On August 19, 1780, Colonels James Williams of Laurens County, Elijah Clarke of Georgia, and Isaac Shelby of the Over Mountain Men (from western NC), led around 200 Patriot militia to attack Loyalist forces at Edward Musgrove’s Mill on the Enoree River. Alerted to the coming danger, around 400 British and Loyalist fighters rode out to meet them. Shelby, Clarke and Williams quickly created defensive structures - they had only about 30 minutes to prepare for the incoming attack! Patriot Capt. Shadrack Inman, leading 25 men, lured Loyalist forces into an ambush, and, fighting close at hand with bayonets fixed, most of the British officers were wounded. Without leaders, Loyalist forces descended into chaos and fled, with over 60 killed, 90 wounded, and 70 taken prisoner. After the hour-long battle, Inman was one of only 4 Patriots killed, with 9 wounded. The Patriots returned south to take the Musgrove Mill camp, which had been left with only 100 defenders.

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This victory proved that militia forces could defeat British regulars, and it also showed that militia groups could cooperate across state lines: They were more organized than the British may have assumed! Despite the week’s victories by Lord Cornwallis at Camden (Aug. 16) and Fishing Creek (Aug. 18), South Carolina was not yet securely in the hands of the British.