Page 24 - ASM Book 9/2020

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Backcountry Settlers Rebelled
1771
• MAY 16 - AMERICAN ACTION: The Battle of Alamance was fought between North Carolina backcountry settlers - called Regulators - and militia loyal to Governor William Tryon.
Governor’s Militia Took Fight to Backcountry Settlers
Since the Piedmont settlers were primarily farmers who raised crops for their families and bartered for goods and services, they had little or no money for taxes or government fees. They became debtors to their local governments.
Hostility between the Regulators and government officials came to a critical point in 1771. North Carolina Governor William Tryon’s council advised him to call out the militia to find the Regulators and convince them to stop their rebellion.
In May, Governor Tryon marched 1,000 militiamen to Alamance Creek. He discovered a large number of Regulators camped about six miles away. On May 15, a band of Regulators captured two of the governor’s militiamen which angered the governor. He sent a messenger to tell the Regulators, estimated to be around 2,000, that they should disband.
The Regulators answered with this message: “Fire and be damned!” The governor gave the order on May 16, and the rebellion was crushed after a two-hour battle.
The North Carolina militia suffered nine killed and 61 wounded. The Regulators’ losses are unknown but believed to be much greater. Fifteen Regulators were taken prisoner and seven were hanged.
The Regulator movement is an example of how rebellion was growing throughout the colonies.
The rebellion of backcountry settlers, called Regulators, was a protest against royal authority, excessive taxes and dishonest sheriffs.
T
he Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771, took place six years after the Regulator Movement started in Piedmont North Carolina. The rebellion of backcountry settlers - called Regulators - was a protest against royal authority, excessive taxes and dishonest sheriffs.