ROAR + |__|. Se RL TT I Pe an vi 5h ih tlt Sad pe WAY oo) Se ocalase pa a eoaeae orm epee) pete ha net sera ee : é Serge a teal x MELA aber : « A ren rg ape news EPs peas pager Oe sent Sage lecaoae pli! 2 ae meet eT) beet) ee TT 3 ALP 1 aa MRS wwe es reas eer) ches riya 4a ahaa pace heirs Va IS eee are aap es ear oath a Sen oP 2 ie eee aia Etcetera peep teenie Bonin Pesce teat re enee cri emphases tahaaaean Se en ar ae 8 bn teehee Ne eee evs aeee Tee Sia Pe IL ga yore a * , on anise egy tera meirer) penn taht a Sheree ey Ga Mier Cicer ich esee Se iatS Sy ete oy, gee ante te cv "acme " : “* Pawre ss seared sateen os eerNT Selagrerery ee Yon 2 int alas se Fler ergcets ere rat “ Bes seit clean aeons ek sk : se alc lage ea a ; A end cad a ne he iiaanec eos a 428 THE NortH CAROLINA HISTORICAL REVIEW are the following gentlemen: Bartlett Yancy,** Edward D. Jones*® and Solomon Graves Jun'.;37 the order in which each professional character is named denotes the priority of time, in which they commenced the practice of their profession: ' There are two Societies in the County Constituted for intellectual improvement: One at Caswell Academy and another at the tavern of Jethro Brown*® esq: these exercises are mostly polemical. We have no public library in the county: About 2 years ago Several gentlemen of Caswell and Person had formed themselves into a Society for the encouragement of the arts and agriculture; but that Spirit of emulation and national pride, which then characterized all, seems now to be possessed by a few only; little has been done of the Progress and promotion of this Society as yet.” The Religion of the inhabitants may be best estimated by the num ber of Churches and Communicants: there are 4 Baptist Churches & about 300 Communicants: 4 Presbyterian Congregations and about 200 or 250 Communicants: 3 or 4 Methodist Societies and about 250 oF 300 Communicants: Caswell is a very healthy part of the Country: the common diseases of the inhabitants are Nervous and Billious fever: the remedy for the most part, is Stimulents, purgatives; the Composition of which is best known to the Physicians: The Amusements of the polite part of Society consists in Balls, tea parties, and visiting parties: those of an inferior class consists of Satu day-night frolicks, now become almost obselete;: Shooting Matches and Horse racing, afford amusement to the better Sort of men, and now and then may be seen a party with an Old rusty pack of cards, amusing for whisky: The Only Sporting Club in the County is the “Jocky Club” of the Caswell Turf:*° Caswell: 11th Augt: 1810. Dear Sir: ug I have herewith sent you, a Concise description of the particulars respecting which information was required, by your letter of March 30! 1810, which I had not the pleasure of receiving before the last of July: An earlier reception of it would have given me a better opportunity of making myself well acquainted with the particulars of which you Sought information, but having received it at a time when my fall cr %5 Supra, note 21. = Supra, note 22, 1797 on of Saigpoon Graves, Sr., who was a member of the House of Commons, 1795, 179 %8 Jethro gence gh a ag vom. North Carolina Manual, 1913, 542. > yn was the father o edford _ i a Parl abet id cas eer State W. H. Hoyt, op. cit, I, 43. ord Brown who had a distinguished political car 1823 hi ‘een incorporation by the legislature before 1811 has been found. Howey he North Caroline me Society was listed among those in existence In the state. 