Battle of Monck's Corner
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Monck's Corner was fought on April 14, 1780, outside the city of Charleston, South Carolina
, which was under siege
by British forces under the command of General
Sir Henry Clinton in the American Revolutionary War
. The British Legion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Banastre Tarleton
, surprised an American force stationed at Monck's Corner
, and drove them away. The action cut off an avenue of escape for Benjamin Lincoln
's besieged army.
in late March 1780, and began siege preparations as the opening move in British plan to gain control over North
and South Carolina
. The city was defended by Continental Army
troops under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln.
Even after the British operations were underway, troops continued to arrive in the city to assist in its defense. On April 7, after the British had begun establishing siege lines around part of the city, a regiment of Virginia
Continentals arrived in the city. Clinton learned that a supply train, which was actually the baggage train of this company, was nearing the city, and decided it was time to cut the supply route.
He detached 1,400 men under Lieutenant Colonel James Webster to go inland about 30 miles (48.3 km) to Biggin's Bridge on the Cooper River
to intercept the supply train. In order to protect their own lines, the British needed to face General Isaac Huger
and his detachment that Lincoln had stationed at Monck's Corner
. Huger's force included a company of local militia and elements of Pulaski's Legion
.
Webster sent Tarleton ahead of his column with the British Legion and a company of marksmen. On April 12, still more than 15 miles (24.1 km) from Monck's Corner, Tarleton stopped a slave carrying a letter from Huger to Lincoln, and learned from the letter and questioning its carrier the nature and disposition of Huger's force. His troops then marched the next day in order to plan an early morning attack for the following day.
Some of the scattered remnants of Huger's force made their way north and east. They eventually regrouped under Colonel
Anthony Walton White
, but were again scattered by Tarleton at Lenud's Ferry
on May 6.
Lincoln was forced to surrender Charleston and more than 5,000 Continental Army
troops on May 12. It was the worst American loss of the war. The United States Army
did not suffer a loss of similar size until the First Philippines Campaign of World War II
.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, which was under siege
Siege of Charleston
The Siege of Charleston was one of the major battles which took place towards the end of the American Revolutionary War, after the British began to shift their strategic focus towards the American Southern Colonies. After about six weeks of siege, Continental Army Major General Benjamin Lincoln...
by British forces under the command of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Sir Henry Clinton in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The British Legion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Banastre Tarleton
Banastre Tarleton
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...
, surprised an American force stationed at Monck's Corner
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Moncks Corner is a town in and the county seat of Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,952 at the 2000 census....
, and drove them away. The action cut off an avenue of escape for Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
's besieged army.
Background
General Sir Henry Clinton arrived before Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in late March 1780, and began siege preparations as the opening move in British plan to gain control over North
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The city was defended by Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
troops under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln.
Even after the British operations were underway, troops continued to arrive in the city to assist in its defense. On April 7, after the British had begun establishing siege lines around part of the city, a regiment of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Continentals arrived in the city. Clinton learned that a supply train, which was actually the baggage train of this company, was nearing the city, and decided it was time to cut the supply route.
He detached 1,400 men under Lieutenant Colonel James Webster to go inland about 30 miles (48.3 km) to Biggin's Bridge on the Cooper River
Cooper River (South Carolina)
The Cooper River is a mainly tidal river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. These cities are located along the river, Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek and Hanahan. Short and wide, it is joined first by the blackwater East Branch, then farther downstream, the tidal Wando River...
to intercept the supply train. In order to protect their own lines, the British needed to face General Isaac Huger
Isaac Huger
Isaac Huger was a planter and Continental Army general during the American Revolutionary War.-Life and work:...
and his detachment that Lincoln had stationed at Monck's Corner
Moncks Corner, South Carolina
Moncks Corner is a town in and the county seat of Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,952 at the 2000 census....
. Huger's force included a company of local militia and elements of Pulaski's Legion
Pulaski's Legion
Pulaski's Legion was raised on March 28, 1778 at Baltimore, Maryland under the command of Kazimierz Pułaski for service with the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The Legion consisted of one troop of lancers, two troops of dragoons and 200 light infantry soldiers...
.
Webster sent Tarleton ahead of his column with the British Legion and a company of marksmen. On April 12, still more than 15 miles (24.1 km) from Monck's Corner, Tarleton stopped a slave carrying a letter from Huger to Lincoln, and learned from the letter and questioning its carrier the nature and disposition of Huger's force. His troops then marched the next day in order to plan an early morning attack for the following day.
Battle
The British attacked at 3 am on April 14, quickly pushing the sentries back into the main camp. What followed quickly became a rout. In the end the British lost only two men, the Americans lost five officers and fifteen privates killed or wounded, seven officers and sixty men were captured. The biggest prize was 184 horses, of which 82 were trained cavalry mounts, which Tarleton desperately needed.Aftermath
Following the battle, some of Tarleton's Loyalists committed some "irregularities", allegedly including "attempts to ravish several ladies" who lived in the area. A number of the British officers present were offended by these acts, and the perpetrators were sent back to the British camp outside Charleston, where they were eventually whipped for their transgressions.Some of the scattered remnants of Huger's force made their way north and east. They eventually regrouped under Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Anthony Walton White
Anthony Walton White
Anthony Walton White was a cavalry officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:Anthony W. White was the son of Anthony White...
, but were again scattered by Tarleton at Lenud's Ferry
Battle of Lenud's Ferry
The Battle of Lenud's Ferry was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that was fought on May 6, 1780 in present-day Berkeley County, South Carolina...
on May 6.
Lincoln was forced to surrender Charleston and more than 5,000 Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
troops on May 12. It was the worst American loss of the war. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
did not suffer a loss of similar size until the First Philippines Campaign of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.