2nd Rowan County Regiment

Last updated
2nd Rowan County Regiment
Active1775-1777, 1777-1782 (Burke County Regiment), 1782-1783
Allegiance Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina
Branch North Carolina militia
Type Militia
Part of Salisbury District Brigade
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Colonel Adlai Osborne
Colonel James Brandon
Colonel Joseph McDowell
Colonel Charles McDowell

The 2nd Rowan County Regiment was first established in October 22, 1775 as a local militia in Rowan County in the Province of North-Carolina. This regiment was created from the existing Rowan County Regiment of militia. Its original officers were Col Adlai Osborne, Lt Col Christopher Beekman, and Major Charles McDowell. Adlai Osborne was a leader in Rowan County and member of the Rowan County Committee of Safety. On May 9, 1777, the regiment was renamed the Burke County Regiment, which was active until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. [1] [2]

Contents

History

First Instance of 2nd Rowan County Regiment

The 2nd Rowan County Regiment was initially established on October 22, 1775 as an off-shoot of the Rowan County Regiment when the 1st and 2nd Rowan County Regiments were established. Most of the original officers of the Rowan County Regiment were assigned to the 1st Rowan County Regiment. The 2nd Rowan County Regiment's initial assignment was to march to the coast of North Carolina to support the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. The regiment marched to Cross Creek and found out that they were too late for the battle, so they turned around and headed home. The Regiment saw action only at McDowell's Station and the Cherokee Expedition in 1776. McDowell's station was located at Quaker Meadows along the upper Catawba River in western Rowan County, near present-day Morganton. Ten men from the regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles McDowell, defended 120 local settlers from attack by the Cherokee. This was a prelude to the Cherokee Expedition that involved additional troops from both the 1st and 2nd Rowan County regiments. [1]

Known senior officers are listed below for the 2nd Rowan County Regiment (October 22, 1775 – May 9, 1777): [1]

Burke County Regiment instance

On May 9, 1777, the regiment was renamed the Burke County Regiment, which was active until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. In 1777, Burke County was formed from Rowan County. It was named for Thomas Burke, then serving as a delegate to the Continental Congress (1777 to 1781). [1]

As Burke County Regiment (May 9, 1777 – May 1, 1782) the senior officers were: [1]

Second instance of the 2nd Rowan County Regiment

On May 1, 1782, the Rowan County Regiment had grown very large and again was split into two parts—a 1st Rowan County Regiment and a 2nd Rowan County Regiment. The 2nd Rowan County Regiment was led by Captains David Caldwell, Thomas Cowan, David Crawford, George Davidson, John Graham, Jacob Nichols, and James Purviance. The only action that this instance of the unit saw was in the Cherokee Expedition in 1782. [1]

Senior officers of the reconstituted 2nd Rowan County Regiment (May 1, 1782-end of war) include: [1]

Known company captains

Known captains are listed below: [1]

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The Lincoln County Regiment was a local militia in Lincoln County, North Carolina during the American Revolutionary. It was created by the North Carolina General Assembly of 1778 on February 8, 1779 at the same time that Lincoln County was created from part of Tryon County. The Tryon County Regiment from which the Lincoln County Regiment was created was abolished upon creation of the Lincoln County Regiment. The Lincoln County Regiment was initially subordinate to the Salisbury District Brigade. It was re-subordinated to the newly created Morgan District Brigade in may of 1782, where it was active till the end of the war.

The Rowan County Committee of Safety was one of the 18 Committees of Safety in North Carolina authorized by the Continental Congress and endorsed by the Second North Carolina Provincial Congress. It was established in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1774. Meeting minutes from 1774 to 1776 have survived and are available through a digital collection. The Rowan County Committee of Safety was instrumental in banning trade with Britain and preparing for the American Revolution. One of its major achievements was the Rowan Resolves.

The Guilford County Regiment was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress. It was subordinate to the Salisbury District Brigade of militia. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British and Cherokee during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between 1776 and 1781. It was active until the end of the war.

The Montgomery County Regiment was authorized on February 8, 1778 by the North Carolina General Assembly of 1778. It was created at the same time that Montgomery County, North Carolina was created out of the northern half of Anson County, North Carolina. It was subordinate to the Salisbury District Brigade of militia. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British and Cherokee during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between 1776 and 1781. It was active until the end of the war.

The Surry County Regiment was established on August 26, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British and Cherokee during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina Tennessee, and Georgia between 1776 and 1782. It was active until the end of the war.

The Rutherford County Regiment was authorized on October 30, 1779, by the Province of North Carolina Congress. It was created at the same time that Rutherford County, North Carolina was created out of the western part of Tryon County, North Carolina when Tryon County and its regiment of militia were abolished. Officers were appointed and commissioned by the Governor. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution in North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina between 1779 and 1782. It was active until the end of the war.

The Wilkes County Regiment was authorized on December 9, 1777 by the Province of North Carolina Congress at the same time that Wilkes County, North Carolina was created from Surry County, North Carolina and Washington District, North Carolina. The regiment was subordinate to the Salisbury District Brigade of militia. It was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British and Cherokee during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia between 1779 and 1782. It was active until the end of the war.

The Mecklenburg County Regiment was authorized on May 31, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress. From November 7, 1779 until the 3rd Quarter of 1780, it was called the 1st Mecklenburg County Regiment when a 2nd Mecklenburg County Regiment existed. The 1st Mecklenburg County regiment was engaged in 39 known battles and skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between 1776 and 1781. It was active until the end of the war.

Charles McDowell (1743–1815) was a Brigadier General of the Morgan District Brigade of the North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution, state senator, and County Justice of Peace in Burke County, North Carolina.

North Carolina state troops in the American Revolution were the initial military units created in a transition from the Province of North Carolina under British rule to independence from British rule. Most units did not last long as such and were either transferred to the Continental Army or state militia instead.

James Brandon (1734–1790) was an early pioneer in Rowan County, North Carolina and an officer in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. He commanded the 2nd Rowan County Regiment from 1782 to 1783.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lewis, J.D. "2nd Rowan County Regiment". carolana.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Adams, D.W. (1991). "Osborne, Adlai". NCPedia.

Bibliography