40 A brief ac : ! Register, ea ee found of the Caswell races held November 13-15, 1804: Raleigh 6, and in the TweLvE NortH CAROLINA COUNTIES IN 1810-1811 429 cuit was just about to Commence, I had but this alternative, of giving you the information I then possessed in an abstract manner, or delay my answer to your request until the Winter; the former I thought best adapted to your purposes and therefore framed the fragment which I now transmit you: I have thought for a twelve-month past that Some Strictures upon the late and fashionable mode of electioning, might be of Service to the good people of this State, and have hoped and expected to have Seen published in your papers Something on that Subject; but not a word has been sa[id] it is probable that during the winter when the mind of the public is cool and calm Something of this Sort may appear: I should indeed wish to see Some writer undertake the Subject, who is able to do it Justice. Accept of my wishes for your promotion and prosperity, and any th[ing] I can do for you in this part of the State, shall be cheerfully [torn]. Yours mo. respectfully B. Yancy*? It is hoped and expected, that you will exercise your discretion, to co[r- rect]ing errors, and making abridgements: the description was thrown together [in] haste, and has not been attempted to be corrected. Yours, ee Messrs. Thomas Henderson & Co. Editors of the Star, Raleigh, N° C To the care of Rich? Henderson esq. DUPLIN COUNTY By Witi1AM Dickson Particulars Respecting Duplin County of which Information is Re- quested by the Editors of the Star. Duplin County and Sampson County was formerly apart of New “1 Supra, ‘note 21. In nearly all secondary works, the spelling is ‘‘Yancey’’; and the same form was used by many of his contemporaries and relatives. An examination of the manuscript laws signed by Yancy while he was speaker of the Senate, from 1817 to 1827, shows that he usually spelled it “Yancy,” though in the earlier years he occasionally inserted the ‘‘e.” 430 THE Nortu CARoLInA HisToRICAL REVIEW a ee and about the year 1750! was divided from New Han- fish it wee from the N°. East River at the Mouth of Rock- heat iy i Shelter Pocoson, due East to Onslow County line. to the head ite on ws —_ Rockfish Creek up the Meanders there! oom oe a oe a line Crossing Black River at the Mouth of Clear ht - — continuing on due West to South River and up South re ig geen thereof to Black Mingo and up Black Mingo to mons aaa oe North of said Creek and lines was formed into 4 sation e Name of Duplin, this County then Contained all the de Bean ng into the N°. East River on either side from the Mouth Gig. Na. & oe 9 the head thereof. The Principal Water Courses, wer® bia ape rg The Grove, Rockfish, Maxwell, Muddy Creek, ion tais oe oe : which form considerable large Swamps.—The West- i hy ne ounty then contained the Water Courses Runing into ce fate my either side from the Mouth of Clear River up t0 the a rs pig ihe. Waters Runing into South River on the East side a ir Principal Streams were the Six Runs, Great Cohera, little -ohera, and South River, all which form Considerable large Swamps.-— The South and South West limits of this County are about from 35 t 2 pi a 40 Miles from the Sea. The North & North West limits are about rom 80 to 90 Miles from the Sea. st tts a 08 : the Country is generally level, except near the l i. a phe the ground is uneven & broken with small water Courses, ee ao Riseings and declivities. The forrest growth there © -sondang ak, Hickory, Dogwood, wild Grape vine Persimmon with 4 I of Pine, and Shrubs. ne ee grounds on these water Courses are either Swamp or Marsh. ha Pees growth of the Swamps, are, Gum, Ash, Water Oak, White a debra Poplar, Elm, & Maple, and a Variety of Shrubs,—Beach sie hades Juniper are found in some parts of the County but it 18 — ack Walnut, Wild Cherry, Mulberry Chesnut & Hazle and Sycomore, are no where found but where they are planted. Sag —. lands are proper for Rice but very little of it is Culti- pangs : e Soile of the High lands is generally light on the Surface, undation Clay, sometimes mixed with gravel or small white flint arge «Line East the the 1In 1749 i 7 wy. beginning at gl was formed from the territory of New Hanover lying north of a to Onslow County, and WwW Rock Fish Creek, on the North-East River of Cape-Fear running Upper Forks of Black Ri estward, by_a