1776: Narrative of the Proceedings of a Body of Loyalists in North Carolina

The following document seems to have been compiled from Loyalist accounts of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge and summarized here by General Howe. Alexander McLean is one of the known authors of the original. Although the battle was not fought until February 27, 1776, this account details the rallying of the Loyalists and the Scots to the King's banner ahead of the confrontation. The fight ended with the Loyalists defeated. 

Spelling and capitalization is original. Words in [brackets] are modern spellings added for clarification. Paragraph breaks have also been added to make the account easier to read.

Narrative of the Proceedings of a Body of Loyalists in North Carolina

His Excellency Governor Martin wrote a Letter to Mr Alexd [Alexander] McLean on the 17th day of Novr [November] last [1775] desiring him to go to a Number of Loyal Subjects in several Counties, and to find out from them the Number of People he would with certainty bring in the King's Standard, when an order to the Purpose was given, upon the receipt of which Letter Capt McLean went to the different Counties to the respective Gentlemen mentioned, and made them all take an Oath of Secrecy as directed, after which they all had a Meeting and concluded Unanimously [that] they could bring at least 3000 men to his Excellency with 1500 Stand of Arms, which report Capt McLean brought to his Excellency by mnay of the most respectable peope mentioned in the Letter, this Report was from the people called Loyalists, upon this report, Governor Martin wrote a Commission of power, directed to a Number of the Scots Gentlemn and to these people; which was brought them by Mr McLean dated the 10th day of Jany [January] ordering to assemble and array all his Majesty's loyal Subjects in Arms and impowering the Commissioners to appoint a Capt [Captain] Lieutt [Lieutenant] and Ensign to every fifty men, upon this Commission being delievered to Mr McLean he immediately went to Crosscreek where he consulted with Mr William Campbell, Mr Neil McArthur & Capt Donald McLeod. It was concluded by them that circular letters should be sent to all the people concerned to have Meeting the 5 day of Feby [February] at a friend's House and determine on our future Proceedings. 

Of the Commissioners, only four amongst the Loyalists appeared, all of the Scots were present, and were all of Opinion that Men ought not to be Assembled till the 1st of March, but in case the British Troops came in before that time to get up after their Arrival; the Loyalists insisted upon taking up Arms immediately, and as the greatest dependance was from them, the Scots gave way to their Opinion and assured them whenever they acquainted them of any Body of Men assembled, they immediately would get their Men together, at the same time gave them to Understand that they were not to depend upon any Number from them, above Six or Seven Hundred Men, at which they replyed that instead of the 3000, they promised, they made themselves sure of bringing 5000 Men to the field, and that even then they had 500 Men in a Body, upon which it was agreed that Capt Donald McLeod being an Experienced officer should go with the Gentlemen Loyalists then present, and put and keep them in the best order possible he could, that Mr. Wm [William] Campbell, Capt Stewart, Capt McNicol and Mr McLean should follow in three days to assist Capt McLeod in conducting the Regulators, to Crosscreek, being the place of general rendezvous, upon the 8th Feby [February] being the day appointed. These Gentlemen set off from Crosscreek, twelve miles from which they met an express from Capt Donald McLeod informing that all the Loyalists dispersed and that he could not even get amonst them a Guide to condut him back. Notwithstanding of this bad news Mr Wm Campbell and Mr McLean pursued their journey 40 miles further and next day the 9th they sent an Express to Messrs Hunter and Feild expressing their surprise at their behaviour and entreating them in the most Anxious manner for sake of their Honour and the Kings cause not to fail in calling their Men together and that they only wanted their Answer to join them. The Express went to their diffeent Houses and could get no intelligence of them, heard from their Neighbors that they were Sculking and hiding themselves through Swamps and such concealed places upon return of the express, Messrs Campbell & McLean went off the 10th to Crosshill in Cumberland County where Capt McDonald of Kingsborough, Capt Alexr McLeod, Colo [Colonel] Cotton with many other Gentlemen were Assembled with about 500 Highlanders and Country born. 

Notwithstanding of this disappointment of the Loyalists it was determined, as so many Men were emboided at Crosshill, to keep them together and endeavor as formidable a Body as possible. Mr Wm Campbell went that same day to Crosscreek to influence the friends of Government to stand firm, Colo Rutherford assured him that he would stand by him and others of his Loyal friends to the last, which promise he faithfully performed by coming to the field with near five Hundred Highlanders; upon the 12 day of Feby [February] all the Men incamped at Crosshill marched for Crosscreek under the Command of Capt McDonald, Capt McLeod and Colo Cotton. Upon holidng a Council that day it was arranged that Capt Dond McLeod and Mr McLean should go up to the loyalists and endeavour to enourage them to assemble their Men again. After going about 35 miles they met Docr [Doctor] Pyle with about 40 Men with whom they retruned to Crosscreek. Upon meeting with Pyle, Expresses were sent to the rest of the Loyalists which brought at different times 90 Men which made up 130 in all from these people. 

