This Day in History: May 3

On May 3, Lt. Col. John Laurens and a 250-man detachment of the North Carolina Light Infantry were on a mission to bring back the Patriot rear guard before the British cut them off. When they encountered the British, Laurens chose a bad position for his troops. The British fired long-range artillery at the Patriots, who were powerless to do anything. Laurens was shot in the arm and his horse was killed by artillery fragments. [More]