Battle of Rivers' Bridge
Rivers' Bridge, Salkehatchie River, Bamberg County, South Carolina, USA
What happened
Union troops under Francis P. Blair, part of William T. Sherman's army, faced about 1,200 Confederates under Lafayette McLaws. As Sherman's army marched north through South Carolina, McLaws's men tried to hold a crossing over the Salkehatchie River. Union soldiers waded through the swamp to get around the Confederate position, and McLaws withdrew toward Branchville.
Why it matters
McLaws's stand held up Sherman's advance for only one day. Sherman's forces kept moving north toward Columbia, the state capital.
What came next
In 1876 local people began a yearly commemoration at the site, and in 1945 the battlefield was given to South Carolina as a state park.
Did you know?
Earthworks built by the Confederates are still preserved at the historic site.
Timeline
- 2 Feb 1865Union soldiers begin building bridges to get around the Confederates.
- 3 Feb 1865Battle of Rivers' Bridge.
- 1876A yearly commemoration begins.
- 1945The battlefield becomes a South Carolina state park.