Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-8-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— <100 Blanchard:

This is speculative and vexing. It is known there were 9 militia killed and many more Regulators killed, though the number is not known. Childs has it that there were 300 fatalities. The American Battlefield Trust on its Alamance webpage has it there were 270 casualties (a casualty can be a wounded or dead man). The Friends of the Alamance Battleground “Alamance” webpage notes that “It is possible that as many as 100 Regulators may have been killed.”

There is no definitive number though all appear to agree that the Regulators suffered large numbers of “casualties.” From the Wikipedia webpage one is forced to speculate on the number of killed. We “lowballed” a number from their wording. Given the ambiguity, but knowing the large number of forces involved (several thousand), we choose to use the Friends of Alamance Battleground statement that “as many as 100 Regulators may have been killed.” We also know that seven Regulators were hung afterwards. It seems plausible to speculate that one or more of the wounded on both sides died afterwards.

It is possible, though, that the fatalities numbered only in the thirties or forties.

— 300 Childs, Emery. History of the United States. 1886, p. 31.[1]

— 270 Casualties (wounded and killed). American Battlefield Trust. Alamance (webpage).

–200 Regulators

— 70 NC Royal Governor Tryon’s militia.

— ~109 Friends of Alamance Battleground. “Alamance Battleground, Burlington, NC.” No date.

— 9 NC militia reported killed

—<100 “It is possible that as many as 100 Regulators may have been killed.”

–18-36 Wikipedia. “Battle of Alamance.” 1-8-2024. Accessed 3-9-2024.

–9-27 Regulators killed

— 9 North Carolina Militia under Governor William Tryon

— >26 NC Dept. Cultural Resources, NC Historic Sites. “Alamance Battleground.”[2]

[The number of over 26 killed is ours. NCDCR notes only that 9 militia were killed and

that the Regulators “suffered worse losses,” which would have to mean at lest ten killed. Additionally, seven Regulators were hanged. Thus: 9+10+7=26.]

Narrative Information

Childs, Emery. History of the United States. 1886, p. 31:

“1771….Some of the inhabitants of North Carolina, complaining of oppressions practiced in the law and by the judicial court, rose in arms, to the number of about fifteen hundred, under the name of regulators, for the purpose of shutting up the courts of justice, opposing the officers of government and all lawyers, and of prostrating government itself. The governor marched against them with about one thousand militia, and in a battle on the 16^th of May totally defeated them. Three hundred of the regulators were killed on the field, twelve more of the insurgents were tried and condemned for high treason, and six of them were executed.”

North Carolina Dept. Cultural Resources, NC Historic Sites. “Alamance Battleground”:

On this site in 1771, an armed rebellion of backcountry farmers – called Regulators – battled against royal governor William Tryon’s militia….

“Formation of the Regulators.

“During the years leading up to the American Revolution many North Carolina people became strongly discontented with the way the provincial government was handling the colony’s affairs. However, their quarrel was not with the form of government or the colony’s laws but with abuses by government officials.

“Grievances affecting the daily lives of the colonists included excessive taxes, dishonest sheriffs, and illegal fees. Scarcity of money contributed to the state of unrest. Those living in the western part of the province were isolated and unsympathetic with the easterners and it was in those frontier counties that the War of the Regulation began.

“Minor clashes occurred until the spring of 1768, when an association of “Regulators” was formed. Wealthier colonists considered them to be a mob. The Regulators never had an outstanding leader, though several men were prominent in the movement; including James Hunter, Rednap Howell, William Butler, and Herman Husband. Husband, a Quaker and follower of Benjamin Franklin, circulated political pamphlets advocating peaceful reform.

“Violent Resistance.

“Discouraged over failing to secure justice through peaceful negotiations, the reformers took a more radical stand. Violence, lawlessness, and terrorism reigned. When the government retaliated against them, the Regulators defiantly refused to pay fees, terrorized those who administered the law, and disrupted court proceedings.

“It fell to royal governor William Tryon to bring the backcountry revolt to a speedy conclusion. In March 1771, the governor’s council advised Tryon to call out the militia and march against the rebel farmers.

“Volunteers for the militia were mustered. When the expedition finally got under way, Gen. Hugh Waddell was ordered to approach Hillsborough by way of Salisbury, with Cape Fear and western militia at his command. Tryon and his army proceeded more directly toward Hillsborough. Waddell, with only 284 men, was challenged on his way by a large groups of Regulators. Since he was outnumbered, the general decided to turn back. On May 11, Governor Tryon and his forces left Hillsborough intending to rescue Waddell. After resting on the banks of Alamance Creek in the heart of Regulator country, Tryon gathered his army of approximately a thousand men. Five miles away, 2,000 Regulators had assembled.

