Shots in the Dark

Under a full moon in the dead of night, the advance guards of the two armies came upon each other on the Great Wagon Road. Britain’s Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, marching from Camden with his dragoons, promptly charged the American cavalry of Col. Charles Armand.

Although they routed Armand’s troops, the British were soon driven back by fire from American light infantry under Lt. Cols. Charles Porterfield (VA) and John Armstrong (NC).

Tarleton then called up the infantry and drove back the Americans, mortally wounding Porterfield.

Reluctant to continue battling in darkness, both armies halted and prepared for combat at dawn.