The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-02-13
~ From the Fayetteville Observer.
Decisive National Battles of the Revolution
in North Carolina.
BATTLE OF MooRE's CREEK.

Until recently, the Battle Of Moore's
Greek, fought Feb'y 27th, lT76, had only
traditonary and local existence, or at most
a passing notice, in American history. And
yet no battle Of the Revelation so thorough
ly illustrates American ,alor, and none has
higher claims to rank amongst the decisive
National Battles Of the War Of Independence.
Jones, caruthers, Swain, Wiley, Wheeler
and Davis, deserve well Of tlieir country for
the light they have reflected upon this too
long neglected battle field-a battle field up
on which the hopes Of Gov. Martin we're
blasted, and the royal banner trailed in the
dust, though upheld by 1000 Scotch Loyalists,
commanded BY Gen. Donald Mcdonald and
Col. Alexander Mcleod, veterans, one Of
whom had fought at Cullodcn, aud under
Gen. Wolfe in Canada, both had acquired
distinction and fame.
| The Battle Of Moore's Greek was fought at
an early period Of the Revelation, and is the
first bttale fought within the U. States in which
victory perched on tile American side. So
/ that 10 North Carolina not only belongs the
signal honor Of having been the first to absolve
herself from all allegiance to the British
crown and the first TO declare herself free,
sovereign and independent State, but to her,
also, belongs the equally glorious distinction
OF having been the first State that affixed the
prestige ol inyincibility to American arms.
And set the battle and its national effects
have been confined within the knowledge oi
those who have dwelt near the modest stream
on which it was fought. But a day, we hope,
is daNnlng, when il will attract attention and
acquire national fame-a day:tlat, when the
Alexanders and Breyards Of Mrcklcnburg are
mentioned as the first Who proclaimed Inde-
peEdence, the Llingtons, Moores, andi Cas-.
wells, Of Cape Fear and Trent, will be re-
membcred as the FIRST vcturs in the great
Revolutionary struggle. To appreciate pro.
perly the claim which the battle of Moores
Greek has to national distinction, it will be
\ necessary To present condensed statement
OF the actual condition Of the Colonies pre-
i yl0us to aud at the time when the battle was
| fought.
| Al the close of the year Ia, hopes were
entertained that on the meeting Of a new Par.
lament all the grievances OF the Colonies
would be rcdressed. But tie rejection Of
Chatham's bill, and the arbitrary measures
proposed and carrd through Parliament, soon
sS aa he ceamss sH tta ast hsSp 9pfs
or Submission were the only alternatives lett.
From 176S military force had been sta.
toned in Boston. 70 intiinidate aud oserawe
the inhabitants Of that city. The Army was
under the command Of Gen Gage, who, on
! The 18th April LIS, despatched Col. Smith
with 800 men to destroy the stores the Anne.
ricans had collected at Concord. In this ca
tcrprize Col. Smith was supported By Lord
Percy aud 900 men. They accomplished their
object and fought tie battle Of Lexington, in
which they lost in killed and wounded some
zoo men, and slaughtered about loo Amerl-
cans.
On the l-tl, June l-15. the battle Of Bun.
ker's Hill was fought, about which time th,
British force was augmented BY recruits iron
Europe, commanded by Generals Howe, Bur
goyne, and Clinton. 10 counteract the ope
ratipns Of this large Army, Congress, IN Jun,
lis, appointed Gen. Washington Comman.
der-in.Chief ii Ill the American forces, ant
on the Sd IL Jaly he fixed his head-quarter
! at Cambridge.
/, As troops rallied around Washington, h
contracted Ills lines towards Boston, deter
miued TO compel the British to evacuate III
stronghold they had 80 long possessed.
To effect this object, Washington necie'
men, nancy provisions, and munitions 0fwar
! and to this point, The Sebastopol 81 The Re
volutiOn, tile entire energies of tile Cnlunic
we're directed, and to that point, and the IN
vasiun 81 Canada, at the time the battle Q
Aloore's Creek Vas fought, the concentrate,
thoughts and means uf Tie Colonies we're de
voted. But II was mt until the 18th Of Marc
) l-T6. nearly month after the battle .
{ Mopre's Greek, that the british abandoned
. Boston and lei; lie Americans in possessio
{ Ol the CITY.
i Whilst the whole resources &c fongres
! were devoted 10 The invasion VI Canada, an
! the reduction Of Boston, the patriots Of q
| southern States could expect 10 external a.
i In defence of their altar, and fresidcs; bu
I guided by an enlightened public sentiment
]. they banded themselves together, determine
5 that the Cavaliers II tie South Nnuld not 7
!. behind Tie pdritans Of the North. either
!. their love Of liberty Of the practice of tlins
. warlike Ieats by which alnne they saw the
z liberties and independence could be main
! tanned.
. III tile meantime Great Britain, as early !
I October It's, determined to upen the can
! paigt u i.16 upun i scale ai grandeur tlii
. put to blush Tic mcagre numbers which u
i Americans could command. Already 1890
= British troops had been marched into Cauali
q Gen. Montgomery hal fallen, and lis arm
!, was defeated, before Quebec. parliamei
! authorized lie impres>mrnt of $4,000 sei
9 men, aud the enlistment Of $4,000 soldier
: besides which, authority was given u cnga,
i foreign merceuarirs to the number Of l6,0t
more, in order to Look down all opposition
and cffcctuatc Submission without blOudshed
e The plan of thc campaign was, 70 rccaptul
IL Canada, seize New York, and make inroa
y upon The southern States, through Nor
ii Carolina.