They join'd the Camp at Crosscreek the 14th: It is well known that the leaders amongst these people decided the people by assuring them that his Excellency Govr Martin was to meet them at Crosscreek with a thousand regulars, which when they found not to be the case, they concluded to be imposed upon, and was certainly the true cause of their not raising and it is the candid Opinion of the Subscribers that these people will still readily embrace the first Oppony [opportunity] (when properly supported) of raising and taking up arms in support of his Majesty's Goverment. 

The 15th an Order was issued to all the Captains to make a return of the strength of their Companys when the Army was found to consist of 1400 Men with only 520 Stand of Arms, an Order was passed to embody a Number of light Horse to secure the Country and bring in all the Arms they could find belonging to the Rebels. In three days being the time the Camp remained at Crosscreek about 130 stand of Arms were brought in, during which time there was taken from the Committee of Cumberland between 1000 and 1200 wt [weight] of Powder, which the Merchants of Crosscreek had lodged in thier hands to prevent its faling into the hands of disaffected people. 

18th left Crosscreek and encamped four miles below it; 

next day the 19th all the men with Arms was ordered to parade having in View to attack Moors Provisional Army in their entrenchments that Night at Rockfish. Within four miles of our Camp, some of the Soldiers suspecting that such a project was in view one Capt. Sneed with two Companys of Colo Cottons Corps ran off with their arms very early that night; that evening Farguard Campbell came to the Camp and gave information that Caswell with 600 men was [marching] thro' Duplin County in order to join Moors Army at Rockfish. 

Upon this intellegence there was an order for Crossing Cape Fear River next day the 20th in order to fall in with Casswell and prevent his joining Moore. Before the March a Speech was made to the Soldiers encouraging them, and to consider the glorious cause they engaged in and in serving their King and being the instruments of relieving this Country from the Tiranical oppression it now groans under, and in claiming against those base Rascals that deserted the Night before, if any amonst them there was so faint hearted as not to serve with that resolution of conquering or dying. This was the time for such to declare themselves upon which there was a general huza [huzzah] for the King except from about 20 men of Colo Cotton's Corps who laid down their arms and declared their Courage was not War-proof. The Army was ordered to March to Campbelltown to Cross the river which took up all that day and Night. Capt. Alexr McLeod was ordered with a Detachment of 100 Highlanders which crossed the river first, to March immediately for black river Bridge 15 miles off to secure it, 

next day the 21st The Army Marched and encamped the North side of the Bridge, before the Waggons could pass they had to work four hours in mending it. 

22nd. March 10 miles and took two of the Rebels, one of whom was a spy from Moor's Camp, the other gave information that Caswell changed his Rout and was Marching for Wilmington. 

The 23d Marched 10 miles which day the Command of the Horse was given to Capt Dond [Donald] McLeod and Frans. Fraser his Lieut. Capt McLeod went all day about 2 miles before the Army, sent word about 12 o'clock, that the Enemy was within 4 miles of us, upon which the Commanding Officers ordered a Halt and desired the Principal Officers to array their men in Battle order and all the broadswords in the Army was given to 80 able bodied highlanders who turned out Volunteers, and put themselves under the Command of Capt. Jno Campbell with orders to March in the Centre of the Army. All necessary orders for an Attack being adjusted the Army Marched in full spirits the Horse in front. Mr Fraser spying five of the Rebels light horse pursued them and had taken two of them one of whom discharged his Rifle at him but luckily missed him. The prisoners being examined it was found Casswell had crossed black River two days before then with a thousand men and entrenched themself quite round and that he sunk all the flats and Boats on his own side of the River. Upon which intelligence the Army was ordered to encamp within four miles of the River. Capt Dond McLeod with a part of the light Horse went to the River where he found by a Negro fellow that there was flat sunk upon the other side of the River. He employed the Negro to rise the flat and bring it to him, then sent him to acquaint the Army that he secured it and remained there with his party to have it in Readiness upon their Arrival. 

Sunday the 25th. Marched 6 miles. Early in the morning the Army was put in motion and began to cross the River. As sson as they got to the flat Capt Dond [Donald] McLeod with the Light Horse upon the Army's coming to the River Marched forward to a Saw miln [mill] three miles from the River where he fell in with and took twenty one Bullocks, two Waggon loads of Meal (that was going to Casswell's Camp) and about twenty men in the Number of whom was one Colo [Colonel] Renon and Capt Homes. When the Army Marched to the flat Messrs McLean and Fraser were left with a few men, a Drum and Pipe to amuse Casswell as if the Army meant to cross the River and [in] force at his entrenchments. They kept firing there the most of the day which kept Casswell and his men in their Camp. Capt Morse of the light horse returned to the flat where the Army was corssing the River and brought intelligence that 200 men were upon their March to join Casswell that night and that they were to pass about 3 or 4 miles in our front at the Saw miln [mill]  where the Provison and Prisoners were taken. Upon which information Mr Wm Campbell was detached with the Loyalists in order to stop their March and as soon as they could cross the River Mr McDonald Kingsborrough [was] to support Capt Dond McLeod and Mr Campbell [and the] 100 highlanders he had under his Commmand. 

