Battle at the Yadkin River

A battle at the crossing of the Yadkin River took place on May 9, 1771 just prior to the Battle of Alamance. Governor William Tryon had dispatched Gen. Hugh Waddell to raise militia in Rowan and Mecklenburg counties for the purpose of capturing a force of Regulators under Benjamin Merrill known to be operating in the area.

Waddell reached Salisbury and attempted to march north, but was hampered when a large supply of gunpowder and firearms being brought by wagon from Charleston was captured and blown up by Regulators. With little ammunition, Waddell hoped to link up with Tryon's militia but instead found his path blocked at the crossing of the Yadkin River by Merrill and a large force of Regulators and he was forced to turn back to Salisbury. The majority of his militiamen, many of whom sympathized with the Regulators, surrendered. However, the advance of a much larger force from the East under William Tryon intervened and Merrill was forced to turn to meet the new threat, arriving too late to play a role in the Battle of Alamance a week later. Waddell's remaining force would link up with Tryon's victorious troops at Reedy Creek on June 4.