Battle of the Combahee River

Battle of the Combahee River
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date August 27, 1782 Location Beaufort County / Colleton County, outside Beaufort, South Carolina 32°34′57″N 80°34′24″W / 32.58250°N 80.57333°WCoordinates: 32°34′57″N 80°34′24″W / 32.58250°N 80.57333°W Result British victory
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Mordecai Gist John Laurens †	William Brereton
Strength
200 regulars	150 regulars
Casualties and losses
2 killed 19 wounded[1]	unknown

The Battle of the Combahee River was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 27, 1782, near Beaufort, South Carolina, one of many such confrontations after the Siege of Yorktown to occur before the British evacuated Charleston in December 1782. Of note is the death of 27-year-old Colonel John Laurens, "one of the bravest and most gallant of the American officers."^[2]

Background

British forces had essentially been under siege in Charleston since late 1781 due to the activity of General Nathanael Greene’s forces in the area. General Alexander Leslie requested a truce in March 1782 and permission to purchase food for his garrison and for the inhabitants of the city. When Greene refused, General Leslie announced his intention to resume his armed forays to seize provisions by force. Greene created a 300-man light brigade of infantry and cavalry under the command of General Mordecai Gist of Maryland to oppose such forays.

On August 21, General Leslie sent out two foraging expeditions. One went out to St. Helena's Parish, and the other, under Major William Brereton, went up the Combahee River.^[3] When Greene learned of these movements, he sent Gist's force to the Combahee to oppose Brereton's movements. Gist arrived at the north bank of the river on the 25th, but Brereton had already arrived and taken control of the ferry. Gist learned the next day that 300 of Brereton's men had crossed the river, so he sent a detachment over to deal with them, while he sent Laurens with 50 Delaware infantry and artillery captain with a howitzer to man a redoubt at Chehaw Point, where they might fire on the British as they came downriver. Laurens spent that evening visiting with friends who lived on the way, and left for Chehaw Point at about 3 am on the morning of August 27.

Battle

The British had anticipated Gist's maneuvers and had quietly drifted downriver. Before Laurens could reach Chehaw Point, 150 soldiers set up an ambush along the road to the point. Gist discovered the British departure at 4 am and immediately led 150 cavalry after Laurens.

While sources disagree whether Laurens ordered an attack or was surprised in the ambush, battle was engaged, and Laurens fell with mortal wounds in the first volley. The artillery captain also fell, as did others, and the troops retreated in disarray, leaving the howitzer behind. Gist and the cavalry arrived in time to cover their retreat, but he was unable to recover the howitzer or dislodge the British from their position.

Aftermath

The British eventually returned to their boats, and Brereton's men continued to forage while Gist dealt with the aftermath of the battle. Laurens and one other man died on the field, and 19 more were wounded.^[1]

Notes

1. Massey, p. 227
2. Ward, p. 842
3. Massey, p. 225

References

• Ward, Christopher (1952). The War of the Revolution. New York: Macmillan Company. ISBN 978-1616080808. OCLC 425995. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
• Wallace, David Duncan (1915). The life of Henry Laurens: with a sketch of the life of Lieutenant-Colonel John Laurens. G.P. Putnam's Sons.
• Lossing, Benson John (1852). The Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution. New York: Harper Brothers.
• Massey, Gregory D (2000). John Laurens and the American Revolution. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-57003-330-8.