On this day 250 years ago the Patriots of North Carolina defeated the Highlander Loyalists of North Carolina at the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge. At 1:00 am on that day the Highlanders began their six-mile march to Moores Creek Bridge, leaving behind their commander Brig. Gen. Donald MacDonald sick in his tent. When the Highlanders reached the abandoned militia encampment and earthworks on the west side of Moore’s Creek before dawn, they erroneously believed the North Carolina Militia had fled. At 5:00 am the Highlanders charged with broadswords on the bridge stringers (the Patriots had removed the planks) in two columns led by British Lt. Col. Donald MacLeod. The Highlanders assumed that the bridge was defended by only a rearguard and did not know they were charging into the entire Militia force of more than 1000 men behind earthworks.
In three minutes the battle was over. MacLeod and the other Highlander officer plus at least 30 of their men lay dead or mortally wounded. The exact total of Highlanders and Loyalists killed is unknown because many drowned and their bodies were not recovered, but estimates range from 50 to 70 killed. Only one Patriot was killed, and one other militiaman was wounded. Most importantly, within a day almost all of the Highlanders and Loyalists were captured by Caswell’s, Lillington’s and Moore’s men as they tried to escape. Brig. Gen. MacDonald and a few others were captured at the Highlander encampment and the bulk of the retreating Highlanders and Loyalists were surrounded a few miles away by militia on horseback and surrendered. In all the North Carolina Patriots captured and paroled 850 Highlanders and Loyalists, and imprisoned some 30 of their officers, eventually sending MacDonald and 22 other officers to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia for exchange for captured Continental officers. On that day and subsequent days as they rounded up Loyalist prisoners, the Patriots confiscated 1500 rifles, 350 gun and shot bags, 150 dirks and swords, 13 wagons with teams, multiple horses, two medicine chests with medicine valued at 300 pounds sterling and a chest holding 15,000 pounds sterling in gold coins.
The Battle of Moore’s Creek was a complete victory for the Patriots and with it Loyalist resistance in North Carolina was all but eliminated.
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 33-38;
Today and tomorrow, February 27 & 28, 2026, the National Park Service is hosting reenactments and commemorative events for the 250th anniversary of the battle at Moores Creek Bridge National Battlefield. 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 today the sacrifice of Private John Grady — 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
On this day 250 years ago on the other side of the Atlantic, Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir landed in France with the exaggerated report of the capabilities of the Continental Army that he had gathered from his meetings with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay in Philadelphia in December. Bonvouloir would submit his report to French Foreign Minister Vergennes who would use it to persuade King Louis XVI to aid the American colonies. Source:
On This Day In The Revolution 