What: Skirmish,

Other names: Colson's Mill

Where: 35.143265 -80.076234, Colson's Mill

Maps: [map notes]

• 35.143265,-80.076234, Colson's Mill, junction of Rocky and Pee Dee Rivers
• ACME Mapper.
• Google.
• Confidence: 5 (of junction), 3 (of action)

• 35.19463,-80.11316, Colson's Mill state historical marker, US-52 at Rocky River
• ACME Mapper.
• Google.
• Confidence: 4 (of marker), 0 (of action)

Sources:

• Barefoot, NC. p.160.

  A state historical marker near the bridge over the Rocky River [on US-52] calls attention to the Battle of Colson's Mills, a significant skirmish on July 21, 1780. The battle was fought several miles southeast of here, near the now-inaccessible junction of the Rocky and Pee Dee Rivers. In Revolutionary War times, the strategically important river junction was the site of a mill, an ordinary, stagecoach relays, and a ferry crossing.

• Anson was arbitrarily selected as the modern county location, but this may be incorrect. Corners of 4 counties are at this junction of streams: Stanly, Anson, Montgomery and Richmond.

• Guide to North Carolina Highway Historical Markers, Stanley County, p.187.

  L-51   Fight at Colson's
  Colonel William Lee Davidson's Whig militia defeated Colonel Samuel Bryan's Tories, in July, 1780, a few miles S.E.
  US 52 at Rocky River bridge south of Norwood/1952

• NBBAS:Vol. Two p.204-205.
  Revlist post, quoting above.
  21 July 1780
  *Col. Wm. Lee Davidson vs. Loyalists

• Sherman, "Calendar...". p.141.
  Search for colson. 12 returns, most relevant.
  To avoid long downloads, use option to "Save and view this PDF in Reader".

• RevWar75 listing. 7/21/1780 Colson's (Coulson's) Mill. American victory.

Submitted by: Jack Parker

Confidence level: 3