During a recent vacation we spent a few days at Wilmington, NC. One afternoon, after a pleasant lunch on the riverfront, we drove to Moore’s Creek National Battlefield.

The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge took place about a half hour northwest of Wilmington NC in a very rural area.   It was rural then and it is rural now.

Looking at the map, it is fairly close to an interstate highway so it may not be quite as remote as it seemed to us. We went by another route so it seem quite remote. We didn’t expect anyone else to be there but there were several carloads.

The battlefield park is a wonderful place.  Not only is a historic place well-preserved but the National Park Service has a wonderful visitors center.  The context of the battle is well presented. There is a short film describing the battle.  It is well worth a viewing.

A walking path just behind the visitors’ center takes you through the battle site.

Why this is important

Moore’s Creek National Battlefield is a great stop for those with interest in US History (especially NC history or the American Revolution). The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge took place before the colonies declare their independence. There was a real division between those colonists who supported the British Crown (loyalists) and those who opposed it (patriots or rebels depending on your perspective).

The British recruited a loyalist militia promising land grants to Highland Scots in NC with a couple of British officers (also Highlanders) in charge. The militia set of an a march to Wilmington where they where to meet a larger force of British regulars arriving by sea. Together they would end the rebel threat in NC and the South.

What happened

The loyalist militia was on its way and ran into some patriot forces.  They stood between the loyalists and the bridge over Moore’s Creek.

As I remember, the loyalist forces sent an envoy under a flag of truce to ask the rebels (or patriots) to surrender and pledge their allegiance to the king in exchange for a pardon.  They refused.  The envoy had seen their camp and reported back that it was a small force.

The loyalists decided they could easily defeat this small force and marched toward the bridge overnight.  Meanwhile the small patriot force had abandon camp and crossed over the bridge to join a larger patriot force that the loyalist where unaware of.  They also partly dissembled the bridge to make the loyalist crossing more difficult.

The loyalist came into the camp on their side of the bridge and found it abandoned.  The Highlanders carefully and slowly crossed the bridge thinking they would overwhelm the rebels with a broadsword attack.  They were unaware that they were charging into a trap.  At least 30 loyalists were killed and about 800 were captured.

Here are 2 good accounts of the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge:

http://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/760227-moores-creek-bridge/

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-revolution/4267

 

Again, importance

This battle clearly showed that the patriots could defeat a loyalist force and this ended a British plan to re-conquer North Carolina.  It also was instrumental in convincing North Carolina to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence.  The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge  has been called the “Lexington and Concord” of the south.

No doubt the strength showed by the patriots in these battles convinced many that it was possible to win independence from the British, the strongest military force in the world.

Some Highland trivia

Is there anyone with knowledge of highland history not familiar with the name Flora MacDonald.  Yes that Flora MacDonald of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Skye Boat Song fame had moved to North Carolina and was involved in the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge.

See Scottish Military Disasters by Paul Cowan  for details.  But briefly, Flora, her husband, and other MacDonalds were involved in recruiting the NC Scot Highlanders to the loyalist cause and her husband and sons were on the loyalist side in the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge.

Also this was said to be  the last Highlander broadsword charge in history.

Anyway, a great place to visit if your travels take you anywhere near-by.