“The Battle of Alamance

“The battle began on May 16 after the Regulators rejected Tryon’s suggestion that they disperse peacefully. Lacking leadership, organization, and adequate arms and ammunition, the Regulators were no match for Tryon’s militia. Many Regulators fled, leaving their bolder comrades to fight on.

“The rebellion of the Regulators was crushed. Nine members of the king’s militia were killed and 61 wounded. The Regulator losses were much greater, though exact numbers are unknown. Tryon took 15 prisoners; seven were hung later. Many Regulators moved on to other frontier areas beyond North Carolina. Those who stayed were offered pardons by the governor in exchange for pledging an oath of allegiance to the royal government.

“The War of the Regulation illustrates how dissatisfied much of the population was during the days before the American Revolution. The boldness displayed by reformers opposed to royal authority provided a lesson in the use of armed resistance, which patriots employed a few short years later in the American War for Independence.” (North Carolina Dept. of Cultural Resources, North Carolina Historic Sites. “Alamance Battleground: Overview.”)

Wikipedia: “The Battle of Alamance, which took place on May 16, 1771, was the final battle of the Regulator Movement, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over issues of taxation and local control. Named for nearby Great Alamance Creek, the battle took place in what was then Orange County and has since become Alamance County in the central Piedmont area, about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of present-day Burlington, North Carolina.

“Background

“In the spri9ng of 1771, North Carolina Governor William Tryon left New Bern, mustering and marching approximately 1,000 militia troops westwards to address a rebellion that had been brewing in western counties or several years. It had up to this point included only minor, scattered acts of violence, followed by refusals to pay fees, disruptions of court proceedings, and continued harassment of government officials.

“About 2,000 so-called “regulators” had gathered, hoping to gain concessions from Tryon by intimidating him with a show of superior force. Funded £6,000 by council member and wealthy merchant Samuel Cornell, on May 11, Tryon left the county seat of Hillsborough with his militia to confront the Regulators, who had made camp south of Great Alamance Creek in western Orange County.

“Battle

“On the evening of May 15, Tryon received word that the Regulators were camped about six miles away. The next morning, at about 8:00 am, Tryon’s troops set out to a field about one-half mile from the camp of the Regulators. He formed two lines, and divided his artillery between the wings and the center of the first line. The Regulators remained disorganized, with no leadership – no officer ranked higher than captain – and no anticipation of an attack, expecting that their superior numbers would frighten Tryon’s militia…. [But such was not the case and a fight began.]

“Aftermath

“Losses for both sides are disputed. Tryon reported nine dead and 61 wounded among the militia. Other historians indicate much greater numbers, between 15 and 27 killed.[3] Both sides counted nine dead among the Regulators and from dozens to approximately two-hundred wounded. One of them, James Few, was executed at the camp, and six were executed later in nearby Hillsborough….” (Wikipedia. “Battle of Alamance.” 1-8-2024 edit.)

Williamson, Hugh. The History of North Carolina. In Two Volumes. Vol. II, pp. 128-

