Honoring the Fallen
1860 Obelisk
An effort by local citizens to provide a memorial to honor the memory of what occurred here and locate the mass grave began in 1845 and was realized in June 2nd,1860 with the installation and dedication of a marble obelisk designed and cut by William T. White, a prominent Charleston stone cutter. The obelisk was described in the Charleston Courier as:
“beautiful for its unpretending simplicity… designed to commemorate an event that will never fail to kindle a feeling of indignation in the bosom of the patriot.”
Local civic and religious leaders at the dedication noted they:
“had assembled together to erect a monument in honor of the brave dead, who had for so many years tenanted their silent homes without a stone to mark the spot where they lay ….a stranger traveling Rocky River road can learn of the battle in a succinct way from the inscription on the monument.”
By the mid-20th
century the ravages of time and souvenir seekers who chipped off bits of the marble made it difficult to read the inscription. To preserve the original inscription, a new monument was erected in 1995 by the Waxhaw Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lancaster County Historical Commission. This is described below.
Obelisk Inscription Preserved
In 1955 the Waxhaw's Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lancaster County Historical Commission erected this monument to preserve the original inscription on the Obelisk that was installed in June 1860.
Inscription: [Rear]
Buford Battleground
Erected to the memory and in honor of
the brave and patriotic American soldiers
who fell in the battle which occurred
at this place on the 29th of May, 1780
between Col. Abraham Buford
who commanded a regiment of 350 Virginians
and Col. Tarleton of the British Army
with 350 cavalry and a like number of infantry.
Nearly the entire command of Col. Buford
were either killed or wounded.
Gallant soldiers are buried in this grave
that left their homes
for the relief of Charleston,
hearing at Camden of the surrender
of that city were returning.
Here their lives were ended
in the service of their country.
The cruelty and barbarous massacre
committed on this occasion
by Tarleton and his command
after the surrender of Col. Buford
and his regiment originated the war cry
"Remember Tarleton's Quarters"
A British historian confesses
at this battle
the virtue of humanity was totally forgot.
225th Anniversary Marker
Inscription:
On this site, Col. Abraham Buford's force of about 350 American patriots,
while returning to Hillsborough, N.C., following the fall of Charles Town,
were overtaken by British troops commanded by Col. Banastre Tarleton.
It is historically told that the patriots' white flag of surrender was
disregarded as Tarleton's forces massacred the Americans.
113 patriots were killed and buried here in mass graves. 150 were wounded, most of
whom died within a few days. 53 were captured, and only a few escaped on horse
back. From this battle came the war cry "Remember Tarleton's Quarter."
This monument is dedicated to the honored memory of the men who
fought and died for our independence.
This 29th day of May 2005, the 225th anniversary of the battle.
Buford's Battle Flag
The flag flying above the mass grave is a reproduction of Buford’s battle flag which was captured by Lt. Col. Tarleton at the battle. Colors, or standards, embodied the spirit of the unit and its history. Soldiers took great pride in their flags and defended them unto death.
Buford’s battle flag was made of gold-yellow silk with a painted central design of a beaver felling a palmetto tree. Underneath this is the motto written in Latin “PERSEVERANDO”, translated to English To Persevere”… until the yolk of British tyranny is finally overthrown.
The Friends of the Buford Massacre Battlefield reproduced Buford’s battle flag which today proudly flies over this grave site. The flag is flown to honor the 84 Continental soldiers who are buried here and now rest in eternity under their lost colors.
SC Roadside Historical Marker
The historical marker shown here is located on the east bound direction of Hwy 9 at the intersection with 522 in the community of Buford.
Erected 1941 by Lancaster County. (Marker Number 29-2.)
