General Clarke, a rough and able leader, with John Twiggs and John Dooly and Colonel Andrew Pickens crossed the river in South Carolina with troops to join the Georgians in a stand against the British. Colonel Boyd, the British commander, selected a crossing for his redcoats which was guarded by a blockhouse, manned by an American lieutenant and eight privates. This fort had mounted two swivel guns. He asked for a quiet passage. The Americans refused. So he moved his army five miles upstream and under considerable difficulty finally got his men and equipment to the Georgia side of the river where rafts were constructed to transport men and baggage. This crossing was contested by a small force of Americans on the Georgia side and fire on them. Colonel Boyd lost about a hundred men while crossing the river. General Boyd was mortally wounded.
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