US ResearchConflictsRevolutionary WarRaid on Hillsborough
Revolutionary War

Raid on Hillsborough

1781
North Carolina
Era
Revolutionary War
Year
1781
Location
North Carolina
Status
Verified engagement
The Combatants

Who Fought

Forces
Not recorded in historical accounts
Forces
NC militia and civil authorities
VS
Victor
British
Forces
Fanning's Loyalists
Outcome
The Patriots achieved a tactical victory, dispersing the British and Loyalist camp and inflicting casualties while sustaining none. The success boosted Patriot morale and gained the attention of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
The Battle

History & Significance

The Battle of Lindley's Mill took place in Orange County, North Carolina, on September 13, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War. It took its name from a mill that sat at the site of the battle on Cane Creek, which sat along a road connecting what was then the temporary state capital, Hillsborough, with Wilmington, North Carolina.

Duration
Single day engagement (September 13, 1781)
Historical context

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) grew from colonial resistance to British taxation without parliamentary representation — a dispute that radicalized through the Stamp Act (1765), the Townshend Acts (1767), and the Boston Massacre (1770). Fighting began at Lexington and Concord in April 1775; the Continental Congress declared independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental Army under George Washington faced severe shortages of supplies and troops, enduring the brutal winter at Valley Forge (1777–1778) before French alliance and French financing turned the military balance. Major engagements included Bunker Hill (1775), Trenton (1776), Saratoga (1777) — which secured French intervention — and Yorktown (1781), where British General Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. An estimated 25,000 American soldiers died in service, from combat, disease, and captivity. The Treaty of Paris (1783) recognized American independence and ceded British territory east of the Mississippi, though it left unresolved questions about Indigenous land rights and the status of Loyalists.

Casualties & Losses

Patriots: no fatal casualties. British and Loyalists: nine killed and wounded, five captured.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Raid on Hillsborough take place?
Raid on Hillsborough took place in 1781. Single day engagement (September 13, 1781).
Where was Raid on Hillsborough fought?
Raid on Hillsborough was fought in North Carolina, United States.
What was the outcome of Raid on Hillsborough?
The Patriots achieved a tactical victory, dispersing the British and Loyalist camp and inflicting casualties while sustaining none. The success boosted Patriot morale and gained the attention of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
What was the significance of Raid on Hillsborough?
The Battle of Lindley's Mill took place in Orange County, North Carolina, on September 13, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War. It took its name from a mill that sat at the site of the battle on Cane Creek, which sat along a road connecting what was then the temporary state capital, Hillsbor
Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Raid on Hillsborough

Eagle Lodge
Early Republic · 0 mi
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All battles in North Carolina
Source

Content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Wikipedia source.

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