Battle of Lenud's Ferry
Battle of Lenud's Ferry | |||||||
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Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Banastre Tarleton | William Washington | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
150 | 350 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2 men 4 horses | 41 killed and wounded |
The Battle of Lenud's Ferry was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that was fought on May 6, 1780 in present-day Berkeley County, South Carolina. All of the British soldiers who took part in the Battle of Lenud's Ferry were in fact Loyalists who had been born and raised in the colony of
Background
General
As part of his plan to cut off Lincoln's avenues of escape from Charleston, Clinton sent out troops under Lord Cornwallis to identify places to impede or block potential Continental Army movements north of the city. Cornwallis stationed himself near the forks of the Wando River, and sent out patrols to watch the area.
Lieutenant Colonel
Battle
Making all haste, Tarleton raced to the crossing. White had no patrols or scouts out so his men were completely unprepared when Tarleton approached. A significant number of men became casualties, five officers and 36 men, while White, Jamieson, and Washington joined others in escaping via the river. Tarleton lost 2 men and 4 horses.[2]
In Tarleton's words, "being totally surprised, resistance and slaughter soon ceased...All the horses, arms, and accoutrements of the Americans were captured. Colonels White, Washington, and Jamieson, with some officers and men, availed themselves of their swimming, to take their escape, while many who wished to follow their example perished in the river."[2]
Aftermath
Cornwallis claimed that this action "totalled demolished their Cavalry".[3] The battle showed that the British had control over the northern escape routes from the city of Charleston. Lincoln surrendered the city and his army, more than 5,000 men, on May 12.
References
- Borick, Carl P (2003). A gallant defense: the Siege of Charleston, 1780. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-57003-487-9.
Notes
- ^ The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past by Alan Axelrod page 315
- ^ ISBN 9780471327165.
- ^ Borick, p. 193