On May 23, the British under Lt. Col. John Maitland had established their defenses at Stono Ferry, located on the Stono River. The British troops were camped on one side with a detachment of Hessians camped on the other side. A British galley was anchored in the river to provide covering fire for the Hessians.

The British rear guard force was attacked by Patriot forces under the command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln on June 20th. The battle lasted for about one hour and the Patriots had taken the British redoubts. Most of the British and Hessian troops were falling back and had taken many causalities and the patriots were on the verge of victory when fresh British reinforcements came up. Gen. Lincoln realizing that his men were running short on ammunition fell back. A British pursuit force was cut off by the quick action of BG Pulaski and his cavalry force, which stopped the British.

As the Patriots attacked the Hessian camp they immediately came under fire from the galley. The Patriots opened fire on the ship and forced it to withdraw from the fight. Being on the high ground, the Patriots overshot the Hessians when they opened fire on them. The British had gathered all the boats they could, and crossed over the river to reinforce the Hessians. The British troops charged after the Patriots.

Unknown to the British, the South Carolina Navy schooner Rattlesnake had come down the river. It began to fire into the rear of the British and Hessain forces. They both turned from the Patriot force and fired upon the Rattlesnake. The Rattlesnake fired back at them, and repulsed the attack with heavy losses.

Brig. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln - Commanding Officer

RIGHT WING:

Right Wing led by Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner with 759 men of the 2nd North Carolina Brigade in the following three (3) regiments:

4th NC Regiment led by Col. James Armstrong, Lt. Col. James Thackston, Maj. John Armstrong, Maj. Pinketham Eaton, with the following nine (9) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Campbell
- Capt. Benjamin Carter
- Capt. Samuel Chapman
- Capt. William Temple Coles
- Capt. George Dougherty
- Capt. William Goodman
- Capt. John McLane
- Capt. Matthew Ramsey
- Capt. Joseph Thomas Rhodes (wounded)

5th NC Regiment led by Col. Thomas Clark, Lt. Col. Henry "Hal" Dixon, Maj. Reading Blount with the following nine (9) known companies, led by:
- Capt. James Campbell (POW)
- Capt. Thomas Donoho
- Capt. William Lytle
- Capt. James Mills
- Capt. Joseph Montford
- Capt. James Morehead
- Capt. John Slaughter
- Capt. John Sumner
- Capt. Philip Taylor

6th NC Regiment of "New Levies" led by Lt. Col. Archibald Lytle (wounded), with eleven (11) known companies, led by:
- Capt. William Bethel (Guilford)
- Capt. David Cowan (Rowan)
- Capt. William Ganns (Mecklenburg)
- Capt. Arthur Gatling (Gates)
- Capt. John Griffin (Orange)
- Capt. Alsey High (Warren)
- Capt. John Leak (Guilford)
- Capt. Matthew McCauley (Orange)
- Capt. Robert Moore (Caswell)
- Capt. Barnett Pulliam (Granville)
- Capt. Robert Temple (Franklin)

SC 4th Regiment of Artillery detachment led by Capt. John Wickly with 2 field pieces

North Carolina Militia, led by Brig. Gen. John Butler, with ~1,000 militiamen in the following units:

Hillsborough District Brigade of Militia (NC), led by Brig. Gen. John Butler, including four (4) known regiments, including:

Orange County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. James Haven

Caswell County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Col. William Moore, with five (5) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Moore
- Capt. Dudley Reynolds
- Capt. Berryman Turner
- Capt. Meshack Turner
- Capt. William Witcher

Wake County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Lewis Bledsoe

Randolph County Regiment detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. John Collier

Halifax District Brigade of Militia (NC) led by Col. Jonas Johnson, Maj. William Jarvis, and Maj. John Lowry (wounded), with four (4) known regiments, including:

Warren County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of five (5) known companies, led by:
- Capt. William Christmas
- Capt. John Cokely
- Capt. Andrew Peter
- Capt. John Twitty
- Capt. John White

Franklin County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Jeter

Edgecombe County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of two (2) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Edward Hall
- Capt. Jacob Taylor

Northampton County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Joel Sherrod

New Bern District Brigade of Militia (NC) detachment also led by Col. Jonas Johnston (above) with five (5) known regiments, including:

Craven County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. David Roach

Johnston County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Hardy Bryan

Pitt County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of three (3) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Armwell Herron
- Capt. James Lanier
- Capt. John White

Dobbs County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Burwell Mouring

Carteret County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. James Sims

Edenton District Brigade of Militia (NC) detachment also led by Col. Lawrence Baker (Gates County Regiment) with of two (2) known regiments, including:

