The Colson’s Mill Chapter, North Carolina SAR,

Invites you to the 239th Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of Colson’s Mill

Saturday, July 18, 2019, beginning at 11 am

At Norwood Community Center, 247 Turner Court, Norwood, NC

The public is cordially invited to attend a commemoration honoring the men who chased the British out of Yadkin-Pee Dee River Valley.

Tentative Schedule of Events

11:00am

• Registration for Attending Chapters
• NCSSAR Color Guard Presentation of Colors
• Welcome
• Recognition of Guests
• Battle of Colson’s Mill Memorial and Wreath Laying

11:30am

• Lunch Buffet (Donations Accepted)
• Guest Speaker:
• Dismissal and Recession

History of the Battle of Colson’s Mill

In the spring of 1780 General Cornwallis’ victories in South Carolina had created enough excitement in North Carolina to inspire a loyalist force to emerge in the Yadkin River Valley under the leadership of Colonel Samuel Bryan. About June 30 Bryan and nearly 800 men began marching south down the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Valley toward Cheraw, there to join up with British forces. American General Griffith Rutherford ordered his adjutant, Colonel William Lee Davidson, and about 200 men to pursue the Tories, and a race ensued down the Yadkin River Valley. Believing themselves to be out of harm’s way and close enough to Cornwallis’ headquarters to prevent attack, Bryan’s Tories pitched camp near an inn and a mill on the Cheraw Road called Colson’s. However, Colonel Davidson had no intention of letting the loyalists escape and on the morning of July 21 he surprised the enemy and drove the loyalists into the woods—and back to their homes. Davidson thus denied Cornwallis an addition of nearly 1000 troops and effectively broke any remaining loyalist sympathies along the Yadkin River Valley.

For more information, contact Colson’s Mill Chapter President Daniel Burleson at or call 704-438-1531.