"Expecting every moment to be attacked," the captain decided to make a speedy retreat, which he accomplished "without molestation." During the action, Dunlap only lost one of the regulars and two of the militia.[4] Even though forced to retreat with his militia scattered, Dunlap's personal reputation for coolness and bravery remained intact. In August Dunlap had a similar experience. Ferguson dispatched him with 14 regulars and 130 militia to take some rebel wagons near Cedar Springs. He chased one of the rebels right into their camp and found himself in an ambush. Before Dunlap could organize a retreat, he was wounded along with 20 or 30 of his men. The action was brief and inconclusive but, in Ferguson's report to Cornwallis, Dunlap did very well. Due to the "backwardness of the rest of the militia, Captain Dunlap found himself under a necessity of attacking 300 men with 40, one half of whom are killed or wounded, and of the rebels as many, and half a dozen prisoners on each side."[5] Ferguson also reported that the rebel leader, Elijah Clarke, had been mortally wounded but that claim was learned to be incorrect only a few days later at the Battle of Musgrove's Mill. By September Lord Cornwallis had carved out a command spot for Dunlap. A prominent Loyalist from North Carolina offered to "raise a corps and give command of it to Captain Dunlap of the Queen's Rangers, who is serving with Ferguson. Dunlap is an active, spirited officer and, if he could get only 200 men, would be very useful in that country [Ninety Six District]."[6] Lt. Col. Nisbet Balfour concurred with the assessment describing Dunlap as "active, knowing in the country and the manners of the country people, and very spirited. Whilst with me, he behaved rather well, rather too far forward in his patrols, by which he got into scrapes, but it is a fault which soon mends."[7] Balfour's words about riding "too far forward in his patrols" proved instantly prophetic since, unknown to the lieutenant colonel, Dunlap had already been wounded riding ahead of Ferguson's column near Cowan's Ford in North Carolina.