Pyle's Defeat

Early in 1781, American General Nathaniel Greene was encamped just across the Dan River, inside Virginia on the border with North Carolina. Greene hoped to resupply his troops, reenter North Carolina, and reduce British capabilities in the southern region. At the same time, a superior British force under the command of General Cornwallis had established their base in Hillsborough, North Carolina. A concern for both sides was securing the allegiance of Backcountry Carolina residents. Cornwallis was waiting for Loyalist (also know as Tories) supporters to join him in Hillsborough while Greene waited for reinforcements across the Dan. Greene worried that his own lack of activity emboldened Cornwallis, and that Carolinians sympathetic to the American cause would side with British interests to seek security if they felt the Patriot cause was withering.. Meanwhile, Cornwallis was aware that Loyalist volunteers might encounter resistance while traveling to Hillsborough. Both commanders dispatched forces to the area that is now Alamance County to secure their interests.

Cornwallis instructed Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to ride to the area near the Alamance Creek and the Haw River to protect loyalist volunteers headed to Hillsborough. General Greene sent Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee into North Carolina with instructions pursue British forces. Lee's objective was to harass the British while Greene waited for supplies. Effectively, Lee needed to keep British forces occupied and disrupt their communication with Hillsborough. Tarleton had been notified that Loyalist militia commanded a Dr. Pyle was traveling towards Hillsborough Pyle intended to link up with Tarleton in Alamance County. Lee discovered Tarleton was in the area and turned his attention towards locating and engaging Tarleton's forces. On either the 23rd or 24th of February 1781, Dr. Pyle's militia encountered Lt. Col. Lee in an event that is still contested today.

Both Tarleton and Lee commanded units of Dragoons. Dragoons can be understood as mounted infantry or light cavalry. The opposing units happened to wear uniforms similar to one another. Pyle and his men mistook Lee and his men for Tarleton and his mounted unit. Lee's force was able to ride within the Loyalist militia's ranks as Lee made his towards Pyle, who was at the front of his own force. At some point the ruse was exposed and Patriot forces who were staged out of view began firing on the Tories. Lee's dragoons turned to their rear and engaged the Loyalists who were closest to them. The battle lasted only a few minutes, Lee was easily the victor. It is generally agreed up today that approximately 90 Loyalists were killed and none that fled were pursued. Other aspects of the battle are undecided.

Some have interpreted the battle as unnecessary butchering. Some reports returned from the field indicated that even after the battle began, the loyalists still thought Lee was Tarleton. Instead of firing back they begged for mercy and were slaughtered where they stood. Lee disputed this account. Also disputed are the effects the battle had on the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Initially, Lee's efforts were thought to have had an impact on the results of the comming battle at Guilford Courthouse. that suggestion has been challenged. The location of the battle was originally thought to have occurred west of North Carolina Highway 49 (NC49). In 2013, after further discussion with historians who reexamined the battle, the original 1938 highway marker was changed to reflect the battlefield as being east of NC49. The status of the American forces was also updated. The marker initially gave credit to a "Whig Force" for the destroying Pyle's militia. The new marker credits "Lee's Legion" for the act. If the reader is interested in learning more of the challenges to the historical accuracy of the battle, they are directed to the book length discussion by Bright and Dunaway.

In 1936 J. Harvey White, operator of a textile mill in Graham, NC, suggested the North Carolina Historical Commission erect a marker to commemorate the battle. The state highway marker was erected in 1938. In 1996 the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Alamance Founders, dedicated a monument to the event. That monument is located in Burlington at the intersections of Old Trail Road and Anthony Road. The property is owned by Splawn Belting.

McGowan, Molly. History Revised: State Corrects Alamance County Revolutionary War Marker, The Times-News. February 28th 2013. Accessed May 14th 2021. https://www.thetimesnews.com/article/20130428/News/304289924.

Bright, Jeffrey. Dunaway, Stewart. Pyle's Defeat, The Most Comprehensive Guide: Case Closed. www,lulu.com/sedunaway, 2011.

Troxler, Carole Watterson. Pyles Defeat: Decepton at the Racepath. Graham, North Carolina. Alamance County Historical Association , 2003.

Pye's Defeat, Commemorative Landscapes. Accessed May 14th 2021. https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/38/.

Pyle's Defeat, North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program. Accessed May 14th 2021. http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=G-22.

Lee, Henry. Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States. Edition New. Washington D.C.. Peter Force, 1827.

"Lord George Germaine." The Royal Gazette (Charleston) January 1st 1900. , Date is actually 07/28/1781 sec, 2-2.

"Letter from Captain C. of the 23rd Regiment to Lieutenant C. on the Recruiting Service." The Leeds Intelligencer (Leeds) January 1st 1900. , Date is actually 06/26/1781 sec, 3-3.