The Salisbury District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

History

In August 1775, the Third Provincial Congress of North Carolina delegates appointed Cornelius Harnett the head of the Council of Safety which oversaw resistance to British rule. They also divided the colony into six military districts for the purpose of organizing militia and arranging representation in the executive body. The Salisbury District was one of these districts, which eventually led to the creation of the Salisbury District Brigade. At the county level, there were Committees of Safety, including the Rowan, Anson, Mecklenburg, Surry, and Tryon county committees of safety. Many members of the Rowan committee of safety became the officers of the regiments of the Salisbury District Brigade.

Griffith Rutherford was from Rowan County, North Carolina. He was commissioned as a Colonel and commandant of the Rowan County Regiment on September 9, 1775. On December 21, 1775, the North Carolina Provincial Congress split the Salisbury District into two separate regiments of minutemen—the 1st Battalion of Salisbury District Minutemen and the 2nd Battalion of Salisbury District Minutemen. Colonel Rutherford was assigned as commandant of the 1st Battalion, along with Colonel Thomas Wade. The 1st Battalion participated in one engagement, the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776. Colonel Thomas Polk was commandant of the 2nd Battalion. The 2nd Battalion participated in the Battle of Great Cane Brake on December 22, 1775, the Snow Campaign on December 23, 1775 to December 30, 1775, and the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776.

The minutemen battalions were considered "state troops" vice local militia. On April 10, 1776, the two battalions of minutemen regiments were disbanded in favor of local militia brigades and subordinate regiments. There were eventually six militia brigades by the end of the war. On April 22, 1776, Rutherford was commissioned as a brigadier general and assigned as the commandant of the Salisbury District Brigade that was established officially on May 4, 1776. Colonel Matthew Locke took over as commandant of the Rowan County Regiment.

Commandants Commandants of the Salisbury District Brigade and their dates of service were as follows:Various databases have been searched to confirm the officers, including Find a Grave, FamilySearch.com, US Federal Census Records from 1840, DAR Records, and Pension Applications Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford was commandant from 1776 to 1783. At the Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780, he was taken POW and remained in British custody and imprisoned in Saint Augustine, Florida until he was released in a prisoner exchange in July 1781 and returned to service in September 1781. During his absence from duty, generals pro tempore filled in as commandants in the rank of general pro tempore. Brigadier General Matthew Locke was general pro tempore for a few months in 1779 while General Rutherford was in South Carolina for the Purrysburg expedition in early 1779. Brigadier General Henry William Harrington was general pro tempore from July to December 1780. The North Carolina Council of State appointed Henry William Harrington as brigadier general (pro tempore) to lead the Salisbury District Brigade while general Rutherford was sent to South Carolina to join up with components of the Southern Department. Brigadier General (pro temp) Henry William Harrington resigned his commission in November 1780. Brigadier General William Lee Davidson was general pro tempore from September 1780 to February 1781. He was commissioned as brigadier general pro tempore of Militia after Griffith Rutherford was captured at the battle of Camden, South Carolina on August 16, 1780. General Davidson was killed at the Battle of Cowan's Ford in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on February 1, 1781 while opposing the re-entry of Cornwallis into North Carolina. Brigadier General Andrew Pickens was general pro tempore from February to March 1781. The colonels of the Salisbury District "elected" Andrew Pickens to replace Davidson. Pickens was a newly appointed general in the South Carolina militia and did not have an active assignment. However, general Pickens returned to the South Carolina militia in March and Colonel Ambrose Ramsey replaced him for the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.see also Andrew Pickens, William Lee Davidson biographies for additional sourcing Brigadier General Ambrose Ramsey was general pro tempore on March 15, 1781 for the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, after which he returned to his assignment as colonel/commandant of the Chatham County Regiment.

Regiments The following regiments were subordinate to the Salisbury District Brigade. The date regiments were established and disbanded are shown. Those regiments marked with a "+" were transferred to the newly-created Morgan District Brigade of Militia in May 1782. The Washington County Regiment was called initially the Washington District Regiment until Washington County was created from Washington District. The 2nd Rowan County Regiment's name was changed to the "Burke County Regiment" in 1777 and then back to "2nd Rowan County Regiment" in 1782.

