After Marion's constant raids on British lines of communication in the Kingstree area, Cornwallis was determined to rid himself of the problem once and for all. He gave command of the operation to Maj. James Wemyss, his troops were 240 men of the 63rd foot, Maj. John Harrison's provincials, Col. Samuel Bryan's North Carolina Militia and 100 Militia under Col. John Hamilton.

Against this force of 800 men, Marion could only field 100. The only course of action was to disperse most of his troops and retreat. He only just escaped in time, as unkown to him, Maj. Moncrief with the 7th foot and the militia units of Ball, Wigfall and Ganey, some 700 men in total were marching up through Brittan's Neck to cut off his line of retreat. Dismantling his small fort at the crossing of the Peedee River and hiding his two pieces of artillery in a nearby swamp, Marion lead his men into North Carolina and set up camp in the Great White Marsh, near the Waccamaw River.

Furious at Marion escaping Wemyss took his revenge out on the people in and around Kingstree who had supported the patriots. Fifty homes in the area were burned to the ground, and Adam Cusac, a local ferryman was hanged for refusing to take British officers over the Black River.

Marion sitting safely in his new camp was kept informed of what was happening but had to bide his time to retaliate.

After subjugating the area and feeling themselves safe, the British dispersed their troops over a wide area, from Georgetown to Cheraw, which was the chance Marion had been waiting for. Hearing that Col. Wigfall was posted on his side of the Peedee River at Black River Church with only 50 men and Cpt. Ball at Shepherd's Ferry with only 47 mounted infantry, Marion decided to pounce.

Cpt. Ball had his men camped across the Great Post Road, while he took up residence in the Red House Tavern. As Marion advanced, his scouting parties were called in and he was joined by a group under Cpt. John James and more militia under Cpt. Henry Mouzon, bringing his numbers up to around 100 men. Arriving near Shepherd's Ferry just before midnight, Marion's troops demanded that they attack now before Ball discovered them and made his escape.

The only crossing over the creek apart from the ferry was the old rickety Willtown Bridge. Unfortunately the noise of the horses crossing was heard by loyalist sentries who fired off warning shots giving Ball a chance to prepare for Marion's arrival. He formed up his men in the old field, west of the Red House Tavern.

When Marion reached the post road, he dismounted most of his troops, except for one unit to act as cavalry. Knowing his approach had been discovered, (by the alarm shots fired by Ball's sentries. ) Marion assumed Ball would have formed his men in and around the tavern, so be formed his own troops to attack it. The main assault was to be lead by Cpt. Thomas Waites, to his right flank Maj. Hugh Horry led more infantry. On Waites' left flank was the cavalry unit and Marion brought up the rear with the reserve infantry. SEE MAP

As the attack went in Maj. Horry was surprised to find that instead of supporting the main assault his men were actualy attacking the main enemy position. His men started to fall back in some disorder and the retreat was only stopped by Horry and Cpt. James rallying them up and leading them back to skirmish with the enemy. Meanwhile Waites and the cavalry on discovering no enemy troops in the tavern, wheeled and headed to the sound of the guns.

The sight of these fresh troops, especially cavalry, suddenly appearing out of the dark on their flank proved too much for Ball's untried troops and they threw down their weapons and fled into the nearby swamps. Casualties were light on both sides, the loyalists suffered eight men killed or wounded and thirteen taken prisoner. Marion had two men killed and eight wounded. Apart from destroying the loyalist force, Marion also captured valuable muskets and powder, plus forty eight chicksaw horses which would enable him to arm new recruits for his force. Marion kept Ball's own horse and named it Ball, he rode it for the rest of the war.

Marion bad wanted to carry on and attack Wigfall that night, but his men were exhausted by a forced march of thirty miles, plus the battle and now wanted to see their families and find out how much damage the British had done to their homes.

Marion's attack had a far greater effect the the few casualties inflicted. The British pulled back all their outposts to the three major centres at Georgetown, Camden and Cheraw, and started to prepare for yet another campaign against Marion. He had already retired to safety at Amis' Mill on Drowning Creek, and the patriots inspired by his attack were joining up to help him throw out the British, all Marion required was for them to make another mistake and be would be waiting.

Wargaming the Action of Black Mingo