The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-24
Battle of Moore's Creek.

by the American arms in the War of the
Revolution. In attestatlon of that fact,
eighteen miles northwest OF Wilmington,
on a low, sandy bluff overlooking a deep,
wide creek whose sluggish waters flow
into the Black river, tributary of the
Cape Fear, there stand today a simple
brown-stone monument with this inscrip-
ton on it's western face:
IN CONTEMPLATION
OF THE BATTLE OF
MOORE'S CREEK BRIDGE,
FOUGHT HERE
9TH FEBRUARY. 1875.
THE FIRST VICTORY GAINED
Ely THE AMERICAN ARMS
! IN THE WAR OF THE
REVOLUTION.
| Mr.. Noble traces from historical data
unGuestioned ''the right to this direct
claim to precedence in Revolutionary sue
| cess and martial glory" which he de-
| clares is zone of North Cardinals great
est historic possessions" After doing this
Mr. Noble gives a graphic account of the
| famous battle and what followed. as fol-
| lows:
eve are now on the eve of decisive
battle which is to determine North Care
hna's stand in the long struggle for Amer
lean independence. From across the
ocean CORVALLIS and his regiments are
coming to help establish forever the rule
of Great Britain in North Carolina, Gin
ton and his army are on their way down
the coast to join Lord CORVALLIS at the
mouth of the Cape Fear, and Governor
/ Martin, eager to welcome the coming of
| the Highlanders and Regulators, has
moved up the river near to Wilmington,
where under the pretext of demanding
supplies from its citizens. he stands on
the deck of the Cruizer sloop of wal
anxiety waiting to catch sight of the
advancing loyal clans and hear the trium
plant sound of the Scotchmen's bagpipes.
| But whether North Carolina is to be saved
| to the British Crown or not, depends not
so much on the coming of CORVALLIS ana
Clinton as on McDonalds leading his
army safely over the bridge and OH
through the patriots lines of defence. Far
out there in the piney woods of North
Carolina, away from British interference,
the Tories and the patriots are soon to
settle forever, at the point of the sword
the political future of the province.
I'm the early morning Of February o.
1915, the Highlanders began their march
They moved brayely on, led by their gall
liant commander, Colonel Mcleod, who
crossed over on the poles. and seeing an
abandoned entrenchmCnt next the bridge,
supposed that the patriots had fed. With
a glad shout he called to his followers
hat the day was won, but Just then the
was poured upon the advancing columns,
the little cannon or the breastworks swept
the bridge Mcleod fell riddled with bui
lets. and the Tories. stunned by the de-
structive and unexpected resistance, fed
IL confusion before the now advancing
patriots, who quickly replaced the flooring
of the bridge and rushed on in pursuit or
their enemies. In the meantime a detach-
.nent of patriots had crossed the creek
how h.IG md ad 1nH fn hn 1ntn AZ
of the Highlanders by a flank attack.
THUS in q few minutes sixteen hundred
Tories had been put to flight by one
thousand patriots, who had only one killed
and one wounded. "The number OF Tories
killed and mortally wounded was
about thirty; most Of them were shot on
passing the bridge. Several had fallen
into the water, some of whom, L am
pretty certain, had not risen yesterday
evening February 2Sth, when l left the
camp. Such prisoners as we have made,
say there were at least fifty of their men
missing
General Mcdonald. who had been too
unwell TO command the Tories during the
battle, was captured the next day at a
house a few miles from Moorcs Creek
Bridge. Together with Allan Mcdonald
and many other prisoners he was sent to
Halifax for confinement and afterwards
to Philadelphia.
"a few hours after the engagement
Colonel Moore arrived on the ground, and
although he was too late to take active
| part IN the battle, he could but rejoice in
| the successful execution of his we'll laid
plans by his subordinate officers whose
| every movement had been in strict accord
with MS direct orders.
1.-THE results of the victory were most
important The patriots roamed over the
country IN pursuit of the Highlandcrs ana
Regulators, disarming them wlereve-
| found. Among the trophies were $50 guns
and shot-bags; $50 swords and Girks
| 1500 excellent rifles; two medicine chests.
fresh from England, one of them valued
at 800 pounds sterling box containing
half Johanesses and Guncas. secreted in
a stable at Cross Creek discovered by :
negro, and reported to be worth Ii, O0o
pounds sterling thirteen wagons, with
complete sets of horses. and $50 common
soldiers" who were disarmed and the,
| discharged
"This brilliant victory saved North Car
DINA to the cause of American indepenc.
enco; it showed that North Carolina wa
! able 70 hold in check the Tories within
| her borders: it won over to the cause or
freedom many who had hitherto held bac,,
/ for fear of England's power. and it 50
thoroughly broke the spirit of Regulator,
and Highlandcrs that they never again
rallied TO the support of the royal cause
no. not even when in 17S1, CORVALLIS
marched among them on his way from
/ Gulford Court House to Wilmington. Ard
the fact that ten thousand men. during
this month of February, 176, had taken
| up arms III defence Of liberty, showed that