Hillsborough District militia

American Revolutionary War units of the United States

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The Hillsborough District militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783).

Background

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the newly formed North Carolina government converted the state's six existing judicial districts into military districts. These districts each comprised a number of counties surrounding a significant town. The six districts, which corresponded with old judicial organizations, were: Edenton, New Bern, Wilmington, Halifax, Salisbury, and Hillsborough.^[1] Each district was to supply a brigade of militia regiments under the command of a brigadier general.

As the militia had a poor reputation for turning out, bounties to induce volunteerism were common during the war. For men who chose not to serve when drafted, there were two options: pay for a substitute to take their place or pay a fine. These options, with some modifications, remained throughout the war.

The Hillsborough District

Within the Hillsborough District were the counties of Caswell, Chatham, Granville, Orange, Randolph, and Wake.

Thomas Person was appointed the first commander of the Hillsborough District Brigade in 1776. During the 1781 Battle of Guilford Court House, the Hillsborough District was commanded by John Butler.

Each county supplied a regiment (Orange County supplied two regiments), which in turn was composed of various companies. Each company consisted of no less than 50 men and was further divided into five "divisions." One of the five divisions was reserved for "the more aged and infirm men." The other four divisions, of each company, drew lots to determine the rotation they would follow for their tour of service, which usually lasted for three months. Eventually the "fifth division" of "aged and infirm men" was dropped, as was the maximum age limit from 60 to 50. In order to provide a greater pool of available manpower, the old colonial militia exemption list was revised.

Militia from the Hillsborough District participated in nearly all of the important southern campaigns and engagements. Orange County militia were particularly involved in engagements including Stono Creek, Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Cowan's Ford, Clapp's Mill, Guilford Court House, and Lindley's Mill.

References

↑ Note: Later, two additional districts were added, further dividing the mountainous western part of the state.

Baker, Thomas E.. Another Such Victory: The Story of the American Defeat at Guilford Courthouse That Helped Win the War for Independence. New York: Eastern Acorn Press, 1981.
North Carolina Department of Archives and History, North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts-Secretary of State Treasurer's and Comptroller's Papers Journal "A" (Public Accounts) 1775-1776.
Powell, William. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
Russell, Phillips. North Carolina in the Revolutionary War. Charlotte: Heritage Printers, 1965.
Saunders, William (ed.). The Colonial Records of North Carolina, vol. 10. Raleigh: Josephus Daniels, 1890.
Wheeler, Earl M. "Development and Organization of the North Carolina Militia." North Carolina Historical Review 41, no. 3 (July 1964): 307-323.

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