I visited the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site near Cross Anchor, South Carolina in late April 2017. My short synopsis of the Revolutionary War battle that took place on August 19, 1780 can be found here.
Although Edward Musgrove had declared his neutrality in the war several years earlier in order to maintain business for his mill, a Loyalist militia of some 200 men had camped in his fields to control the Enoree River ford located just downstream from the Musgrove Mill and to deny Patriot access to the mill. On the night before the battle, an additional 100 militiamen and 200 provincial soldiers on their way to join up with Major Patrick Ferguson also made camp on the plantation.
The 1.1 mile British Camp Trail is a loop that begins and ends at the parking area. While the trail is mostly in the woods, it is likely that the colonial plantation owned by Mr. Musgrove consisted of more open, cultivated fields. The trail descends about 60 feet to the river bottom land and then climbs back up to the elevation of the parking area. Numerous wood timbers have been installed as steps to assist with this elevation change. I started my hike near the restrooms and picnic shelter at the south end of the parking lot and proceeded counter-clockwise. Although the trail was not rated, I would consider this an easy hike.
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| Topographic map with GPS route overlay |
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| Red blazes mark the trail |
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| Wayside interpretive sign |
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| Ravine near the trail |
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| Some of the numerous timber steps |
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| Trail leave the forest and enters the field behind the visitor center |
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| Re-entering the forest |
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| More steps and a monument |
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| This monument was erected in the early 20th century to memorialize the legendary (and possibly fictitious) Mary Musgrove |
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| Inscription: Mary Musgroves Revolutionary Fame |
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| The trail continues through the field |
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| Possible site of Musgroves Ford with the Highway 56 bridge in the background |
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| The trail turns left and follows the river upstream |
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| Enoree River at a second potential location of Musgrove Ford |
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| A small bridge crosses a drainage swale |
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| Islands near the site of Musgrove Mill |
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| Shoals on the Enoree River |
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| Location of a former bridge over the river |
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| Another view of the shoals |
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| The former road heading up from the river |
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| Crossing another drainage |
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| Debris in the drainage ditch has likely caused this stagnant pool |
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| Typical trail condition along the river |
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| The only tree I had to climb over on the trail |
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| A final view of the river |
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| The trail is easy to follow even without blazes in some places... |
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| ...but more difficult in others |
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| The trail levels out as it reaches the top of the hill |
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| A picnic area is located adjacent to the trail near the parking area |
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| The trail follows the earthen dam |
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| Fishing pond created by earthen dam |
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| Trail crosses the entrance road... |
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| ...and returns to the visitor center or parking area |
Entry to the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is free.
The park website is http://southcarolinaparks.com/musgrovemill/.
Beautiful!
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