Straight line from the Mouth of the said Creek, t0 Head thereof.” By roe ‘iver, where Cohecry and the Six Runs meet, thence up Cohecry, t° and Henry Hyrne ra te is act, the same territory was erected into St Gabriel Parish. John Sampson their first court at bag eager to run the line. The justices of ‘the peace were ordered to hold for the court hous he house of William McRee at Goshen, at which court they should select @ site Brice, Wm. Houstag, ison, and stocks. John Sampson, William McRee, Geo, Meares Francis Thomas Suggs, and yr tamg 8 Williams, John Herring, Anthony Cox, Mark’ Phillips John Turner, 2 The: Novth Rast Rives avin were appointed vestrymen of the parish. S. R XXIII, 342-343. into the Cape Fear just ab traversed the eastern part of the county in a southerly direction, flow!# Goshen, Grove, and at a oe Wilmington. Its chief tributaries on the west are Rock Fish Creek, western part of the rash alagrh and on the east, Muddy and Limestone. Black River traversed the Fear a few miles abov wi in a southerly direction, flowing into South River which joins the Cape e Wilmington. The Great and Little Cohera join to make Black River. Cohera is spelled variously i aaa: ‘ usly in the records: Cohecry, C ; : 3 Secelted, various ee Fant Cobec ry, Cohary, Cohera. A. S. Root and L. A. Hurst, Soil - TweLve NortH CAROLINA COUNTIES IN 1810-1811 431 stone. The Soile of these lands are proper for the Culture of Indian Corn, Pease, Potatoes, and Cotton, Also Wheat, Rye, & Oates, all which it will produce without Manure. Apple and Peach orchards thrive well while young, but are not dureable. These lands are of various Classes, and they are Estimated in value, ality and local Situation in their Natural, Forrest according to their qu 1 at $3.p. Acre, and upwards as high as State, they are now estimatec $10. p. Acre. The level lands or middle grounds may be Computed at about three fourths of the County, the Growth generally Pine and blackjack. it may be divided into three—Classes or qualities, to wit, Sandy lands, Stiff lands, and Savannahs,—These are divesified with innumerable small Pocosons, Commonly called ponds, the growth of which are Pine, Water Oak, Maple, Gum, Bay, with a variety of Shrubs, of which the most noted is the Huckleberry, which Produces a delicious fruit. The Savannah. lands make good Pasture, Produceing grass abund- antly, but scarce of Water in Summer. The Stiff Piney lands where Cultivated, with a light Manure will Produce, very well every Species of Crop that is Raised on the Oakey lands. Those lands which lie Remote from water Courses, are esteemed to be of little value only for Range.—Those lying near and Convenient to Navigable Streams, pro- duce Naval Stores, Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, and Sawed lumber. These lands are Estimated in value, according to their local Situa- tion; Those convenient to Navigation and well coated with Timber or lightwood are worth from $1. to $2. p. Acre, Those lying Remote from Navigation may frequently be purchased for 50 Cents p. Acre. The uper parts of Duplin and Sampson Counties are generally Es- teemed to be Healthy. the Water made use of whether Springs or ‘Wells is generally Sweet and wholesom. ‘The lower parts of the Counties being more flat, and abound in Savannahs, the Water is not so pure and wholesom.— 24, About the year 1736 this part of the Country, (then the uper part of New Hanover County) was first Setled by Emigrants from the North of Ireland and some Dutch from Switzerland;— Henry McCulloh Esq. of London, having purchased a Tract of land from the Crown, Containing 71,160 Acres lying in the uper part of New Hanover County, between the N°. East branch of Cape fear River and Black River. En- couraged a Number of Irish and Dutch to come over from Europe to Settle his lands,® with a promise of certain Conditions to give them Titles 8 Henry McCulloch, a merchant of London, in association with Arthur Dobbs