James Moore, born in New Hanover, North Carolina, in 1737, was a lineal
descendant of the Marquis of Drogheda, Ireland. He was a captain of
artillery under Governor Tryon at the defeat of the Regulators at
Alamance in 1771, and colonel of the first regiment of North Carolina
troops that was raised for the defence of that State. In February,
1776, he was in command of the force a part of which, under Col. John
A. Lillington and Col. Richard Caswell, won the first victory in the
Revolution, at Moore’s Creek bridge near Wilmington, North Carolina,
over fifteen hundred Scotch Tories. For this exploit he was promoted
to be brigadier-general, March 1, 1776, made commander-in-chief of the
Southern Department, and received the thanks of Congress. His military
career, opening with such promise, was of short duration, as he fell
a victim to climatic fever, dying on the 15th of January, 1777, at
Wilmington, while on his way to join Washington.