Battle of James Island explained

Conflict:Battle of James Island
Partof:the American Revolutionary War
Date:November 14, 1782
Place:James Island, South Carolina
Result:British Victory
Combatant2: Great Britain
Commander1: Tadeusz Kościuszko
Commander2: William Dansey
Strength1:70
Strength2:300+
Casualties1:5 killed, 5 wounded
Casualties2:2 killed, 3 wounded

The Battle of James Island was a minor engagement on November 14, 1782, just outside Charleston, South Carolina, between American and British forces. British troops were on the move attempting to evacuate most of the Americans.[1] In an effort to encourage the evacuation of British troops, American forces attempted to ambush British troops cutting wood; however, reinforcements were quickly brought to the British side and the American soldiers were forced to retreat. About 70 American troops had attempted to rout and defeat British troops in the area.[2]

The British, after receiving reinforcements, numbered more than 300 soldiers and vastly outnumbered the Americans.[3] Several Americans were killed, including Captain William Wilmont, the last continental soldier killed in the Carolinas.[4] [5] In addition to Wilmont, William Smith, an enslaved African American who assisted Patriot troops during the battle, was taken captive by British forces and subsequently died in captivity.[6] As the skirmish finished, the remaining American troops retreated. The British would soon withdraw from the Americas, marking the end of the American Revolutionary War.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Charleston Museum News and Events » Battle of Dills Bluff. www.charlestonmuseum.org. en. 2018-05-24.
  2. Web site: List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1782 • American Revolutionary War. revolutionarywar.us. 19 November 2017 . en-US. 2018-05-23.
  3. Web site: List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1782 • American Revolutionary War. revolutionarywar.us. 19 November 2017 . en-US. 2018-05-23.
  4. Web site: List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1782 • American Revolutionary War. revolutionarywar.us. 19 November 2017 . en-US. 2018-05-23.
  5. Web site: The American Revolution in South Carolina - James Island. www.carolana.com.
  6. Web site: The Charleston Museum News and Events » Battle of Dills Bluff. www.charlestonmuseum.org. en. 2018-05-24.