The battle at Moores Creek in 1776 may seem like a local skirmish. Fought in present southwestern Pender County on 27 Feb. 1776, the engagement at Moores Creek Bridge was the first battle of the American Revolution to take place in North Carolina. The Revolutionary War in America had been raging for almost a year before the Battle at Moore's Creek Bridge occurred in North Carolina, nearly twenty miles north of the colonial port town of Wilmington. 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] Lord George Germain, the British official responsible for managing the war in London, remained convinced in spite of the resounding defeat that Loyalists were still a substantial force to be tapped. 2,050 guests. Both ultimately led the Thirteen Colonies to declare independence on July 4, 1776. [16], Caswell had thrown up some entrenchments on the west side of the bridge, but these were not located to Patriot advantage. Revolutionary War Living History Day . 101-103, 1959 -, "Moores Creek National Battlefield – Things to do", "Moores Creek National Battlefield website", "Moores Creek National Battlefield – Administrative History", State of North Carolina website for the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Moore%27s_Creek_Bridge&oldid=984113439, Battles of the American Revolutionary War in North Carolina, Scottish-American culture in North Carolina, Battles in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War 1775–1779, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Articles with dead external links from October 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, New Bern District Minutemen Battalion, 13 companies, Wilmington District Minutemen Battalion, 4 companies, Halifax District Minutemen Battalion, 5 companies, Hillsborough District Minutemen Battalion, 7 companies, 1st Salisbury District Minutemen Battalion, 1 company, 2nd Salisbury District Minutement Battalion, 11 companies, This page was last edited on 18 October 2020, at 07:39. The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. 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. The War Department operated the park until 1933, when the National Park Service began managing the site as the Moores Creek National Battlefield. On This Day in History February 27, 1776. British Forces was commanded by Col. Donald McLeod and consisted of about 1,500 Soldiers. North Carolina was not militarily threatened again until 1780, and memories of the battle and its aftermath negated efforts by Charles Cornwallis to recruit Loyalists in the area in 1781. Their position required the Patriots to defend a position whose only line of retreat was across the narrow bridge, a distinct disadvantage that MacDonald recognized when he saw the plans. Battle of Moores Creek Bridge February 27, 1776. 1 The victory by the Patriots spurred North Carolina to assert its independence. (Submitted on May 12, 2020.) This helped convince many not to take up arms against the Patriots again. Website . Although the battle lasted only a short while, Patriot forces were able to prevent British soldiers from taking Moore’s Creek Bridge in present-day Pender County. On February 20 he crossed the Cape Fear River at Cross Creek and destroyed the boats in order to deny Moore their use. Furthermore, the marching had taken its toll on the elderly MacDonald; he fell ill and turned command over to Lieutenant Colonel Donald MacLeod. Many of the men who fought under Lillington and Caswell were third generation Carolinians whose grandparents had been English immigrants who came as part of a large migration to the Carolinas from the English regions of Wiltshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire as well as many farmers from the southern portion of Lincolnshire, England, during the early 1700s. Moore ordered Col. Lillington to set up a defensive line at the only viable crossing point, Moores Creek Bridge, 18 miles northwest of Wilmington. I think that is a bit of an overstatement, but the battle did have some importance. Casualties - American casualties were 1 killed and 1 wounded. [3], Moore led 650 Continentals out of Wilmington with the objective of preventing the Loyalists from reaching the coast. Learn about the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, the American Revolution, and more. 3:18 minute YouTube video. 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. This was important event leading up to the Battle of Sullivan's Island, because it was the main reason that Clinton and Parker decided to go to Charlestown after the local Loyalist were defeated at the battle in February 27th, 1776. [11], With the reaction of the revolutionary war, word of the Cross Creek meeting reached members of the Revolutionary North Carolina Provincial Congress a few days after it happened. 566 guests. Experience the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge as it unfolded during our virtual candlelight tour. Alexander Mclean, who was present at both Cross Creek and the battle, reported that only 800 Loyalists were present at the battle, as did Governor Martin. In 1781 Wilmington was used by a British general, Lord Cornwallis, as his headquarters after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and before he marched to … One Loyalist leader was killed, another captured, and the whole force was scattered. In April, he received royal permission to raise a regiment known as the Royal Highland Emigrants by recruiting retired Scottish soldiers living in North America. February 27, 1776 The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge On this day in history, February 27, 1776, the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge ends British rule in North Carolina.