Some 150 British Highlanders and loyalists landed south of Shark River and completely destroyed the Salt River salt works, which produced salt essential to the well-being of American soldiers. They were then driven off by about fifteen Monmouth Militia, whom they mistook for scouts of a larger force, and in their panic they swamped some of the longboats used to ferry them to the three British vessels lying offshore. The salt had been produced by boiling seawater in large flat pans over wood fires until only the salt remained.