Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-02-29
The Moore's Creek Celebration.

NJ MOOre'S Creek BRIDGE dhU iHo MOI VI -
ION We feel assured that it will not be the last
The present bridge over MoOre's Creek, stands upon
,I ,arv same spot where the old bridge from which
,,. battle takes lis name, crossed The Creek about
,,,rrrcn miles from Wilmington, on the direct road
r. F.. etlevrle east Of the Cape Fear Some OF the
,rIal foundation timbers of the old bridge are yet
u. ~. ,,en Tie American entertainments can very
,a.i,, be traced The public road running nearly
g.. u;r he centre Of their position. The stream is
EN- lat narrow-nol more than forty to fifty feet
p ,,rh rise and fall of the tide, of nearly three
feet lie ride runs little a mile farther up.
j., above the bridge The stream takes sudden
i.nI ar,t runs parallel with the road, which tor
Il ~ h,f the distance from the crossing to the
orr,u position, is a sort of causeway enclosed by
th, bend There is then steep ascent TO the ele
vuteI ground upon the crest of which the first line
of intryuchments was thrown up. The place where
the American field piece was planted was about one
hundred and fifty yards from the bridge, completely
commanding it, the causeway through the swamp
and the ascent TO the higher ground, and IN some
measure the turn of the road on the far or more
westerly side II was here that the men of DObbs
under Caswell, the Wilmington Minute Men under
Ellington, and the New Hanover Volunteer Rangers
their stand 10 the advance of the Scotch High
anders, under Mcdonald, Mcleod and Campbell.
The Highland force is differently estimated from
eighteen hundred TO three thousand. Perhaps two
thousand would be about the mark. The greater
portion of the pIankng Of the bridge had been hasti
y ripped off and cast into the stream so as to in
crease the difficulty of passing 1t would seem that
Mcleod, who was the real leader of the Highland
l.
Americans whom he found in so strong and we'll Sc
lected position but the creek was providentially
full and unfordabe. At the head of his men he
made the rush across the bridge, waving his clay
more, and the clansmen rushed, with Highland i'm
petuCsity, after him. sheet of fame burst from
he American lines, and numbers of the advan cling
foe fell and found watcry grave. Still Mcleod
rushed on, calling upon his men twice he fell and
twice he rose, and still his cry was to come on. A
stump, now worn level with the road is pointed out as
marking the spot where he fell to rise no more. 1t
is about third the way from the bridge the American
lines With his fall the efforts Of the assailans end
ed They broke and scattered The battle was won.
The Highland regiments ceased to exist an
ganized force. The deeply laid schemes of the Bit
ish Cabinet for the enthralment Of North Carolina
defeated. For the first time in the revolution,
victory, clear, undoubted and complete, perched upon
the American banners, and the 21th of February be-
came the anniversary of the day upon which was OBJ
tanned the first triumph of the Revolution.
But one man fell upon the American SIDE Lieut..
John Grady of Dupln. Where he was buried seems
10 be a matter of conjecture 1t is believed that he
was brought to Wilmington for interment, although
some suppose he was buried upon the field, and, in
deed, an effort was made yesterday to find the place,
but without success.
How many men fell on the side of the enemy it is
difficult to say Their loss must have been consid-
cradle; but the weight of the blow they received
can be best estimated by reference TO the effect pro-
duced 1t could have been no light matter which to-
tally broke up force of two thousand men, brave
and we'll appointed.
All yesterday forenoon, the various roads leading
- the ground were alive with parties on their way
Now long train CT carriages and bugges, then a
group of horsemen, then aughng croud in a wagon
j nearer STILL parties on foot. By half-past eleven
81 ock. it appeared as though the greater part of
'irw Hanover county was present little before
eve the firing OF some guns announced the arrival
ct Il boats from Wilmington, and between twelve
aud O'Clock the military companies with the mu.
arched up from the landing, making beauti
l.~1ay and adding ach to the interest of the
,c,,,, IL. For about an hour the sky was overcast
part of the time pretty brisk rain fell and it
feared that the celebration would be broken up
ia Il ii'e after the sky cleared up, the sur
Gun" cut warm and pleasant and the day continue,
II sh aud beautiful to its close
SN",d military evolutions were executed by the
he rr.anies in excellent STYLE Capt Radcliff:
ia IL not being behind their grown up brethren il
anna.
he s. eat er's stand was erected, we believe pretty
nearly the spot where the field. piece was planted
eighty years ago. In front foated beautiful Amer
lean flag and seats hastily constructed, were ranged
around for The accommodation of the ladies'
Thos. H. Williams, Esq, announced the order o
exercises to be introductory and PRAYER by thu
Rev. 4lr Tae-an Address from Mr.. Ashe-Nlusi
an address from Mr.. Davis Dinner-and afre
dinner an address from MIR. Banks, of Fayetteville
This order was slightly deviated from in the case
Mr. Banks, who also spoke before dinner.
The venerable " Parson Tate" so well known ant
so we'll beloved by a people among whom he ha
mnlstefed for over half century, opened with
few impressive Introductory remarks, and was oine
by that large assemblage in q fervent appeal TO tn
Throne Grace invoking the protecting care of Ci
vine Providence to watch over and guard the Unite
States and the several States in the future "a in III
past
We feel that it is totally out of our power 70 4
justice to the addresses delivered on the occasio,
and an attempt to make anything like report coul
only result in injustice to the orators while it woul
extend 10 undue dimensions article which has a
raadv exceeded the limits within which wa dosro1 >