Skirmish at Saltketcher River Bridge (Jacksonborough) (mar 17, 1780 – mar 20, 1780)

Description:

After Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton confiscated many horses in and around Beaufort, he passed through Jacksonborough on March 17th and met a small group of SC Militia on horseback - killing three, wounding one, and capturing one. This skirmish could be called the skirmish at Jacksonborough. On March 17, a British force, commanded by Capt. Abraham DePeyster, had detected a Patriot reconnaissance patrol, commanded by Col. James Ladson, some 6 miles to their front of their position. The patrol consisted of the Colleton County militia. The militia had been felling trees across the roads leading to the Saltketcher Ferry and destroying all of the boats along the river so that the British could not use them to cross the river. The British was ordered to pursue the militia, which they did. On March 18, Paterson's army reached the Saltketcher River, where about 80 Patriot militia under Major Ladson had destroyed the bridge and occupied a tavern on the east bank in order to annoy the enemy advance. The British assigned part of the Legion to return their fire and keep them occupied while the remainder of the advance guard forded the river further down, outflanked Ladson's men, and attacked them from the rear. Several American troops were shot or bayoneted; the rest fled.

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