Battle of Alamance

The Battle of Alamance, which took place on May 16, 1771, was the final confrontation of the Regulator Movement, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over various issues with the Colonial Government. The Regulators primarily wanted reforms to the currency act and to stop local corruption. They will also request other changes, like secret ballot voting, progressive taxation, land reform, and more transparent government. Named for nearby Great Alamance Creek, the battle took place in what was then Orange County and has since become Alamance County in the central Piedmont area, about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of present-day Burlington, North Carolina.

Background[edit]

In the spring of 1771, North Carolina Governor William Tryon left New Bern, mustering and marching approximately 1,000 militia troops and 8 cannons westwards to address a rebellion that had been brewing in western counties for several years. The colonial government chose to act because in September 1770 a group of Regulators attacked the superior court in Hillsbough, NC and rioted through the town for serval days. Also, in January of 1771 the North Carolina assembly passed the Johnston Riot Act, which allowed the use of force to disperse assemblies of people by force. Among other minor resistances, like not paying fees and taxes and minor violence the Regulators where declare in a state of rebellion and insurrection .

About 2,000 Regulators had gathered, for an unknown reason along the Sailsburg-Hillsborough road in an area where two hills are with a depression in-between. They might have assembled for a meeting like they had done before or to finally make their stand to Tryon or to fight, their true intention are unknow. Funded £6,000 by council member and wealthy merchant Samuel Cornell, on May 11, Tryon left the county seat of Hillsborough with his militia to confront the Regulators, who had made camp south of Great Alamance Creek in western Orange County.^[1][2]

Battle[edit]

On the evening of May 15, Tryon received word that the Regulators were camped about six miles away. All through the night, the Regulators sent peace envoys to discuss with Tryon to avoid fighting, all overtures are ignored. The next morning, at about 8:00 am, Tryon's troops set out to a field about one-half mile from the camp of the Regulators. While marching on the road he stops and orders his men to practices forming line. After a satisfactory performance they reform and march down the road. As the army nears the Regulator positions he orders the militia to formed two lines, and divided his artillery with the 2 3-pounders on the flanks and the 6 swivel guns at the center. The Regulators wait for the army to arrive in what most account say is a mob of men. Thought seemingly disorganized they are in fact democratically organized. Many of the neighborhoods had elected "chiefs" and "captains" who where their local leaders. Instead of a pure hierarchical military command the Regulators where organized in a volunteer method of protest where every man chose to be there. Additionally, most of the Regulators did have militia training and would know how to fight.

At about 11:00 Tryon sent one of his aides-de-camp, Captain Philemon Hawkins II, and the Sheriff of Orange County with a proclamation ahead of the advancing army to be read to the Regulators.

Alamance Camp, Thursday, May 16, 1771.

To Those Who Style Themselves "Regulators": In reply to your petition of yesterday, I am to acquaint you that I have ever been attentive to the interests of your County and to every individual residing therein. I lament the fatal necessity to which you have now reduced me by withdrawing yourselves from the mercy of the crown and from the laws of your country. To require you who are now assembled as Regulators, to quietly lay down your arms, to surrender up your leaders, to the laws of your country and rest on the leniency of the Government. By accepting these terms within one hour from the delivery of this dispatch, you will prevent an effusion of blood, as you are at this time in a state of rebellion against your King, your country, and your laws.

(Signed) William Tryon.

This letter read by the sheriff of orange county and the demand to disperse in inline with the Johnston Riot act which means the Regulators have 1 hour to disperse or force is legalized. Soon after Tryon's army of 1,000 men and 8 cannons arrives at about 11:15 and stands along the slope of the adjacent hill and proceed to wait for the rest of the time with weapons loaded.

The Regulators spend the time in a gathering of over 2,000 the yell insults at the militia and taunt them to fire. The walk within 30 yards of the cannons and some accounts say they walk right in front of them. Possibly during the hour or at the end, on man taken prisoner earlier in the day by Tryon, Robert Thompson, decides it is the moment to escape. As he begin to leave Tryon orders him to be shot in the back Infront of over 2,000 of his friends, family, and allies. Short after the hour is up and Tryon sends over the Sheriff of Orange county to get the Regulators answer, they answer "fire and be damned". They Regulators chose to make their voice finally hear, not back down and hold their ground. Shortly after Governor William Tryon turns to the artillery, loaded with grapeshot, while the Regulators stand no more than 100 yards away in a protest against a corrupt government and gives the order to open fire.

Shortly after the militia begin firing on the assembly of protesting Regulators. The Regulators rush back to their lines and try to form a defense, but by the second volley of artillery fire most of the Regulators flee in terror. Those left behind take cover behind large trees and rocks and fire back as much as they can. They artillery will maintain firing on the Regulators for 30 minutes. After that time, the cannons cease fire and Tryon orders the militia to advance and begin clearing them from the trees. A line of 1,000 men advance to chase down the remnants of the Regulators for several miles and for the next hour and a half capturing any left behind. At some point the militia even travel into the Regulators camp and loot their belongings. As the last Regulators flee or are captured the battle and the movement comes to an end.

