North Carolina state troops in the American Revolution were the initial military units created in a transition from the Province of North Carolina under British rule to independence from British rule. Most units did not last long as such and were either transferred to the Continental Army or state militia instead.
Leadership and units
The North Carolina State Troops and militia were under the command of
Major General John Ashe from 1778 to 1779.
Brigadier Alexander Mebane was Commissary General for the State of North Carolina with the rank of Brigadier General (1780-1783). The units of the State troops included:
1st and 2nd North Carolina Regiments
The
1st North Carolina Regiment was created on September 1, 1775 with men from the Wilmington District and
Salisbury District
Salisbury was a local government district in Wiltshire, England from 1974 to 2009. Its main urban area was the city of Salisbury.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972 and the pursuant The English Non- ...
.
Colonel James Moore was the first commander. Its transition to
Continental Line
The Continental Line ( sv, Kontinentalbanan) is a long railway between Malmö and Trelleborg in Sweden. At Trelleborg the railway terminates at a railway ferry quay allowing rail cars to be ferried to Sassnitz in Germany. A part of the railway i ...
was completed on July 8, 1777
The
2nd North Carolina Regiment was created on September 1, 1775.
Colonel Robert Howe, Esq was the first commander. Its transition to
Continental Line
The Continental Line ( sv, Kontinentalbanan) is a long railway between Malmö and Trelleborg in Sweden. At Trelleborg the railway terminates at a railway ferry quay allowing rail cars to be ferried to Sassnitz in Germany. A part of the railway i ...
was completed on January 8, 1777.
Minuteman battalions
The
Third North Carolina Provincial Congress
The Third North Carolina Provincial Congress was the third of five extra-legal unicameral bodies that met between 1774 and 1776 in North Carolina. They were modeled after the colonial lower house (House of Burgesses). These congresses created a ...
(1775) authorized the creation of six battalions of "
Minutemen
Minutemen were members of the organized New England colonial militia companies trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies during the American Revolutionary War. They were known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name. Mi ...
" (also known as Minute Men) for a duration of six months. They considered the local militias as ineffective. However, the local militias were a tradition and they continued. Each Minutemen battalion was to consist of ten companies of 50 men each. The counties were to furnish one to three companies of their militia to fill the Minutemen battalions. The battalions would be trained for fourteen days and then would be mustered once per fortnight. The battalions were to be established in each of six judicial (later called military) districts and was a "standing army" paid full-time by the Province of North Carolina. The Minutemen concept did not continue past the original six-month trial. At the
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was a minor conflict of the American Revolutionary War fought near Wilmington (present-day Pender County), North Carolina, on February 27, 1776. The victory of the North Carolina Provincial Congress' militia ...
in February 1776, the militia acquitted themselves and the General Assembly dropped the Minutemen concept in favor of Militia Brigades in each military district, instead.
* The Edenton District Minuteman Battalion was created by the Continental Congress on September 9, 1775 for six months duration. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
Edenton District Brigade of militia instead. The Battalion was commanded by
Col. Edward Vail, Sr., who was the first commander of the Edenton District Brigade. There were eight known companies in the battalion, including one headed by
Captain John Pugh Williams, who would later be acting commander of the Edenton District Brigade. The battalion was engaged only once, a skirmish at
Great Bridge, Virginia
Great Bridge is a community located in the independent city of Chesapeake in the U.S. state of Virginia. Its name is derived from the American Revolutionary War Battle of Great Bridge, which took place on December 9, 1775, and resulted in the fi ...
on December 9, 1775.
* The Halifax District Minuteman Battalion was created by the Continental Congress on September 9, 1775 for six months duration. The battalion was commanded by
Colonel Nicholas Long. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
Halifax District Brigade
The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the ...
of militia. Colonel Long went on to become the Deputy Quartermaster General of the
North Carolina Line
The North Carolina Line refers to North Carolina units within the Continental Army. The term "North Carolina Line" referred to the quota of infantry regiments assigned to North Carolina at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together ...
.
* The Hillsborough District Minuteman Battalion was created by the Continental Congress on September 9, 1775 for six months duration. The battalion was commanded by Colonel James Thackston. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
Hillsborough District Brigade of militia. Colonel Thackston became a Lieutenant Colonel in the
4th North Carolina Regiment.
![Richard Caswell (governor)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Richard_Caswell_%28governor%29.jpg)
* The New Bern District Minuteman Battalion was created by the Continental Congress on September 9, 1775 for six months duration. The battalion was commanded by
Colonel Richard Caswell. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
New Bern District Brigade
The New Bern District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at th ...
of militia, which was commanded by Brigadier General Richard Caswell.
