Battle of Rivers' Bridge

Battle of Rivers' Bridge Salkehatchie River, Hickory Hill, Owens’ Crossroads Lawtonville, Duck Creek Began: February 3, 1865 Ended: Same day Location: Bamberg County, South Carolina Theater: Western Theater Campaign: Carolinas Campaign Outcome: Union victory Combatants Commanders Francis P. Blair Major General, USA Lafayette McLaws Major General, CSA Strength 5,000 1,200 Casualties 92 170

On February 2, a Confederate force under McLaws held the crossings of the Salkehatchie River against the advance of the right wing of Sherman’s Army. Federal soldiers began building bridges across the swamp to bypass the road block. In the meantime, Union columns worked to get on the Confederates’ flanks and rear. On February 3, two Union brigades waded the swamp downstream and assaulted McLaws’s right. McLaws retreated toward Branchville after stalling Sherman’s advance for only one day. (NPS summary)