Battle at the Yadkin River facts for kids

The Battle at the Yadkin River took place on May 9, 1771. It was a small but important fight during the Regulator Movement in North Carolina. This movement was when regular people protested against unfair taxes and corrupt officials. This battle happened just a week before the bigger Battle of Alamance, which was the final clash of the movement.

Why the Battle Happened

The people of North Carolina were unhappy with how the government was run. They felt that officials were unfair and taxes were too high. These unhappy citizens were called the Regulators.

Governor William Tryon wanted to stop the Regulators. He sent General Hugh Waddell to gather a local army, called a militia. Waddell's job was to capture a group of Regulators led by Benjamin Merrill.

Waddell marched towards Salisbury. But his plans hit a snag. Regulators captured a large wagon carrying gunpowder and firearms. They blew up the supplies, leaving Waddell's militia with very little ammunition.

The Fight at the River

With hardly any ammunition, General Waddell hoped to meet up with Governor Tryon's main army. However, his path was blocked. At the crossing of the Yadkin River, Benjamin Merrill and a large group of Regulators were waiting.

Many of Waddell's own militiamen actually agreed with the Regulators. Because of this, a large number of them simply surrendered. General Waddell had no choice but to turn back to Salisbury.

A few days later, more soldiers from Governor Tryon's army arrived. This arrival stopped Merrill from meeting up with another Regulator leader, Herman Husband. Merrill had to change his plans and deal with this new threat first. This delay meant Merrill's group could not join the main Regulator forces.

What Happened Next

Because of the delay, Benjamin Merrill's troops arrived too late for the Battle of Alamance. Merrill and several others were captured and faced serious consequences.

General Waddell's remaining soldiers eventually joined Governor Tryon's troops. This happened at Reedy Creek on June 4, 1771. By that time, the Regulator uprising was mostly over.