The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-08-20
UNWILLING Of MONUMENT At
MOORES GREEK BATTLE GROUND

the entire success OF their efforts. He
spoke of his own very great happiness
in having served his people and alocd
in the accomplishment OF the results
for which he had so long labored. and
the perpetuation TO all generations
through these monuments Of the
memory of the first victory of the
revolution and the heroic men and
women of the Cape Fear section. re
regarded the battlefield and the occa-
son as now of more than local interest
and Importance, for it had secured
the national recognition TO which II
was entitled as among one Of the
most important b~attlefields OF the rev
OlutiOn.
He paid a high tribute to Senator
Overman, who rendered such valuable
aid in the senate in putting appro-
priatiOn in the army bill.
These monuments pointing Heav-
onward" he said, will stand for all
times as incentives to the people OF
North Carolina, and especially or
young men and women, to higher as
piratiOns in our individual and nation
al life.
"The Romans, according to Plut-
arch. were accustomed to erect mOnu
ments to commemorate illustrious
achievements of their ancestors. These
were set upon the hill, and the Roman
youth were hidden by their parents to
study the lives of their distinguished
ancestors as they saw them carved in
enduring marble, and they were told
hat they, too, would have a life
monument erected to them and the
record of their life work carved upon
it if they have emulated the virtues
and practiced their example.
"All the nations of the world COM
memorate by statutes an monuments
those events in history which led
to independence, or marked epochs in
their lives.
"The battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
the first victory of the War Of the Rev
Olution, has not received in the history
of our country it's just merits, nr mas
it been heralded to the world as the
battlefields of New England and yet
the battle of MoOre's Creek vas as i'm
pOrtant as n conflict between the
COlOnists and the British upon New
England soil. All true-hearted Amer
leans take a just pride in the glorious
achievements of New England anc
the great battles fought upon her soil,
and the memory of Concord and Bun
ker Hill and of Lexington
Where once embatted farmers stood
And fired the shot heard around
the world
are a part of the glorious heritage
of the whole country. But what the
battle of Lexington was to northern
colonies the battle of MOOre's Creek
was to the southern colonies. BY it
imperishable glry and renoWn has been
conferred upon North Carolina. At
Moore's Creek North Carolinians re-
PEELED alone the first invasion of her
soil, as at Kings Mountain with tue
aid of Virginia and South Carolina,
they repealed the second invasion upon
her soil. The battle of MOOre's Greek
was leading up to congress at Hal
"a IL 1-J liz oc1CS VI Ian ~
carried upon our state flag, which
congress declared for the independence
of the colonies, and was also the fore
runner of the American Declaration OF
Independence, July 4 1875. From the
date of the battle at MoOre's Creek,
February 81, 1776, the hearts of the
colonists north and south were streng-
thened and the desire and hope for
independence grew stronger
He gave a clear and thrilling &C
count of the battle which was fought
on the side of the Colonists by the
Minute Men of the Neuse Region,
wearing upon their hats silver cres-
inscribed Liberty or DEATH
and by the Regulars under Colonel
Moore, the whole patrios army being
led by Colonies CasweII and LillinS-
ton, paying in this connection a high
tribute to the men of the Cape Fear
and the battalions of Minute
from New Bern and Wilmington.
He eulogized the modesty of North
Carolina, but also her un~finching
in all the wars Of the coun-
try. He paid a high tribute to the
of the Cape ear section in
the war of the revolution, including
the Revolutionary Women generally,
such as composed the "Edenton Tea
Party, Mrs. Ashe, Mary Slocomb and
others whose patriotism and heroism
were equal to that of the men.
''TbiC monument he said "precteu
this battle field memory Of the
wOmenN.Of the Cape Fear in the RevO-
luton, white and pure and stainless
the good woman it commentaries,
is the first recognition so far as | ala
they have received by mon
uments of marble. But enshrined in
the hearts of the men of North Car