and others, received grants in 1735 for 60,000 acres on Black River and subsequently grants for more than a million acres in the back country of North Carolina, subject to certain conditions as to settlement which were never carried out completely. The first settlement on the McCulloch lands was made in 1736 in Duplin County. The earliest settlers of Duplin were Scotch Irish and Swiss. In 1762, McCul- loch claimed that he was entitled to 71,160 acres in Duplin County. The McCulloch grants were the source of much dispute before the Revolution. Of these lands, 56,969 acres were confiscated during the Revolution and sold by the State for £10,275-11-10. C. R., V, xxxii-xxxv, VI, 7738 RD W. Connor, Colonial-Revolutionary Periods, 167; S. A. Ashe, History of North Carolina, I, 252-254; W. H. Foote, Sketches o/ North Carolina, 159; I. S, Harrell, ‘North Carolina Loyalists,” The North Carolina Historical Review, IfI, 589 432 THE NortH CaroLiInaA HistToricAL REVIEW to certain Portions of it—Their first Settlements were at Soracta* on the N°. East River, and at the lower end of Goshen, (then called Wood- wards Chase,) And on the Grove, where Duplin Court House now Stands; About the same time, and soon after, a Number of families Emigrated from Roanoak, Meherrin,®> and Elcewhere, and Setled oD Cohera, Six Runs, Goshen, and N°. East—The Country being then New; The Range fresh and luxuriant, and the Country abounding with wild Game, their Principal object then was Raising Stock and Hunting.— At the first forming of this County, which then Included both Duplin and Sampson, it contained but about 360 white Poll Taxables, and very few Negroes. At the Commencement of the Revolutionary War it con- tained about 900, or 1000 White Poll Taxables very few of them were then Emigrants from Europe.® History of the County. Previous to the Revolution, at the time when the Stamp Duty was attempted to be enforced by Governor Tryon, (in North Carolina,)* most of the Respectability of the County turned out volunteers, March- ed down to Wilmington with Capt. James Kenan,’ and joined Col’. John Ashe,® to oppose the Enforcement of the Stamp Duty. Afterwards when Governor Tryon Marched up the Country against the Insurgents, commonly called Regulators, None of the Inhabitants 0! Duplin County cou’d be prevailed upon to accompany him, or to Enlist * Soracte is encountered i cords as early as 174 y Mc ¥ ye i is N Carolina address. C Mn IV. eae, rev a Aa 1744. Henry McCulloch gave it as his North ‘icant bey ead and Meherrin rivers flow from Virginia through northeastern North Carolina—the ae Bis f bemarle Sound and the latter into Chowan River. were a bet Oi taxables comprising 460 white men and 168 male and female blacks and mulattoes v seor en . White taxables were reported as 848 in 1765, 883 in 1766, and 1,071 in 1767. C. » 320, 575, 603, VII, 145, 283, 289, 539, 540. ber 1. De Willian received the royal assent in March, 1765, and was to become operative Novem- Nien 2 a 6 iam Houston of Duplin was appointed stamp master for North Carolina. On Pa he s a 7s constrained to resign by one of the several protesting assemblages of peop! pe ute ope ing section which met in Wilmington in the fall of 1765. Early in 1766, the people pi re ha uplin, Bladen, Brunswic k, and New Hanover met at Wilmington and entered into a? pega 7 0 prevent the operation of the Stamp Act. They seized Fort Johnston, compelled the ae a ban —_ seized and detained by British men-of-war because their clearance papers were re Sage oe age took the provincial officers from the residence of Governor Tryon and forced them gas aes \ never to assist in the execution of the Stamp Act, and thus annulled the Stamp Act N oth — S. A. Ashe, History of North Carolina, I, 312-324; C. R., VII, 125, 169-174. . souaine oan et of Duplin County 1740-1810, played a prominent part in the history of his Hoa ot Si ion, from the time of the Stamp Act until his death. He was a