by J. M. Pressley First published: October 18, 2007. [11], Word of the Cross Creek meeting reached members of the Patriot North Carolina Provincial Congress a few days after it happened. The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought near Wilmington in present-day Pender County, North Carolina, on February 27, 1776. [19] The action had a galvanizing effect on Patriot recruiting, and the arrests of many Loyalist leaders throughout North Carolina cemented Patriot control of the state. On route, they received word that local Patriot forces were gathering around Moores Creek, but the Highlanders figured they could take them and proceeded to battle. [11], By the time of their arrival at Moore's Creek, the Loyalist contingent had shrunk to between 700 and 800 men. [3] In the meantime, Caswell led 800 New Bern militiamen toward the area. [18] Many of the weapons were probably hunting equipment, and may have been taken from people not directly involved in the Loyalist uprising. National Park Service 53 [2][3] This number was further reduced over the coming days as more men deserted the column. Hearing no answer, he ordered his company to open fire, beginning an exchange of gunfire with the Patriot sentries. These numbers are still used by the National Park Service. They followed the same route, but did not arrive until after the battle. In early 1775, with political and military tensions rising in the Thirteen Colonies, North Carolina's royal governor, Josiah Martin, hoped to combine the recruiting of the Scots in the North Carolina interior with that of sympathetic former Regulators (a group originally opposed to corrupt colonial administration) and disaffected Loyalists in the coastal areas to build a large Loyalist force to counteract Patriot sympathies in the province. [14] In a council held that night, the Loyalists decided to attack, since the alternative of finding another crossing might give Moore time to reach the area. battle of moore's creek bridge by amber, anahi, and laurin who? British Forces was commanded by Col. Donald McLeod and consisted of about 1,500 Soldiers. This helped convince many not to take up arms against the Patriots again. The views of the latter prevailed since they claimed to be able to raise 5,000 men, while the Scots believed they would only raise 700 to 800. The Patriots had removed the planking from the bridge and may have greased the log stringers, to make it difficult for the Loyalists to cross. How to increase brand awareness through consistency; Dec. 11, 2020 In all, about 850 men were arrested. During the night, Caswell decided to abandon that position and instead take up a position on the far side of the creek. Martin is reported to have said "This is the moment when this country may be delivered from anarchy", expecting a North Carolina Loyalist victory. [14] MacDonald sent one of his men into the Patriot camp under a flag of truce to demand their surrender, and to examine the defenses. The Battle of Moore’s Bridge resulted in one Patriot death and more than 30 Loyalist fatalities. The Patriots had defeated the Loyalists, killing or wounding at least fifty men. With the victory at Moores Creek Bridge, North Carolina was saved from being overrun by the British. General MacDonald learned of their arrival, and sent Moore a copy of a proclamation issued by Governor Martin and a letter calling on the rebels to lay down their arms. Roster of the men they fought in the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge Last modified by: timothyboyd Created Date: 10/29/2006 7:19:00 PM Company: National Park Service Other titles: Roster of the men they fought in the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge By the time Col. Moore and his men arrived at Moores Creek bridge, the battle was over. From there they marched down to the confluence of the Black River and Moore's Creek, and began entrenching on the east bank of the creek. Colonel Moore arrived on the scene a few hours after the battle. Patriot Colonels; James Moore, Alexander Lillington, and Richard Caswell. After receiving his commissions from General Thomas Gage in June, Maclean sent Donald MacLeod and Donald MacDonald, two veterans of the June 17 Battle of Bunker Hill, south to lead the recruitment drive there. Blog. Capps, Michael A.; Davis, Stephen A (1999). On February 20 he crossed the Cape Fear River at Cross Creek and destroyed the boats in order to deny Moore their use. Who won the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge? This battle marked the last broadsword charge by Scottish Highlanders and the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution. The Scots went into a battle charge mode and reached Moore’s Creek Bridge. Armies - American Forces was commanded by Col. Richard Caswell and consisted of 1,000 militiamen. Who won the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge? On February 27, 1776 the Patriots and Loyalists met in Pender County at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. [3], Map depicting preliminary movements: A: Moore moves from Wilmington to Rockfish Creek B: MacDonald moves to Corbett's Ferry C: Caswell moves from New Bern to Corbett's Ferry, Moore led 650 Continentals out of Wilmington with the objective of preventing the Loyalists from reaching the coast. [20], The expedition that the Loyalists had been planning to meet was significantly delayed, and did not depart Cork, Ireland until mid-February. When Moore learned that MacDonald had won the race to Corbett's Ferry, he ordered Caswell's force to Moore's Creek, where they were joined by additional Patriot troops under Col. Alexander Lillington. They camped on the southern shore of Rockfish Creek on February 15, about 7 miles (11 km) from the Loyalist camp. [15] Arriving shortly before dawn, they found the defenses on the west side of the bridge unoccupied. When word arrived in January 1776 of a planned British Army expedition to the area, Josiah Martin, the royal governor, ordered the Loyalist militia to muster in anticipation of their arrival. The battle at Moores Creek in 1776 may seem like a local skirmish. 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. [12], Macdonald, his preferred road blocked by Moore, chose an alternate route that would eventually bring his force to the Widow Moore's Creek Bridge, about 18 miles (29 km) from Wilmington. [16] Combined with the capture of the Loyalist camp at Cross Creek, the Patriots confiscated 1,500 muskets, 300 rifles, and $15,000 (as valued at the time) of Spanish gold. In the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge in North Carolina on February 27, 1776, during the Revolutionary War (1775-83), American forces defeated the John Grady was the only Patriot killed in the Battle at Moores Creek Bridge and the first North Carolinian to die in the war for independence. [26] The battle is commemorated every year during the last full weekend of February. [4] His petition to London to recruit 1,000 men had been rejected, but he continued efforts to rally Loyalist support. The surviving elements of Campbell's company got back over the bridge, and the Loyalist force dissolved in panic. In response to a call for identification shouted across the creek, Captain Alexander Mclean identified himself as a friend of the King, and responded with his own challenge in Gaelic. What battle is sometimes called the Lexington and Concord of the South? In the following days, many Loyalists were arrested, putting a damper on further recruiting efforts. When they marched three days later, Brigadier General Donald MacDonald led between 1,400 and 1,600 men, predominantly Scots. Battle of Moore’s 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. Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge February 27, 1776 . The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge Significance Casualities the significance of the battle was that they were fighting for our freedom and justice and to be free from the king Barely any Americans died only about 80 british died Description By: Aniyah Benton The Americans hid [11], In the pre-dawn mist a company of Scots approached the bridge. MacLeod and Campbell both went down in a hail of gunfire; Colonel Moore reported that MacLeod had been struck by upwards of 20 musket balls.