Battle
1781 battle of the American Revolutionary War
The Battle of Rockfish was a minor conflict of the American Revolutionary War fought about one mile south of the present town of Wallace in Duplin County on August 2, 1781
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Text from the Wikipedia article “Battle of Rockfish”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Battle of Rockfish was a minor conflict of the American Revolutionary War fought about one mile south of the present town of Wallace in Duplin County on August 2, 1781
On January 28 of 1781, a British lead force under James H. Craig captured Wilmington, North Carolina. They used it as a base from which they forayed the countryside, arresting wings and enlisting local Loyalists. In the early summer of 1781, Craig issued a proclamation that all men in the surrounding area were British subjects, and consequentially must enrol in the Loyalist militia. He stated that those who did not do so by August 1 would be harassed and have their property seized and sold.
On August 2, 1781, James H. Craig led his men into the countryside.
At the same time, American forces consisting of Brigadier General James Kenan and the Duplin County militia were lying in wait behind breastworks erected along Rockfish Creek. Just before the fight, Brigadier General William Caswell's militia arrived and reinforced the American forces.
When Craig and his men arrived, there was a brief and intense confrontation between the forces. This lasted until the Americans ran out of ammunition and British artillery forces arrived, causing the Americans to withdraw. Major Craig's cavalry charged and the Americans ran. Captain John Gordon's dragoons ran the Americans down and took thirty prisoners.
Major James H. Craig remained in Duplin County and burned down the homes of people who would not take the Oath of Allegiance to the British.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Battle of Rockfish”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.