Battle of Raft Swamp

The Battle of Raft Swamp was fought near Red Springs, North Carolina in Robeson County, on October 15, 1781 during the American War of Independence. Raft Swamp was well known for being a refuge for Loyalists during the American Revolution. On October 15, 1781, in the course of Gen. Griffith Rutherford's expedition against Wilmington, the Patriot cavalry vanguard commanded by Maj. Joseph Graham briefly engaged with some mounted Loyalists of Col. Hector "One-Eyed Hector" McNeill on Rockfish Creek. Major Graham's cavalry charged and broke the Loyalist cavalry and led to fierce combat on the narrow causeway, as well as another clash on a second causeway. A series of charges and confused engagements resulted in the Loyalist forces scattering when darkness brought the action to a conclusion with the Patriots occupying the area. This would be the last battle fought in North Carolina. It took place four days before the British surrender at Yorktown. Today, a state historic marker entitled with the name of the swamp denotes the site of the engagement. It reads as follows: "After the Tory victory at McPhaul's Mill, the Whigs routed the Tories near here on Oct. 15, 1781 and broke their resistance in the area."

Battle of Raft Swamp
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Date October 15, 1781 Location Between present-day Red Springs, North Carolina and Shannon, North Carolina 34°48′25″N 79°08′39″W Result Patriot victory
Belligerents
Great Britain Loyalist militia	Patriot militia
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Duncan Ray Colonel Archibald McDugald Colonel Hector "One-Eyed Hector" McNeill [a]	Gen. Griffith Rutherford Major Joseph Graham
Strength
300 - 600 militia and regulars	930 - 1,400 militia
Casualties and losses
16 killed 50 wounded 15 - 20 captured	1 killed
[a] Hector "Old Hector" McNeil had been killed at the battle of Lindley's Mill, but Hector "One-Eyed Hector" McNeill had been put in his position to conceal the death of the old colonel. Col. Ray thought that if the men though that "Old Hector" was still alive they would continue to stay with his army.