Elizabethtown
RETURN TO INDEXVictory: Patriot
Troops: Loyalist militia 300–400 - Patriot militia 60-70
The Battle of Elizabethtown occurred on August 27, 1781 in Elizabethtown, North Carolina in Bladen County, North Carolina. The battle was fought between Patriot troops under the command of Thomas Robeson and Thomas Brown and the Loyalist North Carolina militia commanded by John Sligsby and David Godden. The day before the battle, a local resident named Sallie Salter entered the Loyalist camp to sell eggs. Unknown to the Loyalist forces, Sallie was a spy for the Patriot cause. She reported to Colonels Thomas Robeson and Thomas Brown, commanders of a band of the Bladen County militiamen. The information Salter provided to both men led to them making a decision to attack the Loyalist encampment. From his raid on the Cumberland County Court House on August 14th, Col. John Slingsby was holding his Patriot prisoners in Elizabeth Town, the seat of Bladen County (then and now). Living nearby were many Patriots that had previously been captured and paroled by Loyalists. Many Patriot refugees from Bladen County were taking shelter in the adjacent Duplin County (Sampson County now). Sallie Salter was a daughter of one of the most influential families along the Cape Fear River within Bladen County and she volunteered to enter the Loyalist camp as a spy.
During the night of August 27, Patriots under the command of Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr. marched on Elizabeth Town. They had no tents, no equipment or commissary stores - all they had was a little jerked beef and bread, which they carried in their pockets. They silently approached the small town and had no choice but to ford the Cape Fear River because the Loyalists had taken all the boats. The Patriots crossed the neck-deep river naked. They tied their bundled clothes and boots to their heads and grasped their rifles by the barrell to keep the flintlocks above water. After crossing and climbing a steep bank, they re-assembled on a nearby road and put their clothes back on. At daybreak, the Patriots attacked the Loyalists completely by surprise. The Loyalists panicked when Col. Thomas Brown and his staff shouted out commands to fictitious units, making it seem as if there was a much larger force of Patriots attacking them. After Col. John Slingsby and Capt. David Godwin were killed, the Loyalists ran into a deep ravine, where they were shot at until those still capable surrendered. This site soon became known as the Tory Hole. The Patriots then freed their companions who had been prisoners of the Loyalists in town.
During the night of August 27, Patriots under the command of Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr. marched on Elizabeth Town. They had no tents, no equipment or commissary stores - all they had was a little jerked beef and bread, which they carried in their pockets. They silently approached the small town and had no choice but to ford the Cape Fear River because the Loyalists had taken all the boats. The Patriots crossed the neck-deep river naked. They tied their bundled clothes and boots to their heads and grasped their rifles by the barrell to keep the flintlocks above water. After crossing and climbing a steep bank, they re-assembled on a nearby road and put their clothes back on. At daybreak, the Patriots attacked the Loyalists completely by surprise. The Loyalists panicked when Col. Thomas Brown and his staff shouted out commands to fictitious units, making it seem as if there was a much larger force of Patriots attacking them. After Col. John Slingsby and Capt. David Godwin were killed, the Loyalists ran into a deep ravine, where they were shot at until those still capable surrendered. This site soon became known as the Tory Hole. The Patriots then freed their companions who had been prisoners of the Loyalists in town.
