Quote from Pioneer on June 3, 2016, 8:09 pm

I recently had the opportunity to visit Moores Creek National Battlefield near Wilmington, NC. I own the attached HK-92, and I recently thought about the idea of trying to visit all the battlefield locations on the 8 so-called dollars (most of which I do not own... yet). If anyone can post photos of any personal visits to any of the other national battlefields in the SCD series, i'd appreciate it.

In summary for Moores Creek, in Feb 1776, the British had a number of ships docked in Wilmington NC, and they had recruited an Army of 1600 strong "loyalists" predominantly made up of Scottish men with broadswords. This Army was intent on marching from the south central part of the state along the Cape Fear river to Wilmington to obtain muskets and cannons from the docked British ships. They were forced by the "Patriot" Army of 1000 strong to cross Moores Creek at Widow Moores Creek Bridge (as other key bridges had been blocked and/or dismantled). When the Scottish tired to cross in the early morning hours of 27 Feb 1776, they walked into a heavy fortified Patriot Army trap. The battle is said to have only lasted 3 minutes. The end result was the defeat of the British plans to control North Carolina (and it's key natural resource -- Pine Trees -- which produced Tar and turpentine -- key resources in shipbuilding). I hope this post and attached photos are of interest. My visit to Moores Creek was very interesting, and the monuments on the site are moving and come from the amazing era of 1876-1910 of monument placement referenced in so many so-called dollars. If I visit another "1776" battlefield mentioned in Lovett's Dollars, i'll plan to post it here in the future.

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:13 pm

Visit to the Battle of Long Island... in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn NY.  The actual statue now commemorating the site is the Altar of Liberty, placed in 1919, with her legally-mandated unobstructed view of the Statue of Liberty.  At the base of the status is a plaque that reads "On this Battle Hill, facing the Status of Liberty, this altar is erected to commemorate the Battle of Long Island, the first engagement of which was fought on this site, August 27, 1776, between General Lord Stirling with 20,000 Americans and General Grant with 6000 British.  This was the first battle of the national and the first stroke for our great American Charter of Rights and Liberties - The Declaration of Independence   ERECTED 1919"

 

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:15 pm

Here's the view between the Altar of Liberty and the Status of Liberty

 

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:26 pm

Battle of Harlem Heights (plaque on the Department of Mathematics Building at Columbia University, Broadway Street, New York).

The battles were fought in the New York and New Jersey -- action took place in what are now the Morningside Heights and west Harlem neighborhoods (Columbia University) of Manhattan in New York City on September 16, 1776.    The Continentals, who were in orderly retreat, were infuriated by the British sounding the “gone away” and galvanized to hold their ground.   After flanking the British attackers, the Americans slowly pushed the British back and after the British withdrawal, Washington had his troops end the pursuit.   The battle went a long way to restoring the confidence of the Continental Army after suffering several defeats and was Washington's first battlefield victory of the war

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:30 pm

Visit to the site of the Battle of Lake Champlain (aka Battle of Valcour Island) in July 2019; cross the water from Burlington VT.

The Battle of Valcour Island, also seen as Battle of Valcour Bay, was a naval engagement fought on October 11, 1776, in a narrow strait in Lake Champlain between the New York mainland and Valcour Island.   It is generally regarded as the first naval battle fought by the United States Navy.   Although the outcome of the battle was the destruction of most the American ships, the overall campaign delayed the British attempt to cut the colonies in half by a year and eventually led to the British military disaster at Saratoga in 1777.

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:35 pm

Visited the site of the Battle of White Plains in August 2019

The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the New York and New Jersey fought on October 28, 1776, near White Plains, New York.   Note that the battle was near Halloween (hence the legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman).   As background, following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward from New York City, British General William Howe landed troops in Westchester County, intending to cut off Washington's escape route.  Alerted to this move, Washington retreated further, establishing a position in the village of White Plains but failed to establish firm control over local high ground.   During the Battle of White Plains, Howe's troops drove Washington's troops from Chatterton hill near the village (you can visit the top of the hill and the cannon at the bottom); following this loss, Washington ordered the Americans to retreat further, but his forces were saved from British obliteration and in spite of the loss, saving the forces to fight again was a success.

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:48 pm

After defeating the Continental Army under the command of their Commander-in-Chief, George Washington, at the Battle of White Plains the British army, under the command of William Howe, looked to capture the last American stronghold, Fort Washington, on Manhattan Island. George Washington had thought of abandoning the Fort and removing its garrison of 3,000 men to New Jersey but had been convinced by General Nathaniel Greene to defend it. The battle was fought on November 16, 1776, and it was a decisive British victory and the entire garrison of Fort Washington was forced to surrender after a heroic defense.   The fort was repossessed by the Americans upon their triumphant entry back into the City of New York on November 25, 1783.

I visited the site of the The Battle of Fort Washington on Manhattan Island in September 2019; the markers were erected in 1901 and are in a small city park.  Photos attached.

Quote from Pioneer on November 27, 2020, 3:53 pm

I still have yet to visit the site of the Battle of Trenton ... plans got cancelled due to COVID pandemic, but I posted a photo of where I was to go.

The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776 after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey (see famous painting by Emanuel Leutze).   The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton.   After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans.   The battle significantly boosted the Continental Army's flagging morale, especially after the losses in New York, and inspired re-enlistments in the Continental Army.