aka Rock Creek, located east of present-day Wallace. One source asserts this engagement happened on 7/15/1781. Another source asserts this engagement happened on 8/3/1781.

As Major Craig left Wilmington, Brigadier General (Pro Tempore) James Kenan and the Duplin County Militia (~150 men) were lying in ambush behind breastworks lining Rockfish Creek. Brigadier General William Caswell's militia (~180 men) arrived just before the fight and reinforced them. Since Kenan had only recently been commissioned a Brigadier General (Pro Tempore), Caswell had seniority and is listed as the official commander for this engagement - even though this engagement was on Kenan's turf.

[Interestingly, all the men under Caswell later recounted that they were under Kenan at this engagement.]

When Major James H. Craig and his men arrived, there was a brief and intense fight until the Patriots ran out of ammunition - a chronic problem during the summer of 1781. When the British brought up their artillery and fired, the Patriots withdrew. Major Craig's cavalry charged and the Patriots ran. Capt. John Gordon's dragoons ran them down and took thirty prisoners.

Brigadier General (Pro Tempore) James Kenan later wrote that Capt. John James of Duplin County acted bravely during the heated contest.

Major James H. Craig remained in Duplin County for ten days and burned down the homes of anyone who would not take the oath of allegiance. Three hundred Loyalists came to his camp and joined his army. Then, Major Craig marched on to New Bern, the Patriots struck his army whenever possible. However, there were no pitched battles because the Patriots did not have enough ammunition to take a stand.

Brigadier General William Caswell - Commanding Officer

New Bern District Brigade of Militia detachment led by Brigadier General William Caswell with ~180 men in the following seven (7) known companies:
- Capt. Baker (Edgecombe County)
- Capt. James Green (Craven County)
- Capt. William Hall (Nash County)(Wounded/POW)
- Capt. Jacob Johnston (Dobbs County)
- Capt. Edmund McKeel (Beaufort County)
- Capt. Nicholas Murphy (Franklin County)
- Capt. John Rogers (Mecklenburg County)

Wilmington District Brigade of Militia detachment led by Brigadier General (Pro Tempore) James Kenan with ~150 men from the following two (2) regiments:

Bladen County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known company, led by:
- Capt. Peter Robeson

Duplin County Regiment of Militia led by Major Benjamin Hicks and Major John Moulton, with sixteen (16) known companies, led by:
- Capt. Nicholas Bowden
- Capt. Jacob Carnega
- Capt. William Dickson
- Capt. David Dodd
- Capt. John Giles (Johnston County Regiment)
- Capt. James Gillespie
- Capt. John James
- Capt. Jonathan Parker
- Capt. Asa Pipken
- Capt. Shadrack Stallings (maybe, maybe not)
- Capt. Jonathan Taylor
- Capt. Charles Ward
- Capt. Jesse Ward
- Capt. Aaron Williams
- Capt. Frederick Wills
- Capt. James Wright

Major James H. Craig - Commanding Officer

82nd Regiment of Foot (The Hamilton Regiment), led by Major James H. Craig, with 250 men

Royal Regiment of Artillery, with unknown number of men and unknown number of field pieces

NC Independent Dragoons, led by Capt. John Gordon, with 78 men

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