John Rockett (1761-1848)

After the British military defeat in Saratoga (NY) they attempted a different strategy in the South. The British believed the Loyalists were stronger in the South and thus more sympathetic to the British.  The British would be successful in occupying Savannah and Charleston, however, unconventional battle techniques of the Colonial army would prove problematic for the British in the South. These techniques were more like modern day guerrilla warfare. In addition, the British assessment of the Loyalist was found to be overly misunderstood. The British felt there would be a preponderance of Loyalist support in the South, and although they had some success with Loyalist, the majority of them, when forced to take sides, sided with the Patriots.  

John Rockett, born in Virginia, moved to South Carolina. He was a Patriot whose penned words, in his application for a military pension, provide a succinct example of how the battle of the American Revolution was fought in the South.

The pension application, #S7412, of John Rockett, transcribed by Will Graves, details his service in the Carolinas. His application was made to a justice of the Lincoln County Court,  North Carolina. In this application, Rockett provided a detailed account of what his life was like while in the military.  Rockett states he first entered the military in 1778, when he was living in Edgefield County, South Carolina. In that location, there had been a call for men, and the transcription states, "...and draft or volunteer...," John Rockett was a volunteer. All mustered at General Williamson's headquarters and remained there for about a year, with little action.  The British, under General Prevost, later took Savannah, and alarms went out for Georgia. About at this time in Rockett's career, his enlistment was terminating.  General Williamson immediately requested volunteers to march to Georgia and John Rockett joined the march to an area identified as Cupboard, an area south of Savannah, GA.  Rockett served for an additional 12 months without significant action. Again, General Williamson needed volunteers to march north towards Orangeburg, north of Charleston (SC), where they attempted to identify and interdict British Loyalists who were taking prisoners and giving them to the British. Rockett states, during this period of time in the 1780's, the British had taken Charleston (SC). 

In February of 1781, Rockett was finishing his third 12 month term of enlistment, and again volunteers were requested by (then) Col. Purvis to reinforce General Pickens.  According to Rockett, his longtime Captain (Carter) was no longer interested in fighting along with others, and did not volunteer again. It was at this time that Rockett was made a First Sergeant, most likely due to his continued support of the Carolina Campaign. Under the command of Captain Maxwell, and General Pickens, they marched towards Eutaw Springs where they joined General Greene.  

On 08 September 1781, they confronted the British at Eutaw Springs, who had been readied and prepared for them. Eutaw Springs would be identified to be the last major battle in the South.  Rockett states, there had been a number of troops who had not only deserted the previous evening, but also warned the British of the Colonial troops marching towards them. In First Sergeant Rockett's own words, "...we fought hard on both sides and made violent charges on each other the slaughter was great and bloody..." The British would later fall back to a stone structure and then eventually to Charleston. Rockett would write there were large losses on each side. After this British confrontation, Captain Maxwell released John Rockett from the military and Rockett would return to his home.