Thomas Sumter, born in Virginia in 1734, served in the French and
Indian War, and afterward on the Western frontier. Establishing
himself finally in South Carolina, he was appointed in March, 1776,
lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of South Carolina Riflemen,
and sent to overawe the Tories and Loyalists in the interior of the
State. The comparative immunity from war secured to South Carolina
during the first years of the Revolution deprived Sumter of any
opportunity for distinguishing himself until after the surrender
of Charleston to the British in 1780. Taking refuge for a time in
the swamps of the Santee, he made his way after a while to North
Carolina, collected a small body of refugees, and presently returned
to carry on a partisan warfare against the British. His fearlessness
and impetuosity in battle gained for him the sobriquet of “the
game-cock;” and with a small band of undisciplined militia, armed with
ducking-guns, sabres made from old mill-saws ground to an edge, and
hunting-knives fastened to poles for lances, he effectually checked
the progress of the British regulars again and again, weakened their
numbers, cut off their communications, and dispersed numerous bands of
Tory militia.
Like Marion, whenever the enemy threatened to prove too strong, Sumter
and his followers would retreat to the swamps and mountain fastnesses,
to emerge again when least expected, and at the right moment to take
the British at a disadvantage. During one of many severe engagements
with Tarleton, he was dangerously wounded and compelled for a time to
withdraw from active service, but learning Greene’s need of troops,
Sumter again took the field. After rendering valuable assistance toward
clearing the South of the British, the failure of his health again
forced him to seek rest and strength among the mountains, leaving his
brigade to the command of Marion. When once more fitted for duty, the
British were in Charleston, and the war was virtually at an end. Though
Sumter’s military career ended with the disbanding of the army, his
country still demanded his services. He represented South Carolina in
Congress from 1789 to 1793, and from 1797 to 1801; he served in the
United States Senate from 1801 to 1809, and was minister to Brazil from
1809 to 1811. He died at South Mount, near Camden, South Carolina,
on the 1st of June, 1832, the last surviving general officer of the
Revolution.