Battle of Haw River

The Battle of Haw River — known as Pyle's Massacre or Pyle's Defeat depending on one's sympathies — was one of the most unusual engagements of the war. Henry Lee's Legion was operating in North Carolina in advance of Greene's army. Lee's cavalry wore uniforms similar to Tarleton's British Legion and were sometimes mistaken for British troops by local civilians.

Colonel John Pyle commanded about 400 North Carolina Loyalists who were marching to join Tarleton and were expecting to meet him. When Lee's column appeared in the road, Pyle's men assumed it was the British Legion. Lee decided to exploit the mistake. He rode along the Loyalist column as if reviewing them, intending to disarm them quietly. But before the disarmament was complete, Andrew Pickens's militia, who were following Lee, were recognized as Patriots by some of the Loyalists, and firing broke out.

What followed was not a battle but a one-sided slaughter. Lee's cavalry and Pickens's militia cut down the Loyalist column that could not effectively defend itself. About 90 Loyalists were killed and many more wounded. Lee's losses were minimal. Whatever the ethical questions about the engagement, its tactical effect was clear: it ended Loyalist recruitment in the North Carolina Piedmont at a critical moment and denied Cornwallis the reinforcements he had expected.