Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-03-11

congratulating himself OIL soon reaching
his destination, when, as he approached
Moore's Creek, lie saw before him the
minute men of Dobbs, Craven, Johnston
and Wake counties. with battalions from
Newbern and Wilmington, in all about
900 men, commanded by Coils. Caswell
and Ellington. They were out in search
of the Royalists, and Mcdonald had
stumbled upon their camp. The latter
was now in a critical situation. The
strong minute men of the Neuse region,
their officers wearing silver crescents
upon their hats, inscribed with the stir
ring words, Liberty or Death" were
in front, and Col. Moore, with his regu-
lars, was close upon his rear. To fly was
impossible; to fight was the only alterna-
tive.
The two armies lay within sight of
each other during the night The Scotch
removed the bridge across Moore's Greek,
stationed their forces so as to command
the passage and the roads, and threw up
breastworks before morning The pa
triots slept upon their arms, ready at the
signal call to leap upon the foe.
AS the morning dawned, the Scotch
bagpipes were heard calling Mcdonald
and his eighteen hundred loyalists to
arms. The patriots stood ready. The
Scotch, led by Capt. Mcleod, rushed for
ward to the attack. There was small
entrenchment near the bridge, empty
and seemingly deserted; toward this the
Highlanders rushed, thinking the patriots
had abandoned it. They had almost
gained the breastworks, when up from
their concealment sprang the patriots,
who poured a fearful volley into the
Scotchmen's teeth, and leaped upon them
with the bayonet.
A desperate struggle now ensued, and
hand to hand they grappled for more
than ten minutes. Mcleod was killed
at the first volley. Campbell, the next in
command, soon followed, but the Scotch,
conscious of their superior numbers, still
fought, believing defeat impossible from
such a small force as was arrayed against
them. They were soon undeceived, how
ever. Lieut.. Slocum, with a small band
of patriots, having found fordable part
of the stream, pushed rapidly across, and
penetrating a swamp on its western bank,
fell like thunderbolt on the rear of the
Scotch, spreading CONSERVATION and ter
ror through their ranks. The loyal
Scotch, throwing away their bagpipes
and the royal standard, fed, broken,
routed and pursued by the victorious
rebels. To add more terror to their
flight, the troops of the brave Moore
were heard advancing, and soon the
cheers of his men were heard, as they
came in sight of the battlefield.
The Scotch lost seventy men in killed
and wounded and many prisoners. Among
the latter was Donald Mcdonald, and
also Allen, the husband of Flora. The
patriots captured thirteen wagons, $50
guns and shotbags. about $50 swords and
dirks and 800 rifles The patriots had
only two wounded
"The effect of this defeat of the loyal
lists" says the historian LOSING, Twas
of vast importance to the patriots cause
in North Carolina. 1t exhibited the
courage and skill of the defenders of lib
erty, and completely broke the spirit of
the loyalsts. 1t prevented general or
ganization of the Tories and their junction
with the forces of Sir Henry Clinton
which arrived in the Cape Fear in May,
upon which the royal power in the South
depended for vitality. The opposers of
that power were encouraged, and the
timid and wavering were compelled to
make decision. The kindness extended
to the prisoners and their families won
the esteem of all, and many loyalists
were converted to the Republican faith
by the noble conduct of the victors. The
plans of the Governor and of Sir Henry
Clinton and Lord William Campbell we're,
for the time, completely frustrated, and
Martin soon afterward abdicated the
Government and took refuge on board
the Bristol, the flagship of Sir Peter
Parker. Royal government in North
Carolina now ceased forever, and a
brighter era in the history of the State
was opened"