* The Salisbury District Minuteman Battalion was created by the Continental Congress on September 9, 1775 for six months duration. It was commanded by
Colonel Griffith Rutherford and
Colonel Thomas Wade. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
Salisbury District Brigade
The Salisbury District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disban ...
of militia, which was commanded by Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford. Colonel Wade became commander of the
Anson County Regiment.
This was the existing command structure later in the year when the
Rutherford Light Horse expedition
The Rutherford Light Horse expedition was a punitive military excursion launched against the Lower, Middle, and Overhill Cherokee settlements of the Cherokee Indians in the Appalachian region of North Carolina. This was in retaliation for the Na ...
was launched against the Overmountain
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
.
* The 2nd Salisbury District Minuteman Battalion was created by splitting the Salisbury District Minuteman Battlation on December 21, 1775. The battalion was commanded by
Colonel Thomas Polk. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
Salisbury District Brigade
The Salisbury District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disban ...
of militia. Colonel Polk went on to command the
4th North Carolina Regiment and became the Commissary General for the North Carolina Line in 1780.
* The Wilmington District Minuteman Battalion was created by the Continental Congress on September 9, 1775 for six months duration. The brigade was commanded by
Colone John Alexander Lillington. It was disbanded on April 10, 1776 in favor of
Wilmington District Brigade
The Wilmington District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at t ...
of militia. Colonel Lillington went on in 1776 to command the
6th North Carolina Regiment
The 6th North Carolina Regiment was one of ten regiments of the North Carolina Line of the Continental Army that fought in the American Revolution.
History
The 6th North Carolina Regiment existed as a Continental Army unit from North Carolina f ...
and the
Wilmington District Brigade
The Wilmington District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at t ...
from 1779 to 1783.
Light dragoons
The
North Carolina Light Dragoons Regiment consisted of three companies authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly on April 16, 1776. It was placed under Continental Line on March 7, 1777. A fourth company was authorized in 1778. It was removed from the Continental Line on January 1, 1779 and formed the North Carolina Light Dragoons Regiment. In February 1779, it was re-established as the North Carolina Light Dragoons Regiment of State Troops under the command of
Col François Malmédy. It was disbanded in late 1781. Some consider it militia.
Independent companies
Five independent companies of Provincial Troops were created on April 29, 1776. These companies were designated to protect the North Carolina coast. The companies included:
# The Bogue Inlet Independent Company led by Captain Selby Harney (disbanded in December 1777),
# The Cape Fear Independent Company led by Captain John King (disbanded on November 21, 1776),
# The Core Sound Independent Company led by Captain Enoch Ward (disbanded in December 1777).
# The Ocracoke Independent Company led by Captain James Anderson (disbanded in December 1777 but re-established on July 30, 1779 and active until the end of the war)
# The Outer Banks Independent Company led by Captain Dennis Dauge (disbanded in December 1777).
Artillery companies
North Carolina artillery companies included:
* The 1st North Carolina Artillery Company was authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly on May 9, 1776 and led by Captain John Vance.
* The 2nd North Carolina Artillery Company was authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly on January 7, 1777 and led by Captain Thomas Clark. It was disbanded in June 1779.
These companies were placed in the
North Carolina Line
The North Carolina Line refers to North Carolina units within the Continental Army. The term "North Carolina Line" referred to the quota of infantry regiments assigned to North Carolina at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together ...
on July 10, 1777.
French Refugees Regiment
On April 24, 1778, the North Carolina General Assembly approved the creation of a French Refugees Regiment to be led by Colonel Monsieur Chariol DePlacer. This regiment was envisioned to include Frenchmen from North and South Carolina and the Caribbean. The regiment was disbanded on August 19, 1778, due to insufficient numbers, despite personal efforts to solicit members by
Governor Richard Caswell.
North Carolina State Regiment
![NCG-BenjaminWilliams](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/NCG-BenjaminWilliams.jpg)
The North Carolina General Assembly created a State Regiment (also called a State Legion) to subdue
loyalists
Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...
in the state with men from militia units all over the state in January 1779. The troops were to serve for terms of three months. The regiment was commanded by Colonel John Herritage. Men from this unit were not to leave the state. The unit included both infantry and cavalry. The unit was disbanded in October 1779, re-established on July 10, 1781 under colonel
Col. Benjamin Williams (1781) and later Col. Joel Lewis (1781-1783), and finally disbanded on January 10, 1783.