Monday 26th Marched Ten miles, the Army and their Baggage crossed black River, marched forward and joined the detached parties about eight o'clock in the morning when it was unaimously agreed that Casswell should be attacked immediately the Army being in motion for that Purpose. Intelligence was brought that Casswell had Marched at 8 o'clock the Night beofre and had taken possession of the Bridge upon widow Moore's Creek. A party went to examine his abandoned Camp and found there some horses and Provisions which the Precipitancy of their March made them leave behind them. That evening Mr Hepburn was sent to the Enemy's Camp with offers of Reconciliation upon their returning to their duty and laying down their Arms, who upon his return to Camp informed us that Casswell had taken up his Ground 6 miles from us upon our side of the Bridge upon widow Moore's Creek and that it was very Practicable to attack them. A Concel [Council] of War being immediately called, it was unanimously agreed that the Enemy's Camp should directly be attacked. 

The Army was immediately order'd under arms and about one o'clock Tuesday morning the 27th We march'd Six miles with 800 men. In the front of our Encampment was a very bad Swamp, which took us a good deal of time to pass so that it was within an hour of Daylight before we could get to their Camp. Upon our entering the Ground of their Encampment, we found their fires beginning to turn weak and Concluded that the Enemy were marched [away]. Our Army entered their Camp in three Columns but upon finding that they left their ground, orders were directly given to reduce the Columns and form the Line of Battle within the verge of the Wood (it not being yet day) and the Army should retire a little from the Rear in order to have the Wood to cover us from the sight of the Enemy, the word of Rallement being King George and Broad Swords. Upon hearing a shot on the plain in our front betwixt us and the bridge the whole Army made a Halt and soon thereafter a firing began at the end of the Bridge, it being still dark. The Signals for an Attack was given, which was Three cheers the Drum to beat, the Pipes to play. The Bridge lying above a Cannon Shot in our front upon a deep miry Creek Mr McLean with a party of about 40 men came Accidently to to the Bridge, he being a Stranger and it being still dark. He was challenged by the Enemies' Centinels [sentinels] they observing him sooner than he observed them. He answered [that] he was a friend: they asked to whom. He being a stranger he replyed to the King. Upon his making this reply they squatted down upon their faces to the Ground. Mr McLean uncertain but they might be some of our own people that had crossed the Bridge, challenged them in Gallic to which they made no Answer. Upon which he fired his own piece and ordered his party to fire. Upon the firing [turning] more general in that place Capt Donald McLeod and Capt Jno Campbell repaired to the Bridge and endeavg [endeavoring] to cross they were both Killed and most of the men that followed them. During the time of the fireing [firing] the most of the Country born Army began to run away and could not be made to stnd their Ground, the Loyalists excepted, The people being called away from the Bridge and we retired with the Army to Camp, where when we arrived we found that we had but two barrels of flours to serve the whole Army, that the men were not to be keeped together and that the Officers had no Authority over the Men. A Councel [council] of War being instantly called it was prposed that the Army should retire to Crosscreek and there fortify ourselves till Govr Martin's pleasure should be known, to whom an Express was sent the day before, but that we understood he wa taken by the Enemy but that still another would be sent away to his, which remonstrance had no weight. In short we found it needless to persist any longer in endeavoring to keep the Army together, therefore thought it most advisable to destroy the Ammunition to prevent its falling to the Enemys hands.

Upon the evening of the 27th Feby [February] Capt McLean, Stewart and McNicol and Mr Wm Campbell set off for Crosscreek. When they came within 5 miles of the palce they found that it was in the hands of 2000 of the Rebels who were going on with all manner of irregularities. They thought it most advisable to endeavour to make the best of their way to Govr Martin, from the different courses we were forced to take. We travelled 397 miles (the strait course being only 100 miles). In the course of our Journey we found the people in general very well affected to Government, such as we durst discover ourselves to declared that they would assemble upon seeing a proper support of Military forces. It is true as we were obliged to travel in the Night we had not access to see so many of them as otherways we might nor indeed did we think it prudent to discover ourselves but seldom.

This Account is General Howe's Letter of April 25, 1776, and can be found in the British Records Colonial Office. 

Source:

General Howe's Letter, April 25, 1776, printed in The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge by Charles E. Hatch, Jr. (Accessed through HathiTrust).