The battle of moores creek bridge, coupled with the battle of sullivans island. The battle of moore s creek bridge was a battle of the american revolutionary war fought near wilmington in presentday pender county, north carolina, on february 27, 1776. As it turned out, moores continentals would not take part in the final battle. Just beyond the bridge nearly a thousand north carolina patriots waited. British casualties was approximately 30 killed, 40 wounded, and 850. The states community of scottish highlanders, recent immigrants, aligned themselves with the loyalists. Jun 12, 2017 the battle of moores creek took place early in the revolution, february 27, 1776, but it capped off years of tensions between wealthy colonial rulers along the coast and more independentminded frontiersmen in the western part of the state. To commemorate the battle of moores creek bridge, the national.
Called the lexington and concord of the south, the battle of moore s creek bridge was significant for several reasons. The battle of moores creek took place early in the revolution, february 27, 1776, but it capped off years of tensions between wealthy colonial rulers along the coast and more independentminded frontiersmen in the western part of the state. Roster of the loyalists at the battle of moores creek. This morning, the north carolina minute men and militia, under the command of brigadiergeneral james moore, had an engagement with the tories, at widow moores creek bridge. The victory of north carolina revolutionary forces over southern loyalists helped build political support for the revolution and increased recruitment of additional soldiers into their forces. Roster of the patriots in the battle of moores creek bridge.
For more indepth research about the battle of moores creek read the book guide to the battles of the american revolution written by theodore savas and j. Battle of moores creek bridge february 27, 1776 moores creek. Aug 17, 2019 he says they were too late for the battle of moore s creek bridge, but most others in this unit say they were in that battle. In the early morning hours of february 27, 1776, the militia of the nc. Fought at the battle of moore s creek in february 1776. The moores creek bridge campaign, 1776 uses period narratives, letters between principal players, and other primarysource documents to paint a historically accurate retelling of the events of the battle. The park commemorates the 1776 victory by a thousand patriots over about eight hundred loyalists at the battle of moores creek bridge. The moores creek bridge campaign, 1776 paperback 1996.
He fired off a warning shot and the rebels primed their weapons and themselves. The creek was an unusual one for the area, fastmoving on its way into the black river, which was ten miles above its confluence with the mighty cape fear river. Hearing about an alternate crossing of the black river from a slave, macdonald chose not to confront caswell at corbetts ferry and crossed at the. A visit to moores creek emerging revolutionary war era. Robert allen, upon honor and upon best information, says that he is descended fro revolutionary. Roster of the loyalists at the battle of moores creek bridge. Called the lexington and concord of the south, the battle of moores creek bridge was significant for several reasons. Battle of moores creek bridge facts the history junkie. Bobby gilmer moss in this study, all the participants listed are militiamen unless it is specifically stated they were state or continental officers. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The battle of moores creek bridge was one of the first revolutionary war engagements in the south, pitting. The battle dashed the hopes of royal governor josiah martin of the province of north carolina for regaining control of the colony for. He says they were too late for the battle of moores creek bridge, but most others in this unit say they were in that battle. Commemoration of the battle of moores creek bridge north.
In the battle of moores creek bridge in north carolina on february 27, 1776, during the revolutionary war 177583, american forces defeated the british. John grady pronounced graddy fought on the patriot side in the battle of. Labeled the lexington and concord of the south by many historians. In 1926, moores creek military park was transferred from the state to the u. Annie self arnolds book mentioned above puts williams birth year even earlier, in the 1760s. Battle of moores creek bridge american revolution 1776. The battle of moores creek bridge was pivotal to the patriot cause, and is often referred to as the lexington and concord of the south. Moore and his men began a march back to wilmington to block macdonald should he break through at moores creek. Battle of moores creek posted by frank moore on 23 march 1776, 4. John grady pronounced graddy fought on the patriot side in the battle of moores creek bridge on february 27, 1776. Donald mcleod and consisted of about 1,500 soldiers.
General donald mcdonald, who had amassed some 1,600 scottish. The scots went into a battle charge mode and reached moores creek bridge. Responding to the call by josiah martin, north carolinas royal governor, british colonel donald mcleod began marching 1,600 loyalists from. Feb 18, 2014 27 february 1776 battle of moores creek bridge, north carolina this victory by a thousand patriots over eight hundred loyalists at the battle of moores creek bridge dashed the hopes of the governor of the province of north carolina to. The battle of moores creek bridge was a battle of the american revolutionary war fought near wilmington, north carolina on february 27, 1776.