North Carolina State Cavalry, Western District Regiment
![William Richardson Davie - Charles Willson Peale (full portrait) (frame cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/William_Richardson_Davie_-_Charles_Willson_Peale_%28full_portrait%29_%28frame_cropped%29.jpg)
On September 5, 1780, Colonel
William Richardson Davie
William Richardson Davie (June 20, 1756 – November 29, 1820) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father of the United States, military officer during the Revolutionary War (United States), Revolutionary War, and List of Go ...
was given command of a new regiment of light horse in the
Salisbury District
Salisbury was a local government district in Wiltshire, England from 1974 to 2009. Its main urban area was the city of Salisbury.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972 and the pursuant The English Non- ...
of North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of War named this regiment the North Carolina Cavalry, West District Regiment. The regiment only lasted until late December 1780 or early January 1781, as the Board of War appointed Colonel Davie as Superintendent Commissary General of Provisions and Supplies for the state. The regiment did participate in several engagements: on September 21, 1780 in a pre-emptive attack on the British at
Wahab's Plantation in South Carolina, on September 26, 1780 against the entire British Army as they marched into the
Battle of Charlotte
The Battle of Charlotte was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 26, 1780. The battle took place at the Mecklenburg County Court House; which is now the site of the Bank of America tower at Trade a ...
, and on October 9, 1780 at the skirmish at Polk's Mill in North Carolina.
Other officers in the regiment included Lieutenant Colonel DeBrisbourn, Major George Davidson, Major
Joseph Dickson
Joseph Dickson (April 1745April 14, 1825) was an American politician and soldier who represented North Carolina's 1st district in the United States House of Representatives from 1799 to 1801, and would later serve in the Tennessee House of Re ...
, Maj. James Cole Mountflorence, Maj. James Rutherford, Maj. Salter, Maj. James White, Lieutenant
Mussenden Ebenezer Matthews, and Adjutant
Joseph Graham.
North Carolina Light Horse Regiment
It is not known if there was actually a regiment called the light horse regiment in either the North Carolina militia or State troops. The North Carolina General Assembly resolved on February 7, 1781 to raise a new regiment of light horse from the Halifax District. It was to be led by captain James Reid with a militia rank of major and commandant. Within two weeks of this resolution Reid was promoted to colonel with a lieutenant colonel and two majors under his command. Units were added to this regiment from other parts of the state. A Guilford Dudley assumed command as a colonel in the regiment in 1781 while colonel Reid was convalescing from wounds suffered at Hobkirk's Hill in 1781.
Companies from this regiment were engaged six known battles and skirmishes: 3/15/1781, New Garden Meeting House; 3/15/1781,
Battle of Guilford Court House
The Battle of Guilford Court House was on March 15, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, at a site that is now in Greensboro, the seat of Guilford County, North Carolina. A 2,100-man British force under the command of Lieutenant General ...
in North Carolina; 4/25/1781, Hobkirk's Hill in South Carolina; 5/8/1781, Sawney's Creek in South Carolina; 5/13/1781, Legat's Bridge in North Carolina; and 9/12/1781, skirmish in
Hillsborough, North Carolina
The town of Hillsborough is the county seat of Orange County, North Carolina, United States and is located along the Eno River. The population was 6,087 in 2010, but it grew rapidly to 9,660 by 2020.
Its name was unofficially shortened to "Hillsb ...
. Colonel Reid and
Governor Thomas Burke were captured at the skirmish in Hillsborough, along with hundreds of their soldiers.
North Carolina State Legion Regiment
![General Joseph Graham](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/General_Joseph_Graham.jpg)
On October 7,
Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford appointed
Joseph Graham, formerly a Captain from Mecklenburg County, to be a Major in Col. Robert Smith's "legionary corps in my brigade", according to Rutherford. Historians differ on whether this unit was North Carolina State Troops or Militia. The argument in favor of being a State Troop is that the members of the unit were from all over North Carolina and not just one military district or county. Components of this unit were engaged at the following battles and skirmishes:
* October 15, 1781, Raft Swamp
* November 14, 1781, Moore's Plantation
* November 15, 1781, Brick House
* November 16, 1781, Seven Creeks
* November 18, 1781, Evacuation of Wilmington
Other majors in the unit were Maj. John Carruth and Maj. James White. The unit was disbanded in late November 1781.
Forts and garrisons
* Fort Hancock Garrison
*
Fort Johnston Garrison
* Camp Quankey, Quartermaster Depot for the
North Carolina Line
The North Carolina Line refers to North Carolina units within the Continental Army. The term "North Carolina Line" referred to the quota of infantry regiments assigned to North Carolina at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together ...
References
Bibliography
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{{NCRevWarUnits
North Carolina in the American Revolution
North Carolina State troops