What:
Campsite, Uwharrie Mountains (Caraway Mountain), Col. David Fanning early Oct 1781
Skirmish, Brush Creek, BG Rutherford vs. Col. David Fanning, ?? Oct 1781

Other names: Caraway Mountain

Where:
35.7240312 -79.3483517, Uwharrie Mountains (Caraway Mountain), campsite, Col. David Fanning early Oct 1781
35.601715 -79.582904, Brush Creek skirmish, BG Rutherford vs. Col. David Fanning, ?? Oct 1781

Maps: [map notes]

• 35.7240312 -79.3483517, Uwharrie Mountains (Caraway Mountain), Campsite, Col. David Fanning early Oct 1781
• GNIS record for Caraway Mountain. Note mapping options.
• Confidence:
  4 (location of Caraway Mountain)
  0 (location of Fanning's camp Oct 1781)

• 35.6017,-79.5829 (NAD83/WGS84) , Brush Creek skirmish ?? Oct 1781
• ACME Mapper.
• National Map
• Google.
• Confidence: 0 (location of skirmish site)

• 35.601715 -79.582904, Brush Creek, mouth
• GNIS record for Brush Creek in Randolph County NC. Note mapping options.
• Confidence: 5 (location of Brush Creek)

• PJO: "This is the only Brush Creek that fits the description. It may not be it though, since it is pretty far from Wilmington. Monroe Bridge is also mentioned, but I don't know where that is.
  Brush Creek Church, USGS Coleridge (NC) Topo Map, 35.6524°N, 79.5222°W (NAD83/WGS84)
  
• NBBAS:Vol. Three p.373-374.

  Brush Creek, North Carolina
  Wilmington Campaign
  October 1781

  After Fanning had been wounded at Lindley’s Mill he was hidden in the woods and guarded by three of his soldiers. Captain William O’Neal had been dispatched by Butler to find Fanning, but he never did. In the early part of October Fanning was able to sit up. He sent some of his officers to Wilmington for supplies.

  With Fanning out of action and Cornwallis surrounded in Yorktown Alexander Martin decided to continue Governor Burke’s plan to drive the British out of Wilmington. Butler’s army struck from the east, while General Griffith Rutherford would attack from the west. Rutherford immediately ordered the militia to rendezvous on Little River in Montgomery County. He trained his recruits for the next two weeks and on October 1st he marched for Cross Creek.

  By October 15th he had set up camp at Monroe’s Bridge on Drowning Creek and had been joined by the remnants of Butler’s army, increasing his force to almost 1,500 men. Feeling that he was able to take to the field again Fanning gathered 140 of his militia and seized a large amount of leather bound for the Continental army in South Carolina. Fanning was exhausted after the ride, but he was not able to rest.

  The Patriot forces were waiting for some sign of Fanning’s forces to strike. When they heard of the leather raid they moved quickly with 170 mounted militia to Brush Creek. Fanning’s men were told that 600 men were coming against them, and many of the Loyalists fled. Fanning formed the remaining men into two lines and waited for the arrival of the Patriots.

  The first assault by the Whigs was driven back after an hour’s fighting, leaving three Loyalists killed and three wounded. The Patriots lost one killed and several wounded and retreated back a mile. After regrouping they came back for a second assault. Fanning thought this meant the Whigs had been reinforced and he told his men to break up into small parties and withdraw.

  The Loyalists moved into Uwharrie Mountains and hid until the middle of October. Fanning’s officers who had been sent to Wilmington returned with 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

• Caraway Mountain (elev. 1148 ft) is the highest of a number of similar summits associated with the ancient Uwharrie Mountains. To the south is Uwharrie National Forest, a somewhat extended range of very hilly terrain noticeably higher than the surrounding area. Either of these two area could have been area referred to as the campsite of Fanning's Loyalists in early October 1781. Caraway Mountain is arbitrarily selected as the site location.

  Barefoot:NC. p.396. Described as 1.4 miles south of E. Greensboro Chapel Hill Road (SR-1005) on Lindley Mill Road (SR-1003). MS S&T shows this as 35.88765 -79.34601.

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• There are several Brush Creeks in NC, but the one of interest is in Randolph County NC. From the now-defunct Tiger Map Server map, it ccould be seen that its length is approximately 12 miles. From the topo map it may be seen that it joins with Deep River. The area of interest of the creek is in the lower half, nearest the Deep River, and nearest the Uwharrie Mountains. A point is arbitrarily selected in this area.

• Sherman, "Calendar..."   online. p.446-447, 464. To avoid future long downloads, use option to "Save and view this PDF in Reader".

• Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution n/l, Search for brush creek. 0 returns (through 9-2006).

• RevWar75   listing. Not found.

Submitted by: Patrick O'Kelley

Confidence level: See above.