Big Juniper Creek, North Carolina
December 1781
After Colonel Fanning lost his supply base in Wilmington he had to rely on his raids on Whig homes for supplies. While raiding these homes he tried to stay outside of the influence of Colonel Isaacs and his men at Fanning’s former base of Cox’s Mill.
One of Fanning’s targets was Captain John Coxe. Coxe was not at his home, but was staying with a friend in Chatham County when Fanning rode to his house. After destroying Coxe’s house Fanning and his men rode on to the house of John Coxe’s father, Robert Coxe.
Robert Coxe lived in the forks of Big Juniper Creek and McLendon’s Creek, west of the present town of Carthage. Inside the home were John Coxe, Robert Lowe and William Jackson.
Around midnight Fanning arrived and rushed the house. The Whigs heard them approach and they ran for their horses. Some of them ran by the place where Fanning had hid his horses and took the Loyalist’s horses. Finding no one inside Fanning burned down the home.
The three Whigs had not run far, and returned to watch what Fanning was doing. The sentries posted around the house noticed the men and Fanning pursued them. The three men split up and Fanning pursued William Jackson with one of his Loyalists. Jackson turned and fired, hitting the Loyalist with Fanning. Fanning returned fire and killed Jackson.
Robert Lowe was captured by Captain Stephen Walker and brought back to the burning house. Lowe had been in Fanning’s militia, but had changed sides. Fanning recognized who he was and ordered him shot.
After being shot several times by the Loyalist’s rifles Lowe still remained alive. Fanning drew his own pistol and killed him. John Coxe was able to get away when his pursuer’s horse fell in a creek.