The Spartan Regiment, as reorganized in the summer of 1780 was a volunteer organization whose officers and men served without pay and without provisions. Their one desire was to throw off the yoke of British tyranny and to achieve freedom and independence.

Col. John Thomas Jr. was the commander, Lt. Col Benjamin Roebuck was the second in command and Lt. Col. Henry White commanded a battalion.

The following company commanders were with the regiment at Cowpens: Captain Andrew Barry, Captain John Collins, Captain Vardy McBee, and Captain Matthew Patton.

Captain Barry was the husband of the legendary heroine, Kate Barry of Walnut Grove. One member of Captain Barry’s company was Lt. Thomas Moore. His brother-in-law, who later served in Congress and as a Major General in the War of 1812.

Other veterans of the Regiment in the Battle of Cowpens include Edward Ballenger, James McDowell, Samuel and Aaron Smith, James Harrison, a brother-in-law of Wade Hampton, Silas McBee, and several members of the Peden, Alexander, and Morrow families.

The militia units served without pay and their officers were elected by the men. They participated in various campaigns and encounters with the British during the five years that the Revolutionary struggle swirled back and forth in South Carolina, but their periods of service were interrupted frequently by such necessary other matters as tending to their farms and livestock.

These hardy men often had to rely for arms and the ammunition to supply their arms on what they could capture from the British during small raids and ambushes.

For the record, the original Spartan Regiment was organized August 21, 1775 at Wofford’s Iron Works, which was located near the present community of Glendale. Its first commander was Colonel John Thomas Sr. It held its first muster, or review, at Colonel Thomas’ home on the Fairforest Creek in the area of where the present Lake Tom Moore Craig is located at Camp Croft. Its first war service was in the Snow Campaign in December 1775.