After a fairly extensive skirmish at Wiboo Swamp, Brig. Gen. Francis Marion had retired towards down the Santee Road and deployed his men at Mount Hope Swamp where he destroyed the bridge over the stream there. Lt. Col. John Watson again advanced and Brig. Gen. Marion’s riflemen under Lt. Col. Hugh Horry and Capt. William McCottry (might've been Robert McCottry) attempted to dispute the passage there. But Lt. Col. Watson cleared the way with grapeshot from his cannon and had his men wade through the stream. Brig. Gen. Marion withdrew in the direction of Georgetown expecting Lt. Col. Watson to follow.

Lt. Col. Watson, however, pursued him a short distance but then turned and headed in the direction of Kingstree, one of the main focal points of rebel activity in the region. Desiring then to cut him off, Brig. Gen. Marion sent ahead Maj. John James with 70 men, including 30 of McCottry’s riflemen, to seize the Lower Bridge at the Black River and on the road Lt. Col. Watson was taking to Kingstree.

Maj. James, taking a shortcut, reached the bridge before Lt. Col. Watson, and removing some planks from the bridge, set his men in position. Brig. Gen. Marion, meanwhile, also came up with the main body prior to Lt. Col. Watson’s arrival. When Lt. Col. Watson did approach he attempted to bring his cannon to bear on Brig. Gen. Marion’s men, but due to enemy sharpshooters and the unusual terrain there was unable to do so, losing some men in the process.

Lt. Col. Watson then tried crossing at a ford not far distant. Yet when he reached the spot he was again kept back by the riflemen. By the end of the day, Lt. Col. Watson retreated to Witherspoon's Plantation where he camped.

The next day (the 15th) Brig. Gen. Marion’s men under Captains Daniel Conyers and McCottry sniped at Lt. Col. Watson’s camp from concealed positions. Lt. Col. Watson then removed his force that same day to Blakely’s Plantation. Although not having as many trees and foliage as there were around Witherspoon’s Plantation, Brig. Gen. Marion’s sharpshooters followed him there and continued their sniping.

Despite his casualties and the difficult situation, Lt. Col. Watson remained at Blakely’s until March 28th.

Brig. Gen. Francis Marion - Commanding Officer

Kingstree Regiment detachment led by Maj. John James with one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Thomas Potts, with 40 men

Berkeley County Regiment detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Robert McCottry, with 30 men

or

- Capt. William McCottry

Horry's Light Dragoons led by Lt. Col. Peter Horry, with three (3) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Baxter
- Capt. William Black
- Capt. Daniel Conyers

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Lt. Col. John Watson Tadwell-Watson - Commanding Officer

Royal Regiment of Artillery - 2 field pieces

Provincials led by Maj. Thomas Barclay with the following units:

King's American Regiment, Light Infantry Company led by Capt. Thomas Cornwell

DeLancey's Brigade, 3rd Battalion, Capt. Gilbert Willett's Light Infantry Company led by Lt. Edmond Evans

NJ Volunteers, 1st Battalion, Light Infantry Company led by Capt. James Shaw

NJ Volunteers, 2nd Battalion, Light Infantry Company led by Capt. Norman McLeod

NJ Volunteers, 4th Battalion, Light Infantry Company led by Capt. Jacob Van Buskirk

SC Rangers - 80 men

Loyalist Militia led by Lt. Col. Henry Richbourg with Capt. John Brockington and 150 men