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Halifax District Brigade

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Halifax District Brigade
Brigadier Allen Jones
Active1776-1783
AllegianceUnited States North Carolina
BranchNorth Carolina militia
TypeMilitia
Commanders
Notable
commanders
  1. Brigadier General Allen Jones
  2. Brigadier General Thomas Eaton (Pro Tempore)

The Halifax 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]

Commanders

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Brigadier Allen Jones served as commander of the Halifax District Brigade from May 4, 1776, until after the war when he resigned his commission on December 3, 1787. Thomas Eaton temporarily filled general Jones command while he represented as North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress in December 1779 and again while he was ill in 1781.[1][2]

  1. Brigadier General Allen Jones (1776–1783)
  2. Brigadier General Thomas Eaton (Pro Tempore) (1779, 1781)

Regiments

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Unit Subordinate Brigade Created Disbanded Original Commander, Rank
North Carolina Militia and State Troops Governor 1778 1783 Ashe, John Sr., M.G.
Martin County Regiment Edenton, Halifax[3] 1775 1783 Williams, William, Col
Halifax District Brigade North Carolina Militia 1776 1783 Jones, Allen, B.G.
1st Battalion of Volunteers Halifax 1776 1777 Sheppard, Abraham Sr, Col
2nd Battalion of Volunteers Halifax 1776 1777 Locke, Francis, Col
Bute County Regiment Halifax 1775 1779 Person, William, Col
Edgecombe County Regiment Halifax 1775 1783 Haywood, William, Col
Franklin County Regiment Halifax 1779 1783 Seawell, Benjamin, Col
Halifax County Regiment Halifax 1775 1783 Bradford, John, Col
Nash County Regiment Halifax 1777 1783 Clinch, James, Col
Northampton County Regiment Halifax 1775 1783 Jones, Allen, Col
Warren County Regiment Halifax 1779 1783 Eaton, Thomas, Col

1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers

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The North Carolina Provincial Congress authorized the creation of the 1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers on November 23, 1776, at the insistence of the Continental Congress, which was afraid of another British march to Charleston. The hastily assembled 1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers were assigned to Brigadier General Allen Jones of the newly created Halifax District Brigade of the North Carolina militia. Colonel Abraham Sheppard commanded the 1st Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel Francis Locke commanded the 2nd Battalion. They marched into South Carolina but the British failed to invade a second time. The term limits for these two battalions expired on April 10, 1777, so the units returned home because they were no longer needed.[4][5][6][7]

Edgecombe County Regiment

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The Edgecombe County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775, by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:[8]

  • Colonel William Haywood (1775–1776, commandant)[9]
  • Colonel Exum Lewis (1776–1783, commandant)
  • Colonel Jonas Johnston (1778–1779, 2nd colonel)[10]
  • Colonel Joseph J. Clinch (1779–1783, 2nd colonel)

Franklin County Regiment

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When Franklin County was created out of part of Bute County on January 30, 1779, the Bute County Regiment was abolished and replace with the Franklin County Regiment. All officers were selected and commissioned by the Governor. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:[11]

Halifax County Regiment

[edit]

The Halifax County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775, by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:[13][14]

  • Colonel John Bradford (1775–1776)[14]
  • Colonel Willis Alston (1776–1778)[14]
  • Colonel Samuel Weldon (1778)[14][15]
  • Colonel John Whitaker (1779–1780)
  • Colonel James Allen (1780–1783)

Nash County Regiment

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When the North Carolina General Assembly Created Nash County from Edgecombe County on December 17, 1777, the also created the Nash County Regiment of the North Carolina militia. All officers were selected and commissioned by the Governor. The unit was active until the end of the war. The colonels and commandants of this regiment included:[16]

  • Colonel James Clinch (1777–1783)
  • Colonel Thomas Hunter (1780–1783, 2nd colonel)

Northampton County Regiment

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The Northampton County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775, by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:[17]

  • Colonel Allen Jones (1775–1776), promoted to command of brigade
  • Colonel William Eaton (1776–1780)
  • Colonel Howell Edmunds (1780)
  • Colonel Jeptha Atherton (1775–1783)
  • Colonel Andrew Haynes (1781–1783, 2nd colonel)
Major engagements in the Southern Campaign

Engagements

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Regiments of the Halifax District Brigade were involved in 22 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including two in George, 11 in South Carolina, 8 in North Carolina, and one in Florida. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.[1]

Order Date Battle State
Edgecombe
Franklin
Halifax
Martin
Nash
Northampton
Warren
1 2/27/1776 Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge NC x x x
2 6/28/1776 Battle of Fort Moultrie #1 SC x
3 9/1/1776 to 9/30/1776 Florida Expedition FL x
4 3/3/1779 Battle of Briar Creek GA x x x x x x x
5 6/20/1779 Battle of Stono Ferry SC x x x x x
6 3/28/1780 to 5/12/1780 Siege of Charleston 1780 SC x x x x
7 6/20/1780 Battle of Ramsour's Mill NC x
8 8/11/1780 Battle of Little Lynches Creek SC x x x
9 8/16/1780 Battle of Camden SC x x x x x x x
10 9/26/1780 Battle of Charlotte NC x x x
11 12/4/1780 Battle of Rugeley's Mills #2 SC x x x x
12 1/17/1781 Battle of Cowpens SC x
13 3/15/1781 Battle of Guilford Court House NC x x x x x x x
14 4/25/1781 Battle of Hobkirk's Hill SC x x x x x
15 5/7/1781 to 5/11/1781 Battle of Halifax NC x
16 5/7/1781 Battle of Swift Creek & Fishing Creek NC x
17 5/12/1781 Battle of Fort Motte SC x x
18 5/21/1781 to 6/19/1781 Siege of Ninety-Six 1781 SC x
19 5/24/1781 to 6/1/1781 Siege of Augusta GA x x
20 8/2/1781 Battle of Rockfish Creek NC x x x
21 9/8/1781 Battle of Eutaw Springs SC x
22 9/12/1781 Battle of Hillsborough NC x

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, Halifax District Brigade of militia". Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Howerton, Timothy L. (1988). "Allen Jones". NCPedia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  3. ^ Martin County was transferred from the Edenton District Brigade to the Halifax District Brigade of Militia in December of 1777
  4. ^ Lewis, J.D. "1st Battalion of Volunteers". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Lewis, J.D. "2nd Battalion of Volunteers". carolana.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Brawley, James S. (1991). "Francis Locke". NCpedia.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Powell, William S. Powell (ed.). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography,(6 volumes). University of North Carolina Press.
  8. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Edgecombe County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  9. ^ Watson, Alan D. (1988). "William Haywood". NCPedia.
  10. ^ Battle, Kemp Davis (1918). "The North Carolina Booklet: Great Events in North Carolina History, Volume 18". p. 178. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  11. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Franklin County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  12. ^ Smith, Claiborne T.Jr. (1994). "Benjamin Seawell". Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  13. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Halifax County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d Allen, William Cicero (1918). History of Halifax County. Cornhill Company. p. 172. Retrieved April 11, 2019. John Bradford + Halifax County.
  15. ^ Smith, Claiborne T. Jr. (1996). "Samuel Weldon". NCPedia. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  16. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Nash County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  17. ^ Lewis, J.D. "Northampton County Regiment". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 11, 2019.