The northern battle was the first shot in the struggle for independence but, the battle at moores creek, one year later, was the first shot in the south. The park commemorates the 1776 victory by a thousand patriots over about eight hundred loyalists at the battle of moore s creek bridge. War department, and in 1933, it was transferred to the national park service under the. At moore s creek and sullivan s island the carolinas turned aside the one combination of circumstances that might have made british conquest possible. Casualties american casualties were 1 killed and 1 wounded. The moores creek bridge campaign, 1776 rankin, hugh f on. Well footnoted and detailed, this book covers the background of the forces involved and provides an. When francis fonvielle broke his musket at the battle of moores creek bridge on feb. Battle of moores creek bridge, 1776 this day in north. In north carolina, the battle strengthened the patriot position by reducing organized loyalist opposition. Feb 28, 2014 the battle of moores creek bridge was pivotal to the patriot cause, and is often referred to as the lexington and concord of the south. Governor josiah martin had been living in exile aboard a ship off the coast since july of 1775 after a popular uprising. In the early morning hours of february 27, 1776 loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled moores creek bridge.
Jan 30, 2017 the battle of moores creek bridge, fought between north carolina patriots and loyalist militia forces, demonstrates the bitter internal divisions that marked the american revolution. Moores creek national battlefield, currie, north carolina. The revolutionary war in america had been raging for almost a year before the battle at moores creek bridge occurred in north carolina, nearly twenty miles north of the colonial port town of wilmington. On february 27, 1776, loyalist forces commanded by colonel donald mcdonald discovered a patriot encampment near moores creek that. In the battle of moores creek bridge in north carolina on february 27, 1776, during the revolutionary war 177583, american forces. Without loyalist forces to protect the colonial government of governor josiah martin, the royal system collapsed, allowing patriot leaders the chance to. The battle of moores creek bridge on this day in history, february 27, 1776, the battle of moores creek bridge ends british rule in north carolina.
Battle of the widow moores creek bridge the carolinians. Several of the bradley men were at the battle of moores creek 27 feb 1776 in nc. Ref roster of the patriots in the battle of moores creek bridge by bobby gilmer moss. Captured by the indians, the carolina pirates, the moravian doctor, the sons of liberty and the stamp act, the battle of moores creek bridge, lafayettes visit to north carolina, old charley, and the founding of dix hill. Well footnoted and detailed, this book covers the background of the. This article looks at the factors contributing to the battle of moores creek bridge including information on politics and the war leading up to the battle as well as details on maneuvers and strategies utilized in the battle itself. Without loyalist forces to protect the colonial government of governor josiah martin, the royal system collapsed, allowing patriot leaders the chance to establish a fledgling state government. Jan 07, 2012 the battle of moores creek bridge did, in fact, occur at moores creek national battlefield. Our schools teach, in american history, of the northern battles in the revolution. Scottish north carolina loyalists charge across moores creek bridge near wilmington, to attack what they mistakenly believe to be a small force of rebels. Excellent history of a littleknown but very important battle of the american revolution. William was at the latest born in 1776 based on johns battle death in early 1776.
Revolutionary war virginia state pensions index to and scanned images of the surviving records that veterans and their widows presented to the county courts to certify their eligibility for pension. Frederick hargett or harget, revolutionary war captain, planter, and lawmaker, was probably born in the area that became pitt county. Without loyalist forces to protect the colonial government, the royal system collapsed, allowing patriot leaders the chance to establish a fledgling state government. Battle of moores creek bridge, february 27, 1776, in the american revolution, battle in which north carolina revolutionaries defeated a force of north carolina loyalists, in part thwarting a british invasion of the southern colonies. The battle of moores creek bridge journal of the american.
The battle of moores creek bridge, fought between north carolina patriot and loyalist militia forces, demonstrates the bitter internal divisions that marked the american revolution. The battle of moores creek bridge, coupled with the battle of sullivans island near charlestown a few months later, ultimately led the thirteen colonies to declare independence on july 4, 1776. In february of 1776, north carolina patriots embattled several hundred tories at moores creek bridge, and it was the first battle on north carolina soil during the revolutionary war. Book b, book i, book l n, books o q, book r t, books u w, book x part 1 and part 2. Arthur smith appears to have not fought in any battles not sure if revolutionary soldiers were able to pay someone else to fight for them, like in the civil war. The battle of moores creek bridge was a pivotal moment in north carolina history. James council from bladen county are listed as having fought in this battle of moore s creek bridge, feb. Several of the bradley men were at the battle of moore s creek 27 feb 1776 in nc. The 1776 battle of moores creek bridge salt magazine.
