Waxhaw Massacre

Battle of Waxhaws

Sketch of the Waxhaw Massacre thought to be for a 19th century lithograph

Date	May 29, 1780
Location	Lancaster County, near present-day Buford, South Carolina 34°44′31.03″N 80°37′32.85″W / 34.7419528°N 80.6257917°W / 34.7419528; -80.6257917Coordinates: 34°44′31.03″N 80°37′32.85″W / 34.7419528°N 80.6257917°W / 34.7419528; -80.6257917
Result	British victory

Belligerents

Great Britain

Loyalists

United States

Commanders and leaders

Banastre Tarleton

Abraham Buford

Strength

150 regulars and militia

420

Casualties and losses

5 killed
12 wounded

113 killed
150 wounded and paroled;
53 captured

Great Britain

The Battle of Waxhaws (also known as the Waxhaws or Waxhaw massacre, and Buford's massacre) took place during the American Revolutionary War on May 29, 1780, near Lancaster, South Carolina, between a Continental Army force led by Abraham Buford and a mainly Loyalist force led by British officer Banastre Tarleton. Buford refused an initial demand to surrender, but when his men were attacked by Tarleton's cavalry, many threw down their arms to surrender. Buford apparently attempted to surrender. However, the British commanding officer Tarleton was shot at during the truce, having his horse fall and trap him. Loyalists and British troops were outraged at the breaking of the truce in this manner and proceeded to fall on the rebels.

While Tarleton was trapped under his dead horse, men continued killing the Continental soldiers, including men who were not resisting. Little quarter was given to the patriots/rebels. Of the 400 or so Continentals, 113 were killed with sabers, 150 so badly injured they could not be moved and 53 prisoners were taken by the British and Loyalists. "Tarleton's quarter", thereafter became a common expression for refusing to take prisoners. In some subsequent battles in the Carolinas, few of the defeated were taken alive by either side. This 'Battle of Waxhaws' became the subject of an intensive propaganda campaign by the Continental Army to bolster recruitment and incite resentment against the British. Equally valid accounts of the battle by soldiers from both sides describe Tarleton as having no part in ordering a massacre as he had been trapped under his horse, and when freed immediately ordered thorough medical treatment of American prisoners and wounded.

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