Husband said, “We must avoid any bloodshed, but it’s time we had an understanding with the governor. Reverend Caldwell here has volunteered to take a message from us, declaring our peaceful intent but firmness in demanding our rights.”

Within a half hour, Caldwell returned with Tryon’s reply. He refused any compromise and said that any matters of substance could be addressed only after the “mob” dispersed and returned to their homes. He stated that his militia forces would move forward within an hour to arrest anyone remaining at the site.

This response resulted in a sharp division among the Regulators and other men. Henry and a dozen others surrounded Husband near the platform, and Ethan could see that they were engaged in a heated argument. The crowd became strangely quiet, and Ethan could hear Husband stating firmly that he would not participate in any act of violence. Henry and most of the others, confident of their strength, pledged to stand firm. A shock went through the onlookers as Husband mounted his horse and quietly rode away, and Ethan pressed forward to tell Henry that he had also decided to leave.

Before he could reach his brother, he heard the sound of approaching troops, and within a few minutes they could see Governor Tryon and several British officers, followed by a large contingent of armed militiamen. The leaders stopped at the edge of the clearing, turned to give apparently prearranged orders, and the military force deployed in a line abreast, partially surrounding the assembled Regulators.

“Look,” said Henry, “they have two field pieces with them, aimed at us. They look very small, like half-pounders.”

Tryon now turned toward the speaker’s platform and shouted, “This is the governor speaking. Your assembly violates the laws of North Carolina, and I demand that you disband immediately and return to your homes.”

William Butler, one of the Regulator leaders, responded, “Governor, we are law-abiding citizens, gathered here peacefully to plan how best to explain our grievances in petitions to you, the state council, the king, and the Parliament.”

“I’m not here to debate with you, but to demand that you break up this unlawful assembly immediately. I’m not going to wait any longer.”

One of the farmers on the edge of the crowd shouted out, “Governor, we ain’t going nowhere. We’re staying right here.”

A shot rang out from a partially concealed militiaman, and the man fell, with a bullet through his thigh. There was a wild commotion, with most of the Regulators moving backward across the clearing. A rifle was fired from behind one of the trees, and a militia officer clutched his shoulder and slid from his horse. The governor and the officers moved back a few yards into the trees, and most of the crowd managed to scramble out of the clearing. Then Tryon shouted, “Open fire!”