08/03/2025
In the summer of 1781, British Major James Craig issued an ultimatum from his headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina: all able-bodied military age men in the surrounding counties were to take a loyalty oath and enroll in the Loyalist militia by August 1. Those who refused would be arrested and their property would be confiscated.
Patriot forces in the area mobilized to oppose Craig’s threats. To block Craig should he march in their direction, about 330 men under the command of General James Kenan dug earthworks at the ford where Duplin Road crossed Rockfish Creek.
Determined to enforce his ultimatum, Craig marched out of Wilmington on August 1 leading a column of about 500 men, including artillery and dragoons. Kenan’s Patriots should have been well-prepared for Craig’s advance. But they were not.
Kenan positioned his scouts and videttes, essentially his early warning alarm, only 3 miles from his lines. When the British appeared on the morning of August 2, the scouts galloped back to warn Kenan and his men, but when they reached the Patriot line British cavalry were hard on their heels.
Most of the Patriot defenders were still in camp when the British force suddenly appeared. Many rushed to the earthworks to defend it, but when British dragoons who had crossed upcreek appeared in the American rear, many other Patriots panicked and fled for their lives. Meanwhile, the British artillery had unlimbered and began bombarding the Patriot line. After exchanging a couple of volleys, the Americans began to break. When they realized the British cavalry was surrounding them, it turned into a rout. Dozens of the Patriot defenders were killed and about 30 more were taken prisoner. The British suffered few, if any, casualties.
In the aftermath of the Patriot disaster, Craig took control of the surrounding countryside, adding many Loyalists to his ranks and raiding and destroying the property of Patriots.
But the British success was to be short-lived. Two and half months later Craig received word that Cornwallis had surrendered his army at Yorktown. Facing the possibility of being cut off himself, after first destroying all military stores he couldn’t take with him, Craig evacuated Wilmington and sailed with his force to Charleston, South Carolina.
The Battle of Rockfish Creek occurred on August 2, 1781, two hundred forty-four years ago today.
