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Battle of James Island

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Battle of James Island
Part of the American Revolutionary War
DateNovember 14, 1782
Location
Result British Victory
Belligerents
United States Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Poland Tadeusz Kościuszko Kingdom of Great Britain William Dansey
Strength
70 300+
Casualties and losses
5 killed, 5 wounded 2 killed, 3 wounded

The Battle of James Island was a minor engagement on November 14, 1782, just outside Charleston, South Carolina, between American and British forces. British troops were on the move attempting to evacuate most of the Americans.[1] In an effort to encourage the evacuation of British troops, American forces attempted to ambush British troops cutting wood; however, reinforcements were quickly brought to the British side and the American soldiers were forced to retreat. About 70 American troops had attempted to rout and defeat British troops in the area.[2]

The British, after receiving reinforcements, numbered more than 300 soldiers and vastly outnumbered the Americans.[3] Several Americans were killed, including Captain William Wilmont, the last continental soldier killed in the Carolinas.[4] [5] In addition to Wilmont, William Smith, an enslaved African American who assisted Patriot troops during the battle, was taken captive by British forces and subsequently died in captivity.[6] As the skirmish finished, the remaining American troops retreated. The British would soon withdraw from the Americas, marking the end of the American Revolutionary War.

References

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  1. ^ "The Charleston Museum | News and Events » Battle of Dills Bluff". www.charlestonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  2. ^ "List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1782 • American Revolutionary War". revolutionarywar.us. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  3. ^ "List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1782 • American Revolutionary War". revolutionarywar.us. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  4. ^ "List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1782 • American Revolutionary War". revolutionarywar.us. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  5. ^ "The American Revolution in South Carolina - James Island". www.carolana.com.
  6. ^ "The Charleston Museum | News and Events » Battle of Dills Bluff". www.charlestonmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-05-24.