On June 10th, Lord Rawdon arrived in the Waxhaws and tried to put down the rising Patriot attacks. He told all the inhabitants to return to their farms and take British protection. Patriot Col. Andrew Williamson, recently paroled, ordered the Upper Ninety-Six District Regiment to disband. When Brig. Gen Andrew Pickens and Col. John Thomas, Sr. took the British parole, Col. Thomas's son, John Thomas, Jr. moved his militia and vowed to continue fighting.

Meanwhile, Capt. Christian Huck rode to the Fishing Creek Church on a Sunday expecting to find the local militia, but they had already left. Capt. Huck's men shot and killed William Strong as he walked along the road carrying a bible. Then, they raided the home of Janet Strong and wounded another man - then continued on to the church.

Next, they went to Rev. John Simpson's (recently elected as a Captain in the local militia) house where they found Mrs. Simpson hiding in the woods with her four children. Capt. Huck's men ransacked the home then torched it.