What Were Elijah Clarke's Decisions During The Revolutionary War
During the Revolutionary War, Elijah Clarke first decision was to let some of his men to protect their farms while messengers were being sent to look for allies and to find information. At this time, there were refugees that were scattered around and disoriented. In August, Clarke arrived in South Carolina with around 165 men. Refugees had camps near Wofford’s Iron Works and had a fight between the Loyalists that were serving under Alexander Innes, a commander. Innes tried to battle Clarke’s men, but failed. Both parties retreated but with nothing big achieved. In Musgrove’s Mill, Clarke wanted to keep on harassing Innes and his Loyalists until he was sick of it and ordered 350 men to get rid of the refugees. Since Clarke was outnumbered,
colonels from the militia joined to fight with him. Clarke’s plan was to draw the Loyalists into one group by making them be surrounded by the Patriots in a closed circle. As the Patriots closed in, the Loyalists were realizing that they didn’t have any space, so they were fleeing. This caused the Loyalists to be disorganized which was considered a defeat for Innes. There were 63 killed and 160 captured Loyalists compared to the 4 killed Patriots. Next, Clarke decided to attack Augusta. He initially planned to bring 500 men while McCall, his partner, brought another 500. Unfortunately, Clarke only managed to gather 350 and McCall had 80. On September 14, groups of refugees and the militia troops attacked. A Loyalist commander, Thomas Brown, was startled and unprepared. Clarke was able to control the town and two forts, but unable to take the trading post that Brown was in possession of. Clarke chose to then siege the trading post. The trading post was strengthened by the British overnight. The Loyalists and some Indians readied themselves near a river 80 yards away from the post. While Clarke and the Loyalists battled, Brown was supplied by 50 more men. Clarke figured out a plan. The group of refugees drove the Indians away from the river which made them unable to have a steady supply of drinking water. Clarke ordered Brown to surrender, but he refused and continued to have his men suffer from dehydration. Clarke realized that he was losing his men because some of them were leaving the militia, but there was a group of 500 British men waiting to attack his camp. Clarke decided to retreat hastily. After the failed attempt to attack Augusta, Clarke gathered Patriots’ families and helped them escape from the British. There were around 650 people there with Clarke. They ended up traveling through the Savannah River and mountains to reach to Watauga, North Carolina. They were helped there by the people of Watauga.
colonels from the militia joined to fight with him. Clarke’s plan was to draw the Loyalists into one group by making them be surrounded by the Patriots in a closed circle. As the Patriots closed in, the Loyalists were realizing that they didn’t have any space, so they were fleeing. This caused the Loyalists to be disorganized which was considered a defeat for Innes. There were 63 killed and 160 captured Loyalists compared to the 4 killed Patriots. Next, Clarke decided to attack Augusta. He initially planned to bring 500 men while McCall, his partner, brought another 500. Unfortunately, Clarke only managed to gather 350 and McCall had 80. On September 14, groups of refugees and the militia troops attacked. A Loyalist commander, Thomas Brown, was startled and unprepared. Clarke was able to control the town and two forts, but unable to take the trading post that Brown was in possession of. Clarke chose to then siege the trading post. The trading post was strengthened by the British overnight. The Loyalists and some Indians readied themselves near a river 80 yards away from the post. While Clarke and the Loyalists battled, Brown was supplied by 50 more men. Clarke figured out a plan. The group of refugees drove the Indians away from the river which made them unable to have a steady supply of drinking water. Clarke ordered Brown to surrender, but he refused and continued to have his men suffer from dehydration. Clarke realized that he was losing his men because some of them were leaving the militia, but there was a group of 500 British men waiting to attack his camp. Clarke decided to retreat hastily. After the failed attempt to attack Augusta, Clarke gathered Patriots’ families and helped them escape from the British. There were around 650 people there with Clarke. They ended up traveling through the Savannah River and mountains to reach to Watauga, North Carolina. They were helped there by the people of Watauga.