What started the battle at Moore's Creek?

Answer 1

A group of Loyalist troops under the command of Colonel Donald McLeod, an 80-year-old experienced British officer, assembled on February 15 in response to the Patriot movements in the region. McLeod led a force of about 700 Scots Highland emigrants and 800 Loyalist militia towards the Atlantic coast, with plans to join a group of British regulars at Moore's Creek Bridge, located about 20 miles (30 km) north of Wilmington. A group of around 1,000 Patriot volunteers and minutemen decided to contest the Loyalist march to the coast.