Moores Creek National Battlefield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moores Creek National Battlefield
The reconstructed bridge at Moores Creek
Moores Creek National Battlefield Location in North Carolina Show map of North Carolina Moores Creek National Battlefield Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Pender County, North Carolina, United States
Nearest city	Wilmington, North Carolina
Area	88 acres (36 ha)
Established	June 2, 1926
Visitors	48,406 (in 2005)
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Moores Creek National Battlefield
Moore's Creek National Military Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Nearest city	Wilmington, North Carolina
Area	44.3 acres (17.9 ha)
Built	1776
NRHP reference No.	66000070 (original) 86003649 (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Boundary increase	February 13, 1987

Moores Creek National Battlefield is a special place managed by the U.S. National Park Service. It remembers a very important battle that happened in 1776. In this battle, about a thousand American fighters, called Patriots, won against around eight hundred British supporters, known as Loyalists. This victory was a big deal because it stopped the British governor, Josiah Martin, from taking back control of North Carolina. It also messed up British plans to land an army in Brunswick Town. The battle happened in southeastern North Carolina, near Wilmington. Just a few months later, on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress decided that the Thirteen Colonies should be independent from Britain. This park was first set up on June 2, 1926, and became a national battlefield on September 8, 1980.

The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge

On February 27, 1776, a group of Loyalists, many of them Scottish Highlanders, expected an easy fight. Many of them did not even have guns, carrying broadswords instead. They thought they would only find a small group of Patriots.

A Clever Patriot Plan

Before the Loyalists arrived, the Patriots had a smart plan. They removed the wooden planks from the bridge that crossed Moores Creek. Then, they smeared the remaining wooden beams with lard, making them super slippery! This meant the Loyalists had to cross the bridge one person at a time.

The Fight at the Bridge

As the Loyalists carefully moved across the slippery bridge, Patriot shots rang out. Dozens of Loyalists fell into the creek, which was about six feet deep. Their commanders were hit too. One commander, Lieutenant Colonel Donald McLeod, died during the battle. Another commander was Colonel Allan MacDonald, whose wife, Flora MacDonald, was famous for helping a Scottish prince years before.

The Aftermath of the Battle

The Loyalists were shocked, outgunned, and without their leaders. They either gave up or ran away in confusion. In the days after the battle, the Patriots seized wagons, weapons, and British money worth a lot today.

This amazing victory ended British rule in the colony of North Carolina. It greatly influenced North Carolina to be the first colony to vote for independence. The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, along with the Battle of Sullivan's Island in South Carolina a few months later, were the first open fights of the American Revolution. Both battles helped lead the Thirteen Colonies to declare independence on July 4, 1776.

About Moores Creek National Battlefield

A map of the park from the National Park Service.

The creek itself was likely named after Elizabeth Moore, one of the first settlers in the area.

Exploring the Park

Throughout the park, you can still see parts of the old road that Patriot and Loyalist forces used in 1776. There is a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail with signs that explain what happened. This trail leads you through the battlefield and across Moores Creek. The exact spot where the historic bridge once stood is along this trail.

The park is in a quiet, rural area. It has a visitor center where you can see exhibits and watch a video about the battle. There's also a short 0.3-mile (500-meter) trail through the colonial forest and a nice picnic area where you can relax.

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