Coosawhatchie
Jasper County, South Carolina
Commanders: Colonels William Moultrie, JohnLaurens; Gen. Augustine Prevost
Casualties: 3 Americans killed, 8 wounded
"Despite the defeat at Port Royal Island, GeneralPrevost was determined to make a secondattempt to capture Charleston. Instead of asmall detachment of 150 men, this time hecrossed the Savannah River with 2,400 Britishregulars, and once again, William Moultriewas outnumbered 2 to 1. He determined tomake a stand on a slight ridge at the TullifinnyRiver, about 2 miles east of the CoosawhatchieRiver, where he left about 200 men to guard thecrossing and warn him of the Redcoats arrival.As the enemy drew near, Moultrie was about tosend an aide to pull these troops back to the mainforce when Col. John Laurens offered to leadthem back. Moultrie had so much confidence inthe officer that he sent along 250 men to helpcover the flanks, In direct disobedience of ordersLaurens crossed the river and formed the men inline for battle. He failed to take the high groundand his men suffered greatly from well-placedenemy fire. Laurens himself was wounded, andhis second in command fell back to the mainforce at the Tullifinny, where Moultrie wascompelled to retreat towards Charleston." Excerpt from South Carolina's Revolutionary War BattlefieldsA Tour Guide
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