This is the fourth of six (6) actions that took place in the Union "Expedition from New Berne to Tarborough and Rocky Mount, NC" — also known as "Potter's Raid" — from July 18-24, 1863.

"The whole force now moved on without interruption as far as Sparta. Shortly after passing this place, our advance was fired on, and a running skirmish kept up for 3 or 4 miles, until we at length found the enemy in considerable strength, with artillery, at Tyson's Creek. The bridge had been destroyed, and their position was a very difficult one to carry.

"Finding that an attempt to force a passage would involve great delay, I determined to turn their position, which I succeeded in doing by taking a very intricate path through a plantation. This pat led to a "piney-woods road," on which we marched all night, and at daybreak of the 21st reached the Snow Hill road, where we halted." 

"Shortly after we left Tarborough, Captain Stearns, Company C, of the Third Cavalry, reported to me with his company of carbineers, and was placed in the advance, supported by Company L, First North Carolina Union Volunteers, Lieutenant Graham.

"As we approached Tyson's Creek, our vedettes were fired upon by the enemy in ambush. Captain Stearns immediately deployed his company as dismounted skirmishers. I als dismounted 30 of Captain Cummings' squadron, Troop L, First North Carolina Union Volunteers, and sent them into the woods as skirmishers to cover the right flank; formed the balance of my command into columns of fours by squadrons, and retired them three times into the fields on the left of the road, to keep them out of range of the enemy's skirmishers. While in this formation, Captain Cummins had his horse fall, dead, having been shot in the forehead. I also dispatched a request that a howitzer should be sent to me.

"In a short time, a section came up, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis took command of the skirmish."

Brig. Gen. Edward E. Potter — Commanding Officer,

3rd NY Cavalry Detachment — Maj. Ferris Jacobs, Jr.,
12th NY Cavalry Detachment — Maj. Floyd Clarkson,
1st NC Volunteers (Union) Detachment — Lt. Graham.
3rd NY Artillery Detachment:
2 Sections of Mountain Howitzers — Led by Unknown