Benjamin Mahorney (1760-1854) - American Revolutionary War Veteran Graves on Waymarking.com

Benjamin Mahorney was a Virginian who enlisted in Fauquier County, Virginia, on March 4, 1779. He served until October 25, 1780, under Captains Walls, Hoard, and Epps in Colonel Buford’s regiment of Virginia militia (3rd Virginia Regiments).

Incredibly, Mr. Mahorney was one of the very few who escaped death, injury, or capture in the Battle of Waxhaws, more popularly known as either Buford’s Massacre or the Waxhaw Massacre, which took place on May 29, 1780, in Lancaster (now Buford), South Carolina.

Colonel Buford’s regiment, which numbered approximately 350 men, had been headed south to assist the Patriot forces in the Siege of Charleston. Unfortunately, they learned along the way that the city had been captured by the British, so they turned back toward Virginia.

British Colonel Banastre Tarleton learned that South Carolina's Patriot Governor John Rutledge was traveling with Buford’s regiment. Hoping to capture Rutledge, Tarleton pursued with a force of roughly 250 men of the 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons. On May 29, 1780, Tarleton’s men caught up with Buford’s regiment in the Waxhaws, at a crossroads in what is now Buford, South Carolina. Unknown to Tarleton, Governor Rutledge had already separated from Buford's regiment.

When Tarleton's men attacked, Colonel Buford waited until they were within ten yards to give the order to fire. This, of course, had little effect on the British cavalry, who routed Buford’s regiment. Of the approximately 350 men in Buford’s regiment, 113 men were killed, 147 were wounded and released on parole, and 53 were captured.

The Battle of Waxhaws is known as Buford’s Massacre or the Waxhaw Massacre—and is considered one of the most notorious of the Revolutionary Way—because Tarleton's men slaughtered many of the Virginians who surrendered, using their bayonets to slay the unsuspecting soldiers. Tarleton himself admitted to the massacre, noting that, after his horse had been shot from under him during the initial charge, his men—thinking him dead—engaged in "a vindictive asperity not easily restrained."

The Waxhaw Massacre is credited by many as changing the direction of the war in the South. Before the massacre, most thought the Southern states would remain loyal to Britain. After Buford’s Massacre, however, those “on the fence” rallied to the Patriot side. "Tarleton's Quarter!" (meaning “No Quarter”) and "Remember Buford" became rallying cries for the Patriots.

Benjamin Mahorney was one of the very few of Colonel Buford’s men who survived the Waxhaw Massacre. He eventually moved to Putnam County, Indiana, with his family. When he died in 1854, accounts indicate that he had hair “as white as the driven snow.”

Thanks to infarmfamily for use of his research as published for geocache in this cemetery.

Location type: Single Grave Date of Birth: 1760 Date of Death: 1854 Cause of death: Died Later Grave Marker Text: Benjamin Mahorney Hard's Co Buford's Va Regt Rev War Ranks: Not listed

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