Pat Chapter President Sandy McNeely was guest speaker at the February 2024 meeting. McNeely gave a presentation on the Battle of Moore's Creek which took place February 27, 1775. In this battle, North Carolina Revolutionaries defeated a force of North Carolina loyalist, in part thwarting a British invasion of the southern colonies. General Donald McDonald, who had amassed some 1,600 Scottish Highlanders and North Carolina Regulators, marched toward Wilmington, North Carolina, to join British troops coming by sea from Boston and England.
A rebel militia, about 1,000 strong, under Colonels Alexander Lillington and Richard Caswell, was assembled and positioned at Moore’s Creek Bridge, 18 miles northwest of Wilmington. The loyalists attacked the rebel force at the bridge but were quickly defeated. The rebels, of whom only one was killed and one wounded, captured or killed more than half of the loyalist forces and seized arms, supplies, and £15,000 sterling.
Later, Justin French, manager of Fort St. Jean Baptiste in Natchitoches was presented the NSSAR Flag Certificate for showing proper display of the American Flag. Lud McNeely was presented the Chapter Distinguished Service Medal for his long and faithful service as chapter treasurer.