Battle of Alamance

The Battle of Alamance, which took place on May 16, 1771, was the final confrontation of the Regulator Movement, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over various issues with the Colonial Government. The Regulators primarily wanted reforms to the currency act and to stop local corruption. They would also request other changes, like secret ballot voting, progressive taxation, land reform, and more transparent government. 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.

The government forces effectively crushed the regulator resistance with their smaller, better equipped and trained force. Almost immediately after the fighting, the government forces captured several of the regulator leaders including Benjamin Merrill and Harmon Cox. Other regulator leaders, like Herman Husband, were not present for the battle itself, but accompanied the regulators up until the battle actually took place. Many of the officers tryon had serving under him as leaders of flanks, centres, or artillery batteries, went on to be Maj. General's and governors such as John Ashe, Robert Howe, and Richard Caswell. A large percentage of North Carolina's senior and future military talent of the time was present for the battle.