An ironworks was built near the present town of Glendale before the Revolutionary War. The Ironworks is about 6 miles from the the bridge at Pacolet Mills. It became an important place during the War. There were several Revolutionary War events associated with the Ironworks.The Ironworks
Battle of the Ironworks - This battle has been called a variety of names including Wofford’s Iron Works, the Peach Orchard and Second Cedar Springs. It was a running engagement that took place on August 8, 1780. Both sides claimed victory. A group of Patriots were camped near the intersection of modern day Highways 56 and 295 in what is now Spartanburg County. Scouts brought word shortly before dawn Aug. 8 that the enemy was within half a mile and the Patriots hastily broke camp and moved via the existing road from what is now the Camp Croft area to Glendale. They took an advantageous position near the old Ironworks. Here, they were attacked by a large detachment of British dragoons and mounted militia riflemen from Ferguson's command under Maj. James Dunlap. The fighting went back and forth. After a time, the British received reinforcements commanded by Major Patrick Ferguson. Badly outnumbered the Americans began a hasty, but organized, withdrawal. The Americans retreated across Lawson's Fork Creek and along the Georgia Road, some of what is now the Clifton - Glendale Road. Ferguson broke off the battle after the Americans crossed the Pacolet River at Hurricane Shoals or what is now Clifton. See more about this at Ironworks Battle. Barely two months later, Major Feruson was killed and his entire Loyalist army was destroyed or captured at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Washington’s Cavalry - In January, 1781, just before the Battle of Cowpens, Col. William Washington brought his cavalry and their 80 or so horses to the Ironworks to have new horseshoes put on them. The job was still not complete when Washington got an emergency message that Tarleton and his army were coming and he should rejoin General Morgan.
Destruction of the Ironworks - In November, 1781, after the British defeat at Yorktown, a Loyalist force under the command of William "Bloody Bill" Cunningham attacked the Ironworks and destroyed it.
This web site has been started as a public service to share the story of Pacolet.
