siege savage old fields siege savage old fields known november encounter patriot loyalist forces country town ninety south_carolina early american revolutionary war major conflict south_carolina war having preceded military fortifications province patriot forces command major dispatched area recover shipment gunpowder ammunition intended seized loyalists force numbering established fort near ninety surrounded loyalists war early days partisan war southern country brutal later war siege conducted effectively stalemate days loyalists withdrew having lost killed wounded patriot killed wounded patriots withdrew coast major patriot expedition long resulted arrest flight loyalist leadership background american revolutionary war began massachusetts april free population divided reaction english coastal residents neutral favored rebellion significant numbers country residents german scottish immigrants opposed loyalist sentiment country dominated vocal active opponent patriot attempts resist king parliament august tensions patriot loyalist province escalated point sides raised sizable militia forces events largely time isolated instances tensions high sides struggled control munitions early august sent reverend ninety rally patriot support suppress growing loyalist support country able negotiate truce september september patriot militia seized principal fortification overlooking charleston harbor governor dissolved provincial assembly fearing personal safety fled royal_navy sloop war hms left control provincial capital council began improving expanding charleston coastal defenses eventually culminated exchange cannon fire patriot positions royal_navy ships harbor november matters escalated seizure loyalists october shipment gunpowder ammunition sent intended council responded organizing large scale expedition recover munitions november voted send colonel commander militia recover shipment arrest loyalist leaders siege richardson gathered forces major recruiting country learned gunpowder seizure arrived ninety early november men finding small town established camp plantation provided field fire force swivel guns began camp ordering construction improvised loyalist recruiting successful learned captain major leading large loyalist force estimated number ninety war council day patriot leaders decided marching face loyalists loyalists arrived day surrounded patriot camp leaders factions midst negotiating end patriot seized loyalists outside set lasted hours morning sides resumed firing long range loyalists attempted set fires creating use approach attempt frustrated wet ground loyalists constructed large wooden shield sought bring closer fort succeeded setting fire engine according account proof patriot guns afternoon november patriots held war council decided sortie night preparing action sunset loyalist approached flag decided discussion agreement meet morning meeting loyalists agreed withdraw patriots agreed destroy fort sides return prisoners taken november interfere communications respective political leaders patriot leaders required surrender swivel guns returned days later truce included reinforcements sides terms claimed apply colonel richardson force aftermath reasons loyalists chose negotiate truce unknown governor campbell described loyalists lacking effective leadership historian speculates caused colonel richardson preparations approach richardson mobilized men grew end november force country arresting driving away loyalist leadership campaign effectively ended december inches snow fell area richardson men unprepared snow difficult trek loyalist leaders escaped richardson expedition including notably fled west florida joined regular irregular forces serving british events resulted end large scale loyalist activity southern ways civil war progressively brutal following years ninety british outpost besieged forces command forced lift siege approach relief force british abandoned ninety long afterward
Siege of Savage's Old Fields