The Battle of Colson's Mill
The Battle of Colson’s Mill occurred just outside Norwood on July 21, 1780. William Davidson, for whom Davidson County was named, led a large number of Patriots against Loyalists at the fork of the Pee Dee and Rocky River where the Colson Mill was located. The Patriots had small white pieces of cloth on their hats to indicate they were Patriots.
The Loyalists were so severely defeated that they fled, abandoning their property in Stanly County. General Cornwallis did not send British Troops through Stanly County as result of the losses. 3,000 British troops or Loyalist lost their lives in the Battles of Colson’s Mill, Ramseur Mill and Guilford Courthouse. These confrontations led to the British surrender at Yorktown.
The Williams Brothers have been retained to design a mural commemorating the Colson Mill Battle. The Mural will be dedicated in Norwood on April 25, 2026 at 11 a.m. in a large celebration which will include special music by the Stanly County Chorale and Concert Band.
Please mark your calendars and bring your family, friends, and neighbors to this exciting event. We are grateful to the Town of Norwood and Visit Stanly for their contributions to this project.
