The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-22

MISTRESS Oh the ocCps "nGTt IL DdLkA~
of Hastings ever decided her fate. Her
influence has been felt over the nations
of every land. Her Lancasters and
Stewards have passed away, b ac-
cunlulated 81 for ages covers their
almost forgotten tombs. Her Crom-
well has gone and u Raleigh is no
more. We may ask why this and the
distant echoing sound of her c~annons,
as they have been roaring for ages,
will cry liberty.
Tn. same spirit of liberty that
prompted the actions OF our ancestors
beyond the mighty deep found a dwell
ing place in the heart of every loyal
son Of the thirteen colonies. Soon the
mother country began her expressions
over these with Ubiquitous legislation
and unjust ytaxations upon her princi-
PAL products and articles of use. In time
of want, in time Of need n protec-
ton England refused to grant appropri-
ations for their relief. Was this all?
No. She closed the courts of justice to
our citizens and forced them to travel
a distance of three thousand miles
across the waters of the Atlantic to as
sert and defend their ri-hts in a for
| eign Can and before a foreign and
! ~prejudiced court. The sanctity Of their
homes were in danger. The protection
of the lives n property of our cfti-
Zens were no longer granted. Taxation
without representation was enforced
(, against us.
+! Our citizens as freemen were deprived
of their liberties and they espoused the
battle-cry, which originated in the
famous speech of Patrick Henry. "Give
me liberty or give me DEATH" Just here
I would say that Col. Ellington, who
stood as commander on these hallowed
grounds n hundred and twenty-three
! years ago and rallied his soldiers in
the fight wore a silver crescent on his
cap barring the initials IF his name and
the words, Liberty Or death"
To defy the crown of England in the
unjust treatment she had given the
colonies, every loyal son and patriotic
citizen asserted their rights as freemen
and volunteered their services in defence
Of their country. War was declared,
and they soon mustered together an
army to repel the enemy as they at
tempted ITO invade our soil. The great
est of all ages had begun. Many re-
nOwned battles were fought in defense
of our liberty. We recall the battle Of
Lexington, Brandy-Wine, Saratoga,
Guilford court house, Yorktown, and
tant than the battle Of Moore's Creek
Bridge on the 9th of February, 1776.
There was a deep laid scheme on the
part of h British to unite the Tories
and Scotch Highlanders with Gen.
Clinton and Lore CORVALLIS army, and
thus capture the south and hold her in
subsection until the north could be con-
quered n thus end the struggle, as
they thought. British arms were
found in FLORIDA. From there to Vir-
ginia the country was settled by tribes
of Indians in the pay of the British gov
eminent ready to clinch the tomahawk
and scalping knife at a moments warm
ing. Negro insurrection was feared
after the discovery of this plot.
Through Governor Martin, the last pro-
vincial governor of North Carolina, his
plan vas to be carried out. Acting
under instructions Of the=crown he is
sued commissions to Gen. Mcdonald,
the husband of that famous woman,
Flora Mcdonald, who had won the
worlds admiration as a heroine, also
to Col. McCloud and several other lead
ing tories with instructions to rally al
the loyal subjects possible, and meet
him on the Cape Fear at or near Will
mingto.. where they intended to join
Lord Corvallis, who was expected t6
arrive from England with a large fleet
and Sir Henry Clinton, who was ther
making preparations to invade our land
and join the other army.
Our soldiers were ever on the aler1
and On the 25th of February, Col. Lii
lington arrived at this point with twf
hundred and fifty men to intercept tht
Tories in their we'll laid plan under the
command of Gen. Mcdonald. The mex
day he was reinforced by Col. Caswel
with an army Of about eight hundrei
men. THAI evening they pitched theil
tents on yonder side of that bridge
where they built camp fires as if tt
camp for the night. But when nigh
burning for the purpose of thrOwins
the enemy off their guard he Withdrew
his men to this side of the bridge an1
under cover Of darkness they erected
these breastworks to attack the enemy
as they were expected Ito cross tn,
bridge. They removed the plank from
the bridge, creased the SleeperS ant
arranged ALL in readiness for the at
tack. Gen. Mcdonald intended goins
ITO Wilmington on the west side of tn,
Cape Fear river, but was intercepted
!. by Col. Moore at Rock Fish, so he sc
lected the Black river road He ha.
heard OF the arrival Of Col. LiMingto1
before he reached Moore's Creek, bu
did not think Col. CasWell had joinet
him until after making the attack. o.
THE early dawn Of the 9th of Februar.
Col. McCloud, who, on account of sick
ness had succeeded Gen. Mcdonald t.
the command, discovered what he a
first supposed to be the camps of Col
Ellington. His spies had been mis-
led, so he found his foes could only b.
reached by crossing the stream. Co
McCloud was a brave man and tn
first to ascend the creased sleepers
He crossed and at the foot of the bridg
he fell dead pierced with twenty-si.
balls. In the meantime Col. Lilling
} ton had ordered Capt. Ezekiel Slocur
to cross the stream above here, wher
he rushed from n woods with his me
under command and charged the enem.
. in the f1ank with tremendous effect
The RoyalistS and Tories consisting o
about two thousand men were over
whelmingly defeated, a large numbe
: killed, eight hundred taken prisoners
: Including Gen. Mcdonald and all lthei
stores. Only n Wing, John Grady
from Duplin county, was killed. Thu
ended the battle Of Moore's Creek, an
. here was won the first complete victor
, of the war.
5 Mrs. Slocum, wife Of Capt. Slocun
l rode all he way from New Bern o
:. horseback, and arrived just as the ba
: tie was over. She saw the body of
: mar lying on the ground beside a tire
with her husbands cloak over him
!, { She at first thought it was the body c
/ her husband and fell weeping across i
> When she removed the cloak from hi