nchistory
Jr. Member
- Mar 22, 2012
- 43
- 47
- Detector(s) used
- DEUS Nautilus DMC 11. Nautilus DMC 11 Ba
- Primary Interest:
- Relic Hunting
Seeking help from Lowcountry diggers.. Have you ever dug a 3rd NC regiment Rev War button? Compiling information to date these buttons, please PM with approximate location. This button was dug by a lowcountry digger in 2012. It is reported Stono Ferry Battlefield. Issue 3rd not present at Stono Ferry in 1779. Other digger suggest it may have come from Dungannon or possible patina like Lake Marion. Have you seen this button? Do you have knowledge to share to help prove it's history? It's very important to preserve our nations past, and this being a rare button. All information is greatly appreciated.
A rare NC….Colonel Jethro Sumner’s Third North Carolina Regiment. Unlisted A3.NC, Large size, double possible triple concentric ring (hard to tell with rim corrosion), 24mm with domed face and fonts with serif, maybe the “daddy” to the 15mm A3NC.b. Recovered March 20, 2012 from the Stono Ferry Battlefield, SC. Difficulty in dating ca.1779-82, which will be discussed later.
Tickled to death, as I have owned over 500 NC buttons in a span of 30 years, and handled many more, but this is my FIRST Rev War NC button. I always thought if I ever owned a NC Rev War it would be the USA NC type, had no idea the opportunity of a 3rd Regt would come to light. So thrilled, nonetheless.
If anyone has any idea how many of these button exist, Don states “a few”, I have not seen another other than the 2 posted in Don’s book. Does anyone know other locations recovered than the vagueness of SC? All help is greatly appreciated.
How did this NC3 get to Stono Ferry, SC? Many other artifacts were recovered from this area, but only NC (I know of) found. Was the 3rd NC ever in the Stono Ferry area?
During the June 20, 1779 battle, the 3rd was recruiting in Halifax, NC. They were in North Carolina vaguely from April 1779 till October 1779. Although not present during the battle on paper, the 2nd Brigade consisting of the 4th, 5th, and 6th, were, as well as the NC Militia. Also the battle was represented by General Jethro Sumner, Lt. Colonel Henry Dixon, and many former members of the 3rd, from General to Private.
The next time the 3rd was close to the Stono Ferry area was in 1780. Lt. Colonel Robert Mebane’s 3rd was part of the garrison force of Charleston, arriving in October 1779. The unit was surrendered in May 1780 with General Lincoln’s forces. In British reports, the Stono Ferry landing was occupied by Militia in February 1780, as they pushed forward to the capture of Charleston. So we know Stono Ferry was a American outpost, but I’m uncertain if it was ever manned by the 3rd NC, as there are no documentation confirming this. The Robert Mebane papers do note outpost duty at the Ashley Ferry in early 1780 for the 3rd NC.
The last time the 3rd was near Stono Ferry was in 1782 during General Greene’s John’s Island beefsteak raid. The 3rd was reconstituted April 1781 fighting with valor at Eutaw Springs in the 1st Brigade again. In January 1782, the main army was camped at St. Paul’s Church only a few miles of the Ferry. Although the North Carolina and Maryland line was sent to Burnt Church (Location unknown), they were in the vicinity, and remains a possibility.
Is there a possibility these NC A3’s are officer’s buttons, since no pattern exists? It seems highly plausible these buttons are ca. 1779-80. It very well could have been lost during the June 1779 battle. Yet as garrison troops of Charleston in 1780, seems highly likely as well. These buttons are very similar to the SC series, and the possibility remains they could be manufactured by the same entity. No doubt Charleston as the place of manufacture, with artisans having the ability to manufacture in small number. I wouldn’t think this button to be pre 1779, as I know of no known recoveries in the Northern theater of operations.
History of the 3rd.
The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was authorized on January 16, 1776 by the General Assembly. On February 27, 1776, it was assigned to the Southern Department, even though it was not yet organized.
The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was organized April 15, 1776 at Wilmington. It included eight companies from Halifax, Edenton, and Hillsborough Districts.
On February 5, 1777, it was reassigned to the Northern Department. On July 8, 1777, it was assigned to the NC Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.
