The Colson’s Mill Chapter of the NC Society Sons of the American Revolution will host its 243rd Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of Colson’s Mill at 11 a.m. July 22 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.

Events include:

• 11 a.m.: Registration for attending chapters, NCSSAR Color Guard presentation of colors, welcome remarks, recognition of guests and Battle of Colson’s Mill memorial and wreath laying; and

• 11:30 a.m.: Lunch Buffet (Donations Accepted).
The guest speaker will be Franklin Merrill of the Salisbury Chapter of NCSSAR.

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 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 information, contact Colson’s Mill Chapter President Daniel Burleson at dbnut8@yahoo.com or 704-438-1531.

Visit the NC Society, Sons of American Revolution website at www.ncssar.org.