member ol the yeah ire een 1773, 1773- 774; a delegate to the Provincial Congresses of August, 1174, ther etats ee an November, 1776; a delegate to the Conventions of 1788 and 1789; a member, 0! of state Tiree q 1778, 1779, 1781, 1782, 1783, 1787, 1788, 1790, 1791, 1793; and councilor ey ok ‘aa ea 795, 1805, 1808, 1809. He was a justice of the peace, member of the Safety Com- tions dante K mington District and Duplin County, and participated actively in the military opera- 104340 g the war. Biographical History of North Carolina, U1, 241-247; North Carolina Manual, Ze =) 397, 398, 425, 428, 429, 59 3, 877, 878. POR ang pe gr New Hanover, 1720-1781, was prominent in the growing conflict with the royal peer s cane in the resistance to the Stamp Act at Wilmington in 1765-1766. In 1771, he eh aber pacegeneral. in lryon s_ expedition _against the Regulators. He was a member of the i778 sree ara athena 1754-1760, 1761, 1762, 1764-1765, 1766-1768, 1769, 1770-1771, 1774" April ee res and sp er, 1762, 1765; a member of the Provincial Congresses of August, trict’ 1Te6-AT7S apes 1775, April 17 6, and November, 1776; treasurer of the Southern Dis- Senate, 1778 isaac 79, and of the Wilmington District, 1779-1782; and a member of the state Wilminetan cde oy he _was appointed by the Provincial Congress to command the militia of the toAhS at ot ms ;" iy 9, he eo in command of an expedition of North Carolina militia sent North Carolina Manual, 1913, 332, 370, 371, ites 180 SNE SE a TWELVE NorTH CAROLINA COUNTIES IN 1810-1811 433 in that Service, only five or Six light Horse followed on afterwards and joined him at Alamance.'° Governor Tryon Imputed the Tardiness of Duplin County in this affair, to disaffection to the Kings Governm'. and on his Return, Author- ized Col®. John Ashe, with his Militia troops to Tarry certain days in Duplin and cause the Inhabitants to take an Oath of Allegiance to the King, and issu’d orders to the Inhabitants to attend Col°. Ashe for that purpose,—The Inhabitants of Duplin County generally Resented this order as an Indignity offered them, it not being Required of the In- habitants of any other County; very few of the Inhabitants attended Col?, Ashe for that purpose, he taried in Duplin only one day and Marched on homewards without executing the Governors order. At the Commencement of the Revolution, the People in Duplin County were generally United, They formed Committees, Elected their Officers, Encouraged the Recruiting Service, trained the Militia in the Exercise of Arms, held frequent Meetings; Sent Delegates to the Conventions at New- bern, Hilsborough and Halifax.1! A Number of Young men Enlisted in the Regular Army and Marched to the Northward under Capt’. Dan. Williams!2 & Joseph T. Rhodes,'* both of Duplin County, and no difficulty was experianced in Raiseing our quota of Militia men when Called for.— At the time when Gen!. M*.Donald'* Embodied the Scotch Highlanders and Tories in the Vicinity of FayetteVills. (then Campbelton,)’° the Dup- lin Militia almost Unanimously turned out, and were in Motion, about 300! Marched with Col®. Kenan’ to Rockfish in the Vicinity of Camp- 10 Governor Tryon called for only 50 volunteers from Duplin County for the expedition. On May 15, the day before the battle of Alamance, the Duplin Light Horse were ordered to re-inforce the rear guard. On the 18th, the volunteers from Duplin were formed into a light troop of horse under the command of Major Clynton. On April 12, Tryon had written that “in my incursion to Wilmington I had the satisfaction to find the gentlemen and inhabitants of Cape-Fear unanimous and spirited in the cause, and the officers successful in recruiting.” C, R., VIII, 548, 584, 586, 697. 