Moores creek national battlefield is a united states national battlefield managed by the national park service. It does not include the names of everyone who remained. Journal of the american revolution battle of moores creek bridge. The patriot victory also denied britain use of north carolinas ports, which were. Moore s creek also gave north carolina s colonial assembly impetus to become the first colony to declare independence from the crown in april of 1776. The northern battle was the first shot in the struggle for independence but, the battle at moore s creek, one year later, was the first shot in the south. The patriot victories at moores creek bridge and sullivans island ended british hopes of easily quelling the rebellion in the southern colonies.
Battle of moores creek bridge american revolutionary war. Moores creek national battlefield is the site of the first significant victory for the patriots in. The battle of moores creek bridge was a battle of the american revolutionary war fought near wilmington in presentday pender county, north carolina, on february 27, 1776. Captured by the indians, the carolina pirates, the moravian doctor, the sons of liberty and the stamp act, the battle of moore s creek bridge, lafayette s visit to north carolina, old charley, and the founding of dix hill. Moores creek national battlefield, north carolina library of. Known as the lexington and concord of the south, the battle of moores creek bridge on february 27, 1776, near wilmington, north carolina, crushed the loyalists, encouraged the whigs, stimulated the independence movement and kept the british from invading the state in 1776. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 north carolina patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire.
Moores creek also gave north carolinas colonial assembly impetus to become the first colony to declare independence from the crown in april of 1776. Fought at the battle of moores creek in february 1776. In the foggy predawn of february 27, 1776, a patriot militiaman spotter saw the approaching highlanders. Burial in the family plot on the familys plantation. Get the story of moores creek bridge, a 1776 clash between patriots and tories that kept north carolina free of the british for years. The moore s creek bridge was a sturdy if ramshackle structure made of pinewood and centered in a swamp. In early 1776, british general william howe ordered general sir henry clinton to sail south to rendezvous with commodore sir peter parker. February 27 american revolution battle of moores creek bridge.
At moores creek and sullivans island the carolinas turned aside the one combination of circumstances that might have made british conquest possible. Sep 12, 2017 for more indepth research about the battle of moores creek read the book guide to the battles of the american revolution written by theodore savas and j. Feb 27, 2011 in 1926, moores creek military park was transferred from the state to the u. Alexander moore 17531837 wikitree free family tree. The battle of moores creek bridge was the catalyst for north carolinas state independence.
Regardless on february 10, 1776, the royal highland emigrant regiment under the. The national park service is modifying its operations on a parkbypark basis in accordance with. Battle of moores creek bridge 235th anniversary youtube. The moores creek bridge campaign, 1776 shop americas. The victory of north carolina revolutionary forces over southern loyalists helped build political support for the revolution and increased recruitment of additional soldiers. As part of the british war strategy in 1776, general william howe instructed general sir. The battle of moores creek bridge in the foggy predawn of february 27, 1776, a patriot militiaman spotter saw the approaching highlanders. The battle of moores creek bridge february 27, 1776. A recent nps nhpa compliance project at moores creek national battlefield nb, 19 miles north of wilmington, north carolina, offered archeologists an opportunity to verify whether the 1776 battle of moores creek actually took place within the national battlefield boundaries. Roster of the patriots in the battle of moores creek. The battle of moore s creek bridge, coupled with the battle of sullivan s island near charlestown a few months later, ultimately led the thirteen colonies to declare independence on july 4, 1776. The moores creek bridge campaign, 1776 north carolina.
Moores creek bridge battle from february 15 to 21, 1776, the days leading up to the battle of moores creek bridge, whig forces under commander colonel james moore camped on. War department, and in 1933, it was transferred to the national park service under the department of the interior. In february of 1776, north carolina patriots embattled several hundred tories at moores creek bridge, and it was the first battle on north. Ultimately, moores creek proved to be a victory with much larger repercussions for the southern colonies in the early stages of rebellion. The battle of moores creek bridge did, in fact, occur at moores creek national battlefield. Battle of moores creek the history carperthe history carper.
The victory ended british authority in north carolina and provided an important boost to patriot morale. Battle of moores creek bridge, american revolution ncpedia. Feb 18, 2014 27 february 1776 battle of moore s creek bridge, north carolina this victory by a thousand patriots over eight hundred loyalists at the battle of moore s creek bridge dashed the hopes of the governor of the province of north carolina to regain control of the colony for the british crown. North carolina early statehood the battle of moores creek. James council from bladen county are listed as having fought in this battle of moores creek bridge, feb. Burial in the family plot on the family s plantation. Their defeat at the battle of sullivans island in june 1776, in the wake of the debacle at moores creek bridge, effectively ended josiah martins plan for a southern campaign in 1776. Bobby gilmer moss the author attempts to prove who among the north carolinians took part in the first significant uprising of the loyalists in north carolina.
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