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Near Great Falls in Chester County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
 

Battle of Fishing Creek

 
 
Battle of Fishing Creek Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, November 20, 2008
1. Battle of Fishing Creek Marker
Inscription. At this site on August 18, 1780 General Thomas Sumter camped with captured booty and 800 men. He was surprised and defeated by Lt. Col. Tarleton and 160 soldiers. The disaster followed only two days General Gate's defeat by Lord Cornwallis at Camden. The patriots lost 150 men killed and many captured, but Sumter escaped and soon rallied another large force.
 
Erected 1974 by Chester County Historical Society. (Marker Number 12-3.)
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1780.
 
Location. 34° 38.172′ N, 80° 54.27′ W. Marker is near Great Falls, South Carolina, in Chester County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 21 and Waterview Drive, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 21. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Great Falls SC 29055, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Olde English District. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Battle of Fishing Creek (approx. 0.9 miles away); Camp Creek Methodist Church (approx. 3.1 miles away); Alexander's Old Fields (approx. 3.3 miles away); Battle Of Beckhamville (approx. 3.3 miles away); Thomas Douglas Wallace Memorial (approx. 4½ miles
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away); Home Site of Justice John Gaston (approx. 4.7 miles away); Rocky Mount (approx. 7.3 miles away); Waxhaw Presbyterian Church (approx. 7½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.
 
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Fishing Creek. (Submitted on November 23, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.)
2. Battle of Fishing Creek. The Battle of Fishing Creek, also called the Battle of Catawba Ford, was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on August 18, 1780, between American and British forces including the 71st Foot. It was fought near the junction of Fishing Creek and the Catawba River in South Carolina. British forces under Banastre Tarleton surprised the militia company of Thomas Sumter, killing a significant number, taking about 300 captives, and very nearly capturing Sumter, who some say was asleep at the time of the attack. (Submitted on June 6, 2016, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.) 
 
Battle of Fishing Creek Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Michael Sean Nix, November 20, 2008
2. Battle of Fishing Creek Marker
Battle of Fishing Creek August 18, 1780 Americans under Sumter surprised and routed by British under Tarleton. Erected by Mary Adair Chapter D.A.R. August 18, 1930.
Battle of Fishing Creek Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Brian Scott, March 21, 2016
3. Battle of Fishing Creek Marker
Battle of Fishing Creek Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Brian Scott, March 21, 2016
4. Battle of Fishing Creek Marker
Banastre Tarleton image. Click for full size.
circa late 1700s
5. Banastre Tarleton
Thomas Sumter image. Click for full size.
circa 1790
6. Thomas Sumter
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 4,437 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.   3, 4. submitted on June 6, 2016, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.   5, 6. submitted on November 20, 2008, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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Jun. 27, 2026