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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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  • Monument Name

    Moores Creek Loyalist Monument, Moores Creek National Battlefield

  • Type

    Column

  • Subjects

    Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

  • Creator

    Wilmington Stone and Granite Works, Unspecified

  • City

    Currie

  • County

    Pender

  • Description

    The monument is a pointed column atop a base of three tiered steps. A polished frame in the column is inscribed and is crowned above the inscription with a bas-relief thistle. A national symbol of Scotland, the thistle references the Scottish Highlanders who fought alongside the Loyalists. The thistle also represents earthly sorrows, a symbol typically found in mourning imagery.

    Images: Side | Rear

  • Inscription

    South face: HERE FELL / CAPTAIN MCLEOD, CAPTAIN CAMPBELL / AND / ABOUT FIFTY HIGHLAND SCOTS, / LOYALISTS; WHO, WITH SPLENDID / COURAGE, ASSUALTED WITH / CLAYMORES THE AMERICAN / INTRENCHMENTS. THEY WERE / HEROES WHO DID THEIR / DUTY AS THEY SAW IT AND / ARE WORTHY OF THIS TRIBUTE / FROM THE DESCENDANTS OF / THE EQUALLY BRAVE MEN / WHOM THEY FOUGHT. / PEACE TO THEIR / ASHES. / ERECTED BY / THE MOORE’S CREEK MONUMENTAL / ASSOCIATION / 1909.

  • Custodian

    Moores Creek National Battlefield, National Park Service

  • Dedication Date

    July 29, 1909

  • Decade

    1900s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    34.506660 , -78.163330 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Series

    Moores Creek National Battlefield

  • Supporting Sources

      Blakenship, Jamie. "Background Study on Fences and Monuments at Moores Creek National Battlefield," (Currie, NC: National Park Service, 1989), accessed December 6, 2012 Link

      Bloodworth, Mattie. History of Pender County, North Carolina, (Richmond, V.A. : Dietz Printing Co., ca. 1947), accessed December 6, 2012 Link

      Capps, Michael A., and Davis, Steven A. "Moores Creek National Battlefield: An Administrative History," (Atlanta, GA: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Southeast Regional Office, Cultural Resources Stewardship, 1999), accessed December 6, 2012 Link

      Carraway, Gertude Sprague. [Scrapbook of clippings and other material dealing with the Moore's Creek battleground celebration and North Carolina's part in the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia], (1926), accessed December 6, 2012 Link

      Hatch, Charles. "Moores Creek National Military Park, North Carolina: the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge," (Washington, D.C.: Office of History and Historic Architecture, 1969), accessed December 6, 2012 Link

      Hawes, E. A., Moore, J. F., and Thomas, Charles R. "Ceremonies at the unveiling of the monument upon Moore's Creek battle ground to the women of the Revolution, August, 1907," ([Pender County, N.C.: Moore's Creek Monument Association, 1907])

      U.S. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory. Nomination Form "Moore's Creek National Military Park No. 66000070]," ([1976]), accessed December 6, 2012 Link

      Wright, Joshua G. "Address delivered at the celebration of the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, February 27th, 1857: by Joshua G. Wright, Esq.," (Wilmington, N.C.: Fulton & Price, Steam Power Printers, 1857), accessed December 14, 2012 Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite

  • Sponsors

    Moores Creek Monument Association

  • Nickname

    Tory Monument

  • Subject Notes

    General Donald MacDonald led 1,600 loyalists, many of whom were Scottish Highlanders, against the patriots in the battle of Moores Creek, fought near Wilmington on February 27, 1776. Over 30 loyalists were killed and 40 wounded.

  • Location

    The monument is located at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Historic Park, 40 Patriots Hall Dr., Currie, NC 28435. It stands on the north side of the walking trail, between the Patriot and Moore monuments which sit on the south side of the trail.

  • Landscape

    The monument stands in the open field surrounded by mature trees.

  • Relocated

    Yes

  • Former Locations

    In 1974, the monument was moved 400 feet south from its original location near the woods.

  • Post Dedication Use

    An annual ceremony of the Battle of Moores Creek is held in February with historic military demonstrations and reenactments.

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