The American Revolution in North Carolina

North Carolinians Outside of North Carolina During the Revolution

Date

Battle/Skirmish

NC Provincials, State Troops, or Militia

Nov. 19-21,
1775 

Ninety-Six, SC
Col. Griffith Rutherford and seven known companies of the Rowan County Regiment of Militia supported Maj. Andrew Williamson of the South Carolina Militia against Loyalists under Maj. Joseph Robinson.

Dec. 9, 1775

Great Bridge, VA
150 Halifax District Militia under Col. Nicholas Long supported Virginian Continentals against Royal Governor Dunmore's troops. The 2nd NC Regiment arrived in time to help run off the British.

Dec. 22, 1775

Great Cane Brake, SC
2nd NC Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Alexander Martin, the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia led by Col. Thomas Polk, part of the First Rowan County Regiment Militia led by Col. Griffith Rutherford, and part of the Tryon County Regiment of Militia led by Col. William Graham supported South Carolina Patriots against local Loyalists.

Dec. 23-30, 1775

Snow Campaign, SC
2nd NC Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Alexander Martin, the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia led by Col. Thomas Polk, part of the First Rowan County Regiment Militia led by Col. Griffith Rutherford, and part of the Tryon County Regiment of Militia led by Col. William Graham supported South Carolina Patriots against local Loyalists.

Jan. 1, 1776

Norfolk, VA
Col. Robert Howe and his 2nd NC Regiment supported the Virginians in the defense of their port city when Royal Governor Dunmore bombarded it from offshore and sent troops ashore, but they were forced back to their ships by the Patriots.

Jun. 28, 1776

Fort Moultrie, SC
1st NC Regiment, 2nd NC Regiment, 3rd NC Regiment, NC Light Dragoons 3rd Company supported the South Carolinians in repelling the British Army, with distinction.

Jun. 28, 1776

Breach Inlet Naval Battle, SC
1st NC Regiment detachment led by Lt. Col. Thomas Clark supported South Carolinians in repelling British Army, with distinction.

Jul. 20, 1776

Island Flats, TN
Capt. James Thompson led five other captains with a total of about 170 backwoodsmen in an ambush against Dragging Canoe and his brother Little Owl coming to attack Ft. Patrick Henry. The next day, Oconostota attacked Ft. Caswell with 40 Patriot soldiers inside. Precursor to the Cherokee Expedition of 1776 that began in August.

Jul. 20-Aug. 2, 1776

Fort Caswell, TN
Lt. Col. John Carter with 75 men under siege by 300 Cherokee under Old Abraham. VA Col. William Russell arrived and broke the siege. aka Fort Watauga.

Sep. 1776 

Florida Expedition
1st NC Regiment and a handful of NC Militia joined up with Brig. Gen. Lachlan McIntosh (GA) towards St. Augustine, turned back.

Sep. 11, 1777

Brandywine Creek, PA
Corps of Light Infantry led by Col. Alexander Martin (NC) with detachments of the NC Brigade distinguished themselves. Remainder of NC Continentals in reserve, saw no action.

Oct. 4, 1777

Germantown, PA
NC Brigade under Brig. Gen. Francis Nash, who was seriously wounded and later died as a result, were supposed to be in reserve, but did their share of fighting. Lt. Col. Henry Irwin also killed. Many wounded.

Jun. 28, 1778

Monmouth, NJ
NC Brigade led by Col. Thomas Clark, now included only 1st NC Regiment, 2nd NC Regiment, 3rd NC Regiment, and 4th NC Regiment - the rest folded into these. The Continental Congress ordered NC to raise four more regiments and keep them at home until further notice.

Feb. 8-10, 1779

Carr's Fort, GA
Capt. John Miller of the NC Militia brought his company to support Col. Andrew Pickens and the SC Militia, with the GA Militia against Loyalist Maj. John Hamilton.

Feb. 14, 1779 

Kettle Creek, GA
Capt. Adam Hampton, Capt. Henry Turney, and Capt. Tutt of the Rutherford County Regiment supported Col. Andrew Pickens of SC in the defeat of Loyalists at this location.

