THOMAS SUMTER.
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.