On June 1, 1778, it was reduced to a mere cadre at Valley Forge, PA, and removed from the NC Brigade. On July 9, 1778, it was reorganized to consist of nine (9) companies.
On November 7, 1778, the 3rd NC Regiment was removed from the Northern Department and reassigned to the Highlands Department. On December 19, 1778, it was removed from the Highlands Department and reassigned to the Middle Department.
On April 17, 1779, the 3rd NC Regiment was removed from the Middle Department and reassigned to the Southern Department - stationed in Philadelphia, PA. The regiment was so depleted that it was sent home to recruit new men under Lt. Col. Robert Mebane.
On November 5, 1779, it was reorganized at Halifax, NC, with nine (9) companies formed and trained at the High Hills of the Santee, SC. It was the first NC Continental regiment to march to the protection of Charlestown, SC in late 1779/early 1780.
On February 14, 1780, the 3rd NC Regiment was assigned to Parker's Brigade, an element of the Southern Department. On March 6, 1780, it was removed from Parker's Brigade and reassigned to the NC Brigade (the one and only), an element of the Southern Department.
May 12, 1780, the 3rd NC Regiment surrendered 162 men to the British Army at the Fall of Charlestown, SC.
Reconstituted from April to July of 1781, with detachments being hurriedly sent to South Carolina to support Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene. As men were recruited, they were assembled and marched southward, usually with no uniforms and with no arms or ammunition.
Effective 1/1/1783, all NC Continentals were rolled into a single regiment, ostensibly the 1st NC Regiment, essentially eliminating all other NC Continental regiments, including the 3rd NC Regiment. By June 1783, these remaining troops were furloughed at James Island, SC while awaiting the final signing of the peace treaty with Great Britain.
The 3rd NC Regiment was furloughed on January 1, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and officially disbanded on November 15, 1783.
Date(s): Known Battles / Skirmishes:
6/28/1776 Fort Moultrie #1 (SC)
9/1776 Florida Expedition
9/11/1777 Brandywine Creek (PA)
10/4/1777 Germantown (PA)
6/28/1778 Monmouth (NJ)
3/28-5/12/1780 Siege of Charleston 1780 (SC)
8/11/1780 Little Lynches Creek (SC) (1 unit)
8/16/1780 Camden (SC) (1 unit)
3/15/1781 Guilford Court House (1 unit)
4/25/1781 Hobkirk's Hill (SC)
9/8/1781 Eutaw Springs (SC)
A rare NC….Colonel Jethro Sumner’s Third North Carolina Regiment. Unlisted A3.NC, Large size, double possible triple concentric ring (hard to tell with rim corrosion), 24mm with domed face and fonts with serif, maybe the “daddy” to the 15mm A3NC.b. Recovered March 20, 2012 from the Stono Ferry Battlefield, SC. Difficulty in dating ca.1779-82, which will be discussed later.
Tickled to death, as I have owned over 500 NC buttons in a span of 30 years, and handled many more, but this is my FIRST Rev War NC button. I always thought if I ever owned a NC Rev War it would be the USA NC type, had no idea the opportunity of a 3rd Regt would come to light. So thrilled, nonetheless.
If anyone has any idea how many of these button exist, Don states “a few”, I have not seen another other than the 2 posted in Don’s book. Does anyone know other locations recovered than the vagueness of SC? All help is greatly appreciated.
How did this NC3 get to Stono Ferry, SC? Many other artifacts were recovered from this area, but only NC (I know of) found. Was the 3rd NC ever in the Stono Ferry area?
During the June 20, 1779 battle, the 3rd was recruiting in Halifax, NC. They were in North Carolina vaguely from April 1779 till October 1779. Although not present during the battle on paper, the 2nd Brigade consisting of the 4th, 5th, and 6th, were, as well as the NC Militia. Also the battle was represented by General Jethro Sumner, Lt. Colonel Henry Dixon, and many former members of the 3rd, from General to Private.
