This historic property on the Haw River is owned by MARC, Museum and Archives of Rockingham County. For the first two weeks in March 1781, General Greene and his troops camped here on 3 occasions and Cornwallis camped here once. Greene was biding his time, slipping away from Cornwallis until Henry Lighthorse Lee and his 1000 troops could hook up with him. They had lured Cornwallis away from his supply line which was in Hillsborough. Once Lee had joined Greene, they were ready to engage Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse.
American strawberry bush
The ford had been used by Native Americans long before colonists arrived. The construction of a dam and a couple mills may have altered the river but it appears the ford was right by the high rock.
It is a small property but there some hiking trails and more are being built. There are remnants of an old mill and dam built after the war on the site of a 1754 gristmill. I appears the high rock which you can see in the photo below, was part of the dam and mill complex.
High rock is in the background
Part of the old mill
The ford may have been right here.
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