Bertie County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Charles Rhodes

Camden County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Spencer West

Salisbury District Brigade of Militia (NC), detachment led by Maj. James Rutherford and Maj. James Smith with seven (7) known regiments, including:

Guilford County Regiment detachment of two (2) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Conner
- Capt. John Hall

Richmond County Regiment detachment of two (2) known companies, led by:
- Capt. William Hunter, Sr.
- Capt. John Speed

Rowan County Regiment of Militia (NC) led by Col. Francis Locke and Maj. Madison, with seven (7) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Brandon
- Capt. Thomas Cowan
- Capt. Galbraith Falls
- Capt. Charles Gordon
- Capt. Richard Graham
- Capt. Elijah Lyons
- Capt. John Ramsey

Burke County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Col. Charles McDowell and Maj. Tutt (Lincoln County Regiment), with ten (10) known companies, led by:
- Capt. James Barr
- Capt. Jacob Camplin (Surry County Regiment)
- Capt. Benjamin Harden (Rutherford County Reg.)
- Capt. Joseph McDowell
- Capt. Daniel McKisick (Lincoln County Regiment)
- Capt. James Neal (Rutherford County Regiment)
- Capt. Lewis Taylor
- Capt. Nimrod Terrel (Rutherford County Reg.)
- Capt. Henry Turney (Rutherford County Reg.)
- Capt. Tutt (Rutherford County Regiment)

Wilkes County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. William Lenoir

Wilmington District Brigade of Militia (NC) detachment, led by Col. James Kenan, Lt. Col. James Richardson, and Maj. Ivy, with three (3) known regiments, including:

Duplin County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment led by Col. James Kenan, with three (3) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Kenan Hubbard
- Capt. Michael King
- Capt. Shadrack Stallings

Cumberland County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Nathaniel King

Onslow County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. O'Neil

LEFT WING:

Left Wing led by SC Continental Brig. Gen. Isaac Huger and the following units:

SC 6th Regiment of Riflemen led by Lt. Col. William Henderson, Maj. Samuel Taylor and the following ten (10) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Jesse Baker
- Capt. John Blassingame
- Capt. Alexander Boyce
- Capt. John Buchanan
- Capt. Richard Doggett
- Capt. William Doggett
- Capt. Henry Hampton
- Capt. Wade Hampton
- Capt. George Warley
- Capt. James White (Mecklenburg County, NC)

SC 3rd Regiment led by Col. William Thomson with the following nine (9) known companies led by:
- Capt. Richard Brown
- Capt. John Donaldson
- Capt. Uriah Goodwin
- Capt. Robert Goodwyn
- Capt. David Hopkins
- Capt. Felix Warley
- Capt. Joseph Warley
- Capt. William Wilson
- Capt. Richard Winn

SC 4th Regiment of Artillery detachment led by Col. Owen Roberts, Lt. Col. Barnard Beeckman, Lt. Col. John Faurcheraud Grimke, Maj. Ephraim Mitchell, with two (2) known companies led by:
- Capt. James Mitchell - 4 field pieces
- Charles Town District Regiment Artillery Company led by Capt. Sims White

SC 1st Regiment detachment led by Maj. Thomas Pinckney with two (2) companies led by:
- Capt. William Hixt
- Capt. John Vanderhorst

1st Brigade of SC Militia detachment of the following two (two) known companies:
- Capt. William Hazzard Wigg - Beaufort District Regiment
- Capt. John Raven Matthews - Charles Town District Regiment

2nd Brigade of SC Militia detachment led by Col. Richard Richardson, with the following units:

Camden District Regiment led by Col. Joseph Kershaw, Lt. Col. James Steen, with the following five (5) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Cook
- Capt. John Graves
- Capt. John James
- Capt. William Kirkland
- Capt. Hugh White

Fairfield Regiment led by Col. John Winn, with the following seven (7) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Angus Campbell
- Capt. William Charnock
- Capt. Robert Crawford
- Capt. John Nixon
- Capt. Robert Patton
- Capt. John Pearson
- Capt. Lewis Pope

New Acquisition District Regiment detachment led by Col. Thomas Neel (killed), Lt. Col. Samuel Watson, with the following five (5) known companie,s led by:
- Capt. Hugh Bratton
- Capt. Peter Clinton
- Capt. Andrew Love
- Capt. John Moon
- Capt. Richard Sadler

1st Spartan Regiment detachment led by Col. John Thomas, Jr., with the following five (5) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Zachariah Bullock
- Capt. Thomas Jones
- Capt. Major Parson
- Capt. John Adam Summer
- Capt. Philemon Waters

2nd Spartan Regiment detachment led by "Unknown," with the following four (4) known companies. led by:
- Capt. William Grant
- Capt. Joshua Palmer
- Capt. Matthew Patton
- Capt. Nimrod Terrell

