Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site — Attraction in Fairfax

This is a very secluded and quiet park, and very difficult to imagine what happened here 160+ years ago in February of 1865. Ranger Brandon provided helpful information on the Battle, the Park and about future ideas for improvement. The Confederate forces under General Lafayette McLaws made a desperate stand at the Salkehatchie River to stop Sherman's men from marching on to destroy Columbia, South Carolina. But after 2 days of intense fighting under horrible conditions, they did not succeed. The successful Union crossing of the Salkehatchie River was the direct prelude to the capture of Columbia later that same month. This allowed them to cut the South Carolina Railroad, an important supply line for Confederate defenders. The battle represented a "last stand" by Confederate forces in South Carolina. The battlefield is now the Rivers Bridge State Historic Site, a memorial to the troops who fought there, particularly the Confederate soldiers who died in...

A lovely, lonely song of the South. One can feel the vibrations of this epic battle against Sherman's forces within the now tranquil field of oak and pine. Markers along the Battlefield Trail tell the tales of strategy and endurance of the fallen heroes. The main path leads to the banks of the river. The moss laden trees and swampy grounds are almost primordial. Just take special care of children and pets lest the ubiquitous alligator appear unexpectedly. The Memorial grounds with the graves of the brave are serene and... respectful. The American, South Carolina, and Confederate flags stand...

Not one detailed map at our particular entrance as to the location of certain attractions such as the two available-to-view cemeteries. People like to know "We are here" followed by a circled marker and directions and details of different areas of the park. We won't return. Because we actually invested an hour of our day trip, walking around blindly seeing nothing more than history boards and land. Very disappointing and our opinion and advice to fellow travelers and friends will be telling them not to bother. A brisk walk can be found in a backyard or local park....