1778 BAYLOR MASSACRE WAR MEMORIAL

THE BAYLOR MASSACRE WAS A SURPRISE ATTACK BY THE BRITISH ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1778, AGAINST THE 3RD REGIMENT OF CONTINENTAL LIGHT DRAGOONS UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLONEL GEORGE BAYLOR. THE REGIMENT OF TWELVE OFFICERS AND 104 ENLISTED MEN SECURED QUARTERS IN A SMALL COLLECTION OF FARM HOUSES. ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 27 THE BRITISH USED THEIR BAYONETS TO MAINTAIN THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE AS THEY WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE. THEY KILLED 15 OF THE DRAGOONS AND WOUNDED AND CAPTURED 54. COLONEL BAYLOR, MAJOR MCLEOD AND TWO OTHER OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPED BY CLIMBING UP A CHIMNEY. BAYLOR WAS WOUNDED AND CAPTURED, HE DIED IN 1784 FROM COMPLICATIONS OF THE WOUNDS INCURRED IN THE ATTACK. MCLEOD WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. ONE OF THE OTHER OFFICERS WAS KILLED AND THE OTHER CAPTURED.