Rimini in Clarendon County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Encounter at Halfway Swamp / Site of Original St. Mark's Church
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2011
1. Encounter at Halfway Swamp Marker
(side 1)
Encounter at Halfway Swamp
On December 12, 1780, according to tradition, British Maj. Robert McLeroth was surprised near here by Gen. Francis Marion. The British first agreed to a staged combat with twenty men on each side, but slipped away during the night, escaping an all-out battle. Credence is given to the event by the skirmish on December 13th at Singleton's Mill, 10 miles north.
The first church of St. Mark's Parish, established in 1757 by commissioners Isaac Brunson, John, Joseph, and William Cantey, James McGirt, Mathew Nelson, and Richard Richardson, stood nearby at Halfway Swamp. Burned by the British during the Revolution, it was rebuilt four times and now stands near Pinewood.
Erected 2010 by The Clarendon County Historical Society, replacing a marker erected by the society in 1980. (Marker Number 14-6.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is December 12, 1780.
Location. 33° 39.301′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Halfway Swamp: (approx. ¼ mile away); Richardson Graves (approx. 1.2 miles away); Col. David Dubose Gaillard (approx. 5.1 miles away); Good Hope Picnic (approx. 5.9 miles away); Pine Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 6.2 miles away); Andrews Chapel Church (approx. 6.4 miles away); St. Mark's Episcopal Church (approx. 6½ miles away); Richard Richardson (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rimini.
Regarding Encounter at Halfway Swamp / Site of Original St. Mark's Church. Major McLeroth agreed to the challenge and a field was chosen. Marion selected Major John Vanderhorst as team captain and carefully chose twenty men. They were ordered to not fire until they were fifty yards away. However, the deadly contest did not play out, because the British team marched off the field. McLeroth had merely been stalling while waiting for reinforcements. Captain James Coffin was leading 140 men to join McLeroth, but when he learned of Marion's presence, he declined to reinforce
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011
2. Site of Original St. Mark's Church Marker
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed By Wikimedia
3. Francis Marion
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011
4. Encounter at Halfway Swamp / Site of Original St. Mark's Church Marker
as seen looking north along Old River Road, State Road
14-76
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 2, 2011
5. Wagon trail at the Encounter at Halfway Swamp / Site of Original St. Mark's Church Marker
Photographed By Mike Stroud, January 19, 2010
6. Present day St. Mark's Church located, near Pinewood, as mentioned
* See nearby markers
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,502 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on July 9, 2023, by C Summers of Manning, South Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 4, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
