Battle of Dingle's Mill

Part of the American Civil War

Date	April 9, 1865
Location	Sumterville, Sumter County, South Carolina. Coordinates: 33°52′33″N 80°20′9″W / 33.87583°N 80.33583°W / 33.87583; -80.33583
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

Confederate States

Commanders and leaders

Edward E. Potter

Pierce M. B. Young

Units involved

brigades

20th SC Militia Regt & local volunteers

Strength

2700

158

Casualties and losses

4 killed
20 wounded

6 killed
7 wounded
2 captured

The Battle of Dingle's Mill was an American Civil War battle that took place near Sumterville, Sumter County, South Carolina.

Major General Quincy A. Gillmore ordered a provisional division assembled under the command of Brigadier General Edward E. Potter. Potter was ordered to destroy the railroads in the area between Florence, Sumter, and Camden. The importance of the mission was pointedly made by Sherman's statement that "Those cars and locomotives should be destroyed if to do it costs you 500 men." Potter took command of the provisional division on April 1, 1865, at Georgetown. The division numbered 2,700 men composed of two infantry brigades and auxiliary troops.

The First Brigade commanded by Col. Philip P. Brown commander of the 157th N.Y consisted of:

The Second Brigade, commanded by Col. Edward Needles Hallowell, commander of the 54th Massachusetts consisted of:

In addition small detachments of the 1st New York Engineers, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry and two guns of Battery B 3rd New York Artillery accompanied the two infantry brigades.

On Easter Day, April 9, 1865, the Battle of Dingle's Mill was fought 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Sumterville. At approximately three in the morning, General Edward E. Potter's army, called Potter's Raiders, came from the direction of Kingstree. They were joined by Col. Edward Needles Hallowell's troops, who had crossed the Pocotaligo River, throwing Colonel Presley's men across Turkey Creek. This put them north of the pond at Dingle's Mill.

Confederate militiamen, under the command of Col. James Fowler Pressley, dug in their heels behind meager breastworks and awaited the arrival of the Union forces. The two working pieces of artillery were commanded by Lt. William Alexander McQueen and a patient of Sumter hospital, Lt Pamerya, an artilleryman from New Orleans. A third piece of artillery was too rusted to work.

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Wikipedia