| Notes |
- Note 1./
On August 1, 1781, British Major Craig left Wilmington for New Bern to punish those who would not declare for the king. Major Craig had 250 regular British professional troops and 80 Tories. (These 80 Tories were the same guys that Col. Kenan had chased out of the county.) Early on August 2, Col. Kenan got notice of his approach and make such preparation for defense as he was able by hastily throwing up a slight breastwork, it was inadequate for the purpose intended.
At the very instant when Major Craig made the attach on our breastwork with his cannon, we were attached in the rear by Capt. Gordon with about 60 horsemen, 10 of which were British Dragoons and two companies of infantry. They had made a circuitous march through the woods and were close upon our rear before being discovered. Confusion and dismay was the immediate consequence. The Militia broke and quit their post before one half of them had discharged their guns. Col. Kenan and some of his officers made every exertion they could to rally the men again, but to no purpose. Our ammunition, baggage, provisions etc. fell into the enemy's hands. Eight or ten of our men were wounded and made prisoners, none were killed. The British had one man killed there.
Two days afterwards Craig marched up to the Grove (Now Kenansville) and encamped at Col. Routledge's house, lay there about three days, collected some cattle, destroyed some crops of corn, burned Capt. James Gillespie's and Lieu. Henry Houston's Houses, and destroyed such of their property, as they could not carry away. Then they marched on towards New Bern, committing depredations and enticing Negroes to desert their Masters and go with them. They were followed and harassed by some Militia from Duplin, Onslow, and Dobbs Counties. Capt. Gordon of the British Dragoons was killed on the way by some of the Onslow men. This happen the first week of August 1781.
Thus two British Armies marched through Duplin in the year 1781. After they were gone, their trace was scarcely perceivable, we on their approach retired out of the way and as soon as they had passed by, we returned to our houses, which we frequently found plundered and our stock driven off.
After this the Tories made frequent attempts to embody both in the western and eastern parts of the county, but by the execution of Col. Kenan, Col. Moore, Capt. Gillespie , and other offices, they were often dispersed with loss as they attempted to collect together.
About the latter end of September 1781, the Tories were collecting on the Cohera when Col. Moore with Captains Williams, David Dodd, and Stephen Miller went out in search of their camp, surprised and dispersed them without sustaining any loss in Col. Moore's party, four of the Tories were killed in that action. They never made any considerable head in Duplin afterwards.
The spirit of the Tories was now broke, they generally came in and surrendered them selves up to the Government and complied with the requisitions of the law by going into or finding a substitute for the Army of the United States. Middleton Mobley, their leader, being abandoned by all his deluded followers was obliged to leave the county, he was afterwards taken in Martin County and brought back to Wilmington, tried, condemned, and executed.
At the Battle of Eutaw Springs (Sept. 8, 1781) in South Carolina Capt. Joseph Thomas Rhodes from Duplin, took a company of about 40 raw recruits (raised in Duplin) that behaved with as much personal bravery and intrepidity as any that were in that engagement, they had joined the army but a few days previous to the action.
When the line was formed for action, Capt. Rhodes had his post assigned to him on the main road leading down Santee, towards the Springs: General Greene in person observed to Rhodes, that he expected the enemy would endeavor to force our lines at that place, and if he could maintain his ground he might depend on being reinforced in a very short time. According to the general's expectation, the battle became violent in that part of the line, but the promised reinforcements never came till a very late stage of the action. The men under Capt. Rhodes' Command, behaved with the utmost order and bravery and sustained considerable loss; the reinforcements when they came, took the ground of the left, where at that time, the enemy began to retreat. Rhodes then with what men he had left and with the remains of Captains Goodman and Porterfield's companies (Both Captains being killed) advanced near the brick house and attacked the British Artillery and took possession of several field pieces, one of which they kept. The others were retaken by British reinforcements of a superior strength in number. During the whole of this action, which is said to be the hottest and most bloody for the number of men engaged, that occurred during the Revolutionary War, the men under Capt. Rhodes's Command, manifested such undaunted bravery as is seldom surpassed by old disciplined Vitrons. During this Action, only Captain Rhodes and thirteen of his men, came out unhurt. The others being killed or wounded and of those that came out unhurt, only three of them had no marks of the ball or bayonet.
After the war terminated, in June of 1784, the County of Duplin was divided by a line running from the head of Rockfish Creek, where the road crossed Bull Tail Branch, nearly north, crossing Stewarts Creek at the bridge and Turkey near the old Court House, and Goshen at the Mouth of Young's Swamp. All west of said line was erected into a separate county named Sampson....
Note 2./
Duplin County and Sampson Countys were formerly a part of New Hanover County, and about the year 1749 was divided from New Hanover County. In 1784, Sampson County was erected from the portion of Duplin
Note 3./ DAR Patriot Index, Centennial Edition, Washington DC, 1990: Henry Houston born about 1746 in North Carolina, died 1820 in North Carolina, married Sarah Elizabeth Miller and service as a Lieutenant during the Revolutionary War from North Carolina. Two days afterwards [British Major] Craig Marched up to the Grove and Encamped at Colo Routledges House, lay there about three days, Collected some Cattle, destroyed some Crops of Corn Burned Capt. Gillespies and Lieut. [Henry] Houstons Houses, and destroyed such of their Property as they cou'd not carry away; Then Marched on towards Newbern, commiting depredations and Enticeing Negroes to Desert their Masters and go with them. They were followed and Harrassed by some Militia from Duplin, Onslow and Dobbs Counties, Capt. Gordon of the Brittish Dragoons was Killed on the way by some of the Onslow men. This happened in the first week in August 1781. [William Dickson, History of Duplin County, Wilmington Star, 1810]
NOTE 3./ HOUSTON:
Henry was born in N. C. in 1746, a son of Dr. William and Ann Jones Houston. Soldier recieved pay vouchers #3731 for 2/8/0 pounds and # 3823 for 1/10/0 pounds. In N. C. Army Accounts, Vol. V1, Bk 23, pg 43, voucher # 22 for 10/ 18/ 6 pounds principal with interest of 2/12/10 pounds. British General Craig marched up to the Grove (Duplin County) and encamped at Col. Routledge's and Lt. Henry Houston's house and destroyed what they could not carry off. Solider's obituary in the Onslow Register stated "Lieut. Henry Houston age 89, died July 29, 1836. Married Sara Elizabeth Miller. Henry was a Methodist and pensioner.
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Abt 1746 - 1836 (90 years)
