Halifax District Brigade


The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War. This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

Commanders

Brigadier Allen Jones served as commander of the Halifax District Brigade from May 4, 1776 until after the war when he resigned his commission on December 3, 1787. Thomas Eaton temporarily filled general Jones command while he represented as North Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress in December 1779 and again while he was ill in 1781.
  1. Brigadier General Allen Jones
  2. Brigadier General Thomas Eaton

    Regiments

UnitSubordinate BrigadeCreatedDisbandedOriginal Commander, Rank
North Carolina Militia and State TroopsGovernor17781783Ashe, John Sr., M.G.
Martin County RegimentEdenton, Halifax17751783Williams, William, Col
Halifax District BrigadeNorth Carolina Militia17761783Jones, Allen, B.G.
1st Battalion of VolunteersHalifax17761777Sheppard, Abraham Sr, Col
[|2nd Battalion of Volunteers]Halifax17761777Locke, Francis, Col
Bute County RegimentHalifax17751779Person, William, Col
[|Edgecombe County Regiment]Halifax17751783Haywood, William, Col
[|Franklin County Regiment]Halifax17791783Seawell, Benjamin, Col
[|Halifax County Regiment]Halifax17751783Bradford, John, Col
[|Nash County Regiment]Halifax17771783Clinch, James, Col
[|Northampton County Regiment]Halifax17751783Jones, Allen, Col
Warren County RegimentHalifax17791783Eaton, Thomas, Col

1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers

The North Carolina Provincial Congress authorized the creation of the 1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers on November 23, 1776 at the insistence of the Continental Congress, which was afraid of another British march to Charleston. The hastily assembled 1st and 2nd Battalion of Volunteers were assigned to Brigadier General Allen Jones of the newly created Halifax District Brigade of the North Carolina militia. Colonel Abraham Sheppard commanded the 1st Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel Francis Locke commanded the 2nd Battalion. They marched into South Carolina but the British failed to invade a second time. The term limits for these two battalions expired on April 10, 1777, so the units returned home because they were no longer needed.

Edgecombe County Regiment

The Edgecombe County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:
When Franklin County was created out of part of Bute County on January 30, 1779, the Bute County Regiment was abolished and replace with the Franklin County Regiment. All officers were selected and commissioned by the Governor. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:
The Halifax County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:
When the North Carolina General Assembly Created Nash County from Edgecombe County on December 17, 1777, the also created the Nash County Regiment of the North Carolina militia. All officers were selected and commissioned by the Governor. The unit was active until the end of the war. The colonels and commandants of this regiment included:
The Northampton County Regiment was one of 35 existing North Carolina county militias to be authorized for organization on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. All officers were appointed and commissioned by the provincial congress. This unit was active until the end of the war in 1783. The colonels and commandants of the regiment included:

Engagements

Regiments of the Halifax District Brigade were involved in 22 known engagements, including two in George, 11 in South Carolina, 8 in North Carolina, and one in Florida. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.
OrderDateBattleState
12/27/1776Battle of Moore's Creek BridgeNCxxx
26/28/1776Battle of Fort Moultrie #1SCx
39/1/1776 to 9/30/1776Florida ExpeditionFLx
43/3/1779Battle of Briar CreekGAxxxxxxx
56/20/1779Battle of Stono FerrySCxxxxx
63/28/1780 to 5/12/1780Siege of Charleston 1780SCxxxx
76/20/1780Battle of Ramsour's MillNCx
88/11/1780Battle of Little Lynches CreekSCxxx
98/16/1780Battle of CamdenSCxxxxxxx
109/26/1780Battle of CharlotteNCxxx
1112/4/1780Battle of Rugeley's Mills #2SCxxxx
121/17/1781Battle of CowpensSCx
133/15/1781Battle of Guilford Court HouseNCxxxxxxx
144/25/1781Battle of Hobkirk's HillSCxxxxx
155/7/1781 to 5/11/1781Battle of HalifaxNCx
165/7/1781Battle of Swift Creek & Fishing CreekNCx
175/12/1781Battle of Fort MotteSCxx
185/21/1781 to 6/19/1781Siege of Ninety-Six 1781SCx
195/24/1781 to 6/1/1781Siege of AugustaGAxx
208/2/1781Battle of Rockfish CreekNCxxx
219/8/1781Battle of Eutaw SpringsSCx
229/12/1781Battle of HillsboroughNCx