James Williams (Revolutionary War)

James Williams (1740–1780) was an American pioneer, farmer, and miller from the Ninety-Six district in South Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, he was Colonel of his area's regiment of militia. He was killed gaining the American victory at the Battle of King's Mountain.

James was born in Hanover County, Virginia and orphaned before he was twelve. He moved into the home of his brother John Williams in Granville County, North Carolina. John, being a lawyer, gave him a basic, yet good for those days, education before James set out on his own to settle on the Little River in South Carolina.

By 1773 Williams had started a farm and built a mill, in what was then called the Ninety Six District on the Carolina frontier. (Today the area he settled in is in Laurens County, South Carolina). He had also become an officer in the local militia. As tensions rose before the revolution, and many of his neighbors took a Loyalist position, James supported the American cause. He joined the local "Committee of Safety", and in 1775 and 1776 was elected to the state's provisional Assembly.

By 1776, the back-country militia was becoming split into Loyalist and Rebel factions. Williams was named Lt. Colonel of a regiment, but he had to identify, recruit, and (partially) train the men. He succeeded in organizing a militia group, but pressure from the other side meant that he always had to leave some at home for defense. Nevertheless, he led bodies of local men into action at Briar Creek, and Stono Ferry, and as far afield as the expedition against Savannah, Georgia.

On August 19, 1780 he led his detachment into the engagement of the Battle of Musgrove's Mill. Their success, even in that limited engagement, coming so soon after the disaster of Camden earned him a promotion to Colonel. His next action was a much greater success, but cost him his life.

Williams led a 100 man detachment from his regiment to meet other militia detachments in pursuit of Cornwallis' western force, led by Major Patrick Ferguson. He joined the other units at the Cowpens on October 6. The next day he joined them in the major victory at the Battle of King's mountain. The Americans overwhelmed an 1,100 man force, losing only twenty eight killed, one of whom was Colonel James Williams, killed in action, October 7, 1780.

William's original hasty grave was replaced with a more prestigious memorial, and he was re-interred. He is buried on the lawn in front of the Cherokee County Administration building, on Limestone street in Gaffney, South Carolina.

Under the South Carolina Provincial Congress, Williams was to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General but succumbed to his battle wounds before the commission could be delivered. In 2005 the South Carolina General Assembly confirmed the rank originally bestowed upon him 225 years before. In the Same act, General James Williams was further honored by renaming the Little River Bridge, "James Williams Memorial Bridge", marking the Northeast corner of his plantation.

Further reading

William Graves; "James Williams, An American Patriot in the Carolina Backcountry";" 2002, Writers Club Press, ISBN 0-595-21374-X.