The Battle of Black Mingo was a

skirmish Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line, an ir ...

during the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

. It took place in September 1780 in the vicinity of Dollard's Tavern at Willtown near

Rhems, South Carolina Rhems is an unincorporated community located on the boundary between Williamsburg County and Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States. It is centered around the intersection of County Line Road (SC 51), Rhems Road, and Browns Ferry Roa ...

. General

Francis Marion Brigadier-General Francis Marion ( 1732 – February 27, 1795), also known as the Swamp Fox, was an American military officer, planter and politician who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. During the Ameri ...

attacked and scattered a contingent of

Loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cro ...

troops that had been left to secure the region by Colonel

Banastre Tarleton Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB (21 August 175415 January 1833) was a British general and politician. He is best known as the lieutenant colonel leading the British Legion at the end of the American Revolution. He later served in Portug ...

after his destructive march through the area. The Loyalists, under Colonel

John Coming Ball John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, were driven into Black Mingo swamp after suffering significant casualties.J. W. Nelson Chandler, "Willtown, Black Mingo: The Rise and Fall of an Early Village in the South Carolina Lowcountry" in ''The South Carolina Historical Magazine'' Vol. 105, No. 2 (April 2004) pp. 107-134

Background

A company of militia was placed under the command of Brigadier General

in the wake of the

Battle of Ramsour's Mill The Battle of Ramsour's Mill took place on June 20, 1780 in present-day Lincolnton, North Carolina, during the British campaign to gain control of the southern colonies in the American Revolutionary War. The number of fighters on each side of th ...

. Marion then engaged in a series of guerrilla actions to harry elements of the British force and its

supporters. Following their victory at Camden the British sent out contingents to secure the countryside and capture prominent Revolutionary leaders like Marion. These activities reduced company morale, and the hunt for Marion caused men to leave his company, until he only had about 60 left and was forced to retreat into hiding in the swamps of the border between North and South Carolina. The British then traveled across South Carolina, plundering and destroying Revolutionary properties. This prompted Marion to move into South Carolina, where Revolutionaries angered by the British action signed up in large numbers. He was alerted to the presence of a large number of Loyalists at Shepherd's Ferry, on the south side of

Black Mingo Creek Black Mingo Creek is a tributary to the Black River in coastal South Carolina. The creek derives its name from the Mingo, a tribe that once inhabited the fork made by the junction of Indiantown Swamp and Black Mingo Creek. It is a blackwater riv ...

, then away. While the reports indicated that the Loyalist numbers were larger than his own, the enthusiasm of his men prompted him to agree to an attack.

Battle

Marion had wanted to surprise the Loyalists with an early morning attack. The surprise was spoiled when, at nearly midnight, the lead horses in his column began crossing Black Mingo Creek via the wooden plank bridge downstream from the Loyalist Camp. Alarm shots were heard in the Loyalist camp, and Marion's company rushed to engage them. Marion divided his small force into three groups sending them down the main road, and off to the right and left, surrounding the Loyalist troops which were formed up in an old field adjacent to Dollard's Tavern. The Loyalists, although greater in number, found themselves between two firing lines, gave way after just a few rounds and retreated into the swamp. Although less than 100 men were engaged in the actual fighting that lasted maybe 15 minutes, Marion lost two men, including Capt. George Logan, and 8 wounded. The Loyalists lost three and 13 wounded or captured.Bellesiles, Michael. "Black Mingo Creek, South Carolina". encyclopedia.com, transcribed from Encyclopedia of the American Revolution: Library of Military History. Retrieved 2 July 2020.

Aftermath

Word of Marion's success spread, and he continued to recruit well after the battle. He also learned a lesson: he reportedly never again crossed a bridge intending surprise without first laying blankets down on it.

Notes

References

* {{authority control Black Mingo Georgetown County, South Carolina Black Mingo Black Mingo 1780 in South Carolina

Background

Battle

Aftermath

See also

Notes

References