Lord Cornwallis, while on his Peninsula campaign, sent Captain Brown on a foraging mission. This mission brought Brown, and his group of 40 soldiers, up the James River where they landed near Newport News Point. Several hours after landing, Brown and his soldiers were met by 30 Virginia militiamen.
The militiamen were led by Captain Edward Mallory, a resident of Hampton, Virginia. The militiamen divided their forces with the cavalry leading the charge from the front while the infantry fired from the flank. Captain Mallory himself was killed in the attack, after being wounded by shot, saber and bayonet.The militiamen were able to hold off the British forces, forcing them to retreat to Newport News point and eventually their boats. While retreating, Captain Brown was injured and left behind.