Lt. Col. Henry Dixon, Jr.

http://www.angelfire.com/nc/HenryDixon/#The%20Family%20of%20Lt.%20C...

Summary of Military Service ON FEB 27, 1775, CAPT HENRY DIXON WAS AMONG THE 1000 PATRIOTS, THAT INTERCEPTED AND DESTROYED A 800 MAN LOYALIST FORCE, AT THE "BATTLE OF MOORE'S CREEK BRIDGE" (NEAR WILMINGTON, NC), THAT WAS TRYING TO UNITE WITH THE BRITISH. CAPT. "HAL" DIXON WAS IN THE FIRST NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT, CONTINENTAL LINE, AFTER THE LEGISLATURE ACT IN HILLSBORO, N.C., THE 21ST OF AUG 1775. IN THIS UNIT HE REINFORCED GENERAL WASHINGTON AND FOUGHT AT BRANDYWINE, GERMANTOWN, AND MONMOUTH. HE THEN WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR (JULY 1777) AND ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT.. HE SUFFERED ALONGSIDE HIS MEN AT VALLEY FORGE DURING THE WINTER OF 1777-1778. IN TRAINING UNDER GEN. SUMNER, HE AGAIN SAW ACTION PRIMARILY IN THE SOUTH. SUMNER SENT MAJOR "HAL" DIXON, WITH OTHER MEN, TO ORGANIZE THE OFFICERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LINE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RESOLVES OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. DURING THIS MISSION, IT IS REPORTED, THAT HE WAS APPOINTED "INSPECTOR GENERAL OVER MILITIA BY THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE." IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT HENRY DIXON WAS PROMOTED TO LT. COLONEL, BUT THE COMMISSION WAS BACK-DATED TO 1778.

IN 1779, "HAL" DIXON WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED AT BATTLE OF STONO FERRY. APPARENTLY BY IN 1780, HE WAS WELL ENOUGH TO COMMAND THE NORTH CAROLINA MILITIA AT THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN. (NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR RICHARD CASWELL HAD PERSUADED GEN. JETHRO SUMNER, FOR COL. DIXON TO BE GIVEN COMMAND OF THE MILITIA). EVEN THOUGH THE BATTLE OF THE 15TH OF AUGUST, 1780 WAS A DEFEAT "IT WAS IN THIS BATTLE HE ROSE TO THE GRANDEAUR OF HIS FAME." WHEN THE BRITISH INFANTRY "HIT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT FIRST THE VIRGINIA MILITIAMEN, THEN THE NORTH CAROLINA MILITIAMEN, BROKE AND RAN...AMONG THE NORTH CAROLINIANS, ONLY THAT PART OF THE BRIGADE UNDER THE COMMAND OF DIXON STOOD FAST LONG ENOUGH TO FIRE THREE ROUNDS, AND, IT WAS SAID, 'PUSHED BAYONETS TO THE LAST'.

DIXON WITH HIS MILITIA "GAVE US FIRST INSTANCE WHEN MILITIA CHARGED THE BRITISH REGULARS WITH THE BAYONET AND DROVE THEM BACK. "LT. COL. DIXON WAS IN PICKERIS COMMAND OF NORTH CAROLINIANS WHO ANNOYED CORNWALLIS AT HILLSBORO AND WAS WITH GEN. LEE AT PYLE'S DEFEAT 1781. HE WAS ALSO AT BATTLE OF WHITSELL'S MILL AND AT BATTLE OF GUILFORD COURT HOUSE, 1781."

On Feburary 6, 1782, Lt. Col Henry Dixon was transferred from the 3rd North Carolina Regiment to the 2nd North Carolina Regt. The unit was sent to besiege the British in Charleston, South Carolina. It was here that Dixon died of battlefield wounds on 17 July, 1782 in camp in Round O. Today Round O is an extremely small town, located between Charleston and Walterboro on Hwy 17A. Today it is not known if Dixon's body was returned to his native Caswell County, North Carolina for burial. It is likely this was the case but it may have been left at Round O, South Carolina.

"None, without violence to the claims of honor and justice, can withhold applause from Colonel Dixon and his North Carolina Regiment...Col. Dixon had seen service, having commanded a Continental regiment under Washington. By his precepts and example he infused his own spirit into the breasts of his troops; who emulating the noble ardor of their leader, demonstrated the wisdom of selecting experienced officers to command raw soldiers."

-- Col. Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, noting Col. Dixon's brave action at the Battle of Camden, where he and his "raw" North Carolina militia held their ground while facing veteran British infantry.