On this day 250 years ago, at Corbett’s Ferry on the Black River in North Carolina, Col. Richard Caswell learned that the thousand-man Loyalist Highlander Regiment commanded by British Gen. Donald MacDonald had early that morning crossed the Black River a few miles north of his position and was outflanking Caswell on their march to Wilmington. Caswell withdrew his 800 men ten miles south to Moore’s Creek Bridge where he joined 150 Wilmington militia commanded by Col. Alexander Lillington and 100 New Hanover County militia commanded by Col. John Ashe who had fortified the east bank of the creek. Caswell’s men erected earthworks on the west side of Moore’s Creek to guard the bridge. That afternoon the Highlanders set up camp six miles north of Moore’s Creek Bridge. MacDonald sent an officer ahead to demand surrender of the Militia although they knew the demand would be refused. His actual mission was to scout out the Patriot position at Moore’s Creek Bridge. The Highlander officer saw the hastily-constructed earthworks and part of the militia encamped on the west side of the creek, but was unaware of the earthworks on the east side of the creek. Thinking that they could trap the Militia against the creek, MacDonald and his officers resolved to assault the militia encampment early the next morning, but command of the assault devolved to less experienced Lt. Col. Donald MacLeod because Gen. MacDonald had fallen ill.

That night, unbeknownst to the Highlanders, Caswell withdrew his men to the east side and remove the planks from Moores Creek Bridge. Also that night, Col. James Moore encamped at Dollison’s Landing in the rear of the Highlander regiment, after floating his 650-man 1st North Carolina Regiment down the Cape Fear River. Other North Carolina militia occupied the town of Cross Creek if the Highlanders attempted to retrace their steps back to the start of their march. The Highlanders were surrounded by the North Carolina Militia.

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/mocr/learn/historyculture/battle-of-moores-creek-bridge.htm; https://www.nps.gov/mocr/learn/historyculture/timeline-of-the-moores-creek-bridge-campaign.htm; Rankin, The Moores Creek Bridge Campaign at 30-33.

Tomorrow and Saturday, February 27 & 28, 2026, the National Park Service is hosting reenactments and commemorative events for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. Eight counties in North Carolina will also host 250th anniversary events as part of their First in Freedom Festival including in Duplin County which will commemorate tomorrow the sacrifice of the only Patriot killed in the Battle. https://www.nps.gov/mocr/moores-creek-250th-anniversary.htm; https://online.fliphtml5.com/NCFIFFPassport/qexx/#p=16

Also on this day 250 years ago in Charles Town (now Charleston), South Carolina, Henry Laurens, the President of the South Carolina Council of Safety (effectively the acting Governor of the State) wrote William Henry Drayton to accept his offer of the Prosper to join the “smaller Armed Vessels” defending Charles Town Harbor. Laurens stated that it was

“\very necessary for the public service immediately to equip these Vessels for Cruizing on the Coast we desire you will order Thirty such Men on board the Brig Comet,

to be commanded by Captain Joseph Turpin. Capt. Turbin would lead this South Carolina Navy in several successful engagements in the coming months.

Source: https://revolutionary-historian.com/2025/02/26/today-in-henry-laurens-february-26-1776/