Battle of Lindley's Mill
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Lindley's Mill (also known as the Battle of Cane Creek) took place in Alamance County, North Carolina
, on September 13, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War
.
Lindley's Mill stands at what was once a crossroads
where the north-south trade route from Hillsborough
to Raleigh
and the east-west route through the Piedmont
crossed. Built in 1755 by an English immigrant Thomas Lindley, the recipient of 1000 acres (4 km²) in land grants from the Earl of Granville
, the gristmill
was one of five that lined Cane Creek.
During the American Revolutionary War
, Tories
under the command of David Fanning
and Hector McNeill captured Governor Burke
and thirteen high-ranking Whig
officials in Hillsborough on September 12, 1781. They were transporting them down the road to Wilmington
where they would be turned over to the British army
. General Butler
and 300 North Carolina militia
set an ambush at Lindley’s Mill the next day. The elderly McNeill was cut down early in the battle. The British failed to gain any ground against the militia position until Fanning and a company forded the creek and attacked the militia from their rear. This put the militia on the defensive, although they were able to rally. The battle persisted for four hours until the militia were forced to retreat.
Two hundred men were killed or wounded in the battle, with Tory force suffering due to the loss of McNeill and serious wounds received by Fanning, who was forced to hide in the woods when his column moved on. The governor was not rescued, and was imprisoned on James Island
. The Battle of Lindley's Mill closed the war in North Carolina
one month before Lord Cornwallis surrendered the British Army at Yorktown
.
The mill is still in operation, having passed down through the Lindley family for nine generations.
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, on September 13, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Lindley's Mill stands at what was once a crossroads
Crossroads (culture)
In folk magic and mythology, crossroads may represent a location "between the worlds" and, as such, a site where supernatural spirits can be contacted and paranormal events can take place...
where the north-south trade route from Hillsborough
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
to Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and the east-west route through the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
crossed. Built in 1755 by an English immigrant Thomas Lindley, the recipient of 1000 acres (4 km²) in land grants from the Earl of Granville
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, 7th Seigneur of Sark, KG, PC , commonly known by his earlier title as Lord Carteret, was a British statesman and Lord President of the Council from 1751 to 1763.-Family:...
, the gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
was one of five that lined Cane Creek.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, Tories
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
under the command of David Fanning
David Fanning (loyalist)
David Fanning was a Loyalist leader in the American Revolutionary War. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1791 to 1801 representing Kings County.-Early life:...
and Hector McNeill captured Governor Burke
Thomas Burke (governor)
Thomas Burke was an American physician, lawyer, and statesman from Hillsborough, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was the third Governor of the state....
and thirteen high-ranking Whig
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
officials in Hillsborough on September 12, 1781. They were transporting them down the road to Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
where they would be turned over to the British army
Red coat (British army)
Red coat or Redcoat is a historical term used to refer to soldiers of the British Army because of the red uniforms formerly worn by the majority of regiments. From the late 17th century to the early 20th century, the uniform of most British soldiers, , included a madder red coat or coatee...
. General Butler
John Butler (pioneer)
John Butler was a Loyalist who led an irregular militia unit known as Butler's Rangers on the northern frontier in the American Revolutionary War. He led Seneca and Cayuga forces in the Saratoga campaign. He later raised and commanded a regiment of rangers.-Background:John was born to Walter...
and 300 North Carolina militia
The Hillsborough District Militia
The Hillsborough District militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War ....
set an ambush at Lindley’s Mill the next day. The elderly McNeill was cut down early in the battle. The British failed to gain any ground against the militia position until Fanning and a company forded the creek and attacked the militia from their rear. This put the militia on the defensive, although they were able to rally. The battle persisted for four hours until the militia were forced to retreat.
Two hundred men were killed or wounded in the battle, with Tory force suffering due to the loss of McNeill and serious wounds received by Fanning, who was forced to hide in the woods when his column moved on. The governor was not rescued, and was imprisoned on James Island
James Island (South Carolina)
James Island is one of South Carolina's most urban Sea Islands. The island is separated from peninsular downtown Charleston by the Ashley River, from the mainland by Wappoo Creek and the Wappoo Cut, and from Johns Island by the Stono River...
. The Battle of Lindley's Mill closed the war in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
one month before Lord Cornwallis surrendered the British Army at Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
.
The mill is still in operation, having passed down through the Lindley family for nine generations.