The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

(1776–1783). This unit was established by the

North Carolina Provincial Congress The North Carolina Provincial Congresses were extra-legal unicameral legislative bodies formed in 1774 through 1776 by the people of the Province of North Carolina, independent of the British colonial government. There were five congresses. They ...

on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

Commanders

Brigadier Allen Jones served as commander of the Halifax District Brigade from May 4, 1776 until after the war when he resigned his commission on December 3, 1787. Thomas Eaton temporarily filled general Jones command while he represented as North Carolina delegate to the

Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...

in December 1779 and again while he was ill in 1781. # Brigadier General Allen Jones (1776-1783) # Brigadier General Thomas Eaton (Pro Tempore) (1779, 1781)

Regiments

1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers

The

authorized the creation of the 1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers on November 23, 1776 at the insistence of the

, which was afraid of another British march to Charleston. The hastily assembled 1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers were assigned to Brigadier General Allen Jones of the newly created Halifax District Brigade of the North Carolina militia. Colonel Abraham Sheppard commanded the 1st Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel Francis Locke commanded the 2nd Battalion. They marched into South Carolina but the British failed to invade a second time. The term limits for these two battalions expired on April 10, 1777, so the units returned home because they were no longer needed.

Edgecombe County Regiment

The Edgecombe County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included: * Colonel William Haywood (1775-1776, commandant) * Colonel Exum Lewis (1776-1783, commandant) * Colonel Jonas Johnston (1778-1779, 2nd colonel) * Colonel Joseph J. Clinch (1779-1783, 2nd colonel)

Franklin County Regiment

When Franklin County was created out of part of Bute County on January 30, 1779, the Bute County Regiment was abolished and replace with the Franklin County Regiment. All officers were selected and commissioned by the Governor. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included: * Colonel Benjamin Seawell (1779-1783, commandant) * Colonel William Brickell (1781-1783, 2nd colonel)

Halifax County Regiment

The Halifax County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included: * Colonel John Bradford (1775-1776) * Colonel Willis Alston (1776-1778) * Colonel Samuel Weldon (1778) * Colonel John Whitaker (1779-1780) * Colonel James Allen (1780-1783)

Nash County Regiment

When the North Carolina General Assembly Created Nash County from Edgecombe County on December 17, 1777, the also created the Nash County Regiment of the North Carolina militia. All officers were selected and commissioned by the Governor. The unit was active until the end of the war. The colonels and commandants of this regiment included: * Colonel James Clinch (1777-1783) * Colonel Thomas Hunter (1780-1783, 2nd colonel)

Northampton County Regiment

The Northampton County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included: * Colonel Allen Jones (1775-1776), promoted to command of brigade * Colonel William Eaton (1776-1780) * Colonel Howell Edmunds (1780) *

Colonel Jeptha Atherton Colonel Jeptha Atherton (1733–1787) was a North Carolina landowner, slave owner, politician and American Revolutionary War leader in Northampton County, North Carolina. He served in the military throughout the American Revolutionary War (1775� ...

(1775-1783) * Colonel Andrew Haynes (1781-1783, 2nd colonel)

Engagements

Regiments of the Halifax District Brigade were involved in 22 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including two in George, 11 in South Carolina, 8 in North Carolina, and one in Florida. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.

References

North Carolina militia 1776 establishments in North Carolina {{NCRevWarUnits