Hillsborough District Brigade

In 1766, the Province of North Carolina House of Burgess, at the direction of Province of North Carolina Governor William Tryon, divided the state into six judicial districts. The districts did not do away with the county divisions of the state, which continued.[2]

Within the Hillsborough District in 1775 were the counties of Caswell, Chatham, Granville, Orange, Randolph (added in 1779), and Wake.[3][2]

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the newly formed North Carolina government converted the state's six existing judicial districts into military districts. These districts each comprised a number of counties surrounding a significant town. The six districts, which corresponded with old judicial organizations, were: Edenton, New Bern, Wilmington, Halifax, Salisbury, and Hillsborough.[4] Each district was to supply a brigade of militia regiments under the command of a brigadier general.

After the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress held at Hillsborough (August 20 – September 10, 1775), the districts became known as "military" vice "judicial" districts. These districts were used to organize the North Carolina Minutemen battalions for a six-month trial as state troops, beginning on September 1, 1775. By April 10, 1776, the Provincial Congress decided in favor of district brigades of militia with county militia regiments. Each brigade was led by a brigadier general. The county militia regiments were subordinated to the brigade. At that time, two additional districts were added, further dividing the western part of the state (Washington District Regiment in 1776 and Morgan District in 1784). Also, district representatives were chosen and sent to the North Carolina Provincial Congress. These representatives were instrumental in the passage of the Halifax Resolves, in April 1776, during the Fourth Provincial Congress, which is now often referred to as the "Halifax Congress".[5]

The Hillsborough District Brigade was established on May 4, 1776.[1]

As the militia had a poor reputation for turning out, bounties to induce volunteerism were common during the war. For men who chose not to serve when drafted, there were two options: pay for a substitute to take their place or pay a fine. These options, with some modifications, remained throughout the war.[3]

Brigadier General Thomas Person was appointed the first commander of the Hillsborough District Brigade in 1776. During the 1781 Battle of Guilford Court House, the Hillsborough District was commanded by John Butler.[3]

Each county supplied a regiment (Orange County supplied two regiments), which in turn was composed of various companies. Each company consisted of no less than 50 men and was further divided into five "divisions." One of the five divisions was reserved for "the more aged and infirm men." The other four divisions, of each company, drew lots to determine the rotation they would follow for their tour of service, which usually lasted for three months. Eventually the "fifth division" of "aged and infirm men" was dropped, as was the maximum age limit from 60 to 50. In order to provide a greater pool of available manpower, the old colonial militia exemption list was revised.[3]

Commanders of the Hillsborough District Brigade and their length of service are as follows:[1]

• Brigadier General Thomas Person (1776-1777)[6]
• Brigadier General John Butler (1777-1783)[7]
• Brigadier General Ambrose Ramsey (Pro Tempore) (March 15, 1781)[1]

The following table shows the regiments of the Hillsborough District Brigade. In 1778, there was a state level militia organization above the brigade. Each regiment was made up of companies of up to 50 men.[1]

Major engagements in the Southern Campaign

Militia from the Hillsborough District participated in nearly all of the important southern campaigns and engagements. Orange County militia were particularly involved in engagements including Stono Creek, Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Cowan's Ford, Clapp's Mill, Guilford Court House, and Lindley's Mill. Regiments of the Hillsborough District Brigade were involved in 55 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including one in Georgia, 11 in South Carolina, 36 in North Carolina. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.[1]

• Baker, Thomas E. (1981). Another Such Victory: The Story of the American Defeat at Guilford Courthouse That Helped Win the War for Independence. New York: Eastern Acorn Press.
• North Carolina Department of Archives and History, North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts-Secretary of State Treasurer's and Comptroller's Papers Journal "A" (Public Accounts) 1775-1776.
• William Stevens Powell, ed. (1996). Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
• Russell, Charles Phillips (1965). North Carolina in the Revolutionary War. Charlotte: Heritage Printers.
• Saunders, William, ed. (1890). The Colonial Records of North Carolina. 10. Raleigh: Josephus Daniels.
• Wheeler, Earl M. (1964). "Development and Organization of the North Carolina Militia. North Carolina Historical Review 41, no. 3 (July 1964)". pp. 307–323.