The Colson’s Mill Chapter, NC Society Sons of the American Revolution invites all to participate in the 238th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Colson’s Mill at 11 a.m. July 21 at Norwood Community Building, 247 W. Turner St., Norwood.
The public is invited to attend a commemoration honoring the men who chased the British out of Yadkin-Pee Dee River Valley.
Tentative schedule of events includes:
11 a.m.:
• Registration for attending chapters;
• NCSSAR Color Guard Presentation of Colors;
• Welcome;
• Recognition of Guests;
• Battle of Colson’s Mill Memorial and Wreath Laying
11:30 a.m.
• Lunch Buffet (Donations Accepted);
• Guest Speaker: Tom Phlegar, presentation on “God and Country;”
• Dismissal and Recession.

History of the Battle of Colson’s Mill

In the spring of 1780, Gen. 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 Col. Samuel Bryan.
About June 30, Bryan and nearly 800 men began marching south down the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Valley toward Cheraw, where they were to join up with British forces.
American Gen. Griffith Rutherford ordered his adjutant, Col. 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, 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 1,000 troops and effectively broke any remaining loyalist sympathies along the Yadkin River Valley.
For more info, contact Colson’s Mill Chapter President Daniel Burleson at 704-438-1531 or dbnut8@yahoo.com.