Rivers Bridge State Historic Site - Ehrhardt, South Carolina

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Explore History and Enjoy Nature at Rivers Bridge State Historic Site

At Rivers Bridge State Historic Site in Ehrhardt, South Carolina, visitors can explore the state’s only protected Civil War Battlefield. This is the battlefield where General Sherman’s army met its only significant Confederate resistance in South Carolina. The battle commemorated here took place February 2-3, 1865.

Rivers Bridge battlefield is an intriguing Civil War site because of its small scale. You can see the geographical elements that featured in this fierce battle. It is easy to study an overview of the battle and decipher exactly what took place where on the battlefield.

Even with just a cursory overview of information plaques on site, you can identify the original causeway road, cannon sites and earthen fortifications involved in the battle. The same Cypress Swamp the soldiers encountered almost 150 years ago still stands at Rivers Bridge.
 
Rivers Bridge is also a unique Civil War site because it is a preserved battlefield that was not the scene of large numbers of casualties, relatively speaking. It is fascinating to trace the tactics used by experienced troops during the various phases of the battle that enabled them to avoid high casualties despite fierce fighting.

Confederate soldiers that died during the battle are interred at the Memorial Grounds at Rivers Bridge State Historic Site. Visiting the Memorial Grounds is a very moving experience. Nearly all of the Confederate casualties of the battle have been identified, which makes their losses personalized human tragedies.

It is also touching to think of the original community members who chose to commemorate and honor those men who fought here, despite Union victory at the battle of Rivers Bridge and shortly thereafter, in the war. If not for their efforts to preserve the burial grounds here, it is doubtful the Rivers Bridge battlefield site would have remained and ultimately been preserved in tact.

Visitors interested in learning more detailed information about the Memorial Grounds and the battlefield at Rivers Bridge can take a special ranger-guided tour. Educational programs are also held here, and you can obtain information about programs and tours by visiting the Rivers Bridge Historic Site section at SouthCarolinaParks.com.

You can take a self-guided tour of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site. There are interpretive panels along the ¾ mile Battlefield Interpretive Trail that provide information about the battle.

Rivers Bridge is a very scenic place to picnic, and you can even reserve a picnic shelter area for larger gatherings. Birding is another activity visitors enjoy on their visit to this picturesque natural area.

It is important that during your visit to the battle grounds, you avoid straying from designated paths. This will help prevent the erosion or destruction of earthen fortifications that have been preserved for nearly a century and a half.