One source asserts that this event happened on April 1, 1781.

In a letter of April 2nd, Col. Thomas Wade (Anson County Regiment of Militia), at Haley’s Ferry on the Pee Dee River, wrote to Maj. General Nathanael Greene that he had conveyed supplies from Cross Creek (Fayetteville) to Haley's Ferry down river. He tried to move his men quickly by forced marches to keep these supplies secure.

Nevertheless, his 95 North Carolina militia were attacked near Cole's Bridge, on Drowning Creek (now the Lumber River), by 300 Loyalists and 100 British soldiers (all of whom were presumably mounted) who had pursued them.

Col. Wade’s patriots were routed. Some of his men, who were captured and paroled, reported that his casualties were three killed, two wounded, and seven taken prisoner, and, in addition slaves, wagons, and all of the horses were taken. Col. Wade was now left with only 20 militiamen. The British casualties were four killed.

Some meal, much of it damaged, and some of the boats Maj. General Greene had Kosciuszko to build earlier were already at Haley's Ferry, where they were being guarded by some locals. In the same letter, Col. Wade requested wagons to send the meal to Maj. Gen. Greene, which Maj. Gen. Greene provided on his approach to Camden, SC.

Col. Wade later complained that the men Maj. Gen. Richard Caswell had sent him were poor soldiers and he asked for better in future if the supplies and provisions in his charge were to be kept secure.

Unknown - Commanding Officer

~300 Loyalists + ~100 British Soldiers, unit unknown
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