11 James Kenan was Chairman of the Safety Committee of Duplin, and was in close touch with the Wilmington Committee. The delegates from Duplin to the various Provincial Congresses were as follows: New Bern, August, 1774—James Kenan, William Dickson; New Bern, April, 1775 Thomas Gray, Thomas Hicks; Hillsborough, August, 1775—James Kenan, William Dickson, Thomas Gray, Richard Clinton, Thomas Hicks; Halifax, April, 1776—Thomas Gray, William Dickson; and Halifax, November, 1776—James Kenan, Thor s Gray, William Taylor, James Gillespie. C. R., IX, 1150-1151; North Carolina Manual, 1913, 397 98. : 12 Daniel Williams was a captain in the xth Regiment, North Carolina Troops in the Conti- nental Line. He was commissioned, April 1, 1777. He was described by a private in the regiment as “a gentleman and the friend and protector of his soldiers.’’ North Carolina Troops in the Con- tinental Line, 9; S. R., XI, 832. : ; : vi 18 Joseph T. Rhodes was commissioned lieutenant in the Eighth North Carolina Regiment, Con- tinental Line, November 28, 1776, and captain in the Tenth Regiment, August 1, 1777. He was a member of the House of Commons, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1791, 1793, 1794, and of the state Senate, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1809. North Carolina Troops in the Continental Line, 12, 14: C.-R., X, 948; S. R., XV, 786, XVI, 1150, XVIII, 486, XXII, 1049; North Carolina Manual, 1913, 593-594. ‘ ‘ - fs 14 Early in 1776, Donald McDonald, a_ Scotch Highlander of great influence and station among his people, was ordered to raise and organize troops in North Carolina for the King’s service. The plan was to effect a junction of the Tories and British forces at Wilmington. He raised the King’s standard at Cross Creek, and on February 18, at the head of about 1600 Highlanders, began the march toward Wilmington. R. D. W. Connor, Colonial-Revolutionary Periods, 384-385. 16 Campbellton, near the mouth of Cross Creek, wa _ established in 1762. In 1783, its name was changed to Fayetteville. S. R., XXIII, 592, XXIV, 513. ‘ 16 Col. James Moore reported the number as 200. S. A. Ashe, History of North Carolina, I, 511 17 James Kenan. # 434 THE NortH CARoLinA HistTorIcAL REVIEW belton and there joined Gen'. Moore;S—At the same time two Com- panies of Minute men under Captains Clinton’? and Love, Marched from Duplin to Moores Creek, and there joined Col?. Lillington,”° when Col”. Caswell?! and Lillington, Defeated and took Gen', M°.Donald Prisoner, and Dispersed the Scotch Highlanders. After this when Col®. Abraham Sheppard was sent by the State of N°. Carolina, to the Aid of South Carolina,?* he was joined by Capt. Gil- lespie*? with a Company of Voluntiers from Duplin County, who pe formed a Tour of Duty in South Carolina. Another Company of Voluntiers and Drafts, Marched from this County peiesD Capt. Hubbard to South Carolina, and were in the Battle at Stonoe.*4 Three Companies of Duplin Militia, Marched with Major John Trad- well?’ to Cambden, and were followed by a small Company of light Horse Voluntiers under Capt. William Routledge;?° and were with Gen. Gates when defeated near Cambden.27 Cole. James Kenan, with Captains Williams*® & Molton?® marched two Companies of light Horse to the Aid of South Carolina, and did 4 three Months Tour of Duty on Pee Dee River, joining the boundary line of this State. Duplin County sent her Quota of Men to the aid of Georgia, who Marched there under Gen!. Ashe and were there with him when defeated at Brier Creek.®° 18 Col. James Moore, 1737-1777, was i i i Bg s ] pp ATE , was in supreme command of the patriot campaign which cul- oa yeaa brag * i a battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, peta 2 1776. 4 was promote o brigadier-general, March 1, 1776. Biographical Histo: N. *arolina, UL, ane k: S: A. Ashe, History of North Carolina, I, chap. 28. , a ee °C. R., X, 466-467. 