As part of his preparations for the Siege of Charleston, on April 12, 1780, Gen. Henry Clinton ordered Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton into the countryside to cut off the city's lines of communication. On the night of April 13, he approached Monck's Corner by night march. In the early morning hours of April 14, Tarleton caught the American forces there by surprise and quickly routed them.

In February, 1780, Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, Maj. Patrick Ferguson, their cavalry and a diversionary force of infantry were put ashore in Savannah, Georgia. Tarleton and Ferguson had to first remount their cavalry since their horses had been put overboard because of the stormy sea voyage south from New York. Once remounted, they made their way north, twice skirmishing with Lt. Col. William Washington.

In March, they joined Gen. Henry Clinton and the main British force in its thirty-mile approach to Charleston. Finally on April 2nd, the Siege of Charleston was officially underway. On April 12th, General Clinton ordered Lt. Col. Tarleton into the countryside as part of an effort to cut Charleston off from its lines of communication and supply. His first objective was to take possession of Monck's Corner and Biggins' Bridge, where a force of 500 Continentals under BG Isaac Huger were stationed.

Lt. Col. Tarleton and his British Legion were supported by Maj. Ferguson and his American Volunteers. On the 13th, they were joined by Lt. Col. James Webster and his infantry. The plan was for Tarleton and Ferguson to proceed ahead quickly and silently to Monck's Corner and take Brig. Gen. Huger by surprise at night. Along the way, they captured a black man who was carrying a letter from Huger to Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in Charleston, which told Tarleton how the troops were deployed.

From ten o'clock on the night of April 13, 1780, a swift, silent march was undertaken along the road to Monck's Corner by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his men. They encountered no American scouts or patrols. When they reached Monck's Corner, they caught the Americans completely by surprise. Not only had there been no patrols, but Brig. Gen. Huger had placed his cavalry in front of his infantry.

Lt. Col. Tarleton led a charge right at the Americans since swamps on either side precluded a flank attack. The British easily dispersed the militia defending Biggins Bridge. Most of the Americans were able to escape, including Brig. Gen. Isaac Huger and Lt. Col. William Washington, who had suffered yet another defeat by Tarleton. Tarleton was also able to capture wagons of supplies and a great many excellent cavalry horses.

The Continental defeat at Monck's Corner left Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln without any lines of communication from Charleston. The defeat only hastened the surrender of Charleston.

Brig. Gen. Isaac Huger - Commanding Officer

3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col. William Washington, with Maj. Richard Call, Capt. Walker Baylor, and Capt. John Stith

1st Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons led by Maj. John Jameson, with Capt. Thomas Pemberton, Capt. John Watts, Capt. Baylor Hill, and Capt. John Belfield

Pulaski's Legion of Horse & Foot led by Maj. Chevalier Pierre-Francois Vernier in the following units:

1st Troop Lancers - Capt. Charles Baron de Frey

1st Troop Dragoons - Lt. Louis de Beaulieu

2nd Troop Dragoons - Capt. Jerome Le Brun de Bellecour

SC Provincial Regiment of Dragoons led by Col. Daniel Horry

NC Militia - Caswell's Brigade, Branyen's Regiment detachment led by Capt. William Bethel

Total Patriot Forces - 400

Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton - Commanding Officer

British Legion Infantry led by Maj. Maj. Charles Cochrane

British Legion Cavalry led by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, with Capt. David Kinlock

17th Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment led by Capt. William Henry Talbot

American Volunteers led by Maj. Patrick Ferguson, with Capt. Abraham DePeyster, Capt. Charles McNeill, Capt. James Dunlap, and Capt. Samuel Ryerson

Total British Forces - Unknown

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