This road is over 275 years old. It is a narrow causeway that leads to the ferry crossing over the Edisto River.
Francis Marion had been tracking a 500 man Hessian and British Provincial force that had been raiding rice plantations along the Combahee River. The only way for this group to return to Charleston was to cross the Edisto River at Parker’s Ferry. Francis Marion knew that, and placed his men 40 yds deep in the swamp. The rifles and muskets of his men were armed with buckshot.
Loyalist Gen. Robert Cunningham and 100 Loyalist militia were guarding the ferry. Gen Cunningham sent out a scouting party from the ferry, and they spotted Marion’s men. Shots were fired and the British forces were alerted.
Hessian commander Leopold Von Brock was approaching from the south. Upon hearing the shots fired he ordered his cavalry under Maj Fraser to charge ahead and support Cunningham’s loyalist militia. Those men charged down this narrow causeway right into the teeth of Marion’s awaiting ambush.
125 British forces were killed and 80 were wounded. Marion had one killed and 3 wounded, most of the casualties were in the initial exchange.
This was Francis Marion’s greatest victory.
Posted to Facebook 11/12/2024