20 A - 1: Py n dette ee was ee colonel of the minute men of Wilmington District in 1775, AT : om he F ¢ 1s t : : ry . North Carolina, Ill, 26 1-268. ed at the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. Biographical Histor? of *1 Col. Richard Caswell commanded abo i istrict i : is ard Casy ande out 800 minute men of t Yew strict in the wae Biographical History of North Carolina, III, 65-79. sal at cy On x oo es of 1776, North Carolina Continental troops went to the aid of South Carolina. Resin a 1777, Sheppard was commissioned colonel, and placed in command of the Tenth cs ra of the North Carolina Continental Line. S. A. Ashe, op. cit., 587-538, 575, 586; North crore Troops in the Continental Line, 14. 2 5 YT, eee evi robably James Gillespie, of Duplin, delegate to the Provincial Congress at Halifax, November, mead Secretary to Governor Martin; member of the House of Commons, 1779, 1780, 1783, 1784; 1789: of the state Senate, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1789, 1792; delegate to the Conventions of 1788 and A sersinge 3 of state, 1785, 1789, 1800; and member of the House of Representatives of the 7 a States Congress, 1793-1799, and from 1803 until his death early in 1805. S. R XVII, 445; North Carolina Manual, 1913, 398, 423, 424, 427, 592, 593, 877, 878, 913-916, ae, ~ battle of Stono, in the vicinity of Charleston, occurred on June 20, 1779. The Americans North paste saan attacked the British commanded by Colonel Maitland. The behavior of the aia ina militia in this battle was praised by its commander, Gen. John Butler._ S. R., XIV, 25 Major John Tradwell was a m i ig j is i fords Bdge, ls sty ag nee court martial for the trial of Major Dennis at Beau *° William Rutledge was appointed by the C cil S 17 5 Ensign of the W ilmington brigade of militia. C. R, Xx 626. ORT, IG Se Gen. Horatio Gates was in command of the American cause in the South. On August 16, 1780, he was disastrously defeated by the British at Camden, S. C. *8 Supra, note 12. *? Abraham Molton was captai i ilitia in C i ; am I as captain of the Duplin militia in Col. Thomas Brown’s battalion under command of Gen. John Ashe, in 1776. In 1781, he was a major. C. R., X, 680: S. R. XV, 496, 499. *0 The troops under the comm: [ G i +he~ 5 ommand of Gen. John Ashe were routed by the British at the battle of Briar Creek, above Savannah, March 8, 1779. S. A. Ashe, op. cit., 1. 596-598. j Twe.ve NortH CaroLinaA Countigs IN 1810-1811 435 A Company of Duplin Militia under Capt. Bourden, Marched out to Uhara,®! near the Yadkin, to Suppress the Torries in that place—While General Lillington was there, Major Craig*? with a Body of Brittish troops took Possession of and Fortified Wilmington, Col°. James Kenan Marched down with about 350 of the Duplin Militia and Encamped at the long bridge 10 Miles above Wilmington, and was there joined by the Militia of New Hanover; Onslow, and Jones Counties; When Gen!. Lillington Marched down from Uhara, and took the Command; When Earl Cornwallis Marched from Guilford Court House to Wilming- ton, Gen!. Lillington Retreated up the Country, and the Militia Tour of three Months being ended, the whole Militia was discharged at Kingston.** Cornwallis at that time proceeded on his March from Wilmington to Virginia. He passed through Duplin unmolisted,?* there being no Troops Embodied to Impede his March, or Harrass his Rear.—As he approached the Inhabitants of Duplin Retreated to places of Safity, Removeing their Stock, and such Property as they could out of the Enemies way; It was now the first week in May 1781.— Cornwallis now by some considered to be Victorious and Pursueing his Rout unmolisted, the Tories and disaffected, (of which there were many in the Eastern and Western parts of the County,) began to take Courage and bid defiance, They in the Western part of the County formed a Camp in Cohera Swamp, in a Secret place; they declared for the King of England, took some young men who had been in the Service of the Country & Compelled them to take Parolls, (from them,)—Col®. Kenan being—informed of their Proceedings and where they had formed their Camp, Collected immediately about 12 or 15 Men, went in search of their Camp, thinking to Disperse them before they became formid- able-—He found their Camp, some Shot were exchanged; In the begin- ning of the Skirmish Owen Kenan, Brother of the Colonel was killed, & both Parties Retreated——The Tories finding they had lost nothing,— began to triumph and Exult, and encreaseing their Party, Embodied to about the Number of 120.