March 9
The day began with the heartbreaking news that Virginia Tech had lost its men’s ACC basketball tournament game last night to NC State. Three friends of mine had attended the game. I met up with them at their hotel this morning, tears having been shed last night at the Greensboro Coliseum. You can see a photo of the four of us in the Daily Trip Report section. Ruth and Ralph (middle two) live in Roanoke, with their daughter Lucy. Ruth and I graduated from Hokie University (only Virginia Tech people appreciate the term “Hokie”, as our mascot). Lori (far left in photo) went to the same elementary schools as I did in Fairfax County, back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. My brother and I walked by her house every day on our way to school, with both families living in Kings Park West. This was not discovered until years later when Ruth and Lori became good friends. What a small world!
After an hour or so of walking down memory lane, I headed to Guilford Court House NMP. The staff is top notch (as has all of the rangers I have met so far), with three rangers enthusiastically welcoming me to the park. After seeing my tee-shirt and reading the postcard I presented them, they replied they had been told about my quest by rangers from other parks, and had been awaiting the day of my arrival to their park. Their park is #106, with 318 to go. A ten-minute video in the VC gave an overview of the battle. This is a video screen version of those light displays I have mentioned previously, which takes one through the course of a battle. Every battlefield park should have one of these mechanisms to easily describe the movements of the opposing forces. Then, when a visitor walks out to the actual battlefield, they have a sense of what transpired, and in which directions. I noticed plenty of signage on the self-guided autotour route, telling people they can and cannot park here or there. Turns out the park is preparing to have its anniversary events this weekend, 242 years after the battle.
March 15, 1781 is when American General Greene and British Lord Cornwallis faced off in what became the final turning point of the southern campaign. Even though the British won the 2.5-hour battle, the loss of 25% of their men forced Cornwallis to retreat and head into Virginia, and ultimately Yorktown. Greene deployed his militia and Colonial troops in three lines, just as had been done at Cowpens, back in January. But this time the lobster-backs cruised through the first two lines of defense and forced a Patriot retreat from the third line. The autotour takes you by each of the lines. One can walk the road on which the British approached, and which the Patriots had straddled in their lines A few monuments are located around the park, the largest being that of General Greene. One of the quotes on the monument is from Cornwallis… “Greene is as dangerous as Washington. I never feel secure when encamped in his neighborhood.” How is that for respect?
A comment for the younger generation reading my blog. One wall in the VC is full of original artifacts from the battle. Over the decades, and through donations, balls, sabers, flintlocks, bayonets, grape shot, etc have been added to the park’s collection. Seeing these historical items is something one cannot experience by reading a book. Yes, using books to gain knowledge is important. But be sure to ask your parents to take you to these landmarks in our country’s history so you can see for yourself the legacies of our ancestors.
My next stop, Moores Creek NB, was as important to the Revolutionary War as Guilford CH, only it was on the front end of the conflict, in February of 1776. Almost a year after the “Shot Heard Round the World” of April-1775, the American troops would have their first major victory. Nearly 1,000 Carolinian Patriots waited for Loyalists to attack their earthworks at Moores Creek. The bridge which spanned the 10-foot-deep creek was the lone pathway between Wilmington and Cross Creek (today this is Fayetteville). Both sides knew the importance of this wooden structure. The Patriots dismantled some of the wood planks and covered the remainder with soap and oil. When the Loyalists attacked, they could not keep enough men coming across into the battle to secure a victory. The Patriots had two small cannon to help with their defense. The attack lasted about three minutes, then the Loyalists retreated. Thirty men lay dead, but only one being a Patriot; Private John Grady. His remains are buried in the park, underneath a large monument. The victory gave the Continental Congress more reason to declare independence, later in 1776 (yes, we all know what that date was).
A one-mile paved path snakes through the park, allowing visitors to stop at the most important sites of the battle. A long boardwalk was built upstream of the “battle bridge” to get people across to the other side. I met a fellow park enthusiast at one of the information placards on the bridge. We agreed the area under the bridge made one think of Congaree Swamp NP. A sign near the water said alligators live in the area, so keep an eye out. He wished me well on my Quest.
Though the earthworks passed by the trail are reconstructed, archeologists discovered the remains of the originals, and these new earthworks are situated right on top. A replica swivel gun (one of the “cannon”) is sitting on top of one of the earthworks. The larger cannon is pointing right at the bridge, from the position it held during the battle. One of the more interesting monuments is for the women of the region, who helped in the cause. This is one of only a few monuments dedicated to women found on our Revolutionary War battlefields. Penelope Barker led the Edenton Tea Party in 1774, after the infamous Boston Tea Party in 1773. Both men and women played important roles in the war.
The park is also one of the areas in North Carolina where the famous, and critically endangered, Venus Flytrap grows. Ranger Adam had told me where to view some plants, but when I first looked, I had a feeling I did not know what to look for. Adam had said these are not the size we are used to seeing in Hollywood movies, but I still could not make heads or tails. Another ranger told me to look very close to the ground. Sure enough, there they were. I may need to start wearing glasses. A photo of a couple of plants are in the Trip Report. Yes, they are very small. Adam also said a group of elementary school students had been by in the morning for an outing in the park. He enjoys teaching youngsters about the park, the battle, and history in general. His previous career had been serving in our country’s Coast Guard, so he has been east, west, south, and north across America’s waters.