The Revolutionary War in North Carolina

Just before the Revolutionary War

• Gov. William Tryon vs. The “Regulator Movement” in May of 1771

•The Johnston’s Riot Act

•Battle of Alamance 1771

Tryon’s Palace

Governor William Tryon in 1767

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence?

• Anti-British sentiments…

• Supposedly signed in Charlotte, NC

• May 20th, 1775

• Cases for and against authenticity

What do you know of the Rev. War already?

(Group Talk)

British Objectives 1780

• The British focus in the war shifted in 1780 with the idea of a southern thrust.

• Landing in Charleston, their idea was to gain Tory/Loyalist support and move north after securing the Southern Colonies.

• Early victories at Charleston and Camden would lead to a series of defeats and the British entered NC.

Battle of Camden, SC Aug 16th 1780 From the film: The Patriot

Lord Charles Cornwallis

Lt. Col. Banastre Tarelton

Gen. Morgan Gen. Greene

15

Gen. William Lee Davidson

Gen. Griffith Rutherford

Not pictured: Col. Francis Locke

NC Milita Forces

16

The Battle of Colson’s Mill July 1780

July 21 1780

• Then Col. William Lee Davidson and some 250 Patriot volunteers moved south to launch a surprise attack on a group of Tories under Loyalist Col. Samuel Bryan and Maj. McArthur.

20

The King’s Road

The Battle of Cowan’s Ford

Feb. 1st, 1781

Gen. Davidson’s grave at Hopewell Presbyterian Church

Davidson College

Torrence Tavern Rally Point

• Second only to the church meeting house, the taverns functioned as a well-known meeting location. (politics, clubs, celebrations, family get togethers, etc.)

• The evidence that a town had one or two taverns near by was a sign that the region was growing and becoming prosperous.

37

“ Mount Mourn No. Ca. 30th Novr. 1824

Dear Sir

Enclosed you will find my papers relative to my application for a pension- I am now old & worn out, a

small matter of gratitude from my Country for a very little space of time would help me much being much

disabled from the effects of a wound received during the revolutionary War at the Battle Ramsour’s (Mill)

Lincoln County (Lincolnton) where I saw my Father fall on the field of Battle being shot dead through the

head by a ball & a few moments afterwards I was shot in the hip & which hurt me all of my life since, but

so long as I help power to labor I declined asking- now forced by entire disability to labor in my shop or

else where (being bred a Blacksmith) & having a large family of females (six all grown) & but one small

son now living with me you must see that my situation would thankfully receive that assistance that is due

to a Soldier & in the cause of Liberty & national independence lost that means which would still enabled

me in some (way?) to have worked for the support of my family heretofore-…”

- Adam Terrence (jr.)

1808 map retrieval courtesy Gary

Rhodes

?

Centre Church

Transco line merged on top of Old Roadbed?

John Deere landscaping

Towards Salisbury and...

Lake Norman Hospital

to Cowan’s Ford

Lowe’s HQ

The Cove Church

Langtree rd.

• Mr. Stonestreet,“I was forwarded your email to contact our local personnel and check in the division office to see if we could provide any assistance in your request. It sounds like an intriguing challenge. After contacting our local personnel and reviewing what we have in the division office, I sorry to say we do not have any information/photography, etc. that may provide assistance. I do wish you luck in your historic endeavor.”

Jim HutchinsSr. Land Representative Transco

House Bill 250 under Gov. Bev. Perdue