The last Continental Army soldier killed in action in the Carolinas died here, making it one of the final armed engagements of the American Revolutionary War.
Key Facts
- Date
- November 14, 1782
- American force size
- 70 men
- British force size (reinforced)
- More than 300 soldiers
- Last Continental soldier killed in Carolinas
- Captain William Wilmont
- Notable captive
- William Smith, Black slave, died in captivity
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
British forces near Charleston were in the process of evacuating the region at the close of the American Revolutionary War. American commanders sought to accelerate this withdrawal by launching a surprise attack on a British wood-cutting party, hoping to pressure the British into departing more quickly.
On November 14, 1782, American forces under Tadeusz Kościuszko attempted to ambush British troops commanded by William Dansey on James Island. British reinforcements arrived swiftly, swelling their numbers to over 300, far outnumbering Kościuszko's 70 men. The Americans were forced to retreat, suffering several killed including Captain William Wilmont.
The skirmish ended with the Americans withdrawing, but the broader British evacuation of Charleston proceeded regardless. Captain William Wilmont became the last Continental Army soldier killed in action in the Carolinas, and William Smith died in British captivity. The British soon withdrew from the region, effectively ending the Revolutionary War in the South.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Tadeusz Kościuszko.
Side B
1 belligerent
William Dansey.