Aftermath[edit]

Losses for both sides are disputed. Tryon reported nine dead and 61 wounded among the militia. Tryon reports 300 regulators casualties during the battle. Other accounts places the Regulators death toll at 100 killed and 200 wounded. Tryon took 13 prisoners. After the battle, Tryon seeking to cement the fear and terror is begins a campaign of terror on the population. A Regulators named, James Few who inflicted many casualties on Tryon, was executed at the camp the day after the battle. Tryon then proceeds to travel across the center of Regulators control, burning homes and destroying crops. While forcing thousands to flock to him and sign oaths of elegancies and surrender their fire arms, in a effort to make the population submit to control. Later as the army traveled back to Hillsborough where a rapid trail was conducted for the prisoners and 12 are sentenced to be hung. Six would be pardoned at the last minutes. On June 19th 1771 on a hill in the town of Hillsborough a gallows is constructed and surrounded by the militia 6 Regulators are systematically hung. After the battle and Tryon's campaign of terror many Regulators and the families traveled westward to areas beyond North Carolina. After the hangings Tryon leaves to become Government of New York leaving a war torn North Carolina to his successor.

Order of battle[edit]

Provincial militia[edit]

According to Tryon's journal, the following men served under his command:^[3]

• Major-generals: John Ashe and Thomas Lloyd
• Lieutenant-generals: John Rutherford, Lewis Henry deRosset, John Sampson, Robert Palmer, Benjamin Heron, and Samuel Strudwick
• Majors of brigade: Abner Nash and Robert Howe
• Colonels: Alexander Osborne, Edmund Fanning, Robert Harris, James Sampson, Samuel Spencer, James Moore, and Maurice Moore
• Lieutenant-colonels: John Frohock, Moses Alexander, Alexander Lillington, John Gray, Samuel Benton, and Robert Schaw
• Majors: William Bullock, Walter Lindsay, Thomas Lloyd, Martin Fifer, and John Hinton
• Alexander Lillington and James Moore were both American patriots at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
• Richard Caswell was delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, one of the principal authors of the 1776 constitution of North Carolina, and the first governor of the newly independent state
• Francis Nash, whose guilt for extortion precipitated the Regulator Movement, fought and died as an American patriot in the Revolution
• Griffith Rutherford served as a brigadier general in Salisbury District Brigade of the North Carolina militia

Regulators[edit]

The following individuals were numbered as members of the Regulators:

• Herman Husband
• James Hunter – So-called "General of the Regulators", whose 1901 statue is now found at Alamance Battleground
• James Few – executed at camp after the battle
• Charles Harrington – died from wounds received at the battle
• Abraham and John Helton ^[4]

The following were excepted from pardons by Tryon:

• Samuel Jones
• Joshua Teague
• Samuel Waggoner
• Simon Dunn Jr.
• Abraham Creson
• Benjamin Merrit [Merrill]
• James Wilkerson Sr.
• Edward Smith
• Malachi Fyke
• John Bumpass
• Joseph Boring
• William Rankin
• William Robeson
• John Winkler
• John Wilcox

Six men were found guilty of treason, but were pardoned at Tryon's behest:

• Forest Mercer
• James Stewart
• James Emerson – later signed the Revolutionary War Patriots' Muster Roll as James Emison (Emmerson)^[5]
• Hermon (or Harmon) Cox – his powder horn is now on display at Alamance Battleground
• William Brown
• James Copeland

Six men were found guilty of treason and were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered, although in practice, they were only hanged:

• Benjamin Merrill
• Robert Matear (Matter)
• Pugh ^[6]
• Captain Robert Messer
• Unknown
• Unkown

Legacy[edit]

Some local historians in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries believed the battle to be a forerunner to the American Revolutionary War,^[7]. Even, popular media and old monuments claim that Alamance was the first battle of the Revolution, it simply is not. The Regulators were not intending an overthrow of the Government in North Carolina rather the desired to reform/ regulate so it is fair to all residents of the colony not just the rich. They sought basic protections of the law and fairness and where killed for it. The Regulators where a mostly non-violent protest movement that sought every possible peaceful solution to their problems until the resorted to major violence. Lawsuits, petitions, and representation in the general assembly all failed. Only after years of frustration did they act with violence in Hillsborough. Even at the battle of Alamance they did not fire the first shots.

The struggle of the Regulators is a fundamental struggle for fair treatment by the government for all citizens not just the wealthy and elites. The Regulators struggle and reforms they sought for only recently became reality. As the Regulators struggled for a world more like the world we have today than the Revolutionaries created or every wanted.

American Revolution[edit]

During the American Revolution many prominent Regulators become Loyalist during the Revolution, like James Hunter who fights against at the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. While the leaders of Tryon's militia become the leaders of the Revolution. All of North Carolina's continental army generals where with Tryon at the battle of Alamance and one even was in command of the artillery the fired on the Regulators. The Regulators notably where never anti-king or against the monarchy their issue was with the local corruption and elites abusing them.

Today[edit]

The site of the Battle is preserved as Alamance Battleground State Historic Site where visitors may walk where the battle took place. Today the site contains exhibits, nature trails, a self-guided walking tour, guided battlefield tours, and a 1780s log cabin belong to the Allen family. The visitors' center offers exhibits, artifacts, and a gift shop. The site offers programing and events throughout the year including in May a Reenactment of the Battle of Alamance.

The battle features in the Diana Gabaldon novel, The Fiery Cross, and is depicted in the television adaptation, Outlander, in the fifth season's episode "The Ballad of Roger Mac" which first aired in 2020.^[8][9]

See also[edit]

• Whiskey rebellion
• Shays's Rebellion

References[edit]

• Breaking Loose Together: The Regulator Rebellion in Pre-Revolutionary North Carolina by Marjoleine Kars. ^{[ISBN missing]}

External links[edit]

• "Alamance Battleground, Burlington, North Carolina". Alamance Battleground.org. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
• "An authentic relation of the Battle of Alamance". Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg). June 27, 1771., dead link