Anson County Regiment (1775–1783) Burke County Regiment+ (1777–1782) Guilford County Regiment (1775–1783) Lincoln County Regiment+ (1779–1783) Mecklenburg County Regiment (1775–1783) 2nd Mecklenburg County Regiment (1779–1780) Montgomery County Regiment (1779–1783) Richmond County Regiment (1779–1783) Rowan County Regiment (1775–1783) 2nd Rowan County Regiment (1775–1777, 1782–1783) Rutherford County Regiment+ (1779–1783) Sullivan County Regiment+ (1779–1783) Surry County Regiment (1775–1783) Tryon County Regiment (1775–1779) Washington District Regiment (1776–1777) Washington County Regiment+ (1777–1782) Wilkes County Regiment+ (1777–1783)

The regiments were made up of male citizens over sixteen years of age. Regiments of militia were called up for service by the governor or the commanding general to serve for a campaign or for a period of time as needed. The soldiers were told what equipment they had to bring with them.

The brigade was reported to have a size of 1,400 men in 1781 but never more than 2,000 men the remainder of the war.

Engagements

Regiments of the Salisbury District Brigade were involved in 98 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including six in Georgia, 32 in South Carolina, eight in Tennessee, and 52 in North Carolina. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.

OrderDatesEngagementState111/19/1775 to 11/21/1775Siege of Ninety-Six 1775SCx212/22/1775 Battle of Great Cane BrakeSCxxx312/23/1775 to 12/30/1775Snow CampaignSCxxx42/27/1776Battle of Moore's Creek BridgeNCxxxxx53/20/1776Encounter at Cross Creek, aka Cochrane's MillNCx66/1/1776Battle of Round MountainNCx76/28/1776Battle of Fort Moultrie #1SCxx87//1/1776Masacere at Quaker MeadowsNCx97/3/1776Cherokee siege of McDowell's StationNCx107/20/1776Battle of Island Flats – VA UnitsTNxx117/20/1776 to 8/2/1776Siege of Fort Caswell – VA UnitsTNxx128/1/1776 to 11/1/1776Cherokee Expedition 1776NCxxxxxxx138/1/1776 to 12/28/1776Cherokee Expedition 1776TNxxxx1410/1/1776Defeat of the Cherokees at French Broad RiverNCxx1510/1/1776Defeat of the Cherokee at French Broad River VA UnitsNCxx166/1/1778Skirmish at Gilbert Town #1NCx177/1/1778Ambush near SalisburyNCx182/8/1779 to 2/10/1779Battle of Carr's FortGAx192/14/1779Battle of Kettle CreekGAx203/1/1779Encounter at Haw FieldsNCx213/3/1779Battle of Briar CreekGAxxxxxxxxxxxx224/10/1779 to 4/20/1779Battle of Chickamauga TownsTNxxxxxx234/29/1779Skirmish near PurrysburgSCx246/20/1779Battle of Stono FerrySCxxxxxxxx258/14/1779Skirmish at Lockhart's Plantation, page 184GAx269/16/1779 to 10/18/1779Siege of SavannahGAxxx273/15/1780Battle of Guilford Court HouseNCxxxxxxxxxxxx283/28/1780 to 5/12/1780Siege of Charleston 1780SCxxxxxxxxxxx294/14/1780Battle of Moncks Corner #1SCxxxxxxxxx306/18/1780Skirmish at Hill's Iron WorksSCx316/20/1780Battle of Ramseur's MillNCxxxxxxxx327/13/1780Skirmish at Gowen's Old FortSCx337/15/1780Engagement at Earle's FordSCxxx347/17/1780Skirmish at Prince's FortSCxxxx357/20/1780Skirmish at Beaver Creek FordSCx367/21/1780Battle of Colson's MillNCxxxxxxxxx377/26/1780Battle of Thicketty FortSCxxxxxx387/30/1780Battle of Rocky MountSCxx398/6/1780Battle of Hanging RockSCxxx408/8/1780Battle of Wofford's Iron WorksSCxxxxxx418/11/1780Battle of Little Lynches