Moores Creek Battelfield, North Carolina.

[BEEDEE]

Went on Saturday to the 233rd Anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. Wreath laying at both the Patriots and Loyalist Memorials, lots of re-enactors including Scottish on the Loyalist side with live fire cannon and musket demonstrations. My friend Paul and I got to lay the wreath for the Loyalists this year. One of the advantages of wearing kilts!

Pictures are at: http://shsenc.org/moores_creek_2009/index.html

Here's some history of the Battle, one of the first in the Revolutionary War and a decisive one for the future of North Carolina.

On February 27, 1776, in the pre-dawn hours, one thousand Patriots, under the commands of Colonel Richard Caswell and Colonel Alexander Lillington, met a Loyalist force of one thousand, six hundred men, under the commands of British Brigadier General Donald MacDonald and Lieutenant Colonel Donald McLeod at the bridge over Moores Creek, twenty miles northwest of Wilmington, North Carolina. The bridge was the final opportunity for the Patriots to halt the Loyalist advance to Wilmington where they were to join with the British troops which were soon to arrive. With the combined British Regulars and Carolina Loyalists, North Carolina's Royal Governor, Josiah Martin, planned to re-take the rebellious colony.

Just before dawn the loyalist forces of Captain John Campbell's Scottish Highlanders were sent on a broadsword charge across the remains of the bridge, which had been stripped of its planks by the patriots. The Highlanders charged to the sounds of bagpipes, drums, and the cry of…
"King George and Broadswords! " across partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Just beyond the bridge nearly 1,000 North Carolina patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. The loyalists lost over thirty men and over forty were wounded- only one patriot died in the battle. The retreating loyalists were captured and spoils included 1500 rifles, 350 shot bags, 150 swords and dirks, and 15,000 pounds sterling.

This battle ended Governor Josiah Martin's hopes of regaining control of the colony for the British crown and halted plans for an invasionary force to land in Brunswick, North Carolina. The colony of North Carolina voted to declare independence from the British on April 12, 1776, shortly after the victory at Moores Creek.

Brian

[McMurdo]

Wonderful set of photos thanks for the link.

[1MUNK3]

Thanks so much for sharing that with us and the link with those great photos. It must have been grand to take part in the event.

[Highlander31]

Thanks for sharing the photos and the history lesson. If we forget our history we forget ourselves.

[Mael Coluim]

Wow! Thanks for sharing the event with us, Brian.

[SFCRick]

Great photos

[meinfs]

Thanks for the little history lesson and for sharing the pictures.