Wayne County Regiment

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The Wayne County Regiment was a unit of the North Carolina militia that served in the American Revolution. It was created on November 2, 1779 by the North Carolina General Assembly from part of Dobbs County’s militia. Officers were appointed by the governor, and the regiment served until the war ended.

The regiment was part of the New Bern District Brigade, under Brigadier General Richard Caswell. Two commanders led the unit: Col. John Sheppard and Col. Benjamin Exum, who served jointly. John Sheppard, son of Col. Abraham Sheppard of the Dobbs County Regiment, had previously served as captain, major, and lieutenant colonel in Dobbs County (1776–1779) before becoming colonel of Wayne County.

Sheppard led the regiment during the Siege of Charleston. The unit was stationed eight miles north of Charleston and was not captured when Charleston surrendered on May 12, 1780. After the war, Sheppard served in the North Carolina state legislature (1784–1785).

The Wayne County Regiment fought in six known battles and skirmishes, including the Battle of Camden, the Battle of Cowpens, and the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The regiment was disbanded at the end of the war.