Mar. 3, 1779

Briar Creek, GA
Maj. Gen. John Ashe commanded a force of over 2,300 men, including a detachment of the SC 3rd Brigade of Militia led by Brig. Gen. Andrew Williamson, and a detachment of the SC 4th Regiment of Artillery led by Lt. Col. John Faucheraud Grimke with 50 men and three guns, along with militia from NC (1,200 men) and GA. Terrible loss, led to the resignation of Maj. Gen. Ashe and two NC brigadier generals.

 Apr. 10-20, 1779

Chickamauga Towns, TN
Col. Evan Shelby with 500 NC and VA militiamen conducted a pre-emptive strike against the Chickamauga Indians' town.

Apr. 29, 1779

Purrysburg, SC
Capt. John Baldridge of the Lincoln County Regiment supported Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in this skirmish.

May 3, 1779

Coosawhatchie, SC
250 NC Continentals detached to support Lt. Col. John Laurens (SC) in delaying Lt. Col. John Maitland with about 800 British Regulars.

May 11-13, 1779

Charleston Neck, SC
250 NC Continentals detached to support Lt. Col. John Laurens (SC) in successfully stopping the British Army from taking Charlestown.

May 16, 1779

Near West Point, NY
Col. Thomas Clark with 5th NC Regiment and Col. John Patten with 2nd NC Regiment skirmished with 500 British Regulars.

May 31, 1779

Fort Lafayette, NY
Capt. Thomas Armstrong and 70 NC Continentals, remnants of the 2nd NC Regiment and the 5th NC Regiment forced to surrender to much larger British Army.

Jun. 20, 1779

Stono Ferry, SC
4th NC Regiment and 5th NC Regiment in NC Brigade led by Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner, 759 Continentals supporting South Carolina against Lt. Col. John Maitland with about 800 British Regulars. NC Militia included Hillsborough District Brigade, Surry County Militia, Burke County Militia - with about 1,000 militiamen.

Jul. 15, 1779

Stony Point, NY
Maj. Hardy Murfree led 178 hand-picked NC Continentals in two companies in supporting Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne and a total of 1,350 men in taking this British post.

Aug. 14, 1779 

Lockhart's Plantation, GA
Capt. John Davis with a company of men from Burke County Militia supported GA Col. John Twiggs in a skirmish with Lt. Col. Daniel McGirth.

Sep. 16-Oct. 18 1779

Siege of Savannah, GA
British captured Savannah in late November of 1778. General George Washington sent south Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln to assume command of the southern forces from Maj. Gen. Robert Howe. He rushed 2,500 Continentals and SC Militia forces to the Beaufort District and encamped at Purrysburg. Brig. Gen. Augustine Prevost attacked SC and kept the Patriots on the run for most of the first half of 1779. By September, the Patriots were ready to go after Prevost, now in Savannah. Count D'Estaing arrived with some of the French fleet, but they made little difference. NC supplied a small contingent of Continentals and Militia.

Apr. 14, 1780 

Moncks Corner, SC
One company of NC Continentals and seven (7) known companies of NC Militia led by Maj. James Brandon (Rowan County) plus others were severely spanked by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his British Legion.

Mar. 28-May 12, 1780

Siege of Charleston, SC
1st NC Regiment, 2nd NC Regiment, 3rd NC Regiment, NC Independent Artillery - 814 Continentals, plus 1,231 Militiamen captured at the Fall of Charleston on May 12th.

Mar. 29-30, 1780

Gibbes' Plantation, SC
Duplin County Regiment of Militia detachment supported Lt. Col. John Laurens (SC) in his futile attempt to slow down the approaching British Army.

May 7, 1780

Fort Moultrie, SC
NC Continentals supporting South Carolina Continentals - all captured by British during the Fall of Charleston.

Jun. 18, 1780

Hill's Iron Works, SC
Capt. Major Parson, of Col. Isaac Shelby's NC Militia, with other South Carolinians attacked by larger British force under Capt. Christian Huck.

Jul. 13, 1780 

Gowan's Old Fort, SC
Capt. John Jones of the Burke County Regiment attacked a Loyalist camp, as the Patriots were heading to join up with Col. Charles McDowell.

Jul. 16, 1780

McDowell's Camp, SC
Col. Charles McDowell established a camp in SC - thinking it was in NC. It was attacked by Loyalist Capt. James Dunlap. Note - this is the same engagement known as Earle's Ford, reported to occur on 7/15/1780.

Jul. 17, 1780 

Prince's Fort, SC
Capt. Edward Hampton of the Rutherford County Regiment, with others, caught Loyalist Capt. James Dunlap and had their revenge.

