Halifax District Brigade

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]

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)

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)

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)

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)

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