Battle of Old Pocotaligo
On October 21st, 1862 a Federal force of 4400 men, under the command of Brigadier-General Brannan,
sailed from Hilton Head, destined for Mackay's Point on the Broad River. Brannan carried orders
"to destroy the railroad and railroad bridges on the Charleston and Savannah line." Brannan landed
on the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd, marching his troops up the road towards Old
Pocotaligo, in what is now called Point South. He sent two companies of engineers and the 48th
New York regiment to attack the bridge at Coosawhatchie then work their way towards Pocotaligo
tearing up the rails.
The Confederate commander at Pocotaligo, Colonel W.S. Walker, had a small force of infantry,
some dismounted cavalry and sections of two batteries of artillery that totaled 675 men.
Sending 200 men to guard the bridge and leaving another 100 men to mind the horses of the
cavalry, Walker set out with the rest of his men to meet Brannan's advance. Major J.H. Morgan
in command of a company of Confederate sharpshooters and two companies of dismounted cavalry
met Brannan's force and slowed them enough to give Walker time to form a defensive line at
Dr. Hudson's farm. During this action Morgan was badly wounded but he held off the Federals
long enough for Walker to establish his line.
General Brannan attacked Walker's line and after a fierce fight was able to flank Walker's force.
Colonel Walker seeing the danger that his command was in ordered them to fall back to the defenses
at Pocotaligo. General Brannan moved in pursuit but the Confederates had crossed the marsh by
means of a bridge that spanned the causeway. As the Federals appeared, Captain John Screven
took a small party of men and began to tear up the bridge to prevent the Federals from following.
His actions caused Brannan's advance to stall. Another fierce fight took place across the marsh
as the two sides traded musket and cannon fire for over two hours. The arrival and reinforcement
of the Charleston Light Dragoons on Brannon's left persuaded him to give up the fight.
General Brannan retreated back up Mackay's Point road toward the safety of his boats, while
the Rutledge Mounted Rifles and Kirk's Partisan Rangers pursued him. General Brannan was able
to escape under the cover of darkness and sailed back to Hilton Head.
The results of the battle favored the Confederates. Colonel Walker reported that the railroad
was still secure and his losses were light with 21 killed, 124 wounded and 18 missing for a
total of 163 out of his 475 men. General Brannan returned to Hilton Head without ever having
closed with the railroad. His losses were 43 killed, 294 wounded, and 3 missing for a total of 340.
The 2012 Battle of Pocotaligo will faithfully re-create the actions of both the attackers and the
defenders, by reenacting the withdrawal of the Confederates to the bridge, Captain Screven's
action on the bridge and the Federal withdrawal toward their boats.
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