“….Governor Tryon determined to march a body of men, as soon as the season would permit, into the chief settlement of the Regulators; and support the sheriffs in collecting the taxes. That he might obtain troops on whom he could depend, he wrote to the commanding officer in every county, that was not in a state of rebellion, instructing them to draw a company of volunteers from their several regiments, and hold them in readiness for the service. Hugh Waddel was appointed general of the forces, and he was instructed to march with the division from Bladen, Cumberland, and the western counties. Those troops were [end p. 144] to rendezvous at Salisbury the second of May, and join the militia from the southward and eastward in Guildford county. The general was ordered not to court an engagement with the insurgents, but in case they should obstruct his march, he was to force his way. The governor arrived at Bryant’s, in Johnstone county, the first of May, with eight hundred men. He was detained there some days, expecting two pieces of brass artillery. He proposed to be at the place of rendezvous on the thirteenth, and general Waddel was to regulate his march accordingly. The general had been waiting for a supply of powder from Charleston; but the Regulators fell upon the convoy, and destroyed the powder. Waddel took up his march from Salisbury, according to his instructions; but he received a message from the insurgents, the next day after he crossed the Yadkin, ordering him not to advance. To this order he replied, that [end p.145] he should take the liberty of using the public highway; but he discovered, the next morning, that the Regulators were before him, at a small distance, in great force. The militia having a scanty supply of powder, being also without cannon, not desirous of action, and greatly inferior to the insurgents in number, the general resolved, by the advice of his officers, to retreat across the river. The governor had crossed the Haw river, when he was informed of Waddel’s retreat. His situation had become very critical. The troops on whom he depended were considerably reduced in number. The insurgents, elated by their success, were increasing every hour. Nothing but a bold and expeditious stroke could save the country. To hesitate was to suffer a defeat. He suddenly altered his route, and crossed Little Alamance. On the fifteenth [end p146] he crossed Great Alamance, and encamped within six miles of the Regulators. The next morning he advanced until he came within sight of those people. They were about three thousand in number; his militia hardly exceeded one thousand. Citizen against citizen, the difference was in favour of the Regulators; but they were called together in haste, to risk their lives for a nameless something, that was hardly described or understood. The object was painted in different shapes and colors, according to the craft or imagination of different leaders. The militia, well appointed, were commanded by an experienced officer. They resented the turbulence of men, who had compelled them to leave their homes, at a critical season of the year; and they were contending for the security of their possessions. The governor sent Philemon Hawkins, [end p. 147] one of his aids, to inform the Regulators, that unless they should deliver Husbands, Hunter, Howel, and some others whom he named into his hands, and disperse, he would fire upon them immediately. They answered, with a curse, ‘he might fire.’ The militia, by general orders, were to form the line of battle upon the discharge of two cannon. And the discharge of five cannon was to be the signal for action. But the line had been formed before Hawkins returned; and the Regulators began to advance as soon as they heard the report of the first cannon. The militia immediately began to fire; and the action, for a few minutes, was warm. Colonel Fanning, who commanded the left wing, unused to action and deficient in courage, fell back with the whole of his regiment, except captain Nash and his company. In the mean [end 148] time the cannon did great execution, and some of the militia behaved like veterans. The insurgents were thrown into confusion. Their leaders, more factious than brave, escaped at the beginning of the action. Some of their officers who made a good defence were taken prisoners; but the greater number found safety in flight. Seventy of the militia were killed or wounded in battle. The insurgents lost above two hundred. One of the Regulators named Few, was hung the next day, by sentence of a court martial: that man had better claims on a mad house. Merril and five others were executed at Hillsborough, by sentence of a special curt [end 149] of oyer and terminer. General Waddel, who joined the governor a few days after the action, was detached with twenty-five light horse, one field-piece, and a respectable corps of militia, to the southward and westward, to reduce the Regulators to submission. The governor, by his proclamation, offered pardon for treason, insurrection, and rebellion, to all persons who should come to his camp, or to that of general Waddel, before the tenth of July, lay down their arms, take the oath of allegiance, and promise to submit to the laws; excepting outlaws, prisoners, those who blew up general Waddel’s ammunition, and fifteen other persons whom he names. A reward of one hundred pounds, and one thousand acres of land was promised to any persons who should bring in Howel, Husbands, Hunter or Butler, dead or alive, they [end 150] being outlawed. The insurgents in general delivered up their arms, and took the oath of allegiance. Husbands fled to Pennsylvania, and settled to the westward of the Appalachian mountains…[151].”

Sources

American Battlefield Trust. Alamance (webpage). No date. Accessed 3-9-2024 at: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/battles/alamance

Childs, Emery E. A History of the United States In Chronological Order From the Discovery of America in 1492 to the Year 1885. NY: Baker & Taylor, 1886. Google digitized. Accessed 9-4-2017: http://books.google.com/books?id=XLYbAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Friends of Alamance Battleground. “Alamance Battleground, Burlington, NC.” No date. Accessed 3-9-2024 at: https://alamancebattleground.org/

North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives & History. North Carolina Historic Sites. “Alamance Battleground: Overview.” Accessed 3/21/2010 at: http://www.nchistoricsites.org/alamance/main.htm

Wikipedia. “Battle of Alamance.” 1-8-2024 edit. Accessed 3-9-2024. Accessed 3-9-2024 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alamance#cite_note-History_of_NC-5

Williamson, Hugh. The History of North Carolina. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Philadelphia; published by Thomas Dobson at the Stone House, 1812. Accessed 3-9-2024 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_North_Carolina/VvExAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=williamson+history+of+north+carolina&printsec=frontcover

[1] Have found no source to substantiate this statement. Williamson, below,

[2] A minimalist estimate by the author based on statements that nine government militia were killed, that the Regulators suffered worse losses (will assume at least 10), and that seven were hung. We have no record of any deaths from the approximately 200 Williamson writes that “the insurgents lost above two hundred,” which seems to state that they were killed. The North Carolina Dept. Cultural Resources in NC Historic Sites. “Alamance Battleground,” simply notes that “The Regulator losses were much greater” than the nine fatalities from “the king’s militia.”

[3] Cites: Williamson’s History of North Carolina, Vol. 2, p. 150.

1771 — May 16, Battle of Alamance, civ. “Regulators” vs. Royal militia, ~Burlington, NC– <100