One of the last engagements of the American Revolutionary War before Britain evacuated Charleston, notable for the death of Colonel John Laurens.
Key Facts
- Date
- August 27, 1782
- Location
- Near Beaufort, South Carolina
- War
- American Revolutionary War
- Notable casualty
- Lt. Colonel John Laurens, age 27
- Context
- Occurred after Siege of Yorktown, before British evacuation of Charleston
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, British forces still held Charleston, South Carolina. Skirmishes between American and British forces continued in the region as the British prepared to withdraw. These ongoing confrontations reflected the incomplete cessation of hostilities in the Southern theater despite the effective end of major campaigning.
On August 27, 1782, American and British forces clashed near Beaufort, South Carolina, along the Combahee River. Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, a 27-year-old Southern abolitionist and former aide-de-camp to George Washington, led American troops in the engagement. Laurens was killed during the fighting, making him one of the last notable American officers to die in the Revolutionary War.
The death of John Laurens, widely regarded as among the bravest American officers, was mourned as a significant loss. The battle was one of the final armed confrontations before British forces evacuated Charleston in December 1782, effectively ending the Revolutionary War's active campaign in South Carolina.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
John Laurens.
Side B
1 belligerent