Alamance Creek, Battle of, N.C., 1771

The Battle of Alamance took place on May 16, 1771. It was the final confrontation of the Regulator Movement in colonial North Carolina. The rebellion was instigated because of various issues with the colonial government, and was primarily aimed at needed reforms to the Currency Act. Regulator supporters demanded other changes, including an end to the corruption of local politicians, a right to secret ballot voting, land reforms, and transparency in government. Named after the nearby Great Alamance Creek, the battle took place in what was then Orange County (and now located in Alamance County) in the Piedmont area, about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of present-day Burlington, North Carolina). The government forces effectively crushed the regulator resistance with their better equipped and trained force, though much smaller in number. Immediately after the fighting, the government forces captured several of the regulator leaders including Benjamin Merrill and Harmon Cox. Regulator leader Herman Husband, as well as others, were not present for the battle itself, but had accompanied the regulators up until the battle took place before withdrawing. Several of Tryon's military leaders went on to be high-ranking officers and politicians in North Carolina, including John Ashe, Robert Howe, and Richard Caswell.