The Battles of Fort Watson and Fort Motte

BOOK REVIEW: The Battles of Fort Watson and Fort Mott 1781 (Small Battles Series) by Steven D. Smith (Yardley: Westholme Publishing, 2024. $28.00 hardcover.)

Steven D. Smith provides an interesting perspective on a brief but important period of the Revolutionary War in the south. The author focuses on a four-week period, April 12 to May 12, 1781, in South Carolina. The Battles of Fort Watson and Fort Mott highlight an often-undervalued part of warfare, small battles and skirmishes. These engagements may seem insignificant when compared to major battles, but their impact on the greater operational and strategic environment influenced things in ways the participants never fully appreciated at the time or even years later, as they reflected on their service.

Both of these forts supported British regular and provincial units who advanced inland after the fall of Charlestown, South Carolina (today Charleston) in order to reestablish royal colonial rule in South Carolina. Fort Motte was located about fifteen miles northwest of Eutaw Springs on the north bank of the Santee River. It was built on site of an old Indian mound referred to as the Santee Indian Mound, and constructed under the supervision of and named by Lt. Col John T. Watson, a provincial officer. Watson leveled portions of the mound and the shaped the sides to form an elevated position to dominate all approaches. Abattis surrounded the fort. A British camp and well were located outside the fort’s walls. Today the site of the fort and mound lie on a peninsula extending into Lake Marion’s north bank, part of the Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Only one mile off an exit on I-95, the site of the fort is conveniently located for twenty-first century visitors.

During the siege the fort was commanded by Lt. James McKay of the King’s American Regiment. Besieging the fort were the forces of Francis Marion and Light Horse Harry Lee. The author devotes chapter one of his text to describing the siege and capture of Fort Watson, including the investment of the fort and construction of a log tower that allowed the attackers to fire into portions of the elevated fort, contributing to the surrender. After an eight-day siege, the Patriots stormed the fort and the defending soldiers refused to fight any longer.

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Fort Motte was located about twenty-five miles northwest of Fort Watson, on the south side of the Congaree River, about two miles west of the confluence of the Wateree River with the Congaree and near but not overlooking McCord’s Ferry. The fort was constructed on a bluff encompassing the recently constructed home of Mrs. Rebecca Mott, a recent widow and ardent Patriot. The author devotes chapters two, three and four to provide background on the broader Patriot military situation in the area, information on the plantation named Mount Joseph that included Fort Motte, and also addresses British activities in the area. Chapter five provides an interesting account of the siege and capture of Fort Mott. Patriot forces included Francis Marion’s and Light Horse Harry Lee’s men; their force totaled about 400 and included a six-pound cannon. The British defenders numbered 184 men, including British regulars, Hessians and Provincials, equipped with a carronade.

Smith’s work is well supported by primary and secondary sources. More importantly, he included detailed maps and diagrams that help the reader gain an appreciation for the tactical aspects of the siege and the capture of these two forts by a relatively small number of besiegers. He also highlights the interdisciplinary approach used to research. He analyzed the sieges and prepared an excellent historical narrative, well supported by his detailed maps and drawings documenting archeological evidence of his findings. Smith is a seasoned archeologist who expertly uses the modern tools of the trade to recreate and document the tactical details of the siege through use of technology like ground-penetrating radar.

The author focuses on the tactical action but sets the greater operational context, providing a narrative that goes well beyond what is normally documented by surviving paper records or words of participants. He expertly documents the physical evidence left behind. This evidence helps us better understand the actions of men like James Wheeler of Buckingham County, Virginia (Pension Application W9877), who served the Patriot cause for over five years in multiple commands and was one of Lee’s soldiers during these two actions. Wheeler’s pension deposition mentioned his service at Trenton, Princeton, Saratoga and Guilford Court House and states, “he was in a number of small battles not worthy of mentioning.” Smith provides us reason to question Wheeler’s assessment of his own contributions to the Patriot success in South Carolina at the Battles of Forts Watson and Mott. The author’s work contributes to a growing appreciation of the small battles that dominated the tactical actions of the American Revolution. Well worth a read.

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