The next time the 3rd was close to the Stono Ferry area was in 1780. Lt. Colonel Robert Mebane’s 3rd was part of the garrison force of Charleston, arriving in October 1779. The unit was surrendered in May 1780 with General Lincoln’s forces. In British reports, the Stono Ferry landing was occupied by Militia in February 1780, as they pushed forward to the capture of Charleston. So we know Stono Ferry was a American outpost, but I’m uncertain if it was ever manned by the 3rd NC, as there are no documentation confirming this. The Robert Mebane papers do note outpost duty at the Ashley Ferry in early 1780 for the 3rd NC.
The last time the 3rd was near Stono Ferry was in 1782 during General Greene’s John’s Island beefsteak raid. The 3rd was reconstituted April 1781 fighting with valor at Eutaw Springs in the 1st Brigade again. In January 1782, the main army was camped at St. Paul’s Church only a few miles of the Ferry. Although the North Carolina and Maryland line was sent to Burnt Church (Location unknown), they were in the vicinity, and remains a possibility.
Is there a possibility these NC A3’s are officer’s buttons, since no pattern exists? It seems highly plausible these buttons are ca. 1779-80. It very well could have been lost during the June 1779 battle. Yet as garrison troops of Charleston in 1780, seems highly likely as well. These buttons are very similar to the SC series, and the possibility remains they could be manufactured by the same entity. No doubt Charleston as the place of manufacture, with artisans having the ability to manufacture in small number. I wouldn’t think this button to be pre 1779, as I know of no known recoveries in the Northern theater of operations.
History of the 3rd.
The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was authorized on January 16, 1776 by the General Assembly. On February 27, 1776, it was assigned to the Southern Department, even though it was not yet organized.
The 3rd North Carolina Regiment was organized April 15, 1776 at Wilmington. It included eight companies from Halifax, Edenton, and Hillsborough Districts.
On February 5, 1777, it was reassigned to the Northern Department. On July 8, 1777, it was assigned to the NC Brigade, an element of the Northern Department.
On June 1, 1778, it was reduced to a mere cadre at Valley Forge, PA, and removed from the NC Brigade. On July 9, 1778, it was reorganized to consist of nine (9) companies.
On November 7, 1778, the 3rd NC Regiment was removed from the Northern Department and reassigned to the Highlands Department. On December 19, 1778, it was removed from the Highlands Department and reassigned to the Middle Department.
On April 17, 1779, the 3rd NC Regiment was removed from the Middle Department and reassigned to the Southern Department - stationed in Philadelphia, PA. The regiment was so depleted that it was sent home to recruit new men under Lt. Col. Robert Mebane.
On November 5, 1779, it was reorganized at Halifax, NC, with nine (9) companies formed and trained at the High Hills of the Santee, SC. It was the first NC Continental regiment to march to the protection of Charlestown, SC in late 1779/early 1780.
On February 14, 1780, the 3rd NC Regiment was assigned to Parker's Brigade, an element of the Southern Department. On March 6, 1780, it was removed from Parker's Brigade and reassigned to the NC Brigade (the one and only), an element of the Southern Department.
May 12, 1780, the 3rd NC Regiment surrendered 162 men to the British Army at the Fall of Charlestown, SC.
Reconstituted from April to July of 1781, with detachments being hurriedly sent to South Carolina to support Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene. As men were recruited, they were assembled and marched southward, usually with no uniforms and with no arms or ammunition.
Effective 1/1/1783, all NC Continentals were rolled into a single regiment, ostensibly the 1st NC Regiment, essentially eliminating all other NC Continental regiments, including the 3rd NC Regiment. By June 1783, these remaining troops were furloughed at James Island, SC while awaiting the final signing of the peace treaty with Great Britain.
The 3rd NC Regiment was furloughed on January 1, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and officially disbanded on November 15, 1783.
Date(s): Known Battles / Skirmishes:
6/28/1776 Fort Moultrie #1 (SC)
9/1776 Florida Expedition
9/11/1777 Brandywine Creek (PA)
10/4/1777 Germantown (PA)
6/28/1778 Monmouth (NJ)
3/28-5/12/1780 Siege of Charleston 1780 (SC)
8/11/1780 Little Lynches Creek (SC) (1 unit)
8/16/1780 Camden (SC) (1 unit)
3/15/1781 Guilford Court House (1 unit)
4/25/1781 Hobkirk's Hill (SC)
9/8/1781 Eutaw Springs (SC)
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