Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-07
From the Wilmington Journal
MOORE,S CREEK CELEBRATION.

From the Wilmington Journal
MOORES CREEK CELEBRATION.
Tie eipbtietb anniversary of the battle Of Moores
Creek, was celebrated the battle ground on FRI
day last, the 9th ult- -,
,iderablv greater than that assembled the same
spot last wear. 1t is always difficult to estimate
meeting in the open air, and that fact is proven oy
the very different figures given by equally gooo
judges. Not far from thousand persons went up
in boats from Wilmington and we think thae aoou'
twice as many reached the ground in other "ays,
from this and other counties Perhaps we would
not be far from the mark in saying that there Me'e
some three thousand persons on the ground"
them, the very handsome Company OF Lalayese
Light Infantry from Fayetteville, under the con-
mand of Major John Cook the L,ght lnIantly' ene
German Volunteers, the Rifle Cadets, and the "a
diets of Mr. Radciff's School, from Wilmington; and
though last, by no means least, the members OF the
Howard Engine Company, in their Flremen's cos
tune. all adding to the interest Of the occasion, and
lending an imposing character to the display.
The steamer Champion, with the Volunteer and
Fire Companies from town; the Magnolia, with The
Fayetteville Company; the Flora Macdonald, and
the Spray with the 'citizens generally" reached
the landing not much after eleven o'clock, and those
on board started for the ground-some two or three
miles off-in a procession, consisting of civil and
military pedestrians and equestrians with all man.
ner of vehicles nerspersed these latter .nainy hled
Dy ldOieS, WHO: Tue oos ' A"A So o.
numbers than they did last year.
After some time spent in viewing the ground
tracing out the lines of nearly defaced emoank-
ments, marking the stump OF what was tree WHICH
Mcleod fell by it pierced by several bullets specu
latng on the precise location Of the spot consecrated
by the blood of John Grady, the only martyr 10
independence who fell during the battle, and other
wise deepening the impressions OF the event. oy
dwelling on the remaining souvenirs which the scene
afforded, the meeting gathered about the speakers
stand, where the exercises of the day were opened
BY solemn and impressive appeal to the throne OF
Grace, offere up blythe Rev. Mr.. Grier, OF Winning
ton, invoking the Divine blessing and countenance
upon those gathered together and upon the objects
which had led to their assembling.
1t would be impossible for us, in the brief limits
to which the necessities of our restricted space Gem
pei us to conne notice of MIR. Wrishts address
to do anything like justice to that able and eloquent
effort. We can only attempt brief and inadequate
synopsis but while regrettng the briefness and in
adequacy of report, we are consoled by the re-
Election that so many, so very many OF our readers
enjoyed the privilege of hearing the orator himself
, and want not slight transcript to render more
vivid the impression made by his glowing peIlocs
Mr.. Wright congratulated his hearers that they
had again the privilege of meeting upon ground con
secrated by the gallant deeds of their patriotic ances
tors and upon the anniversary of day illustrated
by feat Of arms whose glory heraided the still
greater glory of their country's freedom. He vel
coined them to the spot and could only wish that it
were in his power to do justice to the occasion.
Meet and proper was it that they should assemble
to honor to DAY and deed so emnently worthy
of coz enorativc homage. Too long had that hom-
age been withheld long had the fed consecrat-
ed to patriotism remained unmarked and unvsited
too seldom had the deed which halows it been
the theme ofspatriotic enconium. 1t may be that
the iustrious dead need no monument-heir gor-
Gus deeds no formal commenoration-t both are
alike present to cur memories and enslrned in our
hearts. But whether they need it or not it is due
from US that they should be honored otherwise and
elsewhere than in our hearts. This duty of the lv-
ing to their dead benefactors had been recognized
in all ages and in every land, and the column and
the cenotaph had been caused to ascend, and song
and story, and formal celebration, had appealed to
the hearts of the nations in honor Of the great men
and the great deeds of their history. Prompted by
kindred feeling, we had met together to indulge in
grateful recoections of the and the deed of the
9th Of February, 1776.
He would open to them the volume of coun-
try's history wherein is written the story of the
tyrannies which were practised by England and en-
dured by US for ten ln years, before, goaded by
intol rable oppression, broke out in
rebellion, after having in vain exhausted remon-
STRANGE ard appeal. Tyrannous tax, 8 imposed, ap-
preparations refused for the relief of the COLONY the
courts Of justice closed to her citizens. the asylum
of her Legislative rights violated the sanctty of life
ind proper no onger respected, all these called r
redress which all felt could now only be looked for
from their own stout hearts and strong arms. The
spirit of rebellion pervaded the province, it blazed
out in the stamp act sedton in the streets of Will
mington, twas felt in every town and hamlet in
the land. But this was not the occasion, nor was
his the duty to dwell longer upon theme which
belonged more properly to the annalist. He would
turn to the events bearing more strictly upon the
subject then before him and more directly connect
ed with the occasion of the meeting
In fha &c
foated upon the Cape Fear. behind whose wooden
walls Martin, the last royal Governor of North Car
DINA, lad taken shelter Driven from hispalace at
Newbern, which he had vainy attempted to fortify,
he had sought refuge under the better protection
which he supposed was to be found behind the guns
OF Fort Johnston But the eagle eyes of the patri-
OTIS OF the Cape Fear were upon him. They discov.
cred his plottings against their liberties-his at
tempts to arm and excite the slaves against their
masters-a1d they determined to disodge him.
There re-appeared on the scene one who perhaps
did more to kin l. and keep burning the fires of
freedom than any other man of that perilous time
That man was Col. John Ashe, mar of whom his
native county and State should ever be proud, as
one OF, the ablest, most eloquent and most gallant
patriots OF the Revolution Holding the rank of
Colonel under the Royal Governor, he instantly re.
signed his commission as as the Vaccinations
OF Martin were discovered he was Immediately ele-
waited to the same rank by popular election. Hold
ing his commission from the people he promptly led
the regiment which he raised and for the support of
which he had pledged his own private estate against
Fort Johnston, which was soon demolished, his own
hand applying the torch. Gov. Martin sought re-
fuge on board the Kings sloop of war, and from
that last stronghold Of royalty issued his procloma.
ton denouncins the rebellion and promising for
giveness of all offences to such as would rally
around the Standard which he proposed to erect
Commissions issued to Allen Nc!'o aid, Donald
Mcdonald, Alexander Mcleod and other lead ng
men, to erect the Royal standard, rally all loyal
subjects under it, and meet him MAT nj at Bruins
WICK on the 18th Of the following February, fer the
purpose OF eitecting junction III Sir Eenry Gin
Ton ana LORD Cornwa.s. Strangers to the soil, ig-