Battle of Lenud's Ferry

The Battle of Lenud's Ferry on May 6, 1780 was the second in a series of Tarleton cavalry strikes that destroyed American mounted forces in South Carolina just before the fall of Charleston. Following his devastating surprise at Monck's Corner, Tarleton struck again at Lenud's Ferry on the Santee River.

American cavalry under Colonel Anthony White had been attempting to rescue prisoners taken at Monck's Corner when Tarleton's force surprised them at the ferry crossing. The attack was another complete surprise — Tarleton's ability to move with extraordinary speed and appear where least expected was becoming legendary. White's cavalry was scattered with significant casualties.

The destruction of American cavalry in South Carolina had consequences throughout the subsequent campaign. Without mounted forces to screen his movements, provide reconnaissance, and pursue broken enemy formations, Greene would fight the entire 1780-81 southern campaign at a significant disadvantage. The loss of cavalry was one of the most damaging operational consequences of the Charleston disaster.