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 would 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.

The government forces effectively crushed the regulator resistance with their smaller, better equipped and trained force. Almost immediately after the fighting, the government forces captured several of the regulator leaders including Benjamin Merrill and Harmon Cox. Other regulator leaders, like Herman Husband, were not present for the battle itself, but accompanied the regulators up until the battle actually took place. Many of the officers tryon had serving under him as leaders of flanks, centres, or artillery batteries, went on to be Maj. General's and governors such as John Ashe, Robert Howe, and Richard Caswell. A large percentage of North Carolina's senior and future military talent of the time was present for the battle.

In the spring of 1771, North Carolina Governor William Tryon left New Bern, having mustered 1,000 militia troops and 8 cannons. They marched westwards to address a rebellion that had been brewing in the western counties for several years. Herman Husband was the leader of the regulators in Orange County, and his first cousin Harmon Cox was the leader in Randolph County, they led their militia forces in the ensuing riots and battle, save for Herman Husband who was a devout Quaker and detested violence, he led men but left once the battle was sure to happen. The colonial government chose to act after a group of Regulators in September 1770 attacked the superior court in Hillsborough, NC.

They rioted through the town for several days. In response in January 1771 the North Carolina assembly passed the Johnston Riot Act, allowing the use of force to disperse assemblies of people. As a result of their acts of resistance, such as not paying fees and taxes, and minor violence, the Regulators were declared to be in a state of rebellion and insurrection.

About 2,200 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 as they had done before, or to finally make their stand against Tryon and fight, their true intention are unknown. Funded with £6,000 provided by council member and wealthy merchant Samuel Cornell, Tryon left the county seat of Hillsborough, on May 11 with his militia to confront the Regulators, who had made camp south of Great Alamance Creek in western Orange County.^[1][2]

On the evening of May 15, Tryon received word that the Regulators were camped about six miles away. Throughout the night, the Regulators sent peace envoys to discuss with Tryon to avoid fighting. All overtures were ignored. The next morning, at about 8:00 am, Tryon's troops, which consisted of much more disciplined, trained, and experienced soldiers such as John Ashe and James Moore, set out to a field about a half mile from the Regulators' camp. They were very much better well equipped than the regulators, having supply wagons, gun wagons mounted with artillery pieces, and having several mounted officers on horse back. While marching on the road he stopped and ordered his men to practice forming a line. After a satisfactory performance they reformed and marched down the road. As the army neared the Regulator positions he ordered the militia to form two lines, and divided his artillery with the 2 3-pounders on the flanks and the 6 swivel guns at the center. The Regulators waited for the army to arrive. On the eve of the battle, Herman Husband who opposed fighting left before the shots began to be fired. Although seemingly disorganized the regulators did possess a command structure. The Regulators were volunteers organized along community lines, with elected "chiefs" and "captains". Local leaders included Harmon Cox and Benjamin Merrill. Additionally, most of the Regulators did have militia training and knew how to fight. This being considered, it should also be known that less than half of the 2200 regulators present at the battle, were armed, many showed up without weapons not thinking they would need any, and many carried blunt and sharp objects and weapons, which were almost all but pointless when dealing with cannons and grapeshot. ^[3]

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, as read by the sheriff of Orange county, made the demand to disperse per the Johnston Riot act. The Regulators had one hour to disperse or be subject to force. Soon after at about 11:15 Tryon's army arrived, formed along the slope of the adjacent hill, and proceeded to wait for the deadline with weapons loaded.

The Regulators spent the time yelling insults at the militia and taunting them to fire. Possibly during the hour or at the end, one Regulator who had been taken prisoner earlier in the day, Robert Thompson, decided to seize the moment to escape. Tryon ordered him to be shot. When the hour was up, Tryon sent over the Sheriff of Orange county to get the Regulators answer, their response being "fire and be damned". Tryon gave the order to open fire with grapeshot from the cannons, followed by volleys from the militia.

The Regulators attempted to form a defense, but by the second volley most of the Regulators fled in terror. Those left behind took cover behind large trees and rocks and fired back. The artillery continued firing on the Regulators. After 30 minutes, Tryon ordered the cannons to cease fire, and for the militia to advance. They routed the remaining Regulators, chasing them for several miles, rounding up any left behind, and looting the Regulators camp to boot. The battle brought the Regulators movement to an end.

Michael Holt was politically active in the years of the Regulation and the Revolution. The Battle of Alamance was fought on his land in 1771. His role in the Revolution began as a Tory, raising and leading a militia company for the crown in 1776. Shortly thereafter, he had a change of sympathies and supported the Revolution for the remainder of the conflict.

Losses for both sides are disputed. Tryon reported nine dead and 61 wounded among the militia, with 300 Regulator casualties during the battle. Tryon took 13 prisoners. After the battle, Tryon sought to cement the fear and terror by beginning a campaign of terror on the population. One of the prisoners, named James Few, who had inflicted many casualties on Tryon, was executed at the camp the day after the battle. Tryon then proceeded to travel across the center of Regulators control, burning homes and destroying crops. The populace was compelled to sign oaths of allegiance and surrender their firearms. Afterwards the army returned to Hillsborough where a rapid trial was conducted for the remaining twelve prisoners. They were all sentenced to be hanged; six were pardoned at the last minute. The sentence was carried out on the remaining six on June 19, 1771, on a hill in the town of Hillsborough. 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 left to become Governor of New York leaving a war torn North Carolina to his successor.

According to Tryon's journal, the following men served under his command:^[4]

• 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

The following individuals were numbered as central members of the Regulators:

• Herman Husband - author and organizer of Orange County regulators
• Harmon Cox - financier and organizer of Randolph County regulators
• James Hunter – So-called "General of the Regulators", whose 1901 statue is now found at Alamance Battleground
• James Few – wounded William Tryon at battle, executed at British camp after the battle
• Charles Harrington – died from wounds received at the battle
• Abraham and John Helton ^[5]

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)^[6]
• 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)
• James Pugh ^[7]
• Captain Robert Messer
• Unknown
• Unknown

Some local historians in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries believed the battle to be a forerunner to the American Revolutionary War.^[8]

During the American Revolution, many prominent Regulators became Loyalists, like James Hunter who fought at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. Alternatively, the leaders of Tryon's militia became the leaders of the Revolution. All of North Carolina's continental army generals were with Tryon at the Battle of Alamance, and one was in command of the artillery that fired on the Regulators. The Regulators notably were never against the monarchy - their issue was with local corruption and elites abusing them.

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;^[9][10] however, there are many historical inaccuracies.

• Whiskey rebellion
• Shays's Rebellion

• "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
• "Michael Holt II, 1723 - 1799". hmdb.org. Retrieved 2024-08-10.