Rivers Bridge State Historic Site
⚔️ 1,200 Confederates Against 7,000 — The Last Stand Before Sherman Burned South Carolina — Rivers Bridge State Historic Site near Ehrhardt, Bamberg County, South Carolina, Battle of Rivers Bridge (February 2–3, 1865), Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign, Confederate earthworks along Salkehatchie River, Colonel George P. Harrison vs Major General Joseph Mower, only SC state park preserving a Civil War battlefield, swamp flanking maneuver, four cemeteries, annual commemoration since 1876 — Bamberg County, SC
By February 1865, General William Tecumseh Sherman had already burned Atlanta and marched to the sea through Georgia. Now he was heading north — and South Carolina, the state that started the war, was next.
At Rivers Bridge on the Salkehatchie River, 1,200 Confederate soldiers dug in behind earthworks and tried to stop 7,000 Union troops from crossing. They held the bridge for two days. Then the Federals waded through the swamp, flanked the line, and the defenders fell back. Rivers Bridge was one of the last substantial Confederate efforts to slow Sherman’s march — and it is the only South Carolina state park that preserves a Civil War battlefield.
What to See
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Confederate Earthworks | Original, well-preserved earthen fortifications stretching along the river bluff — the defensive line that held for two days against overwhelming odds |
| Interpretive Trail | Walking trail through the battlefield with markers explaining the engagement — from the initial Union assault on the causeway to the flanking movement through the swamp |
| Four Cemeteries | Memorial grounds including a Confederate cemetery with soldiers killed during the battle. Annual commemorative services held since 1876 |
| Salkehatchie Swamp | The dense swamp the Union troops waded through to flank the Confederate position — the terrain that made the defense possible and the flanking movement so difficult |
| Grounds | Shaded grounds along the river with picnic areas and nature trails through the lowcountry landscape |
The Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 1864 | Sherman’s March to the Sea — Atlanta to Savannah. Georgia devastated |
| Jan 1865 | Sherman turns north into South Carolina — “the hellhole of secession.” His troops are eager to punish the state that started the war |
| Feb 2, 1865 | Union forces under General Mower attack the Confederate position at Rivers Bridge. The first assault up the narrow causeway is repulsed by artillery and rifle fire |
| Feb 3, 1865 | Union troops wade through the Salkehatchie swamp to flank the Confederate line. The outnumbered defenders are forced to withdraw toward Branchville |
| Feb 17, 1865 | Sherman reaches Columbia. The state capital burns |
| Apr 9, 1865 | Lee surrenders at Appomattox. The war ends |
| 1876 | First commemorative service held at Rivers Bridge — a tradition that continues to this day |
Best Time to Visit
| Season | Best For |
|---|---|
| Winter (Feb) | ❄️ Battle anniversary is February 2–3. The landscape looks as it did in 1865 — bare trees, cold air, muddy swamp |
| Spring (Mar–May) | 🌿 Comfortable weather. The lowcountry greens up. Good for walking the earthworks trail |
| Fall (Oct–Nov) | Cool weather returns. Fall color in the lowcountry. Fewer visitors |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Hot and humid. Mosquitoes in the swamp. Early morning visits only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was South Carolina treated worse than Georgia?
Sherman’s troops considered South Carolina responsible for the war. As the first state to secede and the state where Fort Sumter was fired upon, South Carolina was singled out for punishment. Sherman himself wrote: “The whole army is burning with an insatiable desire to wreak vengeance upon South Carolina.”
Could the Confederates have held?
Not with 1,200 men against 7,000. The defensive position was strong — earthworks on a bluff above a narrow causeway — but the swamp, while difficult, was not impassable. Once the Union troops flanked through it, the position was untenable.
Is this the only Civil War battlefield in the SC state park system?
Yes — Rivers Bridge is the only South Carolina state park that preserves a Civil War battlefield. The earthworks are original and remarkably well-preserved.
⚔️ 1,200 Against 7,000 — The Last Stand on the Salkehatchie
They held the bridge for two days. Then Sherman’s army waded through the swamp. Two weeks later, Columbia burned. The only Civil War battlefield in the SC state park system.
