The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge

Today there was a re-enactment celebrating the 243rd Anniversary of The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge.

February 27th, 1776 the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, fought between North Carolina Patriots and Loyalist militia forces, demonstrates the bitter divisions that marked the American Revolution. The Loyalists, mostly Scottish Highlanders wielding broadswords, led a charge across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge.

Nearly a thousand North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. Expecting to find only a small Patriot force, the Loyalists advanced across the bridge. Shots rang out and when the smoke cleared , some 30 to 70 Loyalists lay dead or wounded. Among the dead was Lt. Col. Donald McLeod, who had led the fateful charge.

Stunned, outgunned and leaderless, some of the Loyalists surrendered, while others retreated in confusion. This victory spurred the creation of the Halifax Resolves on April 12th, 1776, which instructed North Carolina’s delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence. North Carolina was the first American colony to do so. Less than three months later, the United States would ratify the Declaration of Independence.

Moores Creek is about 18 miles from our house and so we went to see today’s activities. We spent about 5 hours out and about in the very Scottish like dreich weather. The temperature may have gotten as high as 50°F/10°C The skies were grey and a few times we had a light misty rain. It was a very enjoyable day