Thomas sumter, the gamecock, a friend of the cherokee, a revolutionary war hero, planter, congressman and senator. Sumter was nicknamed the carolina gamecock for his fierce fighting style against british soldiers after they burned down his. It is known, however, that he served as a volunteer against the french and indians in the seven years war, commonly called by the soldiers, the old french war, to distinguish it from the war of the revolution. A man named john scott arrived in south carolina prior to 1750. This biography, first published in 1961, is a thoroughly. Jul 05, 2018 this patriarch was said to have helped brig. Calhoun, a south carolina native, a soontobe powerful proponent of nullification and an implacable enemy of the federal government, approved the construction of a new fort in charleston harbor. Born in virginia in 1734, thomas sumter spent much of his life as a soldier. The original thomas sumter was a revolutionary war hero and is the reason my alma mater is nicknamed the fighting gamecocks. Sumter county, florida genealogy familysearch wiki. Tracing the roots of south carolinas turks, before they. View all hotels near thomas sumter memorial park on tripadvisor.
The war in the south had become a relatively placid business. Thomas sumter august 14, 1734 june 1, 1832 was a soldier in the colony of virginia militia. Direct descendants of general thomas sumter home facebook. He has served as the senior class secretary and nhs general officer as well as enjoy a week at boys state last summer. In 1762, he accompanied the cherokee leader ostenaco to london, where the. He served as a sergeant of virginia troops in the 1761 campaign against the cherokees. General thomas sumter last surviving general of the revolution. Jan 12, 2017 this is a 1961 biography by distinguished historian and author, dr. Thomas sumter august 14, 1734 june 1, 1832 was a soldier in the colony of virginia militia, a. After the united states gained independence, he was elected to the united states house of representatives and to the united states senate, where he served from 1801 to 1810, when he retired. Inducted in 1978, he was a military officer in the revolutionary war. Educated in common schools he engaged in surveying in virginia, worked in his fathers mill and after his fathers early death cared for his mothers sheep and plowed his neighbors fields. The turks of sumter county, sc are descendants of american indians or, as pony now puts it. This page was designed and dedicated to help those direct descendants of general thomas sumter throughout the world find and communicate with.
Continental army general american soldier and politician, was born in hanover county, virginia, on the 14th of august 1734. Note that the scarf that she wore on her wedding day is displayed in a museum in charleston, sc if not i may have some information that could be helpful. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. The american civil war 18611865 was a separatist conflict between the united states federal government the union and eleven southern slave states that declared their secession and formed the confederate states of america, led by president jefferson davis. Jun 28, 2018 despite a troubled relationship between sumter and francis marion, the famed swamp fox, greene ordered marion to cooperate with sumter for this expedition. Sumter had been engaged in harassing british supply lines in early august while british lieutenant general charles cornwallis and american major general horatio gates maneuvered their armies toward camden, south carolina. To which is added the life of general thomas sumter of south carolina philadelphia, 1859. He had a relentless fighting spirit and is credited with harassing the troops of gen. Jun 14, 2016 inducted in 1978, he was a military officer in the revolutionary war. A short biography of american revolution militia leader and u. Cornwallis to the point where cornwallis turned north to virginia and yorktown where he ultimately surrendered. The life and campaigns of general thomas sumter by. In 1762, he accompanied the cherokee leader ostenaco to london, where the chief had an audience with king george iii. Thomas sumter was a soldier in the colony of virginia militia.
Thomas sumter archives journal of the american revolution. This is a 1961 biography by distinguished historian and author, dr. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. This book about thomas sumpter original spelling of his surname has proven to be not only interesting, but has also revealed important information about my.
Life of major general thomas sumter lee family digital archive. Thomas sumter was a renowned patriot in the revolutionary war. General sumter was one of the models for mel gibsons character in the 2000 movie, the patriot along with francis marion and andrew pickens, also from south carolina, and his service to his country continued for the duration of his long life. Thomas sumter sat as senator for the district eastward of wateree river in the jacksonboro assembly which restored regular state government. Thomas sumter historical records and family trees myheritage. George henry thomas july 31, 1816 march 28, 1870 was a united states army officer and a union general during the american civil war, one of the principal commanders in the western theater.
In the years before the american revolution, sumter spent time in. Fort sumter in charleston harbor was named for him. Bass and a lady of the high hills by thomas tisdale. He then represented south carolina in the senate from 1801 to 1810. Home house plantation stateburg, sumter county, south. Sumter was born on august 14, 1734, in hanover county, virginia. Sumter soon began rebuilding a force and on october 6, 1780, he was promoted to brigadier general. Bass, of the elusive american general thomas sumter nicknamed the carolina gamecock, for his fierce fighting styleand his campaigns against the british army in the south during the american revolution. This biography, first published in 1961, is a thoroughly documented history of general thomas sumter.
Thomas married nathalie, beatrix marielouise sumter on month day 1790, at age 21 at marriage place, north carolina. August 1734 bei charlottesville, colony of virginia. The life and campaigns of general thomas sumter by robert d. Direct descendants of general thomas sumter is at from the books gamecock and a lady of the high hills. The illfated campaign of thomas sumter, februarymarch 1781 by andrew waters in february 1781, thomas sumter emerged from his threemonth convalescence to begin his next campaign in the south carolina interior. These sessions of the legislature vindicated sumter s policy in offering slaves and booty as salary. The county is located in the central area of the state. Patriot militia general thomas sumter patriot resource.
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