Pyle's Massacre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pyle's Massacre
Part of American Revolutionary War
Date 24 February 1781 Location present-day Alamance County, North Carolina Result Patriot victory
Belligerents
Loyalist militia	Patriot militia
Commanders and leaders
John Pyle	Andrew Pickens Henry Lee
Strength
300–400 militia	600 militia
Casualties and losses
93 killed 250 wounded	1 prisoner killed

Pyle's Massacre was a surprise attack during the American Revolutionary War. It happened on February 24, 1781, in what is now Alamance County, North Carolina. The fight was between American Patriot troops and Loyalist militia from North Carolina. Loyalists were American colonists who stayed loyal to the British King. Patriots wanted independence from Britain.

The Patriot forces were led by Colonel Henry Lee. The Loyalist militia was commanded by Dr. John Pyle. Colonel Lee's soldiers wore uniforms that looked like those of a British cavalry commander, Banastre Tarleton. The Loyalists expected Tarleton to arrive and help them. Because of this, they mistook Lee's men for their British allies. When Lee's soldiers suddenly attacked, Pyle's Loyalists were completely surprised. This led to a very quick and one-sided victory for the Patriots.

How the Battle Started

British General Lord Cornwallis was trying to catch the American army led by General Nathanael Greene. This chase is sometimes called the "Race to the Dan." General Greene cleverly retreated, using a small group of soldiers to trick Cornwallis. Greene's army crossed the Dan River into Virginia, getting away safely.

Cornwallis had burned his heavy supplies to move faster. His soldiers were exhausted, hungry, and cold from the chase. All the boats to cross the Dan River had been taken by Greene's army. So, Cornwallis was stuck on the North Carolina side. He decided to rest and gather more support at Hillsborough, North Carolina. He hoped to get more Loyalists to join his side there.

Dr. John Pyle was a well-known Loyalist in Chatham County. When Cornwallis asked for volunteers, Pyle gathered between 300 and 400 men. He asked Cornwallis for protection for his group. So, British commander Banastre Tarleton, with his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and a small group of infantry (soldiers on foot), set out to meet Pyle.

Meanwhile, General Greene's army rested and got new supplies in Virginia. On February 17, Greene sent Colonel Henry Lee with his cavalry. He also sent Colonel Andrew Pickens with infantry and militia. Their job was to go back into North Carolina and watch what the British were doing. They set up a hidden camp and sent out scouts to find the British.

The next morning, they learned that Tarleton was moving towards the Haw River. Lee and Pickens followed him. They found out Tarleton had camped near the Haw River. They planned an attack, but then learned Tarleton had moved again. The Loyalist groups he expected had not shown up yet. Pyle's group had delayed their trip to visit family and friends.

On February 24, Lee and Pickens captured two British officers. They learned that Tarleton was only a few miles ahead. Later that day, Lee's Legion (Lee's soldiers) met two of Pyle's men. Lee's soldiers wore green jackets and helmets with feathers. Pyle's men thought they were Tarleton's dragoons, who wore similar uniforms. Lee used this mistake to his advantage. He learned that Pyle's troops were very close by.

Lee told Pickens' riflemen to move around Pyle's position. Then, Lee rode into Pyle's camp, greeting them politely. Lee was shaking Dr. Pyle's hand when the fighting suddenly began.

The Battle Unfolds

The most common story of the battle comes from reports by Lee and Captain Joseph Graham. It seems Lee's trick was accidental. He had actually wanted to avoid the Loyalists and find Tarleton's dragoons, who were a more important target.

The fighting started when soldiers at the back of Lee's group saw red cloth on the hats of Pyle's men. This red cloth was a sign that they were Loyalists. A Patriot captain, new to the area, asked one of the Loyalists which side he was on. The Loyalist replied, "King George!" The captain then struck him with his sabre (a type of sword).

Seeing this, Pickens' riflemen joined the attack. Lee's cavalry also turned and attacked the Loyalists. Pyle's men quickly broke ranks and ran away. Many were killed or wounded right at the start. Many Loyalists thought the attack was a mistake. They kept saying they were on King George's side, but it didn't help.

After about 10 minutes, the remaining Loyalists had fled. Ninety-three Loyalists were known to be dead. Many more were wounded, and some were carried away by their friends. Local stories say that John Pyle was badly hurt. He crawled into a nearby pond to hide until he could be rescued. After he recovered, he surrendered to the local militia. He and his men were later pardoned because Dr. Pyle had helped wounded Patriots in the past.

"Pyle's Pond" by Benson Lossing, 1852

After the Battle

Pickens and Lee never caught up with Tarleton. Cornwallis ordered Tarleton to rejoin the main British army that night. Tarleton got too close to the main British forces for Pickens and Lee to attack safely.

Meanwhile, General Nathanael Greene's army, now rested and stronger, crossed the Dan River back into North Carolina on February 22. They were moving to confront the British at Guilford Courthouse. Lee and Pickens joined this larger campaign. Their mission to discourage Loyalist volunteers from joining the British had been very successful.

There were reports of cruel acts by Catawba Native Americans who arrived late to the battle. Some claimed men were killed even after asking to surrender. The British quickly called the event a "massacre." Cornwallis wrote that most of Pyle's men were "killed in a cruel way, when begging for surrender, without fighting back at all." Lee later said that if he had wanted a massacre, he would have chased down every last Loyalist. Instead, he let many escape. This strategy helped to break the idea that the British army was unbeatable. It also stopped many Loyalists in North Carolina from joining the British.

Pyle's Massacre happened a few weeks before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. It helped weaken the British forces and lower their spirits before that major battle.

Even in the 1850s, people living nearby could point out where the battle happened. They also knew where the mass graves of those killed were located. At least one mass grave has been found again recently. The site is marked by periwinkle plants and cedar trees. An old stone marker, placed in 1880, used to be there but its current location is unknown.