Jul. 20, 1780 

Beaver Creek Ford, SC
Capt. William Richardson Davie and Maj./Lt. Col. William Polk attack some Loyalists at a Plantation near Beaver Creek.

Jul. 26, 1780

Thicketty Fort, SC
Col. Isaac Shelby led 600 militiamen from NC, SC, and GA against Loyalist Capt. Patrick Moore with 93 men.

Jul. 30, 1780

Rocky Mount, SC
Col. Robert Irwin and Capt. George Reed of the Mecklenburg County Militia supported Col. Thomas Sumter with about 500 men in this battle against Loyalist Lt. Col. George Turnbull with about 300 men.

Aug. 6, 1780

Hanging Rock, SC
Col. Robert Irwin, Capt. George Reed, Capt. James Knox, Capt. Robert Craighead with about 200 men of the Mecklenburg County Militia supported Col. Thomas Sumter and his SC Militia against Loyalist Maj. John Carden.

Aug. 8, 1780

Wofford's Iron Works, SC
Col. Isaac Shelby and Col. William Graham brought their NC militias to support GA Col. Elijah Clarke's attack on Loyalist Capt. James Dunlap with 144 men.

Aug. 11, 1780

Little Lynches Creek, SC
Maj. Gen. Richard Caswell brought 1,200 militiamen to support Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates as he first entered South Carolina to go after the British.

Aug. 16, 1780

Parker's Old Field, SC
Precursor to the battle of Camden, in early morning NC Maj. John Armstrong with 68 Light Infantry supported VA Lt. Col. Charles Porterfield against Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton.

Aug. 16, 1780

Camden, SC
Maj. Gen. Richard Caswell brings 1,800 militiamen in three brigades and a handful of NC Continentals under Capt. Edward Yarborough to support Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates in his massive defeat against Lt. Gen. Charles, Lord Cornwallis and his smaller British force.

Aug. 16, 1780

Rugeley's Mills #1, SC
Two NC Militia units supported Lt. Col. Charles Tuffin Armand against the British Legion on the south side of Grannie's Quarter Creek - after fleeing the battle of Camden, SC on the same day.

Aug. 18, 1780

Fishing Creek, SC
Col. Elijah Isaacs, Capt. John Cleveland, Capt. Jonathan Smith and 300 men of Wilkes County Militia supported Col. Thomas Sumter and 400 SC Militia in their humiliating defeat by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his British Legion.

Aug. 18, 1780

Musgrove's Mill, SC
Col. Isaac Shelby led 400 men, including the Sullivan County Militia (NC), the Washington County Militia (NC), GA, and SC Militias to defeat Lt. Col. Alexander Innes and his Loyalists.

Sep. 21, 1780

Wahab's Plantation, SC
Lt. Col. William Richardson Davie with 80 militiamen from Mecklenburgh County and 70 militiamen under Lt. Col. George Davidson of Anson County defeated Maj. George Hanger with 360 men.

Oct. 7, 1780

Kings Mountain, SC
Col. Benjamin Cleveland with 1,100-1,600 NC militiamen from Wilkes County, Surry County, Rutherford County, Burke County, Lincoln County, Sullivan County, Washington County, Caswell County supported Col. William Campbell (VA) and the SC Militia under Col. James Williams in their defeat of Maj. Patrick Ferguson with over 1,000 men.

Oct. 30, 1780 

Bear Swamp, SC
 Col. Thomas Owen of the Bladen County Regiment met a Capt. Barfield of the Loyalists.

Nov. 20, 1780 

Blackstocks, SC
Col. Andrew Hampton of Rutherford County with four (4) known companies of NC Militia joined up with GA and SC Militia to soundly defeat Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his British Legion.

Dec. 4, 1780

Rugeley's Mills #2
NC Militia led by Col. William Moore (Caswell County) with seventeen (17) known companies detached from various regiments joined up with Virginian Lt. Col. William Washington in taking this Loyalist stronghold without firing a shot, using a fake cannon.

Dec. 16, 1780 

Boyd's Creek, TN
Lt. Col. John Sevier with over 100 men attacked the Cherokee, thwarting a full-scale Indian invasion of the white settlements in today's Tennessee.