3rd Brigade of SC Militia detachment led by "Unknown," with the following units:

Little River District Regiment led by Lt. Col. James Williams, and Maj. George Ancrum, with the following eight (8) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Levi Casey
- Capt. Robert Gillam, Jr.
- Capt. Joseph Hayes
- Capt. Leonard Laughlin
- Capt. William Milwee
- Capt. William Mulwee
- Capt. James Pettigrew
- Capt. Jeorard Smith

Upper Ninety-Six District Regiment detachment led by Maj. William Farr, with the following four (4) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Cowan
- Capt. John Irwin
- Capt. William McGaw
- Capt. Alexander Noble

4th Brigade of SC Militia detachment led by "Unknown," with the following units:

Upper Craven County Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. John Purvis, with the following two (2) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Henry Council
- Capt. Jefferson Williams

GA 2nd Battalion detachment led by Col. John White and the following units:

GA 1st Regiment detachment led by Col. Robert Rae March

GA 2nd Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Daniel Roberts with Capt. Littlebury Mosby

GA 3rd Regiment detachment led by Col. John Stirk with Capt. Gideon Booker

GA 4th Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Joseph Pannill

NC Light Dragoons led by Col. Marquis Francois DeMalmedy, Marquis of Bretagne, Lt. Col. Hugh Tinnen, Maj. Cosmo de Medici, Maj. Micajah Lewis, and Maj. John Nelson with fourteen (14) known companies led by:
- Capt. William Armstrong
- Capt. Samuel Ashe
- Capt. James Carrington
- Capt. Robert Council
- Capt. William Richardson Davie (wounded)
- Capt. John Davis
- Capt. Edmund Gamble
- Capt. Daniel Gillespie
- Capt. Christopher Goodwin
- Capt. Thomas Kennedy
- Capt. Morehead
- Capt. Richard Simmons
- Capt. Joseph White
- Capt. Ralph Williams

RESERVES:

Reserve Force led by Brig. Gen. Count Kasimir Pulaski with the following units:

Pulaski's Legion of Horse led by Maj. Chevalier Pierre-Francois Vernier and the following units:
- 1st Troops Lancers - Capt. Jan Zielinski
- 1st Troops Dragoons - Capt. Paul Bentalou
- 2nd Troops Dragoons - Capt. Henry Bedkin

Pulaski's Legion of Foot led by Lt. Col. Charles Frederick de Bedaulx and the following units:
- 1st Company of Grenadiers - Capt. Jerome Le Brun de Bellecour
- 2nd Company of Infantry - Capt. James de Segon
- 3rd Company of Infantry - Capt. Frederick Paschke
- Company of Chasseurs - Lt. Francois Roth
- 4th Supernumeracy Company - Capt. Joseph Baldesqui

SC Light Dragoons led by Col. Daniel Horry, Maj. Hezekiah Maham, with three (3) known companies, led by:
- Capt. John Coulturier
- Capt. Thomas Giles
- Capt. John Hampton

Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment led by Col. LeRoy Hammond, Lt. Col. Benjamin Roebuck, with over 300 men in the following thirteen (13) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Nathaniel Bacon
- Capt. Zachariah Bullock
- Capt. John Carter
- Capt. Henry Foster
- Capt. John Hammond
- Capt. Samuel Hammond
- Capt. Benjamin Hatcher
- Capt. John Moore
- Capt. Drury Pace
- Capt. Solomon Pope
- Capt. John Ryan
- Capt. William Smith
- Capt. Robert Thomas

[One-third of Col. LeRoy Hammond's men most likely supported the Left Wing above - units unknown]

Catawba Indian Company of Rovers - Capt. Samuel Boykin

VA Militia led by Col. David Mason and the following units:

Charlotte County Militia led by Maj. William Hubbard with Capt. William Morton

Amelia County Militia led by Capt. William Fitzgerald

VA Militia Artillery led by Capt. "Unknown" with 2 field pieces

Total Patriot Forces - 1,200

Lt. Col. John Maitland - Commanding Officer

71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders), 1st Battalion with 500 men

Royal Regiment of Artillery, 4th Battalion, Number 7 Company led by Capt.-Lt. John Fairlamb with 1st Lt. George Wilson and 7 guns

Hesse-Kassel Grenadier Regiment von Trumbach led by Maj. Johann Endemann with 200 men

Hesse-Kassel Garrison Regiment von Wissenbach led by Lt. Col. Fredrich von Porbeck

Royal Engineers led by Maj. James Moncrief

Royal NC Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Hamilton

Armed Flatboat - Capt. "Unknown"

Total British Forces - 800

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