NPS Photo/ Douglas Prouty Online Tour Stop 6- The West Bank The night before the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, all 1,000 Patriots were encamped here. Around 6 pm on February 26, 1776, a Loyalists courier, James Hepburn, entered the camp here with a letter from General Donald MacDonald. The content of the letter asked for the Patriots to surrender to the Loyalists. Caswell refused and sent the courier back to General MacDonald with his reply. While the Loyalists discussed their next move, Caswell ordered his men into the earthworks on the east bank sometime during the night. The Loyalists decided to advance from their position, six miles away. MacDonald who was sick from the cold North Carolina weather, turned command over to Lt. Colonel Donald McLeod. They made a night march to surprise the Patriots, who the Loyalists believed to still be camped on the west bank of Moores Creek. When they entered the camp around 5:00 am the morning of February 27, 1776, they found it abandoned. Feeling the Patriots had abandoned their position, the Loyalists looked for the Moores Creek Bridge. |
Last updated: August 12, 2020