Hillsborough District Brigade

The Hillsborough District Brigade of militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia established on May 4, 1776. Brigadier General Thomas Person was the first commander. Companies from the eight regiments of the brigade were engaged in 55 known battles and skirmishes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. It was active until the end of the war.^[1]

Hillsborough District Brigade
Active	1776-1783
Allegiance	North Carolina
Branch	North Carolina militia
Type	Militia
Commanders
Notable commanders	Brigadier General Thomas Person Brigadier General John Butler Brigadier General Ambrose Ramsey (Pro Tempore)

Background

In 1766, the Province of North Carolina House of Burgess, at the direction of Province of North Carolina Governor William Tryon, divided the state into six judicial districts. The districts did not do away with the county divisions of the state, which continued.^[2]

Within the Hillsborough District in 1775 were the counties of Caswell, Chatham, Granville, Orange, Randolph (added in 1779), and Wake.^[3][2]

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the newly formed North Carolina government converted the state's six existing judicial districts into military districts. These districts each comprised a number of counties surrounding a significant town. The six districts, which corresponded with old judicial organizations, were: Edenton, New Bern, Wilmington, Halifax, Salisbury, and Hillsborough.^[4] Each district was to supply a brigade of militia regiments under the command of a brigadier general.

After the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress held at Hillsborough (August 20 – September 10, 1775), the districts became known as "military" vice "judicial" districts. These districts were used to organize the North Carolina Minutemen battalions for a six-month trial as state troops, beginning on September 1, 1775. By April 10, 1776, the Provincial Congress decided in favor of district brigades of militia with county militia regiments. Each brigade was led by a brigadier general. The county militia regiments were subordinated to the brigade. At that time, two additional districts were added, further dividing the western part of the state (Washington District Regiment in 1776 and Morgan District in 1784). Also, district representatives were chosen and sent to the North Carolina Provincial Congress. These representatives were instrumental in the passage of the Halifax Resolves, in April 1776, during the Fourth Provincial Congress, which is now often referred to as the "Halifax Congress".^[5]

Brigade history

The Hillsborough District Brigade was established on May 4, 1776.^[1]

As the militia had a poor reputation for turning out, bounties to induce volunteerism were common during the war. For men who chose not to serve when drafted, there were two options: pay for a substitute to take their place or pay a fine. These options, with some modifications, remained throughout the war.^[3]

Brigadier General Thomas Person was appointed the first commander of the Hillsborough District Brigade in 1776. During the 1781 Battle of Guilford Court House, the Hillsborough District was commanded by John Butler.^[3]

Each county supplied a regiment (Orange County supplied two regiments), which in turn was composed of various companies. Each company consisted of no less than 50 men and was further divided into five "divisions." One of the five divisions was reserved for "the more aged and infirm men." The other four divisions, of each company, drew lots to determine the rotation they would follow for their tour of service, which usually lasted for three months. Eventually the "fifth division" of "aged and infirm men" was dropped, as was the maximum age limit from 60 to 50. In order to provide a greater pool of available manpower, the old colonial militia exemption list was revised.^[3]

Commanders of the Hillsborough District Brigade and their length of service are as follows:^[1]

• Brigadier General Thomas Person (1776-1777)^[6]
• Brigadier General John Butler (1777-1783)^[7]
• Brigadier General Ambrose Ramsey (Pro Tempore) (March 15, 1781)^[1]

Regiments

The following table shows the regiments of the Hillsborough District Brigade. In 1778, there was a state level militia organization above the brigade. Each regiment was made up of companies of up to 50 men.^[1]

Unit	Subordinate Brigade	Created	Disbanded	Original Commander, Rank
North Carolina Militia and State Troops	Governor	1778	1783	Ashe, John Sr., M.G.
Hillsborough District Brigade	North Carolina Militia	1776	1783	Person, Thomas, B.G.
Caswell County Regiment	Hillsborough	1777	1783	Saunders, James, Col
Chatham County Regiment	Hillsborough	1775	1783	Ramsey, Ambrose, Col
Granville County Regiment	Hillsborough	1775	1783	Taylor, Joseph, Col
Mounted Volunteers Regiment	Hillsborough	1780	1780	Taylor, Philip, Col
Northern Orange County Regiment	Hillsborough	1776	1777	Saunders, James, Col
Orange County Regiment, aka Southern Orange County Regiment 1776-1777	Hillsborough	1775	1783	Hogan, John, Col
Randolph County Regiment	Hillsborough	1779	1783	Balfour, Andrew, Col
Wake County Regiment	Hillsborough	1775	1783	Hinton, John, Col

