Pyle's Massacre

Pyle's Massacre
Part of American Revolutionary War
Date24 February 1781
Location
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Andrew Pickens
Henry Lee
John Pyle
Strength
600 militia 300–400 militia
Casualties and losses
1 man wounded 1 horse killed 93 killed
250 wounded

Pyle's Massacre (also known as Pyle's defeat, Pyle's hacking match or Battle of Haw River) was fought during the American Revolutionary War in present-day Alamance County, North Carolina on February 24, 1781. The battle was between Patriot troops attached to the Continental Army under Colonel Henry Lee III and Loyalist North Carolina militiamen commanded by John Pyle. Due to the unique uniform of his forces, the Loyalists mistakenly thought Lee's men were the British Legion, who were en route to reinforce Pyle. When Lee's men opened fire, they took Pyle's force totally by surprise. This resulted in an extremely lopsided victory for Lee, and Pyle's command was scattered and routed.