Battle Description

The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge was a swift and decisive engagement in the Southern theater of the Revolutionary War. On February 27, 1776, Patriot militia forces under Colonel Richard Caswell and Colonel Alexander Lillington ambushed a Loyalist force attempting to cross a narrow bridge near Wilmington.

The Loyalists, many of them Scottish Highlanders armed with broadswords, charged across the bridge only to find the planks removed and the span greased. Patriot forces opened fire from fortified positions, killing or capturing many of the attackers. The battle lasted only minutes but had far-reaching consequences.

Outcome

• Outcome: Patriot victory; Loyalist uprising crushed.
• Casualties:
  • Loyalists: ~30 killed or wounded, ~850 captured
  • Patriots: ~1 wounded

Significance on the Revolution

Moore’s Creek Bridge effectively ended British hopes of rallying Loyalist support in North Carolina. The victory galvanized Patriot sentiment in the South and led to the collapse of Royal authority in the colony. It also helped secure North Carolina’s commitment to independence and encouraged other Southern colonies to mobilize against British control.