On Ihc morning of Moy 16, 1771, Ihe Regulators met head-on with the ottocking forces of Royal Governor William Tryon ot the Bottle of Alomonce.
This oil pointing, depicting the scene, hongs in the Alamance County Courthouse in Grahom.
Alamance Battleground Revisited
i\exl month “First for Freedom*’ will com¬
memorate the 200tli Anniversary of the
Battle of Alamance.
By BOX BOLDEN
Two granite monuments stand as
silent sentinels over a quiet, serene area
of Alamance County, reminders of a
day 200 years ago when the earth was
scorched by gunpowder and discolored
with blood.
The sounds there today are of wind
whistling through the pines and the
voices of school children as they walk
over the area now known as Ihc Ala¬
mance Battleground.
It is a peaceful place today, and one
of beauty, visited by several thousand
people each year as a state historic
site.
But 200 years ago on this very
ground. North Carolinians took a stand
and offered their lives for their rights
as citizens in the War of Regulation.
On May 16, 1771, the Regulators
met the forces of Royal Gov. William
Tryon in the Battle of Alamance, cli¬
maxing an expedition by Tryon to
suppress the uprising.
The battle’s 200th anniversary is to
be commemorated this year.
Tryon led a force of militiamen west
from New Bern by way of Hillsbor¬
ough. On the morning of May 16, the
two forces stood eye to eye in the
plain southwest of Alamance Creek.
He gave the Regulators an hour in
which to lay down their arms, after
which he gave the order to fire. A two-
hour battle followed, leaving the Regu¬
lators broken and scattered. Nine were
killed in the Regulator force, and many
were wounded. The militia also lost
nine dead and 61 wounded.
In the aftermath, 12 of the Regula¬
tors were tried and convicted of trea¬
son. Six were later pardoned, but the
others were hanged at Hillsborough.
Tryon later offered clemency to all
who would lay down their arms and
submit to authority. Within six weeks,
6,409 were listed on the role of those
who submitted.
The War of Regulation was ended.
The people rose up in protest against
unjust government, especially in the
area of taxation.
Col. Edmund Fanning was one of
those officials against whom protest
was directed. He was a symbol of the
corruption which existed in the form
of extortion, high rents, excessive taxes
and other fraudulent practices.
Some people complained that of¬
ficials, in order to satisfy taxes, took
beds, bed clothes, an only horse, an
only cow, and even in some cases, a
wife's petticoat.
The Regulators tried petitions and
other peaceful means to satisfy their
demands, but to no avail, even when
the legislature was petitioned.
Disorders occurred, topped with in¬
cidents at Hillsborough court in 1770,
when Col. Fanning was dragged
through the streets.
Tryon pushed through the legislature
THE STATE, April 1. 1971
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