Caswell County Regiment

The Caswell County Regiment started out as the Northern Orange County Regiment when the original Orange County Regiment was split into two separate and distinct regiments. The commandant was Colonel James Saunders. Under this name the regiment did not serve in any engagements.^{[8][9][10][11]} |-

On May 9, 1777, the Northern Orange County Regiment was renamed the Caswell County Regiment. Colonel James Saunders continued as the commandant of the Caswell County Regiment.^[8]

• Colonel James Saunders (1775-1776, Hillsborough District Minutemen), (1776-1777, Northern Orange County Regiment), (1777-1783, Caswell County Regiment)
• Colonel William Moore (1775-1776, major in the Orange County Regiment), (1776-1777, Lt Col in the Northern Orange County Regiment), (1777-1782, 2nd Colonel in the Caswell County Regiment)
• Colonel George Oldham (1776, private in the Northern Orange County Regiment), (1776, ensign in the Northern Orange County Regiment), (1779-1780, lieutenant in the Caswell County Regiment), (1780-1781, captain in the Caswell County Regiment (1781-1783, major in the Caswell County Regiment), (1783, 2nd colonel in the Caswell County Regiment)

Chatham County Regiment

The Chatham County Regiment was a unit of the North Carolina militia that served during the American Revolution. The North Carolina General Assembly authorized the Chatham County Regiment on September 9, 1775, along with 34 other county regiments. The officers were appointed and commissioned by the Governor of North Carolina. The regiment was subordinated to the Hillsboro District Brigade of North Carolina militia on May 4, 1776. The regiment was disbanded at the end of the war.^[12]

The colonels of the Chatham County Regiment were:^[12]

• Colonel Ambrose Ramsey (commander 1775–1783) (also served as Brigadier Pro Tempore of the Salisbury District Brigade on March 15, 1781)^[13]
• Colonel John Luttrell (1781), 2nd Colonel
• Colonel Jeduthan Harper (1781–1783), 2nd Colonel^[14]

Granville County Regiment

The Granville County Regiment was one of the 35 existing county militias to be authorized as a regiment of the North Carolina militia by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on September 9, 1775. It was active until the end of the war. The colonels included:^[15]

• Colonel Joseph Taylor (1775-1783, commandant)
• Colonel Robert Harris (1776-1778)
• Colonel Samuel Smith (1778-1779)^[16]
• Colonel John Dickerson (1780, commandant)
• Colonel Philip Taylor (1780-1781), (1780, commander of the Mounted Volunteers)
• Colonel Charles Rust Eaton (1781-1783)^[17]

The North Carolina Council of State authorized Col Taylor to create the Mounted Volunteers Regiment of Cavalry in August 1780. They were assigned to keep the Loyalists from rising up around Chatham and Randolph counties. They were sent to the Salisbury District in September of 1780 to join up with the North Carolina State Cavalry-Western District in September 1780 in anticipation of contact with General Cornwallis. They were engaged with the Battle of Charlotte on September 26, 1780 and the skirmish as Polk's Mill on October 9, 1780. The unit was short lived and was disbanded in December of 1780.^[15]

Randolph County Regiment

The Randolph County Regiment was created when Randolph County was created by the North Carolina General Assembly on February 2, 1779 from the southern third of Guilford County. The officers were appointed and commissioned by the Governor. The regiment was active until the end of the war in 1783. Colonels of the regiment included:^[18]

• Colonel Andrew Balfour (1779-1782, commandant) He was murdered at his home by the Loyalist officer, Colonel David Fanning.^[19][20]
• Colonel John Collier (1779-1782)
• Colonel Edward Sharpe (1782-1783)
• Colonel James Dougan (1782-1783)
• Colonel Thomas Dougan (1783)

Wake County Regiment

The Wake County Regiment was one of the 35 existing county militias to be authorized as a regiment of the North Carolina militia by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on September 9, 1775. It was active until the end of the war. The colonels included:^[21]

• Colonel John Hinton, Sr. (1775-1778)^[22]
• Colonel Michael Rogers (1778-1783)
• Colonel John Hinton, Jr. (1778-1783)^[23]
• Colonel James Hinton (1780)^[24]

Engagements

Major engagements in the Southern Campaign

Militia from the Hillsborough District participated in nearly all of the important southern campaigns and engagements. Orange County militia were particularly involved in engagements including Stono Creek, Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Cowan's Ford, Clapp's Mill, Guilford Court House, and Lindley's Mill. Regiments of the Hillsborough District Brigade were involved in 55 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including one in Georgia, 11 in South Carolina, 36 in North Carolina. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.^[1]

Order	Date	Battle	State	Caswell	Chatham	Granville	Mounted Volunteers	Northern Orange	Orange	Randolph	Wake
1	2/27/1776	Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge	NC		x	x			x		x
2	3/3/1779	Battle of Briar Creek	GA	x	x	x		x	x		x
3	6/20/1779	Battle of Stono Ferry	SC	x		x		x	x		x
4	3/28/1780 to 5/12/1780	Siege of Charleston 1780	SC	x	x	x		x	x		x
5	6/20/1780	Battle of Ramsour's Mill	NC					x	x
6	8/11/1780	Battle of Little Lynches Creek[25]	SC	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
7	8/16/1780	Battle of Camden	SC	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
8	8/18/1780	Battle of Fishing Creek	SC	x
9	9/26/1780	Battle of Charlotte	NC				x
10	10/7/1780	Battle of Kings Mountain	SC	x	x	x
11	10/9/1780	Battle of Polk's Mill[26]	NC			x	x
12	10/14/1780	Battle of Shallow Ford	NC	x
13	12/4/1780	Skirmish at Rugeley's Mills #2[27]	SC	x		x		x	x
14	1/17/1781	Battle of Cowpens	SC	x		x		x	x	x
15	2/1/1781	Battle of Cowan's Ford	NC	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
16	2/1/1781	Battle of Tarrant's/Torrence's Tavern	NC	x		x		x	x	x	x
17	2/3/1781 to 2/4/1781	Battle of Trading Ford[28]	NC		x
18	2/25/1781	Battle of Haw River	NC	x	x			x	x
19	3/4/1781	Battle of Clapp's Mill #1[29]	NC	x
20	3/6/1781	Battle of Whitesell's Mill	NC	x				x	x
21	3/7/1781	Skirmish at Reedy Fork[30]	NC	x
22	3/15/1781	Battle of Alamance	NC		x
23	3/15/1781	Battle of Guilford Court House	NC	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
24	3/19/1781	Battle of Ramsey's Mill[31]	NC					x	x
25	3/31/1781	Skirmish at Cole's Bridge #2[32]	NC							x
26	4/25/1781	Battle of Hobkirk's Hill	SC	x	x						x
27	5/9/1781	Battle of Deep River #1[33]	NC						x
28	5/11/1781	Battle of Buffalo Ford[34]	NC							x
29	5/21/1781-6/19/1781	Siege of Ninety-Six 1781	SC	x	x	x
30	6/8/1781	Battle of Cox's Mill #1	NC		x			x	x	x
31	7/17/1781	Chatham Courthouse	NC		x
32	7/29/1781	Battle of House in the Horseshoe	NC		x
33	8/4/1781	Battle of Beatti's Bridge[35]	NC							x
34	9/1/1781	Battle of Little Raft Swamp[36]	NC		x
35	9/01/1781 to 9/30/1781	Battle of Brown Marsh	NC	x	x			x	x	x	x
36	9/01/1781 to 9/30/1781	Battle of Beck's Ford	NC							x
37	9/8/1781	Battle of Eutaw Springs	SC	x		x		x	x	x	x
38	9/12/1781	Battle of Hillsborough	NC		x			x	x
39	9/12/1781	Battle of Kirk's Farm	NC					x	x
40	9/13/1781	Battle of Lindley's Mill	NC	x	x			x	x	x	x
41	9/23/1781	Battle of Livingston's Creek	NC	x
42	10/01/1781 to 10/01/1781	Battle of Brush Creek	NC	x	x			x	x	x
43	10/01/1781 to 10/30/1781	Battle of Bear Creek	NC		x
44	10/15/1781	Battle of Raft Swamp	NC		x	x		x	x	x	x
45	11/15/1781	Battle of Brick House	NC		x
46	11/16/1781	Battle of Seven Creeks	NC		x
47	11/18/1781	Evacuation of Wilmington	NC							x
48	12/10/1781	Battle of Cox's Mill #3	NC	x
49	1/7/1782	Battle of Gholson's Farm	NC		x
50	2/11/1782	Battle of Deep River #2	NC		x			x	x
51	3/01/1782 to 3/31/1782	Battle of Forks of the Yadkin	NC							x
52	3/11/1782	Balfour's Plantation	NC							x
53	3/13/1782 to 3/14/1782	Battle of Randolph County Court House	NC	x						x
54	5/1/1782 to 5/31/1782	Battle of Deep River #3	NC							x
55	9/22/1782	Battle of Faith Rock	NC							x