Dec. 26, 1780

Cheraw, SC
NC Brig. Gen. Henry William Harrington took the town away from British occupiers led by Lt. Col. Robert Gray. Probably happened in October.

Jan. 17, 1781

Cowpens, SC
NC Dragoons company under Capt. Mordecai Clark and NC Militia Brigade led by Col. Joseph McDowell, with men from Burke, Surry, Wilkes, Lincoln, Rutherford, Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Orange, Granville, Warren, and Rowan counties supported Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan in his defeat of Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton.

Feb. 19, 1781 

Ft. Granby #1 (SC)
Lt. Col. William Polk supported BG Thomas Sumter in his unsuccesful siege of this British outpost.

March 1781

Tuckasegee
Col. John Sevier and 150 men attacked the Indian town and fifteen other small towns. This engagement actually occurred in what is present-day Jackson County, NC.

Apr. 2-3, 1781

Fort Nashborough, TN
Capt. James Robertson chased a handful of Chickamauga Indians, ambushed by Dragging Canoe.

Apr. 15-23, 1781

Fort Watson, SC
1st NC Regiment detachment of 115 men led by Maj. Pinketham Eaton, supported Brig. Gen. Francis Marion in the successful siege and capture of this British Post.

Apr. 25, 1781

Hobkirk's Hill, SC
1st NC Regiment detachment led by Capt. Edward Yarborough, NC Militia led by Col. James Read, both support Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene against Col. Francis Lord Rawdon and his stronger British force.

May 8, 1781 

Sawney's Creek
Col. Guilford Dudley supported Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene against British Lord Rawdon.

May 12, 1781

Fort Motte, SC
1st NC Regiment detachment of 115 men led by Maj. Pinketham Eaton, supported Brig. Gen. Francis Marion in the successful siege and capture of this British Post.

May 21 - Jun. 19, 1781

Siege of Ninety-Six, SC
1st NC Regiment detachment of 66 men led by Maj. Pinketham Eaton support Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene in the unsuccessful siege of this British post.

May 24-Jun. 1, 1781

Fort Cornwallis, GA
(aka Siege of Augusta)
1st NC Regiment detachment of 66 number of men led by Capt. Robert Smith supported Virginian Lt. Col. Henry Lee and Brig. Gen. Andrew Pickens in the successful siege at capture of this British post.

July 27, 1781 

Hudson's Ferry, SC
Col. Isaac Shelby skirmished with some Georgia Loyalists.

Sep. 8, 1781

Eutaw Springs, SC
Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner led NC Brigade, with 1st NC Regiment, 2nd NC Regiment, 3rd NC Regiment and total of 350 men, Guilford County Mounted Infantry company led by Capt. Thomas Hamilton, NC Dragoons led by Col. Francois DeMalmedy with 180 men supported Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene in his attack against Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart and about 1,400 men.

Sep. 11, 1781 

Moccasin Creek, TN
Col. John Sevier with 100 mounted riflemen conducted a series of raids agains the Cherokee, killing twelve of Dragging Canoe's warriors.

Oct. 16, 1781 

Moncks Corner #4, SC
Col. John Sevier and Col. Isaac Shelby supported SC Col. Hezekiah Maham in taking prisoners from a British Hospital. This event is actually the same as directly below.

Nov. 27, 1781 

Fair Lawn Plantation, SC
Col. Isaac Shelby with 200 men supported SC Col. Hezekiah Maham in his attack against a British Garrison at the plantation. This event is actually the same as directly above.

Jan. 12-15, 1782

Raid on John's Island, SC
Maj. James Hamilton led 150 men in the NC Light Infantry to support Lt. Col. John Laurens and his special ops group to attack Lt. Col. James H. Craig, now stationed here.

Aug. 25, 1782

Combahee Ferry, SC
40 NC Light Infantry led by unknown supported Lt. Col. John Laurens and his special ops group against Maj. William Brereton - Laurens killed in this skirmish.

Sep. 20, 1782 

Lookout Mountain, TN
Col. John Sevier organized a force of some of 250 "Nolichucky Riflemen" to pursue the Chickamaugas and to rescue captives. On September 20, 1782, after several minor encounters, Col. Sevier and his men engaged the Chickamaugas in a battle high in the palisades at the north end of Lookout Mountain. The Frontiersmen's accurate rifle fire soon overcame their foes. This is considered by many to be the last “Overmountain” battle of the American Revolution.


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