822 Revolutionary Soldiers Cross Dix Ferry

Dix Ferry on Dan River played an important role during the Revolutionary War.

Danny Ricketts and Herman Melton at the site of Dix's Ferry March 1993

A Court of Claims was held at Pittsylvania Courthouse on the 18th day of March 1782 for “adjusting claims for property impressed or taken for Publick Service” during the Revolutionary War. Present on that day were James Roberts, John Dix, William Witcher, Reuben Payne, John parks, Jeremiah White, Daniel Hankins Sr., and Samuel Short, Esquire. There were many claims submitted by Capt. John Dix for ferrying hundreds of wagons, horses and cows across Dan River at his ferry. Two more courts of claims were held in October of 1782.

The first entry for John Dix is “For ferriage for 12 Wagons with 4 horses, Continental Troops @ 2/6” for a total of one pound and 10 Shillings.

*Other entries are for supplies: “For 20 bushels of Oats @ 2/, four bushels of corn @ 15/ and passage of 18 horses @9/ for Continental Troops” for a total of three pounds and one shilling. *One entry is “For the ferriage of 77 Continental Troops. One wagon & Team 2/6 and two riding horse” for a total of two pounds seven and a half shillings.

*For one high priced musket “impressed for State Troops” the claim is for seven pounds.

*The same charge of seven pounds for one ferry boat “impressed for Continental Troops and Lost.” This is probably one of the boats taken down Dan River to Irvin’s and Boyd’s Ferries for General Green’s crossing of the Dan while being pursued by Lord Cornwallis.


The many claims by John Dix in 1782 for the previous year, according to my count, were a total of 822 soldiers and officers of the State and Continental troops, 79 wagons, 61 horses, and 21 head of cattle. These troops were a diversion to mislead and delay the British under Lord Cornwallis away from the main army who crossed the Dan River downstream in Halifax County.

The tactic was entirely successful in allowing General Nathaniel Green’s American troops to cross the flooded Dan River before the British could overtake them. When Lord Cornwallis and his men arrived at the Dan River all the boats were on the other side. The retreated to the south.

In March of 1993, we rediscovered the site of Dix's Ferry by researching deeds in the courthouse. George Dix, a lineal descendant of John Dix is left of Herman Melton and I in this photo.

Also with the team that day was Ralph McCormack, whose wife is a Dix descendant and Bernard Baker who published an article entitled "Historians Find Dix Ferry Site" ( Danville Register & Bee Wednesday March 3, 1993). I believe it was Leon Townsend who was along and behind the camera.