Stono Ferry
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Troops: United States 1,500 - Great Britain 900
The Battle of Stono Ferry was an American Revolutionary War battle, fought on June 20, 1779, near Charleston, South Carolina. The rear guard from a British expedition retreating from an aborted attempt to take Charleston held off an assault by poorly trained militia forces under American General Benjamin Lincoln. The Battle of Stono Ferry was a poorly planned and badly conducted military operation. It took place during the British retreat from an abortive raid on Charleston. After the American defeat at the Battle of Briar Creek, Lincoln again assembled a force to force the British out of Augusta. The British marched from Savannah towards Charleston, only to find the town defended by Brigadier General William Moultie. Moultrie. He heard of the British advance and hastily threw defensive works between the Ashley and Cooper rivers above the city. On May 12, upon learning of the defenses, Brigadier General Augustine Prevost withdrew the British forces. They withdrew to James Island and then to Stone Ferry, which was south of Charleston.
The battle began well for the Americans. They engaged the British positions with small arms and cannon fire for an hour, at which point they advanced to the abatis. Of the Highlanders, two companies resisted until only 11 men were left standing; a Hessian battalion finally broke. Here Maitland shifted his forces in an attempt to counter the larger threat posed by Huger's wing. The Hessians rallied and returned to the fight, and reserves were brought across the bridge. Lincoln chose this moment to order a withdrawal. Continental Army troops, under Brigadier General Isaac Huger, made up the left wing; they carried four guns into battle. With Huger was a group of light infantry under John Henderson, and it was these troops who, shortly before sunrise, made first contact with the enemy. The rear guard consisted of 900 British, Hessians and Tories. Moultrie attacked mainly with militia who were no match for the defenders. In spite of this victory, Prevost withdrew his troops and abandoned South Carolina. Maitland had decided almost a week prior to the battle to withdraw from the site, but his movement was delayed by a lack of water transportation. On June 23, he finally began moving towards Beaufort, although with little prompting from Lincoln's attack.
The battle began well for the Americans. They engaged the British positions with small arms and cannon fire for an hour, at which point they advanced to the abatis. Of the Highlanders, two companies resisted until only 11 men were left standing; a Hessian battalion finally broke. Here Maitland shifted his forces in an attempt to counter the larger threat posed by Huger's wing. The Hessians rallied and returned to the fight, and reserves were brought across the bridge. Lincoln chose this moment to order a withdrawal. Continental Army troops, under Brigadier General Isaac Huger, made up the left wing; they carried four guns into battle. With Huger was a group of light infantry under John Henderson, and it was these troops who, shortly before sunrise, made first contact with the enemy. The rear guard consisted of 900 British, Hessians and Tories. Moultrie attacked mainly with militia who were no match for the defenders. In spite of this victory, Prevost withdrew his troops and abandoned South Carolina. Maitland had decided almost a week prior to the battle to withdraw from the site, but his movement was delayed by a lack of water transportation. On June 23, he finally began moving towards Beaufort, although with little prompting from Lincoln's attack.
