South Carolina has shot at rewinning Revolutionary War flags

On May 29, 1780, British troops under Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton massacred American forces in Lancaster County, S.C. at what is various named the Battle of the Waxhaws or Buford's Massacre.

The commonly held view is American Col. Abraham Buford believed he was outnumbered by Tarleton's forces and ordered his 350 Virginia Continentals to raise the flag of truce.

When Tarleton came forward to accept the flag, his horse was shot out from under him. He fell and the horse fell on top of him, leading his men to believe their leader had been killed. They attacked the mostly unarmed Americans furiously, inflicting an average of 16 saber and bayonet wounds on the 113 dead and 150 wounded.

British casualties: Five killed, 14 wounded.

For the past 226 years, three flags captured at that battle have hung in the homes of Tarleton's descendants.

On June 14, 2006 (Flag Day in the USA), Southeby's will auction the flags. The State of South Carolina is raising money to bid on them. The Commonwelath of Virginia, whose troops were the victims of the massacre, has also expressed an interest.