Snow Campaign

Snow Campaign
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Colonel Richard Richardson
Date November–December 1775 Location Appalachian Mountains, South Carolina Result Patriot victory
Belligerents
South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia Patriots	South Carolina Loyalists
Commanders and leaders
Andrew Williamson Richard Richardson William Thomson	Patrick Cuningham Thomas Fletchall
Strength
5,000 men (peak size)	400 men (peak size)
Casualties and losses
unknown	6 killed, 130 captured

The Snow Campaign was one of the first major military operations of the American Revolutionary War in the southern colonies. An army of up to 3,000 Patriot militia under Colonel Richard Richardson marched against Loyalist recruiting centers in South Carolina, flushing them out and frustrating attempts by the Loyalists to organize. The Patriot expedition became known as the Snow Campaign due to heavy snowfall in the later stages of the campaign.

When the American Revolutionary War began in Massachusetts in April 1775, the free population of the Province of South Carolina was divided in its reaction. Many English coastal residents were either neutral or favored the rebellion, while significant numbers of backcountry residents, many of whom were German and Scottish immigrants were opposed. Loyalist opposition in the backcountry was dominated by Thomas Fletchall, a vocal and active opponent of attempts to resist King and Parliament. By August 1775 tensions between Patriot and Loyalist in the province had escalated to the point where both sides had raised sizable militia forces.

Events were largely nonviolent for some time, although there were isolated instances of tarring and feathering, but tensions were high as the sides struggled for control of munitions. The Patriot Council of Safety in early August sent William Henry Drayton and Reverend William Tennent to Ninety Six to rally Patriot support and suppress growing Loyalist activities in the backcountry. Drayton was able to negotiate a tenuous treaty with Fletchall in September that only temporarily lessened tensions.

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Wikipedia