—Formed their Camp on the West side of Cohera at the Bridge on the Fayette Ville Road, and there choose their leaders, Middleton Mobley & Biggars Mobley.—Col®. Kenan being informed of their Progress; sent out and was immediately joined by about 60 light Horse, with which he Encamped at Mr’. Clintons about 3 Miles in front of the Tory Camp, where he lay two days to watch their Motions. As soon as they found that Col®. Kenan was in their way and their March obstructed, they filed off in the Night, left the Road and Retreated through the woods, down black River: Col°. Kenan 8 The Uwharie River (spelled Uahara, Uhwarrie, Uwarry, Huary, Uwharrie, Huwaree, Uahra, Uharee, Wharrie) is a_ tributary of the Yadkin. It flows southward through Randolph and Montgomery counties. Soetitagh t 82 Major James H. Craig occupied Wilmington early in 1781 and erected batteries on the hills to the north and south. About the end of February, 1781, Craig made an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge Lillington from his position at the Heron Bridge, ten miles up the North East River. S. A Ashe, op. cit., I, 655, 664. 33 Kinston, the county seat of Lenoir 8 §. R., XVI, 1020. 436 THE NortH CAROLINA HistTorRIcAL REVIEW being informed the next day of their Retreat (by a Person whom they detained as a Prisoner, and found means to Escape from them in the Night,) He immediately Pursued with his small troop of Cavalry, and at day brake the next Morning, came up with them at Portevints Mill,” where they halted to Supply themselves with Meal; some Skirmishing ensued, the Tories Retreated into the low grounds of black River, where the Horse cou’d not with any probability of Success Pursue them. Col®. Kenan then determined to Ambuscade them at a certain place about three Miles ahead, but before got up to the intended place, discovered them ahead, they had quit the swamp and were Runing a Cross the woods;—The Horse Rushed upon them in full speed;—The Tories Posted themselves behind trees, and the Horse were immediately mixed amongst them;—a Confused fireing commenced, the Horse Retreated in order to load their Guns again, (they haveing but few Swords; ) which gave the Tories another opportunity of gaining the Swamp; they again pursued, but without Success; The Tories made good their Retreat, got to Wilmington and joined the Brittish Troops under Major Craig this days Skirmishing there were only two men of the Whigs, and four of the Tory Party, Slightly wounded; Three Horses were killed, and two others wounded.—The Tories bagage which was only their Provis- ions and their Baggage Horses were all taken; At this time the Tories began to be troublesome in the Eastern parts of Duplin, and were joined by disaffected Persons from Dobbs, Onslow, and Jones Counties, which were frequently dispersed by Capt. Gillespie, who Collected some Voluntier light Horse, and Harrassed them con- tinually, that he prevented them from making any Successful Incursions in the middle of the County. About the latter end of July 1781. Col°. Kenan Embodied about 250 of the Duplin Militia at Rockfish Bridge, on the Wilmington Road to prevent any Brittish Parties from comeing into the County and Drive- ing off Stock &c. He was there joined by Major Griffin from Halifax with about 150 men;** At that time Major Craig determined to Visit Newbern, and March through Duplin on his way there;** Col®. Kenan had Notice of his Approach, and made. such Preparation for Defence as he was able, by hastily throwing up a Slight breastwork; but inade- quate to the Purpose intended; At the very Instant when Major Craig