“Well, the people in Massachusetts don’t agree with you, and Mr. Knox says that the leaders in Boston have called on all the other colonies to join in opposing this oppression. Just recently, customs officials seized a sloop owned by John Hancock. When the good folks ran the tax collectors out of the state, London sent four thousand soldiers to protect the officials when they returned. Some of the citizens protested, and the Redcoats shot and killed five innocent people. In the letter, he says that almost everybody in Norfolk is supporting a boycott of British goods, even people that have always taken whatever London handed out.”

“Maybe Parliament will back off if it hurts their trade.”

Disappointed but not surprised at Ethan’s equanimity, Henry added, “Well, the only reason I rode way out here was to let you know that we ain’t going to get any support from London, so the only way to deal with the arsehole governor is by our own action.”

Henry mounted his horse and rode away, without waiting for Ethan to respond.

•  •  •

Concerns in the North Carolina hill country about Tryon’s intentions were soon justified, as abusive actions intensified in the county seats. One of the most troublesome decisions came when the sheriff of Orange County announced that he would collect taxes only at five locations and on certain dates, and that payments must be made in legal tender. This was especially disturbing to farmers, who had always made payments when and where they marketed what they produced.

The Regulators posted an announcement encouraging their members and others to continue to pay as before and, in response, Judge Edmund Fanning ordered the sheriff to seize the horse, saddle, and bridle of one of the Regulators who lived in the county seat and had signed the proclamation. When the property was sold for nonpayment of taxes, a group of armed men rode into Hillsborough, seized the horse, and fired several shots into Fanning’s house. When the judge returned from a nearby county, he ordered the arrest of three of the men known to have rescued the horse. The influence of the Regulators became obvious when Fanning could not raise a suitable force to form a posse.

Colonial officials responded by posting notice of a new Riot Act in Hillsborough, branding anyone who refused to honor a court summons treasonous, and liable to be hanged. The law authorized the governor to recruit and arm a militia in order to preserve order throughout the state, and to pay forty shillings to each recruit. He announced the first week in May 1771 that he would be moving his military force toward Hillsborough, which he considered to be the focal point of lawless activity.

CHAPTER 7

The Battle at Alamance

MAY 1771