Local Charleston, SC Author John Brian Eleazer explores the untold story of the South Carolina Militia in his new book

Local Charleston, SC area author John Brian Eleazer has spent years focused on research and understanding of a period in time and group of brave individuals whose story has not yet been told. With limited narrative carried down from generations, John dove deep into his research identifying individuals, documents, literature and artifacts to piece together a very important story about the South Carolina Militia. His new book “The South Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War: Captain Henry Felder & The Backcountry Defense” will be available May 13, 2025. It is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

If you are a fan of American and/or South Carolina history, this is a must read. Here is more information about the book, author and where to purchase.

• Click HERE to purchase on Arcadia Publishing
• Click HERE to purchase at Barnes & Noble.
• Click HERE to purchase on Amazon.

Book Synopsis

When I was a boy my mother told me about my ancestor, a Revolutionary War patriot killed as he escaped his burning cabin wearing a lady’s dress.  Such a story, I would never forget, and I was intrigued that there must be more to this story.  As a carnivore of early American history and well-rooted South Carolinian, the contributions of my ancestor and the South Carolina militia’s accomplishments are rare footnotes in historical writings.  In books and journal articles, the subject on the American militias is either dismissively described as undependable, inept in battle,  or the subject is ignored altogether.  On rare occasions, a historian may briefly entertain the South Carolina militia as a ‘garnish’ of small strokes with little benefit to the Great Cause or the ‘militia did not thirst for liberty enough’ or more condemning that the militia were ‘not worth the bread they eat’ as Nathanael Greene and George Washington had stated.   The South Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War challenged these statements directly, and especially in citing the accomplishments and operations in South Carolina.

While militias across the other twelve colonies may have a dubious record in isolated events, South Carolina’s militia was indeed different – mostly because of this colony’s uniqueness from the interior colony growth, the rise of the colony government and militia, and importantly their early leaders. Using the early South Carolina challenges and growth, and the involvement or response of my ancestor, Henry Felder; The South Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War explore the colony’s events and unique and exceptional destiny. In many ways, the beginnings of the colony set up a collision course between the mostly aristocracy of Charlestown intersection with their inland and growing backcountry neighbors.

In contrast to other colonies, South Carolina interior beyond Charlestown was largely planned-settlements communities populated by emigrants with affluent and engaging leaders.  These backcountry leaders succeeded in mutually resolving differences with the Charlestown representatives during the colony’s early growing pains.  Although delicate, their mutual resolve helped secure the settlements while establishing the colony self-government, an early interior judiciary and militias.  Intangibles of independence, a certain level of trust, and tenacity grew between the coastal settlement and inland neighbors in these early years; however, stability required constant nurturing and backcountry leaders such as William Thomson, Richard Richardson, Henry Felder and many others.  Henry Felder’s achievements and influence parallel each critical moment in the South Carolina journey towards independence; initially as a merchant farmer in the midland district of Orangeburgh (present day Orangeburg); and after the Regulator movement, a Justice of Peace.  And after the Continental Congress’ Continental Association boycott, he served as enforcer and subsequently as an elected district representative and active member to the Second Provincial South Carolina Congress.  In Congress and as foreman of the Grand Jury prior to the Declaration of Independence, Henry and fellow jurist delivered the Declaration endorsement of South Carolina’s first constitution and openly avowed, “Whilst engaged in an arduous but glorious Struggle for the preservation of those invaluable Rights and Liberties, which, by the Laws of Reason, and of Nature, all men have a right to possess”.  

In readiness and service during the seven-year Revolutionary War, the early District militias progressed under one of the three primary South Carolina militias (Sumter, Marion and Pickens brigades) after the fall of Charlestown in May 1780. 

As author and South Carolina Revolutionary War historian, Michael Scoggins’ Epilogue in The Day it Rained Militia: Huck’s Defeat, Scoggins observed history’s downplaying of the Revolutionary militia.  He pointed out that the many battles won by the Carolina Backcountry were ‘extraordinary’ and in contrary to many historians that ‘downplayed and even maligned’ performance or usefulness of the militia.  This generality and too easy criticism are challenged and easily debated by the militia’s successes, and especially notable as the Continental Congress and Continental Army were largely absent during the most brutal times in South Carolina.

