North Carolina played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence, from the decisive Patriot victory at Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge to the hard-fought clash at Battle of Guilford Courthouse that weakened British resolve in the South. Its patriots, challenging terrain, and determined spirit helped turn the tide of the war and hasten the road to American independence.
Explore the many guided tours of The Liberty Trail
Tarleton, active in the Southern Campaign, came to be known as the ‘butcher’ after Continental soldiers accused his dragoons of disregarding a Patriot surrender by attacking the Americans after they laid down their arms at the Battle of Waxhaws.
Once a lawyer and surveyor who fought for the royal governor at Alamance, Richard Caswell reinvented himself as a leading Patriot of the American Revolution. After commanding the decisive victory at Moore’s Creek Bridge, he rose to govern North Carolina and later served again despite suffering defeat with Gates’s army at Camden.
Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee was a distinguished cavalry commander during the American Revolution, known for leading "Lee's Legion" and his daring raids in the Southern Campaigns.
One of Virginia's most capable officers of the American Revolution, Edward Carrington was also a confidant of George Washington and statesman in the early days of the Republic.
