Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-03-06
The Moore. Creek Monument.


Dr. F. j. Hill announced on he ground on Friday |
last, that there would be a public meeting held IN
the Court House in Wilmington on Tuesday of New
Hanover County Court--this is on Tuesday of mex
week-for the purpose of organizing Monument
Association to forward the prompt erection OF sua-
bile monument commemorative of the Battle OF
Moore's Creek We trust that the meeting will be
we'll attended, and that our friends in town and
country will come forward literally. This, at least
is one public matter with which party can have not
hing to do.
While we are on this subject, we may as we'll
bring to the attention of our readers some discussions
and specuatons with respect to the location of the
monument At rst view, every body would say,
Let Moore's Creek Monument be at Moore's Creek,
of course but on the other hand it is contended that
the ends and objects contemplated to be accomplish
ed by the erection of commemorative testimonial
could be more surely obtained by It's erection at some
more public and prominent point. 1t is thought that
80 far from famlarzing the world at large, or even
any great number of North Carolinians, with the
name and fame of the heroes and the deeds of Feb
9th. 1776-a monument placed out in the woods,
near road no longer public thoroughfare but
simply neighborhood road, would be neglected and
| a
untaught, its record of heroism unread by The world
at large II is therefore believed, by those who take
this view of the subject, that The monument ought TO
be placed in some well selected site in the Town OF
Wilmington, where, they think ii would be seen by
twenty persons, where it would be by one if
placed at the Bridge.
In evidence that such location of monument is
neither unusual nor unprecedented, we are referred
to the Battle Monumen erected In the heart OF the
City of Baltimore, in honor of The heroes of battle
in defence of the City, fought several miles off, near
ly as far in a straight line, as Moore's Creek Bridge
is from Wilmington 1t has been thought that a
suitable place for this monument would be over the
remains of Cornelius Harneu, whose grave is I'M
marked by public testimonial and lies comparative
ly neglected in one of our burying grounds plain
but substantial obelisk, should, it is thought mark
the spot upon which the battle was fought. This is
one view.
On the other ha nd, is contended that the monu-
ment is intended to be more in commemoraion of the
dead ard the spot on which it was enacted, than
even of the persons by whom it was hieved,-that
the monument on the field would attract to the spot
many who would not now visit it, and who could
better understand the details of the battle on that
spot, with view of the localities than they could
possibly do at distance. That if, is contempla.
ted the annual celebration be kept up, the
Iistence of handsome monument on the ground
would tend to lead many 10 be present at the cee-
bration, in which the monument would form fea.
ture That in fact Moore's Creek Bridge is the ground
consecrated by the blood of the only martyr of the
engagement and ought to be the place for the monu
ment.
These, we believe are the different views abroad
with respect to this matter. There are points in al
that are worthy of attention. Monument could be
better seen Wilmington, and its blazon of the day
and it's heroes would be more public. But it strikes
us, that, on second thought, it would be legar
ded as rather mistake to place it the remains
] of Harnett, who not there. Again Moore
Greek Bridge is the Battle GTound-the place or
g which the annual celebration is to be held, and t.
which gradually augmenting crowds will resort from
year 10 year. part of whose aim will be to tn
Monument.