The Battle of Quinby Bridge
July 17, 1781 at Quinby Bridge, South Carolina

Americans Commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas Sumter Forces Killed Wounded Captured - - - - British Commanded by Lt. Col. John Coates Forces Killed Wounded Captured - - - - *Killed or Wounded Conclusion: British Victory

On July 14, the British outpost at Monck's Corner was commanded by Lt. Col. John Coates. The outpost was attacked by an American force, commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas Sumter. Sumter had part of Lt. Col. Henry Lee's force and Lt. Col. Francis Marion's force with him. After Sumter attempted a turning movement, Coates withdrew his force to a position around Biggin Church.
On July 17, at 3:00 A.M., Coates set fire to the church and withdrew his force 18 miles down the Cooper River toward Charleston and then to Quinby Bridge. That afternoon, he held a strong position along the creek. Coates ordered someof his men to loosen the wooden flooring of the bridge. This would slow down the American cavalry that was pursuing him. Coates was waiting for his rear guard and baggage train to cross the bridge before he took up the wooden planks on the bridge.
Unknown to Coates at the time, Lee's men had destroyed the British rear guard. Two detachments of American cavalry rode across the bridge to attack the British. Unfortunately, on their way across, their horses tore off the loose wooden planks, thus stranding a third detachment on the other side being unable to cross. The British troops rallied around Tarleton, forcing the 2 American cavalry detachments to withdraw.
Around 5:00 P.M., Marion organized the forces for an attack. The British had formed a hollow square with a howitzer covering their front and their flanks protected by outbuildings and rail fences of a nearby plantation. Sumter formed Marion's infantry on the left flank, Col. ?? Horry's cavalry on the right flank, and Col. Thomas Taylor's militia regiment and Sumter's troops in the center. Taylor charged forward but was quickly driven back. marion's force also launched his advance but was also forced to withdraw. With Sumter's men were firing from the protection of buildings and Sumter had forgotten to bring their artillery forward to support Taylor and marion's charges. Because of Sumter's failure to properly support the American attack, Taylor approached Sumter and told him that he would no longer serve under him. marion and Lee, also disgusted by Sumter's mismanagement, withdrew their forces 15 miles with their casualties. The following day, they both left Sumter's command.