The Wilmington District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.
Leadership Colonel John Ashe, Sr. was the first commander of the New Hannover County Regiment in 1775. He commanded the Wilmington District brigade from 1776 to 1778 when he was promoted on May 4, 1776 to Major General over all North Carolina militia and state troops until 1779. Brigadier General John Ashe, Sr. (1776-1778) Brigadier General John Alexander Lillington (1779-1783) Brigadier General (Pro Tempore) James Kenan (1781)
Regiments The following are the North Carolina militia regiments and subordination of the Wilmington District Brigade, along with the dates established and disestablished.
UnitSubordinate BrigadeCreatedDisbandedOriginal Commander, RankNorth Carolina Militia and State TroopsGovernor1778 1783Ashe, John Sr., M.G. (17781779)Wilmington District BrigadeNorth Carolina Militia1776Ashe, John Sr., B.G. (17761778)1st Battalion of MilitiaWilmington1776Brown, Thomas, Col (1776)2nd Battalion of MilitiaHawkins, Philemon, Jr., Col (declined to serve), Col Peter Dozier (1776)Bladen County RegimentSalisbury17751783Robeson, Thomas, Jr., Col (17751789, 1781)Brunswick County RegimentWilmingtonHowe, Robert, Col (1775)Cumberland County RegimentRutherford, Thomas, Col (17751776)Duplin County RegimentKenan, James, Col (17751783)New Hanover County RegimentMoore, James, Col (1775)Onslow County RegimentCray, William, Col (17751778)
1st and 2nd Battalions of Militia The 1st and 2nd Battalions of Militia were hastily established on May 7, 1776 because of the threat of British fleet off the coast of North Carolina at Cape Fear in March 1776. The British did not come ashore in any large number and intended to go to Charleston, South Carolina, instead. The Battalions were marched to Wilmington but saw no action. They saw no action and were disbanded on August 13, 1776. The troops were sent home.
The 1st Battalion of Militia was commanded by Colonel Thomas Brown. The 2nd Battalion of Militia was commanded by Col. Peter Dauge. Col. Philemon Hawkins, Jr. had initially been appointed as commander of the 2nd Battalion but he declined the commission.
Bladen County Regiment The Bladen County Regiment established in Bladen County on July 16, 1775. It was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress and commanded by Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr. (17751779, 1781), Col. Thomas Brown (17781782), and Col. Thomas Owen (17761783, 2nd colonel). The regiment was engaged in 16 known battles and skirmishes between 1776 and 1781. It was disbanded at the end of the war in 1783.
Brunswick County Regiment The Brunswick County Regiment was subordinated to the Wilmington District Brigade. It was established in March 1775. The first commander of the regiment was Colonel Robert Howe.
Cumberland County Regiment The Cumberland County Regiment was subordinate to the Wilmington District Brigade. The regiment was established on September 9, 1775. The first commander was Colonel Thomas Rutherford.
Duplin County Regiment The Duplin County Regiment was subordinate to the Wilmington District Brigade. The regiment was established on September 9, 1775. The first commander was Colonel James Kenan.
New Hanover County Regiment The New Hannover County Regiment was subordinated to the Wilmington District Brigade. The regiment was established in March 1775. The initial commander was Colonel James Moore.
Onslow County Regiment The Onslow County Regiment was subordinate to the Wilmington Districgt Brigade. It was established on September 9, 1775. The first commander of the regiment was Colonel William Cray.
Engagements Regiments of the Wilmington District Brigade were involved in 49 known engagements (battles, sieges, and skirmishes), including one in Georgia, 9 in South Carolina, 39 in North Carolina. The 1st and 2nd Battalion of Militia did not see any action. One or more companies of these regiments were involved in each engagement.
OrderDateBattleState17/18/1775Battle of Fort Johnston #1NCx211/16/1775 to 11/21/1775Battle of Fort Johnston #2 x31/27/1776 to 1/28/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #3 x42/10/1776Battle of Cape Fear River x52/27/1776Battle of Moore's Creek Bridgexxxxx63/8/1776 to 3/12/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #4 x74/6/1776Battle of Brunswick Town #1 x85/1/1776 to 5/3/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #5 x95/17/1776Battle of Brunswick Town #2 x105/23/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #6 x116/28/1776Battle of Fort Moultrie #1SCx123/3/1779Battle of Briar CreekGAxxxxx136/20/1779Battle of Stono FerrySCxxxx141/30/1780Battle of Heron's BridgeNCxxxxx153/28/1780 to 5/12/1780Siege of Charleston 1780SCxxxxx163/29/1780 to 3/30/1780Battle of Gibbes' Plantation x178/11/1780Battle of Little Lynches Creekxx188/16/1780Battle of Camdenxxxxx1910/14/1780Battle of Shallow FordNCx2010/1/1780 to 10/30/1780Battle of Myhand's Bridge #1 x2110/7/1780Battle of Kings MountainSCx2210/30/1780Battle of Bear Swampx231/28/1781Battle of Wilmington #1NCx242/1/1781 to 2/28/1781Battle of Bacon's Inlet x253/1/1781Battle of Cole's Bridge x263/1/1781 to 3/31/1780Battle of Rouse's Tavern x273/15/1781Battle of Guilford Court Housexxx283/27/1781Battle of Barbeque Church x295/11/1781Battle of Cohera Swamp x305/13/1781Battle of Legat's Bridge x315/13/1781Battle of Myhand's Bridge #2 x325/16/1781Battle of Portevent's Mill x337/1/1781 to 7/31/1781Battle of Ray's Mill Creek x347/4/1781Battle of Wilmington #2 x357/26/1781Battle of Stewart's Creek #2xx367/29/1781Battle of House in the Horseshoe x378/2/1781Battle of Rockfish Creekxx388/4/1781Battle of Beatti's Bridgex398/14/1781Battle of Cumberland County Court House x408/19/1781Battle of New Bern x418/27/1781Battle of Tory Holexx429/1/1781Battle of Little Raft Swampx439/1/1781 to 9/30/1781Battle of Brown Marshxxx449/1/1781 to 9/30/1781Battle of Hood's Creekxx459/8/1781Battle of Eutaw SpringsSCx469/13/1781Battle of Lindley's MillNCxx4710/15/1781Battle of Raft Swampx4811/18/1781Evacuation of Wilmingtonxxx4912/1/1781 to 12/31/1781Battle of Big Juniper Creek x
References
Paul David Nelson. William Tryon and the Course of Empire. Chapel Hill, NC: Univ of North Carolina Press, 1990. pp. 42-43.
See also List of North Carolina militia units in the American Revolution Wilmington, North Carolina