Battle of Ramsour's Mill

The American Revolutionary War Battle of Ramsour’s Mill was fought on 20 June 1780, near present-day Lincolnton, North Carolina. 

At daybreak, on this foggy morning, approximately 600 Patriots defeated 1300 Loyalists in just under two hours. The Loyalists were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Moore and Major Nicholas Welch.  The Patriots were under the command of Colonel Francis Locke and Captain John Dickey. The Patriots hailed from Rowan, Surry, Mecklenburg, Burke, Lincoln, Rutherford, Orange and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina, and several units from South Carolina.

Lt. Col. Moore, under the direction of General Lord Charles Cornwallis, had begun amassing a Loyalist force near Ramsour’s Mill. Approximately one week prior to the battle, Moore had sent out word to all those who remained loyal to the Crown, to join him in the fight. Moore was also instructed not to engage any Patriot force, but to train these men for future conflicts. With the news of the gathering force, General Griffith Rutherford ordered Colonel Francis Locke to gather a Patriot force to route the Loyalists.

Colonel Locke reached the mill ahead of General Rutherford and despite facing a force 3 times greater, decided to attack. Colonel Locke’s Cavalry engaged from the eastern side of the hill (a hill you can walk up today near Lincolnton High and Battleground Elementary Schools), followed by the infantry under Captain Dickey. When Locke ordered a withdrawal, Dickey refused and held the line, thus, saving the day for the Patriot victory. The Loyalists retreated down the western slope. Some were captured, while others were able to escape.

In the aftermath, the number of casualties for each side was difficult to determine as neither side wore uniforms. The Loyalists identified themselves with sprigs of greenery in their hats, while the Patriots wore pieces of paper in theirs. Many of the Patriots were found with wounds to their heads, and it is surmised, that the Loyalist riflemen used the paper as a target. 

Estimates of casualties range between 50-70 total killed, and 100 wounded from each side. Some were buried exactly where they fell by family and friends, others were taken home for burial. Others were imprisoned and a few were even hung. Some of the unidentifiable bodies, both Loyalist and Patriot together, were placed in mass graves.

The result of this Patriot victory was to diminish the Loyalist support locally. This lack of support for the British Southern Campaign, helped pave the direct route to Yorktown, and the inevitable defeat and surrender of Lord Cornwallis.