Chronology

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1. Revolution and early republic · 1775–1799

2. February 20, 1781
   Law, policy or court · Hillsborough Cornwallis calls loyal subjects to the Royal Standard at Hillsborough

   From his headquarters at Hillsborough, Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis issued a proclamation inviting loyal subjects to come without delay, with their arms and ten days' provisions, to the Royal Standard erected in the town and help restore royal government in North Carolina.

3. February 20–26, 1781
   Violence or armed conflict · Hillsborough Cornwallis occupies Hillsborough

   After driving Nathanael Greene's army across the Dan River, Lord Cornwallis reached Hillsborough on February 20, 1781, raised the royal standard and issued a proclamation calling loyalists to join him. Short of food and forage, and told that Greene had recrossed the Dan, he left on February 26, crossing the Haw toward Alamance Creek.

4. February 25, 1781
   Violence or armed conflict · Hillsborough Cornwallis marches his army out of Hillsborough

   With his commissary reporting that town and county could no longer feed the army, Cornwallis left before his proclamation's deadline and camped on Alamance Creek between the Deep and Haw rivers.

5. February 1781
   Construction or physical change · Hillsborough British soldiers pave the crossing of King and Churton streets

   To keep his men busy and away from plunder, Cornwallis had stone laid near his artillery park for 150 yards in each direction from the intersection of King and Churton streets.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 2, 2026.