The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was fought near Wilmington, North Carolina, on February 27, 1776, between North Carolina patriots and Scottish Loyalists. The American victory helped spur sentiment for the revolution and increased recruitment of additional soldiers into their forces. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Dutch Republic, Spain, American Indians Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1776 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Wilmington is a city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. ... The Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War became the central area of operations on land after France entered the war on the side of the United States. ... Drawing of the octagonal Williamsburg Magazine The Gunpowder Incident (also known as the Gunpowder Affair) was a conflict early in the American Revolutionary War between Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of colonial Virginia, and militia led by Patrick Henry. ... Combatants Patriot militia British militia Commanders William Woodford Lord Dunmore Strength 8,845 7,500 Casualties Americans: 20 killed, 56 wounded French: 52 killed, 134 wounded 156 killed 326 wounded 7,018 captured The Battle of Great Bridge was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought in the area... The Battle of the Rice Boats was a battle of the American Revolution that took place in the Savannah River on the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina. ... The Battle of Alligator Bridge took place on June 30, 1778, and was the major engagement in Colonel Elijah Clarks third, and final, unsuccessful campaign to conquer East Florida. ... The Battle of Kettle Creek took place on February 14, 1779 in the extreme western portion of Wilkes County, Georgia on Kettle Creek which used to drain into the Little River (the creek has since dried up). ... Combatants Patriot militia Loyalist militia Commanders John Ashe Samuel Elbert Archibald Campbell Augustine Provost Strength ~400 2,300 Casualties ~400 killed, Elbert captured 5 killed The Battle of Briar Creek was a Revolutionary War battle that took place on March 3, 1779. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders Benjamin Lincoln John Maitland Strength 1500 900 Casualties around 300 (dead/missing) 150 The Battle of Stono Ferry was a poorly planned and badly conducted operation during the American Revolutionary War; it took place on June 20, 1779. ... hi The Siege of Savannah was a battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1779. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Charles Cornwallis Horatio Gates Johann de Kalb† Strength 2,239 3,052 Casualties 68 killed 245 wounded 64 missing 1,000 killed or wounded 1,000 captured 132 missing The Battle of Camden was an important battle in the Southern Theatre of the American Revolutionary... Combatants Patriot militia Loyalist militia Commanders William Campbell John Sevier Joseph McDowell Benjamin Cleveland James Williams† Isaac Shelby Patrick Ferguson† Strength 900 (+500 nearby) 1,100 (+200 nearby) Casualties 28 killed (including James Williams), 62 wounded 157 killed, 163 wounded, 698 captured (nine of the captured were later hanged for... Combatants United States Great Britain Commanders Daniel Morgan Banastre Tarleton Strength 1,000 1,100 Casualties 12 killed 61 wounded 110 killed 229 wounded 525 captured The Battle of Cowpens was fought on January 17, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War and was an overwhelming victory by American revolutionary forces... Combatants United States Britain Commanders Nathanael Greene Lord Cornwallis Strength 4,400 1,900 Casualties 79 killed 185 wounded 1,046 missing Total: 1,310 93 killed 413 wounded 26 missing Total: 532 The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 inside the present... Combatants United States Britain Commanders Nathaniel Greene Lord Francis Rawdon Strength 1,551 900 Casualties 19 killed 115 wounded 38 killed 170 wounded 50 captured The Battle of Hobkirks Hill was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on April 25, 1781. ... The Battle of Eutaw Springs was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, the last engagement of the war in the Carolinas. ... Combatants United States France Great Britain German mercenaries Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Lord Cornwallis Charles O’Hara Banastre Tarleton {Stationed at Gloucester, Virginia} Strength 10,800 French 8,845 Americans 7,500 Casualties 62 dead 190 wounded[2] 156 killed 326 wounded 7,018 captured[1] The Siege... Wilmington is a city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. ... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1776 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... Britannia gives a heros welcome to returning American Loyalists. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution was a political movement during the last half of the 18th century that resulted in the creation of...

Background

A group of Loyalist troops under the command of Brigadier General Donald MacDonald, an 80-year-old experienced British officer, assembled on February 15 in response to the Patriot movements in the region. MacDonald led a force of about 700 Scots Highland emigrants and 800 Loyalist militia towards the Atlantic coast, with plans to join a group of British regulars at Moore's Creek Bridge, located about 20 miles (30 km) north of Wilmington. A group of around 1,000 Patriot volunteers and minutemen decided to contest the Loyalist march to the coast. A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Donald MacDonald may refer to: Donald Ulyses MacDonald, a character in popular BBC1 TV series Monarch of the Glen portrayed by Tom Baker. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Patriots (also known as Partisans, or Rebels) were British North American colonists who rebelled against the British monarchy during the American Revolution and established the independent states that became the United States of America. ... Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker A militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Lexington Minuteman representing John Parker Minutemen is a name given to members of the militia of the American Colonies, who vowed to be ready for battle in a minutes notice. ...

Battle

At dawn on February 27, 1776, the Highland Scots, under the command of Lt. Colonel Donald McLeod and Captain John Campbell, arrived at the bridge to find it blocked by Americans, commanded by Colonels Lillington and Richard Caswell. The British rushed at the bridge, only to be met by heavy Patriot fire at point-blank range. With the whole attacking party cut down in just 10 minutes, the Americans rushed across the bridge in a counter-attack, forcing the remaining Highlanders and Loyalists to flee. The Patriots were victorious, having lost only one man killed and another wounded, while inflicting about 30 casualties, including the deaths of both McLeod and Campbell, to their enemy and preventing the planned rendezvous with the British regulars. Over 850 Loyalist and other British troops were captured over the next few days, including Brig. General Donald MacDonald. February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1776 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: Historical stubs | 1729 births | 1789 deaths | Continental Congressmen | Governors of North Carolina ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Aftermath

Although not realizing it at the time, the Patriot victory helped to check the Loyalist sentiment in the colony, but it fanned the fires of the revolutionary fervor to bring most of the North and South Carolina colonies into the fight against the British army. The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietors. ... The South Carolina Colony was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663 because the king was rewarding his loyal followers. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Historical site

The Federal government took over the battle site as a National Park operated by the War Department in 1926; the National Park Service began managing the battlefield in 1933. Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, UK A national park is a reserve of land, usually declared and owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. ... Line drawing of the Department of Wars seal. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ...

For over a century, the Moores Creek National Battlefield has evolved as a historical site preserving and interpreting the 1776 battle. Moores Creek National Battlefield is a U.S. National Battlefield park managed by the National Park Service. ...

External links

• State of North Carolina website for the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
• National Park Service website for Moore's Creek Bridge

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