CreekSCxxxxxx428/16/1780Battle of Camden, General Rutherford CapturedSCxxxxxxxxxxxx438/16/1780Skirmish at Rugeley's Mills #1SCxx448/18/1780Battle of Fishing CreekSCxxxxxx458/18/1780Battle of Musgrove's MillSCxxxxxx469/1/1780Skirmish at Graham's FortNCx479/1/1780Skirmish at McAlpine CreekNCx489/9/1780Skirmishes in Anson CountyNCx499/10/1780Skirmish at Mask's FerryNCx509/12/1780Battle of Cane CreekNCxxx519/26/1780Battle of CharlotteNCx5210/3/1780Battle of the BeesNCx5310/7/1780Battle of Kings MountainSCxxxxxxxxxxx5410/8/1780Battle of Richmond Town #2NCx5510/14/1780Battle of Shallow FordNCxxxx5611/20/1780Battle of Blackstock's FarmSCxxxx5712/4/1780Skirmish at Rugeley's Mills #2SCxxx5812/16/1780Battle of Boyd's CreekTNxxxx591/17/1781Battle of CowpensSCxxxxxxxxxxxx602//1/1781Skirmish at Chestnut MountainNCx612/1/1781Battle of Cowan's Ford, General Davidson killedNCxxxxxxxxx622/1/1781Battle of Torrence's TavernNCxxxxxxx632/3/1781 to 2/4/1781Skirmish at Trading FordNCxx642/4/1781Skirmish at Grant's CreekNCx652/7/1781Skirmish at Shallow Fords of the YadkinNCx?662/17/1781Skirmish at Hart's MillNCxxx672/19/1781Battle of Fort Granby #1SCx682/25/1781Battle of Haw RiverNCxxxxxx692/26/1781Battle of Dickey's FarmNCxx703/1/1781Engagement at TuckasegeeNCxx713/4/1781Battle of Clapp's Mill #1NCxxx723/5/1781Battle of Clapp's Mill #2NCx733/6/1781Battle of Wetzell/Whitesell's MillNCxxxxxxxx743/7/1781Skirmish at Reedy ForkNCxxx753/15/1781Battle of New Garden Meeting HouseNCxx763/31/1781Skirmish at Cole's Bridge #2NCx774/2/1781 to 4/3/1781Battle of Fort NashboroughTNxx784/15/1781Skirmish at Big GladesNCx794/25/1781Battle of Hobkirk's HillSCxxxx805/21/1781 to 6/19/1781Siege of Ninety-Six 1781SCxxxxxx815/24/1781 to 6/1/1781Siege of AugustaGAxxxx827/27/1781Skirmish at Hudson's FerrySCx838/2/1781Battle of Rockfish CreekNCx848/3/1781Massacre of Piney Bottom CreekNCx858/4/1781Battle of Beatti's BridgeNCxxxx868/9/1781Skirmishes in Richmond & Cumberland CountiesNCxxx878/28/1781Skirmishes at Fanning's MillNCx889/1/1781Battle of Brown MarshNCxx899/1/1781Battle of Little Raft SwampNCxx909/8/1781Battle of Eutaw SpringsSCxxxxxxxxxxxxxx919/11/1781Battle of Moccasin Creek, also mentioned by J.D. LewisTNxx929/13/1781Battle of Lindley's MillNCxxx9310/15/1781Battle of Raft SwampNCxxx9411/15/1781Skirmish at Brick HouseNCxxx9511/17/1781Battle of Fair Lawn PlantationSCxx9612/10/1781Battle of Cox's Mill #3NCxxx976/1/1782 to 10/31/1782Cherokee Expedition 1782NCxxxxxxxxx989/20/1782Battle of Lookout MountainTNxxx

Staff The Salisbury District Brigade had several staff positions. The forage master, quarter master, and commissary were especially important in providing troops with food and supplies when they were called outside of the Salisbury District in North Carolina.

Forage master Allin, Thomas (under general William Lee Davidson) Quartermaster Boyd, Benjamin (Quartermaseter General) Brannon, John (Quartermaseter of Issues) Carr, Robert Gamble, Edmund Gillespie, Thomas (Quartermaster under general Rutherford) Walker, Andrew Commissary Graham, John Ramsey, David Scott, John (Issuing Commissary) Wallace, James Watson, John (stationed in Salisbury) Chaplain Hall, James (uncertain) Aide-de-Camp Harris, Thomas Rutherford, James (son of Griffith Rutherford)