Wilmington District Brigade


The Wilmington 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.

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.
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, Rank
North Carolina Militia and State TroopsGovernor17781783Ashe, John Sr., M.G.
Wilmington District BrigadeNorth Carolina Militia17761783Ashe, John Sr., B.G.
[|1st Battalion of Militia]Wilmington17761776Brown, Thomas, Col
[|2nd Battalion of Militia]Wilmington17761776Hawkins, Philemon, Jr., Col, Col Peter Dozier
[|Bladen County Regiment]Salisbury17751783Robeson, Thomas, Jr., Col,
[|Brunswick County Regiment]Wilmington17751783Howe, Robert, Col
[|Cumberland County Regiment]Wilmington17751783Rutherford, Thomas, Col
[|Duplin County Regiment]Wilmington17751783Kenan, James, Col
New Hanover County RegimentWilmington17751783Moore, James, Col
[|Onslow County Regiment]Wilmington17751783Cray, William, Col

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., Col. Thomas Brown, and Col. Thomas Owen. 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, 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.
OrderDateBattleState
17/18/1775Battle of Fort Johnston #1NCx
211/16/1775 to 11/21/1775Battle of Fort Johnston #2NCx
31/27/1776 to 1/28/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #3NCx
42/10/1776Battle of Cape Fear RiverNCx
52/27/1776Battle of Moore's Creek BridgeNCxxxxx
63/8/1776 to 3/12/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #4NCx
74/6/1776Battle of Brunswick Town #1NCx
85/1/1776 to 5/3/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #5NCx
95/17/1776Battle of Brunswick Town #2NCx
105/23/1776Battle of Fort Johnston #6NCx
116/28/1776Battle of Fort Moultrie #1SCx
123/3/1779Battle of Briar CreekGAxxxxx
136/20/1779Battle of Stono FerrySCxxxx
141/30/1780Battle of Heron's BridgeNCxxxxx
153/28/1780 to 5/12/1780Siege of Charleston 1780SCxxxxx
163/29/1780 to 3/30/1780Battle of Gibbes' PlantationSCx
178/11/1780Battle of Little Lynches CreekSCxx
188/16/1780Battle of CamdenSCxxxxx
1910/14/1780Battle of Shallow FordNCx
2010/1/1780 to 10/30/1780Battle of Myhand's Bridge #1NCx
2110/7/1780Battle of Kings MountainSCx
2210/30/1780Battle of Bear SwampSCx
231/28/1781Battle of Wilmington #1NCx
242/1/1781 to 2/28/1781Battle of Bacon's InletNCx
253/1/1781Battle of Cole's BridgeNCx
263/1/1781 to 3/31/1780Battle of Rouse's TavernNCx
273/15/1781Battle of Guilford Court HouseNCxxx
283/27/1781Battle of Barbeque ChurchNCx
295/11/1781Battle of Cohera SwampNCx
305/13/1781Battle of Legat's BridgeNCx
315/13/1781Battle of Myhand's Bridge #2NCx
325/16/1781Battle of Portevent's MillNCx
337/1/1781 to 7/31/1781Battle of Ray's Mill CreekNCx
347/4/1781Battle of Wilmington #2NCx
357/26/1781Battle of Stewart's Creek #2NCxx
367/29/1781Battle of House in the HorseshoeNCx
378/2/1781Battle of Rockfish CreekNCxx
388/4/1781Battle of Beatti's BridgeNCx
398/14/1781Battle of Cumberland County Court HouseNCx
408/19/1781Battle of New Bern #2NCx
418/27/1781Battle of Tory HoleNCxx
429/1/1781Battle of Little Raft SwampNCx
439/1/1781 to 9/30/1781Battle of Brown MarshNCxxx
449/1/1781 to 9/30/1781Battle of Hood's CreekNCxx
459/8/1781Battle of Eutaw SpringsSCx
469/13/1781Battle of Lindley's MillNCxx
4710/15/1781Battle of Raft SwampNCx
4811/18/1781Evacuation of WilmingtonNCxxx
4912/1/1781 to 12/31/1781Battle of Big Juniper CreekNCx