It started between hungry men over a bunch of cows.

On the morning of Nov. 16, 1781, patriot militia surprised British loyalist foragers looking for food at Tarrar Springs near Lexington.

An exchange of shots rang out but soon ended when both sides agreed to negotiate.

The patriot militia under Capt. James Butler and Capt. Sterling Turner agreed to let the loyalists leave unharmed if they returned their stolen cattle.

Col. Hezekiah Williams agreed and quickly left the area.

It was one of many American Revolutionary War skirmishes between patriots and loyalists to the crown in Lexington County. In this one, no one was killed or believed to have been wounded.

To commemorate that historic incident, representatives of the Godfrey Dreher Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Granby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate a highway historical marker Saturday, July 20, at 3 pm.

The program will be held in front of the Lexington School District 1 office building on Tarrar Springs Road just off US 1 a mile east of the Lexington County Courthouse.

Representatives of both groups from all over the state will attend with SCSAR President Nathan Kaminski and the SCDAR State Regent.