Regiments for the Continental Troops

Transcribed & contributed by Diane Siniard from the book:  Schenck, David. North Carolina, 1780-’81. Being a History of the Invasion of the Carolinas by the British Army Under Lord Cornwallis in 1780-’81. Raleigh, N.C.: Edwards & Broughton, printers, 1889.

We shall see in the sequel with what sanguinary results this proclamation was enforced; but the blood of the patriots, to use a paraphrase, was the seed of the American cause, and the “burnt houses of its citizens made patriots of them all.”  The military strength of North Carolina was greatly reduced by the surrender of General Lincoln’s army at Charleston, and but for the unflinching patriotism and devotion to independence which prevaded her people, she too, would soon have become a prostrate State. It will be with a feeling of her military forces during this eventful period, from the seige of Charleston, its darkest day, to the victory at Eutaw Springs, where her troops constituted so large a portion of the army of General Greene and won for themselves imperishable laurels of victory.

The Legislature of North Carolina, which met at Hillsboro the 21st day of August, 1775, in the dawn of the revolution, passed an act to raise two regiments of Continental troops which had been asked for by Congress.

The following were the officers of these regiments:

First Regiment

  • James Moore, Colonel
  • Francis Nash, Lieutenant Colonel
  • Thomas Clark, Major
  • William WIlliams, Adjutant

Captains

  • William Daves
  • George Daudson
  • William Packett
  • Alfred Moore
  • Henry Dickson
  • John Walker
  • Thomas Allen
  • William Greene
  • Robert Rowan
  • Caleb Grainger

Lieutenants

  • John Lillington
  • William Berryhill
  • Hesekiah Rice
  • Lawrence Thompson
  • Joshua Bowman
  • Abraham Tatum
  • Hector McNeil
  • William Hill
  • William Brandon
  • Thomas Hogg

Second Regiment

  • Robert Howe, Colonel
  • Alexander Martin, Lieutenant Colonel
  • John Patton, Major
  • Dr. John White, Captain and Adjutant

Captains

  • James Blount
  • Nathan Keais
  • John Armstrong
  • Simon Bright
  • Charles Crawford
  • Michael Payne
  • Hardy Murfree
  • John Walker
  • Henry Irwin Toole

Lieutenants

  • John Grainger
  • Joseph tate
  • Robert Smith
  • William Fenner
  • John Herritage
  • John Williams
  • Clement Hall
  • James Gee
  • Edward Vail, Jr.
  • Benjamin Williams

The Legislature met again the 4th day of April, 1776, at Halifax, when four additional regiments were raised, James Moore and Robert Howe having been made Brigadier Generals. The field officers were as follows:

  • 1st Regiment–Colonel, Francis Nash; Lieutenant Colonel, Thos. Clarke; Major, Wm. Davis.
  • 2d Regiment–Colonel, Alex. Martin; Lieutenant Colonel, John Patton; Major, John White.
  • 3d Regiment–Colonel, Jethro Sumner; Lieutenant Colonel, William Alston; Major, Samuel
  • Lockhart.
  • 4th Regiment–Colonel, Thomas Polk; Lieutenant Colonel, James Thckston; Major, William
  • Davidson.
  • 5th Regiment–Colonel, Edward Buncombe; Lieutenant Colonel, Henry Irwan; Major, Levi
  • Dawson.
  • 6th Regiment–Colonel, Alexander Lillington; Lieutenant Colonel, William Taylor; Major, Gideon
  • Lamb.

(The battalions for these were cut off on page.)