CHAPTER XXVI.. The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge.

THE BATTLE OF MOORES CREEK BRIDGE.

A. D. 1776.

1776. The new year, 1776, found Governor Martin still lingering on board the Cruiser in the Cape Fear River. He was closely watched by Colonel James Moore, who kept his Command (the First North Carolina Regiment) in that vicinity. In February came the news that the Scotch Highlanders and Regulators were gathering at a place called, at that day, "Cross Creek," and now the town of Fayetteville. This place and in this connection will be remembered as the home of the beautiful heroine, Flora McDonald, and her husband. Like her husband, she was a staunch Tory, and did all she could to promote the insurrection.

2. A large fleet and army were said to be on their way from England to take the town of Wilmington. These Scotchmen, assembling at Cross Creek by Governor Martin's orders, were in arms to force their way across the country and join the expected British army, Colonel Moore at once met them at Rockfish Creek, where he fortified his camp and awaited an attack. But he soon found this would not occur, so he sent Colonel Lillington and Captain Ashe with two hundred and fifty then to occupy a bridge over Moore's Creek that he supposed would intercept General Donald McDonald, who commanded the Tories.

3. Whigs in arms were assembling from different directions, and the Tories soon saw that unless they passed Colonel Moore they would be surrounded and captured. McDonald was an old and skillful officer, and he moved across the Cape Fear River to meet Colonel Caswell, who was coming up from New Bern with a command of eight hundred men which had been raised in that section.

4. Caswell made haste to join Lillington on Moore's Creek, and artfully led the enemy to believe that he was camping, on the evening of February 26, 1776, on the same side of the stream with him. He left his fires burning, and in the darkness crossed the bridge, removed the timbers except two log girders, and took up a position supporting Lillington and Ashe, who had already put themselves in the best place to prevent the passage of the Tories.

5. In the darkness of early dawn, on the 27th, Colonel Donald McLeod took the place of his sick commander, General McDonald, and fell upon what he had been led to believe was Colonel Caswell's camp; but his spies had been misled, and his foes were to be reached only by crossing the bridge before him. The prospect was appalling, but McLeod was brave, and putting himself at the head of a picked band of broadswordsmen, he charged across the remaining two logs of the bridge. It was a terrible moment when the Whigs saw these dauntless Highlanders, who had so often broken the strongest lines of troops in Europe, rushing furiously upon them. But they were cool, and plied the deadly rifles upon the Scotchmen as fast as they came.

6. Colonel McLeod fell dead in his headlong charge, being pierced by twenty-six balls. The carnage was so frightful that the onset was stayed, and then, as the assailants wavered, Captain Ezekiel Slocumb, having crossed the creek with his company, rushed from the woods and charged their flank. A wild panic ensued, and the Tories fled in disorder from the fatal bridge.

7. The Whigs followed in hot pursuit, and the victory was overwhelming. Nearly two thousand Royalists were thus defeated by eleven hundred undisciplined Whigs. Eight hundred prisoners, including General McDonald, with all the camp stores, were taken.

8. There was not a more complete victory during the war. General Moore's strategy was brilliant in conception and daring in execution; but no strategy, however brilliant, and no courage however daring, would have availed anything had not North Carolina been prepared to put promptly in the field troops with the necessary munitions of war. These troops that took part in the campaign came some from above Greensboro in the west and others below New Bern in the east. Infantry, artillery and mounted troops were all engaged, and everything went on as smoothly as if the province had never known anything about war.

9. The successful conduct of the campaign, requiring as it did the rapid concentration of troops without railroad, steamboat or telegraph, and the readiness with which, ninety days previous, we had sent troops both to South Carolina and to Virginia, demonstrated beyond question the wisdom of the Congress in its work at Hillsboro during the summer and autumn before.

10. The defeat of the Tories thwarted the schemes of Governor Martin, and so dispirited the Scotch and Regulators that years elapsed before they gave further trouble. Lord Cornwallis came into the Cape Fear River with his army, but hearing of the disaster, sailed away, having effected nothing but an inglorious descent upon the farm of General Robert Howe.

11. Thus began and ended the first British invasion of North Carolina. Colonel Moore was made a General for his skill in planning the campaign, and Caswell, Lillington and Ashe, with their gallant commands, were everywhere honored for their bravery and success.

QUESTIONS.

1. What was the situation in Wilmington in 1776? What important news was received?

2. What expedition was coming to Wilmington? How was it to be reinforced? How was Colonel Moore preparing to meet these men from Cross Creek?

3. Mention other preparations for a fight.

4. Give an account of Colonel Caswell's position on Moore's Creek.

5. Who commanded the Tories? Describe his charge upon the Whigs.

6. Give an account of the battle of Moore's Creek. When did this occur? Locate the scene of this battle on the map.

7. What was the result?

8. What is said of the victory at Moore's Creek? What was promptly done by North Carolina?

9. What is said of this campaign?

10. What distinguished British officer entered the Cape Fear?

11. How did the people feel towards Colonel Moore and other commanding officers?