References

1. Lewis, J.D. "Hillsborough District Brigade". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved Jan 28, 2019.
2. Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina Districts and Counties in 1775". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
3. Caswell County Historical Association (September 18, 2019). "Hillsborough District Militia". Retrieved April 11, 2019.
4. Note: Later, two additional districts were added, further dividing the mountainous western part of the state.
5. Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, North Carolina's Provincial and State Troops, Not Militia". Retrieved March 15, 2019.
6. Skinner, Sue Dossett (1994). "Thomas Person". NCPedia. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
7. Butler, Lindley S. Butler (1979). "John Butler". Retrieved April 20, 2019.
8. Lewis, J.D. "Caswell County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
9. Powell, William S. (1977). When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County, North Carolina, 1777–1977.
10. Caswell County Historical Association (August 11, 2009). "Revolutionary War Soldiers: Caswell County, North Carolina". Retrieved April 11, 2019.
11. Lewis, J.D. "Caswell County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
12. Lewis, J.D. "Chatham County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
13. "North Carolina Visitor Center, History of Chatham County, North Carolina". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
14. Whatley, L. McKay (2010). Images of Randolph County. ISBN 9780738586731.
15. Lewis, J.D. "Granville County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
16. Stumph, Vernon O. (1994). "Samuel Smith". NCPedia. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
17. Smith, Claiborne T. Jr. (1986). "John Rust Eaton". NCPedia. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
18. Lewis, J.D. "Randolph County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
19. Raper, Horace W. (1979). "Andrew Balfour". NCPedia. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
20. "Andrew Balfour". Retrieved April 12, 2019.
21. Lewis, J.D. "Wake County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
22. Hinton, Mary Hilliard. "Colonel John Hinton". Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019., The North Carolina Booklet, Vol. XIV, No. 4, pp 225-236, April 1915, The North Carolina Society Daughters of the Revolution, Publisher, Commercial Printing Company, Raleigh
23. Hodges, Eudora Coleman (1988). "John Hinton". NCPedia. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
24. Kerr, Mary Hinton Duke (1988). "James Hinton". NCPedia. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
25. Lewis, J.D. "Little Lynches Creek". Retrieved March 21, 2019.
26. Lewis, J.D. "Battle of Polk's Mill". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
27. Lewis, J.D. "Rugeley's Mills". Retrieved March 21, 2019.
28. Lewis, J.D. "Trading Ford". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
29. Lewis, J.D. "Clapp's Mill". Retrieved March 22, 2019.
30. Lewis, J.D. "Reedy Fork". Retrieved March 22, 2019.
31. Lewis, J.D. "Ramsey's Mill". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
32. Lewis, J.D. "Cole's Bridge". Retrieved March 22, 2019.
33. Lewis, J.D. "Deep River 1". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
34. Lewis, J.D. "Buffalo Ford". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
35. Lewis, J.D. "Beatti's Bridge". Retrieved March 22, 2019.
36. Lewis, J.D. "Little Raft Swamp". Retrieved March 21, 2019.

• Baker, Thomas E. (1981). Another Such Victory: The Story of the American Defeat at Guilford Courthouse That Helped Win the War for Independence. New York: Eastern Acorn Press.
• North Carolina Department of Archives and History, North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts-Secretary of State Treasurer's and Comptroller's Papers Journal "A" (Public Accounts) 1775-1776.
• William Stevens Powell, ed. (1996). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
• Russell, Charles Phillips (1965). North Carolina in the Revolutionary War. Charlotte: Heritage Printers.
• Saunders, William, ed. (1890). The Colonial Records of North Carolina. Vol. 10. Raleigh: Josephus Daniels.
• Wheeler, Earl M. (1964). "Development and Organization of the North Carolina Militia. North Carolina Historical Review 41, no. 3 (July 1964)". pp. 307–323.