Patriot Col. Elijah Isaacs moved into Col. David Fanning's base camp at Cox's Mill with 300 men to stop the Loyalists' constant attacks against local Patriot forces. Col. Isaacs had been captured at the battle of Fishing Creek (SC) in August of the year before and was sent to prison in St. Augustine, Florida, so he had a score to settle with any and all Loyalists.

His men burned several Loyalist houses and one of his officers, Capt. James Stinson, hanged David Jackson for his activities back during 1776. Jackson had been captured with Col. John Pyle at Moore's Creek Bridge and then escaped from the jail in Halifax.

Col. Isaacs sent out a notice that if all Loyalists would meet with him he would give them protection. Acting Governor Alexander Martin issued a proclamation of pardon for all Loyalists except those guilty of murder, robbery, and housebreaking. The Loyalists assembled and Col. Isaacs made them prisoners, marching them to the Salisbury jail. Along the way, one was shot while trying to escape.

Col. David Fanning did not try to take on Col. Isaacs's larger army, but instead moved southeast, away from territory under the control of Patriots. After Wilmington was turned back over to the Patriots, he was unable to get supplies and ammunition to maintain larger operations. Due to this, he was no longer able to assemble large numbers of Loyalists until the end of the war.

"He was again called into service as a drafted man for three months, the day and year cannot now be recollected from the causes above stated but that he lived in the County of Wilkes and the State of North Carolina he entered the United States service under the following named officers, to wit, Captain Penington Isabel [Pendleton Isbell] & Colonel Elisha Isaac [Elijah Isaacs] the other officers of said Regiment & No. of said Regiment not now recollected from the causes above stated. He rendezvoused at Deep River in North Carolina and was there stationed at Coxes Mills [Cox's Mill] for the term of service he was called out for to contend against the Tories who was commanded by Colonel Fannon [David Fanning] he was in a skirmage against the Tories about two miles above Coxes Mills in which they took several Tories prisoners & in which skirmage they came so near taking Colonel Fannon as to get his hat and having served out his full length of time for which he was drafted he was honorably discharged by Captain William Jackson."

"... he entered the Service again in the latter part of the year 1781 or first of 1782 under Captain William Douglass against the Tories under Colonel Fanning and was in a severe skirmish with the Tories at Cox's Mill on Deep River and served in this Two or three weeks."

Wilkes County Regiment of Militia detachment led by Col. Elijah Isaacs, with 300 men, only two (2) companies known:
- Capt. Pendleton Isbell
- Capt. James Stinson (Washington County Regiment)

Caswell County Regiment detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. William Douglas

Unknown number of Loyalists, led by Unknown

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