Moore's Creek Bridge Revolutionary War Battlefield

With me fresh from Civil War battlefields within a few hour's drive of Paul's home, Patrick and I decided we'd return to the Moore's Creek Bridge battlefield (about 18 mi NW of Wilmington in the vicinity of Currie) for a change of pace. And, since we'd enjoyed our first visit there years ago, the National Park Service has done extensive work there and both of us were interested in seeing it. The first time we went, I don't remember ever getting to the bridge, though the walk we took was pleasant and the history new (at least to me).

This visit, we were virtually alone, save a single Ranger in the visitor center, who was pleased to see us and very helpful. When I told him we'd both been there before and asked him where the closest available parking spot to the bridge was, he showed me on a map where I'd find a chain gate. The chain should be "down", however, and I could drive across a field, stop short of some newly planted trees, and park. The bridge would be straight ahead. He was good as his word, and my new best friend.

One of several markers and monuments, this one marks the location of the original bridge and mentions the Patriot and Loyalist forces and their respective commanders. My interest in the story is that some possible relatives (Hardy Parker, Senior and Junior) were neighbors of the Widow Moore in colonial days and could well have been involved. We don't have the family connections identified yet, but the indications are there.

These pictures (above and below) were taken from the reconstructed bridge -- and, if nothing else, show how dense the woods are, and how well black water acts as a mirror.

Here's Patrick, near the western approach to the bridge, leaning on "Mother Covington", the 2 1/2 pounder (or replica thereof) used by the Patriots against the attacking Loyalists. There was also a 1/2 pounder swivel gun, styled as "Mother Covington's Daughter" (to Patrick's right). Both proved effective against the Loyalist broadswords and proved the maxim that, even scaled up, one shouldn't generally rely on a knife when joining a gunfight.

*****

Back in Wilson at Patrick's home, we took it easy. . . not that either of us overexerted ourselves wandering around the Pender County countryside.

Above is Patrick's very favorite butterfly ever, which finally lit long enough for me to get a picture when it visited his back yard. Below, my friend is bringing in the bird feeders as dusk approaches since the indigenous squirrel population has let him know that they own the night and bird feeders left out will become squirrel feeders.