tavern battle tavern referred skirmish tavern battle tavern minor engagement took place western portion north_carolina approximately miles east near modern day tavern larger southern campaign american revolution involved series clashes british_army loyalist continental_army region engagement took place february february immediately following ford resulted victory british cavalry units command colonel british victory served patriot supporters western north_carolina forced general commander continental_army southern theater withdraw forces east withdrawal allowed unite army detached patriot forces prior conclusion war site tavern commemorated state local historical markers prelude winter british_army carolinas command general pursued southern continental_army commanded central south_carolina north_carolina battle january continental_army scored victory force detached main british_army commanded defeat set pursue nearby north_carolina victor requested relieve command patriot militia refused morgan set establishing defenses army forced cross order drive central eastern north_carolina defensive positions established ford river state expectation british assault january morgan received word british preparing cross river january morgan left defenses hands militia general rode salisbury establish rallying point continental force crossed ahead army followed morgan rallying point ford february force patriot militia commanded directly held british_army period time slowed crossing militia inflicted numerous casualties withdrawing rally point killed battle ford leaving surviving militia temporarily effective strategic command battle aftermath date engagement confusion exists exact date tavern official north_carolina historical sources cite february date memoirs indicate engagement occurred clock afternoon february early morning confrontation ford pursuit militia army took longer time cross wanted prevent forces withdrawing quickly able ordered colonel commander pursue militia commanded engagement ford citizens rivers sympathetic patriots panicked fled homes pack short period time force contained infantry cavalry artillery units forced mounted soldiers heavy rains area nearing site labelled tavern british commander gained information led believe militia ahead unprepared engagement waiting reinforcements county militias time battle tavern sat roadway ran directly salisbury additionally rain forced shed foot soldiers rendered militia gunpowder supply useless refugees patriot sympathies fled advance army tavern rendezvous point large number refugees consumed alcohol tavern stores assault despite lacking support main army cavalry struck immediately arriving scene charging militia makeshift camp sign british approach patriots attempted organize defense hoc command captain tried rally militia line nearby rail fence evidence col militia stationed tavern secondary defensive line claimed led charge reminding remember british won quick convincing fashion outnumbered militia units managed complete rally martin captured moments battle leaving patriots effective tactical command patriot forces effects confusion divided smaller parties ordering chase militia area battle minor engagement defense provided additional time main army regulars cross harassment near salisbury allowed force resupply time skirmish farm owned attributed approximately miles tavern farm set secondary rendezvous point patriot militia expected units rallied location following tavern engagement reaching salisbury loss finding nearly stands muskets useless condition reportedly happy effects defending country militia good lord deliver tavern stood location battle burned ground day engagement main british army operated widow patriot killed battle mill legacy battle impact american revolutionary war southern theater minor failure patriot militia significantly stall ford tavern caused retreat ultimate goal determined rendezvous detached force command total impact tavern rated especially minor continental_army force commanded managed escape advance regardless short engagement outcome given substantial delay british caused defense ford previous day american historian tavern discouraged militia turnout north fighting age noting turnout previously low state went far state lived write history campaign tavern probably wrote 1st engagements february stated stroke passage ford effectively militia met opposition march daughters american revolution stone marker placed near battle site marking site tavern commemorating members nearby fought war placed historical marker south bound shoulder marking approximate location battle
Battle of Torrence's Tavern