The Engagement At Rivers Bridge

"It's the strongest position I ever saw in my life."....Union General O.O. Howard

"I can hold my position here until Christmas, if you can keep them off my flanks"...Confederate Lt.Col. Edwin H. Bacon

"That indescribably ugly Salkehatchie"......Union General O.O. Howard

On Thursday, February 2nd & Friday, February 3rd, 1865, the Union forces under General Wm T. Sherman met the only major resistance from Confederate forces while on that armies scorching rampage through our beautiful state. When the Union attacking force, the 1st Division of the XVII Corps, under Maj Gen. Joseph A. Mower, attempted to cross over a causeway ,consisting of a series of 16 bridges to assault the Confederate breastworks, they came under a blistering fire from Confederate musket & artillery batteries. On Friday, the 3rd of February, the Unions troops forged across about 800 yards on the Confederate right flank. The Confederates then fell back. The state capital, Columbia, fell to the torch, two weeks later, the Confederate capital, Richmond, two months later.

When you visit the park, remember that these works have survived the battle, drought, flood, wind, hurricanes & every thing else that nature has thrown at them. Let us, as humans, treat them with the reverence & respect they deserve, when there, walk around the works, not on them. Our children & our children's, children deserve to be able to come to the park and reflect on our cherished heritage, just as we, the descendants of those noble heroes, do today.

The annual re-enactment of the Battle of Rivers Bridge is held each year on the anniversary weekend of the actual battle. The 2008 event will be February 1st to 3rd.  The site will accommodate campaigners who are welcome to sleep in the works as well as an improved Federal camp across the swamp bridge.  If you've never heard the cannons echo in the night through the swamps of the Salkehatchie, it's a treat you don't want to miss.

The event site is in the lower part of South Carolina near Allendale and about 25 miles west of Walterboro.  The event will be held on private property across the road from the Rivers Bridge Civil War Historic Park.  That's about a mile from the State Park main entrance. Registration is off Hwy 641.  The entrance is on the north side and should be well marked.  Click here for a set of maps that will get you to the right place.

For more information send a note to info@25thscvi.com.