Col. Boyd's small Tory detachment fought bravely, but were outflanked and driven back. Before he could reach the rest of his troops, Boyd was hot several times and fell mortally wounded.
As Pickens' Patriots attacked the Tory center, his flanking forces under John Dooly and Elijah Clarke emerged from swampy ground on the left and right to join the assault on the main Tory line. Command of John Boyd's regiment now passed on to Major William Augustus Spurgeon, Jr.
Eventually, despite outnumbering the Patriots roughly two-to-one and commanding higher ground, the Tories began giving ground. They began a complete rout retreat, abandoning horses and supplies and fleeing across the creek.
By the time the fighting had ceased, Col. Boyd's Tory regiment was no more.
From beginning to end, the engagement had lasted about four hours Of the 700 Tories engaged, casualties were roughly 200. On the Patriot side, Pickens' force had lost about 32 men killed and wounded. In addition, about 33 Patriots being held captive by Boyd's were freed when their captors scattered.
--Cooter
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