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

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

UnitSubordinate BrigadeCreatedDisbandedOriginal Commander, Rank
North Carolina Militia and State TroopsGovernor17781783Ashe, John Sr., M.G.
Martin County RegimentEdenton, Halifax[3]17751783Williams, William, Col
Halifax District BrigadeNorth Carolina Militia17761783Jones, Allen, B.G.
1st Battalion of VolunteersHalifax17761777Sheppard, Abraham Sr, Col
2nd Battalion of VolunteersHalifax17761777Locke, Francis, Col
Bute County RegimentHalifax17751779Person, William, Col
Edgecombe County RegimentHalifax17751783Haywood, William, Col
Franklin County RegimentHalifax17791783Seawell, Benjamin, Col
Halifax County RegimentHalifax17751783Bradford, John, Col
Nash County RegimentHalifax17771783Clinch, James, Col
Northampton County RegimentHalifax17751783Jones, Allen, Col
Warren County RegimentHalifax17791783Eaton, Thomas, Col

1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers

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

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

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]

  • Colonel Benjamin Seawell (1779-1783, commandant)[12]
  • Colonel William Brickell (1781-1783, 2nd colonel)

Halifax County Regiment

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

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

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

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]

OrderDateBattleState
Edgecombe
Franklin
Halifax
Martin
Nash
Northampton
Warren
12/27/1776Battle of Moore's Creek BridgeNCxxx
26/28/1776Battle of Fort Moultrie #1SCx
39/1/1776 to 9/30/1776Florida ExpeditionFLx
43/3/1779Battle of Briar CreekGAxxxxxxx
56/20/1779Battle of Stono FerrySCxxxxx
63/28/1780 to 5/12/1780Siege of Charleston 1780SCxxxx
76/20/1780Battle of Ramsour's MillNCx
88/11/1780Battle of Little Lynches CreekSCxxx
98/16/1780Battle of CamdenSCxxxxxxx
109/26/1780Battle of CharlotteNCxxx
1112/4/1780Battle of Rugeley's Mills #2SCxxxx
121/17/1781Battle of CowpensSCx
133/15/1781Battle of Guilford Court HouseNCxxxxxxx
144/25/1781Battle of Hobkirk's HillSCxxxxx
155/7/1781 to 5/11/1781Battle of HalifaxNCx
165/7/1781Battle of Swift Creek & Fishing CreekNCx
175/12/1781Battle of Fort MotteSCxx
185/21/1781 to 6/19/1781Siege of Ninety-Six 1781SCx
195/24/1781 to 6/1/1781Siege of AugustaGAxx
208/2/1781Battle of Rockfish CreekNCxxx
219/8/1781Battle of Eutaw SpringsSCx
229/12/1781Battle of HillsboroughNCx

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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.
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