Source: Moores Creek Patriot Monument
Moores Creek Patriot Monument, Moores Creek National Battlefield
This 18” tall and 52” square brown sandstone obelisk was the first monument erected on the site. The choice of an obelisk for the monument reflects the cultural fascination with Ancient Egypt during the nineteenth century. Since its origins in Ancient Egypt, the obelisk has been seen as a symbol of reverence, dominance, and patriarchy. This obelisk is more ornate than the Moore Monument with six graduating squares, an ornate, floral dentil course underneath a small imposed pediment in the middle of the monument, and a band of a bundle of rods (fasces), which signify power and authority. Inscriptions of Caswell and Lillington on the east and west faces of the monument commemorate the colonels who led the patriots into battle.
Over the years the monument has undergone significant additions and alterations, including two granite bases in 1906.
Images:
South Face
| East Face
| West Full View
| West Face
| North Face
South face: HERE LIE THE REMAINS OF / PRIVATE JOHN GRADY, / OF DUPLIN COUNTY, / WHO FELL BRAVELY FIGHTING FOR HIS / COUNTRY;—THE FIRST MARTYR IN / THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM IN NORTH / CAROLINA, AND THE ONLY WHIG / KILLED IN THIS BATTLE.
East face: CASWELL
West face: LILLINGTON
North face: IN COMMEMORATION / OF THE BATTLE OF / MOORES CREEK BRIDGE, / FOUGHT HERE / 27TH FEBRUARY, 1776. / THE FIRST VICTORY GAINED / BY THE AMERICAN ARMS / IN THE WAR OF THE / REVOLUTION.
Moores Creek National Battlefield, National Park Service
February 1859
34.506660 , -78.163330
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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
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
“Battle of Moore’s Creek,” Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, NC), March 2, 1857, 3, (accessed January 13, 2013) Link
“For The Journal,” Wilmington Journal (Wilmington, NC), February 11, 1859
“Moore’s Creek Celebration,” Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, NC) March 5, 1857, 2, (accessed January 7, 2013) Link
“Moore’s Creek Monument,” Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, NC), January 12, 1857, 3, (accessed January 7, 2013) Link
“Moore’s Creek Monument.” Wilmington Journal (Wilmington, NC), September 3, 1858
“The Moore’s Creek Monument.” Fayetteville WeeklyObserver (Fayetteville, NC, February 14, 1859
Yes
Sandstone, granite, brick
Moores Creek Monumental Association
$5,000
There is no record of a formal dedication of the completed monument. The cornerstone dedication was held on February 27, 1857, two years prior to the monument being erected. The speaker for that event was Joshua G. Wright, a Wilmington lawyer, who delivered an address recounting the details of the patriot victory to approximately 1,500-4,000 people in attendance. After the dedication speech, Dr. F.J. Hill, a relation of Colonel James Moore, deposited the box of Grady’s remains, sealed up the stone, and Rev. Mr. Grier read a benediction. The ceremony concluded with a military salute.
Grady Monument
The Battle of Moore’s Creek was fought on February 27, 1776. The monument commemorates the victory and honors the only patriot who died during the battle, Private John Grady of Duplin County. During the dedication ceremony in 1857, the cornerstone for the obelisk was laid into a brick foundation, which contained the reinterred remains of Grady. The project languished for a year before being revived in early 1858.
The monument is located at the Moores Creek National Battlefield Historic Park, 40 Patriots Hall Dr., Currie, NC 28435. It is in close proximity to the Loyalist and Moore monuments and is on the south side of the walking trail.
The monument stands on top of a slight hill in a clearing beside a forested area.
Yes
The Patriot Monument was moved on October 7, 1974 in preparation for the 1976 bicentennial celebrations and to improve the quality of the park experience.
An annual ceremony of the battle of Moores Creek is held in February and includes historic military demonstrations and reenactments.
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