Edenton District Brigade
Edenton District Brigade | |
---|---|
Active | 1776-1783 |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | North Carolina militia |
Type | Militia |
Part of | Brigade |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Brigadier General Edward Vail, Sr. Brigadier General William Skinner Brigadier General Isaac Gregory |
The Edenton 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 end of the war.[1]
History[]
Known commanders/commandants:[1]
- Brigadier General Edward Vail, Sr. (1776-1777)[2][3]
- Brigadier General William Skinner (1777-1779)[4]
- Brigadier General John Pugh Williams (Pro Tempore) (May 1779)
- Brigadier General Isaac Gregory (1779-1783)[5]
- Brigadier General Thomas Benbury (Pro Tempore) (October 1780)
Edward Vail, Sr. was commissioned as the first commander of the Edenton District Brigade on May 4, 1776. William Skinner was appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly on December 20, 1777 to replace, general Edward Vail who died on June 5, 1777. John Pugh was commissioned as a Brigadier General commanding the Edenton District Brigade on May 12, 1779; however, he resigned his position after three days to take up a new position as a colonel on the staff of Major General Caswell, commander of the North Carolina Militia and State Troops. Brigadier General Issac Gregory replaced him on May 15, 1779. Thomas Benbury served as commander for a short time in October 1780 when general Gregory was in the western part of the state.[1][5][2][4]
Regiments[]
The known regiments of the Edenton District Brigade were as follows:[1]
Unit | Subordinate Brigade | Created | Disbanded | Original Commander, Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Edenton District Brigade | North Carolina Militia | 1776 | 1783 | Vail, Edward, Brigadier General |
1st Regiment of North Carolina militia | Edenton | 1780 | 1780 | |
2nd Regiment of North Carolina militia | Edenton | 1780 | 1780 | Exum, Benjamin, Col |
Bertie County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | |
Camden County Regiment | Edenton | 1777 | 1783 | Gregory, Isaac, Col[5] |
Chowan County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | Bonner, Thomas, Col |
Currituck County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | |
Gates County Regiment | Edenton | 1779 | 1783 | |
Hertford County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | |
Martin County Regiment | Edenton, Halifax[6] | 1775 | 1783 | |
1st Pasquotank County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | |
2nd Pasquotank County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1777 | Gregory, Isaac, Col[5] |
Perquimans County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | |
Tyrrell County Regiment | Edenton | 1775 | 1783 | Buncombe, Edward, Col |
1st and 2nd Regiments[]
On June 2, 1780, the North Carolina Legislature authorized two new special regiments of Militia to be raised and led by of the Currituck County Regiment and Colonel Benjamin Exum of the Wayne County Regiment. These and many other county militia regiments were quickly assembled under Major General Richard Caswell at Cross Creek and Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford at Salisbury in July. They were marched to join up with the recently arrived Major General Horatio Gates of the Continental Army, and led into South Carolina to stop the British if possible. Both regiments fought at the Battle of Lynches Creek on August 11, 1780 and Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780 in South Carolina. After the Battle of Camden, both units retreated to Salisbury and were disbanded on September 2, 1780.[7][8]
Bertie County Regiment[]
The Bertie 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:[9]
- Colonel Thomas Whitmell (commander 1775-1778)[10]
- Colonel Thomas Pugh (commander 1778-1780)
- Colonel John Pugh Williams (2nd colone, 1778-1779)
- Colonel James Moore (1780/1781-1783?)
- Colonel James Campbell (1780-1783?)
Companies of the Bertie County Regiment were engaged in five known battles and skirmishes: Battle of Brier Creek in Georgia on March 3, 1779, Battle of Stono Ferry in South Carolina on June 20, 1779, Siege of Charleston from March 18 to May 12, 1780, Little Lynches Creek in South Carolina on August 11, 1780, and the Battle of Camden in South Carolina on August 16, 1780.[9]
Chowan County Regiment[]
The Chowan 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:[11]
- Colonel Thomas Bonner (1775-1779)
- Colonel James Blount (1779-1783)
There are very few records about this unit. However, the regiment is known to have been engaged in the Battle of Brier Creek in Georgia on March 3, 1779.[11]
Currituck County Regiment[]
The Currituck 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:[12]
- Colonel Samuel Jarvis (1775-1783)
- Colonel Hollowell Williams (2nd colonel 1776-1777)
- Colonel Solomon Perkins (2nd colonel 1777-1779)
The Currituck County Regiment was known to have been involved in five battles and skirmishes: Battle of Great Bridge in Virginia on December 9, 1775, Battle of Brier Creek in Georgia on March 3, 1779, Battle of Camden in South Carolina on August 16, 1780, and the Siege of Charleston from March 28 to May 12, 1780.[12]
Gates County Regiment[]
When Gates County was formed by the North Carolina General Assembly from Chowan County, Hertford County, and Perquimans County on January 30, 1779, the Gates County Regiment was also established and continued to be active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels included:[13]
- Colonel Lawrence Baker (2nd colonel 1779-1783)[14]
- Colonel Kadar Reddick (commander 1779-1783)
The Gates County Regiment was engaged in seven known battles and skirmishes: Battle of Brier Creek in Georgia on March 3, 1779, Charleston Neck in South Carolina on May 11–13, 1779, Battle of Stono Ferry in South Carolina on June 20, 1779, Siege of Charleston in South Carolina from March 28 to May 12, 1780, Battle of Camden in South Carolina on August 16, 1780, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina on March 15, 1781, and the Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina on September 8, 1781.[13]
Hertford County Regiment[]
The Hertford 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 Benjamin Wynns (1775-1780)[16]
- Colonel Matthias Brickell, Jr. (1779-1780)
- Colonel George Lytle (2nd colonel by 1780)