The latter chapters discuss the militias and their use of rifles in the several tide-changing battles concluding with the final major battle in South Carolina at Eutaw Springs.  The purported narratives to stereotype all American militias based on General George Washington and General Nathaneal Greene opinions are simply contrary to the South Carolina militia and their accomplishments.  Without question, General Washington’s personal experience as an early militia leader, himself, and as Continental General, may have provided anecdotal evidence when he claimed the militia was ‘hurtful upon the whole’.  Or General Greene’s military studies and philosophy on professional trained soldiers likely condemned militia value with his trivializing opinion on the militia as only ‘Partisan strokes in War are like garnish of a table … and reap little benefit’.  The statements are defamatory when used generally and unsupported by facts in the specifics.  The South Carolina militia were the lone resistance in South Carolina for long periods of time, continually bedeviling and intercepting the British logistics and shattered the British ‘Southern Strategy’ to defeat the Southern colonies.  Consistently over several long years, the militia provided navigation, scouts, supplies, and intelligence to the various continental generals in the southern theater – a unique militia ability.  However, when ignored by commanding generals the resulting military disaster soon followed.  

Offensively, the militia provided an advantage when used tactically.  Comparable to the more known Northern Campaign of Daniel Morgan’s Virginia Riflemen, the Carolina backcountry riflemen provided a deadly edge in several battle engagements, including the Breach at Sullivan’s Island, Blackstock’s Plantation and Cowpens.  While a fierce debate may exist on the exact merits of the American Militia or the long-rifles contribution in winning the Revolutionary War; the contributions were nonetheless grand and irrefutable.  The number of skirmishes, the battlefield casualties in South Carolina, and the British generals and historians attest to the mettle of South Carolina’s defense.  Chronicling the conflict in South Carolina, Britian’s leading philosopher, stateman and historian Sir Edmund Burke reflected in 1783, “Most of these actions would in other wars be considered as skirmishes of little account, and scarcely worthy of the detailed narrative. But these small actions are as capable as any of displaying military conduct….  It is by such skirmishes that the fate of America must be necessarily decided. They are therefore as important as battles in which a hundred thousand are drawn up on each side.”  [The Annual Register of History, Politics, and Literature.]

The South Carolina Militia  provides an account of the South Carolina militia.  This is their story, historically and personally intertwined in sacrifices by many of ancestors, our legacy in gaining our liberty and freedom.  As far as winning the war, conclusions are inescapable.  Our independence was entirely doubtful without the backcountry long-rifle, the South Carolina militia stand and their lone resistance to the British and Loyalist armies in the south.  Persistence and resistance built upon the volunteered Carolina militiamen’s individual convictions and sacrifices, an ignited spirit for over seven years with only the supplies and weapons they brought from their homes – – their magnificent moment.  The South Carolina militia rifleman deserve more than footnotes and epilogues, their story must be told.  Like many unsung South Carolinian heroes, Henry Felder and his sons did not seek recognition; they had adopted this country much earlier and were more than willing to give their all for it.  Many gave their last full measure.  And this is their story.

About the Author – Brian Eleazer

Brian Eleazer is a native South Carolinian and a direct descendant of Henry Felder, the protagonist in ‘The South Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War’.   Brian is also the direct descendant to another book-referenced patriot, Johann Stephen Eleazer.  Johannes Eleazer was a farmer and Spring Hill tavern keep in South Carolina Deutsch Fork area, above present-day Columbia that supplied the patriots throughout the war.  The tavern likely hosted William Henry Drayton in 1775 as Drayton attempted to recruit American patriots near the Congaree and Broad Rivers and the tavern remains a family home, and possibly the oldest functioning structure on the boundary of Lexington and Richland Counties.  

From grade school and through encouragement from his mother, a long-time elementary teacher and family researcher, Brian has visited many Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields across the Southeast and continuously research our early American history.  In his travels, Brian has built a network of friends and historian acquaintances including Paul Bartow previously at USC History Department, the late historian and author Michael Scoggins, and Chris Weatherhead-Felder and Clarence Felder, directors of Revolutionary War movies, All for Liberty and John Lauren’s War.  Chris Weatherhead and Clarence Felder are co-founders of the Actors Theater of South Carolina (ATSC), a multiple international award-winning movies and films where Brian serves as advisor.  

For the past fifteen years, Brian has written and added material to Henry Felder’s story originally for family consumption and expanded to document the seldom chronicled story of the South Carolina militia.  Additionally, Brian has written several short stories for his children and grandchildren.  He shares historical research pieces in social media and, on occasion, has posted comments and debate on national articles about the Revolutionary militia and South Carolina heroes.  

Brian graduated from Clemson University, BS in Ceramic Engineering and Auburn University with a master’s in business administration.  Always a student of history, Brian enrolled in most of the American History class offered at Clemson and remains an avid reader.  After Clemson, Brian entered the United States Air Force, serving 21 years as officer in joint service assignments and subsequently served in the Defense Department for an additional 23 years; accumulation of 43-year career.

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