CHATHAM NAMES IN THE BATTLE OF MOORE'S CREEK BRIDGE

 REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Copyright © Sue Ashby - July 2011

From: Bobby Gilmer Moss - "Roster of the Patriots in the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge"

Quote from the first page- "On 27 February 1776 and encounter which lasted less than ten minutes changed for ever the relationship between the Southern Colonies and Great Britain. The British had planned to use the Carolina residents who were loyal to the king to overthrow the rebellious governments in North America. For the scheme to work there had to be an uprising of these Loyalists coupled with a co-ordinated invasion by trained British soldiers. The first attempt to carry out the plan called for the uprising of the Scots of the upper Cape Fear Valley and an invasion by His Majesty' military in the lower Capt Fear region."

If you have an interest in the Revolutionary War and, in the details of the soldiers who fought in the south, this is an amazing book and should be in library of any southerner, with Rev. War. ancestors.

This Battle was as important as the April 19, 1775, at Lexington & Concord, Mass. The northern battle was the first shot in the struggle for independence but, the Battle at Moore's Creek , one year later, was the "first shot" in the south. Our schools teach, in American History, of the northern battles in the Revolution. Few, teach the southern perspective. These men fought just as hard and valiantly as the others. And, it was the first victory over the British troops in the war. How important was that  !!

The clever scheme to win the battle was formulated by the Patriots. They took the boards off the bridge that crossed the creek and then greased the skids and frame so that when the Tories tried to cross they fell off and were exposed to the fire of the Patriots.

The creek may look calm and serene but, I'm sure it was not always and it is in a swampy region, so, being hampered with arms and heavy equipment, the British could not cross easily without a bridge. Many drowned.

The following names I have extracted from the book as either being state as from Chatham or names that are possibly Chatham. (Not all of the names have localities given, in the book)

These Officers were not from Chatham:

Col. Alexnder Lillington

Col. Richard Caswell - Deputy Surveyor and Co. Clerk of Orange Co. NC, prior to the war.

Col. James Moore

Col. James Thackston - Hillsboro Dist. (Orange Co.?)

Lt. Alexander Martin

_______________

Chatham Men

Col. Ambrose Ramsey

Maj. or Capt. Miles Scurlock

Capt. Alexander Clark -

Capt. George Herndon

Lt. William Dilliard/Dillard

Lt. Jesse George

Lt. Roger Griffith

Lt. Col. Jeduthan Harper

Drury Harrington

Lt. Abner Hill

James Jones - Surgeon under Col. Ramsey

Henry Kelly

Matthew Ledbetter - adjutant under Col. Ramsey

William Malone?

Capt. _____ Mebane ?

Ens. Richard Minter?

John Morphus/Morphis (Ensign?)

Benjamin Poe

Matthew Ramsey

James Rosson?

Capt. James Williams

(the names with questions marks after them, are ones that do not have a county of residence given, in the book)

There were many from Wake Co., who were probably related to the Chatham men.