Battle of Lenud's Ferry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Lenud's Ferry
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date May 6, 1780 Location Berkeley County, near present-day Jamestown, South Carolina 33°18′16.95″N 79°40′30.3″W / 33.3047083°N 79.675083°W / 33.3047083; -79.675083 Result British victory
Belligerents
Great Britain Loyalists	United States
Commanders and leaders
Banastre Tarleton	Anthony Walton White William Washington
Strength
150	350
Casualties and losses
2 men 4 horses	41 killed and wounded

The Battle of Lenud's Ferry was a small but important fight during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on May 6, 1780, in what is now Berkeley County, South Carolina.

In this battle, most of the British soldiers were actually Loyalists. Loyalists were American colonists who stayed loyal to the British King during the war. These Loyalists were from South Carolina. Their leader was Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, who was British. His group was called the British Legion. They surprised and defeated a group of American Patriot soldiers at Lenud's Ferry. This ferry was a crossing point on the Santee River.

Why the Battle Happened: The Road to Lenud's Ferry

In early 1780, General Sir Henry Clinton of the British army arrived in Charleston, South Carolina. He planned to capture the city. This was part of a bigger British plan to take control of North and South Carolina.

Charleston was defended by American soldiers called the Continental Army. Their leader was General Benjamin Lincoln. Many of the American soldiers who fought at Lenud's Ferry had survived an earlier battle. That battle was called the Battle of Monck's Corner.

To trap General Lincoln's army in Charleston, General Clinton sent troops north. These troops were led by Lord Cornwallis. Their job was to find ways to stop American soldiers from escaping north of the city. Cornwallis set up his base near the Wando River. From there, he sent out patrols to watch the area.

American Cavalry Regroups

Earlier, in mid-April, a group of American cavalry soldiers had been scattered. These soldiers were led by Lieutenant Colonel William Washington. They were surprised by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his British Legion at Monck's Corner.

After this defeat, the American cavalry regrouped. They gathered several weeks later north of the Santee River. Here, they came under the command of Colonel Anthony Walton White. Colonel White had just arrived with his own group of dragoons from Virginia. Dragoons were soldiers who rode horses but could also fight on foot.

On May 5, Colonel White crossed the Santee River to scout the area to the south. Colonel Abraham Buford stayed on the north side of the river. White's group captured 18 British soldiers. This happened about four miles north of Awendaw Creek. They then returned to Lenud's Ferry on the Santee River with their prisoners.

At the same time, Tarleton was on patrol with 150 dragoons. He was heading toward Lenud's Ferry. A local Loyalist told him about the American soldiers' movements.

The Battle: A Surprise Attack

Tarleton quickly raced to Lenud's Ferry. Colonel White's American soldiers were not expecting an attack. They had not sent out any patrols or scouts. Because of this, they were completely surprised when Tarleton's troops arrived.

The American soldiers were caught off guard. Many of them became casualties. Five officers and 36 men were either killed or wounded. Colonel White, Colonel Jamieson, and Colonel Washington managed to escape. They swam across the river to safety. Tarleton's side lost only 2 men and 4 horses.

Tarleton later wrote about the battle. He said that because the Americans were "totally surprised," the fighting and killing "soon ceased." He also noted that "All the horses, arms, and accoutrements of the Americans were captured." He added that many Americans who tried to escape by swimming "perished in the river."

What Happened Next

After the battle, Lord Cornwallis said that this action had "totally demolished their Cavalry." This meant that the American cavalry in the area was completely defeated. The battle also showed that the British now controlled the escape routes north of Charleston.

Just six days later, on May 12, General Lincoln surrendered the city of Charleston. His army, which had more than 5,000 men, was also captured. This was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the war.