Alamance Battleground State Historic Site will host a reenactment of the 1771 Battle of Alamance on Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
The event marks the 254th anniversary of the battle, the violent conclusion of the Regulator Movement in North Carolina. In addition to the battle reenactment, the program will feature artillery demonstrations, an 18th-century hospital, and living history interpreters portraying colonial life. The battle reenactment begins at 11 a.m. and a special guided tour of the battlefield will be offered at 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children, seniors, and military.
In the 1760s, North Carolina farmers calling themselves the Regulators — named for their desire to “regulate” public officials — acted against a corrupt colonial government. After years of working to address their concerns peacefully by holding meetings, filing lawsuits, and writing petitions, which were largely ignored, the movement took a violent turn in 1770. The Regulators attacked corrupt local officials in Hillsborough, N.C., forcing a response by colonial Gov. William Tryon.
Gov. Tryon led a militia of 1,000 men to face off against 2,000 Regulators in the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771. Although the Regulators outnumbered Tryon’s forces, the Regulator uprising was crushed. After his victory, Tryon moved through the North Carolina backcountry, forcing the Regulators and their sympathizers to sign loyalty oaths.
After the American Revolution, the memory of this battle shifted from fighting between factions in North Carolina into a fight between Patriots and British troops. Because of this revision, the battle became erroneously known as the “first battle of the American Revolution.” In fact, during the Revolution, many Regulators remained loyal to the crown while some men who fought with Tryon sided with the Patriots in the war for American independence.
About Alamance Battleground
Alamance Battleground State Historic Site preserves and interprets the legacy of the Battle of Alamance. On May 16, 1771, an armed group of 2,000 farmers, known as the Regulators, confronted the royal militia of colonial Governor William Tryon. The Regulators stood for moderate reforms and accountable government, and they were massacred. The site is located at 5803 NC 62 S, Burlington, N.C. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/alamance-battleground or call 336-227-4785.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.