 On Sunday April 5, 1778 a contingent of about 135 British troops and loyalists entered the inlet to sack and destroy the Union salt works.The raiders burnt the salt works, broke the kettles and ransacked the surrounding homes before retreating and heading north to raid salt works in the Shark River.The Union salt works were repaired  and again attacked on the night of April 21, 1780 by a detachment of provincial troops, under the command of Lieut.