Skirmish at Wambaw Bridge

Front: On Feb. 24 1782 a Revolutionary War skirmish took place at a bridge over nearby Wambaw Creek. Early that morning, Col. Benjamin Thompson and around 700 British and Loyalist soldiers set out from their camp on Daniel Island (45 mi. SW) in search of provisions as well as the Patriot brigade of Gen. Francis Marion. They covered around 36 mi. before stopping at Drake’s Plantation south of here. Reverse: Thompson left 500 infantry to rest at Drake’s before setting out again with 200 cavalry. They engaged a picket of Marion’s men south of Wambaw Creek, prompting a larger skirmish at the bridge. The Patriots were led by Col. Archibald McDonald in Marion’s absence. Thompson’s soldiers killed around forty men before Wambaw Bridge collapsed, halting their advance. They suffered one minor casualty.