creek bridge battle moore creek bridge battle american revolutionary war fought near wilmington present day north_carolina february victory forces southern loyalists helped build political support revolution increased recruitment additional soldiers forces loyalist recruitment efforts interior north_carolina began earnest news battles lexington concord patriots province began organizing continental_army militia units word arrived january planned british_army expedition area royal governor ordered loyalist militia muster anticipation arrival revolutionary militia continental units mobilized prevent junction blockading routes poorly armed loyalists forced confront moore creek bridge miles north wilmington brief early morning engagement charge bridge sword wielding met barrage musket fire loyalist leader killed captured force scattered following days loyalists arrested putting recruiting efforts north_carolina militarily threatened memories battle aftermath efforts recruit loyalists area background british recruiting early political military tensions rising thirteen colonies north_carolina royal governor hoped combine recruiting scots settlers north_carolina interior sympathetic group originally opposed corrupt colonial administration loyalists coastal areas build large loyalist force counteract patriot sympathies province petition london recruit men rejected continued efforts rally loyalist support time successfully lobbied king permission recruit north_america april received royal permission raise regiment known recruiting retired scottish soldiers living north_america battalion recruited northern provinces including new_york quebec nova scotia second battalion raised north_carolina southern provinces large number soldiers given land receiving commissions general june sent veterans june south lead recruitment drive aware husband famous heroine actively recruiting north_carolina arrival cause suspicion members north_carolina arrested january martin learned expedition troops command general planned southern colonies arrival expected mid february sent word expected deliver recruits coast february dispatched cross creek present day coordinate activities area reported martin raise equip scots martin reported said moment country delivered anarchy expecting north_carolina loyalist victory meeting scots leaders cross creek february disagreement proceed scots wanted wait british troops actually arrived wanted immediately views prevailed claimed able raise men scots expected raise forces mustered february men number rapidly days men expected met escorted british troops possibility having fight way coast marched days later brigadier general led men predominantly scots number reduced coming days men deserted column revolutionary reaction reaction revolutionary war word cross creek meeting reached members days happened colonies broadly prosperous eve american revolution resolutions provincial congress raised 1st continental_army fall given command colonel local committees safety wilmington active militia organizations led respectively february patriot forces began moore led wilmington objective preventing loyalists reaching coast camped southern shore february miles loyalist camp general learned arrival sent moore copy proclamation issued governor martin letter calling rebels lay arms moore responded loyalists lay arms support cause congress meantime led area loyalist march preferred road blocked moore chose alternate route eventually bring force widow moore creek bridge miles wilmington february crossed cape fear river cross creek destroyed boats order deny moore use forces crossed heading ferry crossing orders moore reached ferry set blockade moore precaution defeated detached wilmington militia men colonel new volunteer company rangers position widow moore creek bridge men moving forced marches traveled southern bank crossed north bank marched confluence moore creek began east bank creek moore detached militia companies occupy cross creek followed slower followed route arrive battle force reached ferry found crossing blocked men prepared battle informed local slave second crossing miles use february ordered rearguard demonstration planning cross led main body second crossing headed bridge moore creek realized given slip men miles moore creek beat hours sent men patriot camp flag truce demand surrender examine defenses refused envoy returned detailed plan patriot fortifications thrown west bridge located patriot advantage position required patriots defend position line retreat narrow bridge distinct disadvantage recognized saw plans council held night loyalists decided attack alternative finding crossing moore time reach area night decided abandon position instead position far creek loyalists use bridge militia took support rails battle time arrival moore creek loyalist contingent men scots remainder furthermore marching taken toll elderly fell ill turned command lieutenant colonel loyalists broke camp february marched miles camp bridge arriving shortly dawn found defenses west bridge ordered men adopt defensive line nearby trees revolutionary river fired musket warn loyalist arrival hearing immediately ordered attack pre dawn mist company scots approached bridge response identification shouted creek captain identified friend king responded challenge hearing answer ordered company open fire beginning exchange gunfire patriot colonel captain led picked company charge bridge night men established earthworks bridge end armed small pieces field artillery scots earthworks patriots opened fire devastating effect campbell went hail gunfire colonel moore reported struck upwards musket balls armed swords faced overwhelming firepower muskets artillery scots little retreat surviving elements campbell company got bridge loyalist force dissolved retreated success revolutionary forces quickly replaced bridge gave chase company led creek bridge flanking retreating loyalists colonel moore arrived scene hours battle stated report loyalists killed wounded numbers fallen creek carried suppose loss estimated revolutionary leaders reported killed wounded aftermath days patriot forces fleeing loyalists men arrested released parole sent philadelphia prisoners combined capture loyalist camp cross creek patriots confiscated muskets rifles valued time spanish gold weapons probably hunting equipment taken people directly involved loyalist uprising action effect patriot recruiting arrests loyalist leaders north_carolina cemented patriot control state pro patriot newspaper reported battle think stop loyalists north_carolina despite hard feelings sides prisoners treated respect helped convince arms patriots battle significant effects scots community north_carolina loyalists refused turn calls arms later war routed homes activities patriot neighbors ended returning native general passed area reported inhabitants rode camp shook hand said glad beat rode home news battle reached london received mixed commentary news report defeat involve regular army troops noted inferior patriot force defeated loyalists lord british official responsible managing war london remained convinced spite defeat loyalists substantial force tapped expedition loyalists planning meet significantly delayed depart ireland mid february convoy delayed split apart bad weather force arrive fleet gathered north_carolina provincial congress met halifax early april passed authorizing colony delegates vote independence great_britain general clinton force attempt charleston south_carolina attempt failed represented end significant british attempts control southern colonies late battlefield site preserved late 19th century private efforts eventually received state financial support federal government took battle site operated operated park national_park_service began managing site listed national_register_of_historic_places battle commemorated year weekend february troop numbers early accounts battle size forces involved battle typically reporting loyalists faced patriots numbers national_park_service historian points large loyalist size attributed reports general colonel gave figure represents reasonable estimate number men starting march cross creek present cross creek battle reported loyalists present battle governor martin patriot forces apparently grouped ranger forces company report
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge