ABSTRACT
An overview of historians' treatment of the Regulators of the Piedmont will help define a broad analytical context in which to appreciate fully their impact and legacy. North Carolina's resistance movement came to an abrupt and decisive end when government troops under William Tryon's command defeated a combined force of Regulators near the Great Alamance Creek in May 1771. The spirit of resistance was beginning to spread intimidation and fear. Tryon was said to be recruiting Indians for a military campaign against the Regulators, who, according to the whispers, were planning an attack on Hillsborough. Tryon wasted no time administering his own brand of justice. One of the condemned men was Benjamin Merrill, and the other was James Pugh. Pugh's last words before he was hanged were abruptly stopped; those were also the last words of the Regulator movement.
