History with ‘Hud’: 248 years since the Revolutionary War converged in Pender County
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Less than a year after the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired in New England at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, the fighting traveled more than 700 miles down the coast to Pender County.
Tuesday marks 248 years since the battle of Moores Creek Bridge was fought on February 27, 1776, setting the wheels of history into motion for North Carolina to become the first colony to declare its independence from Britian on April 12th. The other 12 colonies followed North Carolina’s lead, making way for the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The small but impactful battle took place between Patriot and Loyalist forces near present-day Currie. Loyalist British forces were attempting to reassert control over North Carolina in early 1776, with hundreds of troops assembling near Fayetteville before beginning a march towards the coast to join reenforcements arriving to the region. But Patriot forces gathered at Moores Creek to stop their forward progress.
Troops disassembled part of the bridge leading across Moores Creek, leaving only the girders exposed. To make it even more difficult to cross, the Patriots greased the wood with soft soap and tallow.
Loyalists forces arrived to the site early in the morning of February 27th, outnumbered by around 400 troops. Due to incorrect information, they were surprised to be greeted by oppressive cannon and musket fire from the Patriots, leading to a battle of only a few minutes. Despite the short event, thirty British forces were killed with only one American casualty, marking the first decisive victory of the American Revolution for Patriot troops.
Wagons, weapons and British sterling worth more than $1 million by today’s value were seized by the Patriots in the days following the fighting.
Revolutionary War battles continued to be fought across the country through the siege of Yorktown in October of 1781. But the battle at Moores Creek Bridge remains an important turning point in American history.