- Colonel George Wynns (1780-1783)
The Hertford County Regiment was known to have been engaged in three battles: Battle of Great Bridge in Virginia on December 9, 1775, Siege of Charleston in South Carolina from March 28 to May 12, 1780, and the skirmish in Hillsborough in North Carolina on September 12, 1781.[15]
Martin County Regiment[]
The Martin 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. The regiment was transferred to the Halifax District Brigade of the North Carolina militia under Brigadier General Allen Jones in December 1777. It was active until the end of the war. The colonels included:[17]
- Colonel William Williams (1775-1778)
- Colonel Whitmell Hill (1778, 1781-1783)
- Colonel Thomas Wiggins (2nd colonel, 1778-1782)
The Martin Count Regiment was known to have been involved in four battles during the American Revolution: Battle of Brier Creek in Georgia on March 3, 1779, Battle of Camden in South Carolina on August 16, 1780, the Battle of Guilford Court House in North Carolina on March 15, 1781, and the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill in South Carolina on April 25, 1781.[17]
Pasquotank County Regiment[]
The Pasquotank 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. On December 22, 1775, the regiment was split into a 1st Pasquotank County Regiment and a 2nd Pasquotank Regiment. On May 9, 1777, the 2nd Pasquotank Regiment was renamed the Camden County Regiment and the 1st Pasquotank County Regiment reverted to just the Pasquotank County Regiment. It was active until the end of the war. The colonels included:[18]
- Colonel John Lowery (1775-1776)
- Colonel Thomas Boyd (1776-1783)
Colonel Lowry commanded the Pasquotank County Regiment as early as 1771 when William McCormick was appointed as Captain by Governor Josiah Martin. Captain McCormick was a loyalist.[19]
The Pasquotank County Regiment was involved in two known engagements: Battle of Great Bridge in Virginia on December 9, 1775 and the Battle of Camden in South Carolina on August 16, 1780.[18]
Camden County Regiment[]
The Camden County Regiment was originally called the 2nd Pasquotank County Regiment, which was formed from the Pasquotank County Regiment on December 2, 1775 when it was split into 1st and 2nd Pasquotank County regiments. On May 9, 1777, the 2nd Pasquotank County Regiment was renamed the Camden County Regiment. The colonels included:[20]
- Colonel Isaac Gregory (1775-1777, 2nd Pasquotank County Regiment), (1777-1779, Camden County Regiment)
- Colonel Dempsey Burgess (1779)[21][22]
- Colonel John Gregory (1779-1783)[23]
- (1779-1783)[24]
As the 2nd Pasquotank County Regiment, it was not involved in any engagements. After it became the Camden County Regiment it was involved in two battles, the Battle of Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779 and the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, 1781.[20]
Perquimans County Regiment[]
The Perquimans 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:[25]
- Colonel Miles Harvey (1775-1776), He died in 1776.[26]
- Colonel Thomas Harvey (1776-1783)
The Perquimans County Regiment was engage in only one known battle during the American Revolution, the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775 in Virginia.[25]
Tyrrell County Regiment[]
The Tyrrell 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:[27]
- Colonel Edward Buncombe (1775–1776)
- Colonel Clement Cook (1776)
- Colonel Benjamin Blount (1776–1779)
- Colonel James Long (1779–1783)
The Tyrrell County Regiment was engaged in the Battle of Brier Creek in Georgia on March 3, 1779, the Siege of Charleston from March 28 to May 12, 1780, and the Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina on September 8, 1781.[27]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Lewis, J.D. "Edenton District Brigade of militia". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Carney, Richard. "Edward Vail (1717-1777)". Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ Smith, William S., Jr. (1996). "Edward Vail". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Skinner, Sue Dossett (1994). "William Skinner". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Powell, William S. (1986). "Isaac Gregory". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ The Martin County Regiments was transferred to the Halifax District Brigade of the North Carolilna militia in December of 1777
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "1st North Carolina Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "2nd North Carolina Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Bertie County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Smith, Claiborne T. Jr. (1996). "Thomas Whitmell". NCPedia. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Chowan County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Currituck County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Gates County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Smith, Claiborne T., Jr. (1979). "Laurence Baker". NCPEDIA. Retrieved December 17, 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Hertford County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Newbern, Thomas R. J. (1996). "Benjamin Wynns". NCPEDIA. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Martin County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Pasquotank County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Memorial of William McCormick to the Royal Commission on the Losses Services of American Loyalists, p. 7
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Camden County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
- ^ Lewis, J.D. "Colonel Dempsey Burgess". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "Colonel John Gregory". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Claudia A. Fry (1986). "Peter Dauge/Dozier". NCPedia. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Perquimans County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- ^ O'Donnell, John Burke Jr. (1988). "Miles Harvey". NCPedia. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, J.D. "Tyrrell County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina.
- Lewis, J.D. (2012). NC Patriots 1775-1783: Their Own Words, Volume 2, Part 1. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- North Carolina militia
- 1776 establishments in North Carolina