On February 2, a Confederate force under McLaws held the crossings of the
Salkehatchie River against the advance of the right wing of Sherman's Army.
Federal soldiers began building bridges across the swamp to bypass the road
block. In the meantime, Union columns worked to get on the Confederates'
flanks and rear. On February 3, two Union brigades waded the swamp downstream
and assaulted McLaws's right. McLaws retreated toward Branchville after
stalling Sherman's advance for only one day.