American troops commanded by Colonel Thomas Sumter captured a small earthen fort controlling the ferry over the Wateree River from Loyalists commanded by South Carolina Loyalist militia Colonel James Cary on August 15, 1780. Cary's Fort was located about one mile downstream. Sumter's South Carolina militia was commanded by Colonel Thomas Taylor and Colonel Edward Lacey. Shortly thereafter, these Americans captured two companies of British regulars of the 33rd Regiment and the 71st Regiment (Frasier's Highlanders) who were marching from Ninety Six to reinforce Lord Charles Cornwallis in Camden. They also captured forty wagons of badly needed food and military supplies and over three hundred cattle to feed General Horatio Gates' starving Continental Army.