Battles and skirmishes relating to the Revolutionary War occurred in all three regions of North Carolina. This map helps make sense of those actions, and it’s likely that other engagements happened as well. What Revolutionary action happened near you?
Major Battles
Moores Creek Bridge, February 27, 1776: Patriots defeat Loyalists.
Ramsour’s Mill, June 20, 1780: Patriots defeat Loyalists.
Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780: Mountain Patriots defeat British troops.
Guilford Courthouse, March 15, 1781: Climactic battle between Cornwallis and Greene cripples the British army, which then retreats to Wilmington.
Notable Battles and Skirmishes
Colson’s Mill, July 21, 1780: Patriots defeat Loyalists.
Charlotte, September 26, 1780: British troops under Cornwallis capture Charlotte.
Shallow Ford, October 14, 1780: Patriots defeat Loyalists; Cornwallis crosses February 8, 1781.
Cowan’s Ford, February 1, 1781: Cornwallis crosses Catawba River.
Torrence’s Tavern, February 2, 1781: Tarleton’s British cavalry routs American militia.
Clapp’s Mill, March 2, 1781: American troops withdraw after ambushing Tarleton’s cavalry.
Wetzell’s Mill, March 6, 1781: Skirmish between troops of Cornwallis and Greene.
Rockfish, August 2, 1781: Craig’s British troops defeat North Carolina militia.
Alston House (House in the Horseshoe), July 29, 1781: Loyalists defeat Patriots.
Elizabethtown, August 27, 1781: Patriots defeat Loyalists.
McPhaul’s Mill, September 1, 1781: Loyalists defeat Patriots.
Lindley’s Mill, September 13, 1781: Patriots fail to rescue Governor Thomas Burke from Loyalists.
Raft Swamp, October 15, 1781: Patriots defeat Loyalists.
NOTE: You’ll see on the map that the following three were a little different and had a smidge more text.
Rutherford's March
American militia General Griffith Rutherford’s expedition route against the Cherokee in response to raids against encroaching settlers. September–October 1776.
Cornwallis's March
Cornwallis’s pursuit of Greene, leading to the engagement at Guilford Courthouse, January–March 1781, and Cornwallis’s retreat to Wilmington. Cornwallis marched to Virginia April–May 1781.
Greene's March
Greene’s Patriot army returns to South Carolina. Greene’s strategy of exhaustion continues with retreat southward, destroying British outposts and lines of communication in South Carolina and Georgia. March–June 1781.