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"Win" is often hard to assess when you look at actions by partisans. Often, they "lose the battle but win the war," and often they have their greatest victories when not fighting real battles at all.
For most of his time in independent command, Sumter was commander of the entire militia of the State of South Carolina. Rather than fighting battles, he was the superior officer of those who did. More often, the men under him raided enemy supplies, attacked isolated enemy outposts, and suppressed Loyalist activity in their respective neighborhoods. Such actions don't normally result in what are called "victories." They aren't really "battles" as such.
But Sumter did sometimes raise large bodies of men and fight British forces in the field. He seldom "won" those. I can list Fort Granby (February, 1781), Fishing Creek (a huge loss in August of 1780), and Quinby Bridge (July, 1781) among those accounted defeats.
In my judgment, his greatest "victories" were Blackstock's (November, 1780), Hanging Rock (July, 1780), and a campaign --- no single battle -- in support of Horatio Gates's move on Camden in August of 1780. The latter is often ignored because it was followed up by the crushing defeat at Fishing Creek. But in it, Sumter took control of the area east of the Wateree River, captured reinforcements and supplies headed for Camden, captured all the British outposts guarding the crossing of the river, and thoroughly suppressed any Loyalist activity that might have arisen in that region. All that, however, came to naught when Gates was defeated outside Camden, and Sumter was overtaken and defeated at Fishing Creek.
The former two were marked by Sumter's force's leaving the field of battle, enabling the British to claim victory. But at Hanging Rock, Sumter's men obliterated an entire enemy regiment, which never was able to function as a regiment again for the remainder of the war. He probably would have won an even greater victory had not his unsupplied men run out of ammunition, out of water, and into alcohol. He himself was wounded. When he sighted enemy reinforcements arriving, he realized it was time to pull his men away and fight again another day.
At Blackstock's, Sumter gave the infamous Banastre Tarleton his first repulse, some two months before the more famous one at Cowpens. Sumter himself, however, was severely wounded, and had to pass his command to someone else, who ordered the army to retreat from the field the night after the victory upon learning that British reinforcements were on the way.
Most of Sumter's fighting was of the irregular variety. He seldom engaged in open combat with organized enemy formations. His was a different kind of war which does not easily translate into "winning battles." But maybe this list can help a little.
Thomas L. Powers
Professor of History
University of South Carolina Sumter
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Often called the father of the American revolution this man's writings influenced the American revolutionaries?
Thomas Paine was called the father of the American revolution. His writings influenced the American revolutionaries.
Who was called The Father Of the American Revolution?
Thomas Paine
Who is Andrew Pickens and Thomas Sumter?
co-inventors of the modern dildo
Who contributed to the American Revolution by drafting the Declaration of Independence?
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston were all on the Declaration committee.
Who had the same ideas as John Locke?
John Locke was an inspiration to the founding fathers of America. He influenced the American Revolution and the French Revolution. He especially influenced Thomas Jefferson's writing of the Declaration of Independence.
How old was Emily geiger when she delivered the message to thomas Sumter?
Emily Geiger was 16 when she delivered the message to General Sumter, from Nathanael Greene.
Why was Thomas Sumter a hero of the American revolution?
He was just a hero for all of his victories against the british and the Cherokee Indians
Who was the Leader of the American Revolution known as the Gamecock?
Brigadier General Thomas Sumter was known both as the Carolina Gamecock and the Fighting Gamecock during the American Revolutionary War.
Where fort sumpter got its name?
It was named after General Thomas Sumter, a hero of the American Revolution. Therefore it is spelled without a "p". It is pronounced as if it does have a "p" but it really doesn't.
Was Thomas Jefferson in the American revolution?
Yes, Thomas Jefferson was one of the leaders in the American Revolution.
How did Fort Sumter get its name?
Although the specific reason for Fort Sumter of Charleston, South Carolina, being named after the American Revolution General, who also served as a U.S. Senator and Congressman, is probably lost to history, those are certainly enough qualifications to merit having any edifice being given one's name.
When did Thomas Sumter die?
Thomas Sumter died on June 1, 1832.
When was Thomas Sumter born?
Thomas Sumter was born on 1734-08-14.
Did Thomas Jefferson live in Virginia during the American Revolution?
Yes Thomas Jefferson lived in Virginia, during the American revolution.
Who supported the American Revolution?
thomas jefferson
Who was the pen of the American Revolution?
Thomas Jefferson
When was Thomas De Lage Sumter born?
Thomas De Lage Sumter was born in 1809.
