Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-25 00:00:00, page 2

N OR TH • CARO L I N A,
BJr\7 of <i letter from BrQadkr General Jautet
floor:, in the Continental service, to the Non-
Co welins Hurnet, Efe; freiideat of the Pruinn
cif Council, North Carolina, dated h'ibuington,
Dlred 2, 1„6.
^SI R.
" /"I" the ehrlitft intelligence that the Tories
I, were co'lehing and embodying at Cross
eteck, which 1 received on the 9th of Feb. I pro
ceeded to take peffeffion of Rocktilh bridge, with
infeven miles of Cross creek, which i considered
as an important poll This I effected on the 15th
with my own regiment, 5 pieces of artillery, and
a part of the Bladen militia ; but as our numbers
were by no means equal to that of the Tories, I
thought it mod advifeable to intrench and fortify
that pads, and wait for a reinforcement. By the
19th [ was joined by Col. Lillington with 150 of
the Wilmington minutemen, Cob Kenon with 200
of rhe Duplin militia, and Col. A:h with about 100
of the volunteer independent rangers, making our
numbers then in the whole about 1 100, and from
the best information I was able to procure, rhe
To r y army, under command of Gen. M'Donald,
amounted to about 14 or Igeo. On the 20th
they marched within four mikS of us, and sent in
by a flag of truce, the Governor's proclamation,
a manifefto and letter from the Gen. copies of
which, together with another letter and my an
swers, you have inclofed. I then waited only
until Col. Martin and CoLThackßon who I bad
certain intelligence were on their march, should
get near enough to cut off their retreat, and de
termined to avail myfelf of the firft favourable
opportunity of attacking them. However, con
trary to my expectations, I learnt on the 21st that
they had the night before, and that morning cros
sed the N.Weft river at Campbelltown with their
whole army, funk aid destroyed all the boa 3, and
taken their route the most direct way to Negroe
Head point, I th@n difpatche'd an express to Col.
Cafwell, who was on his march to join us with
about ^OO men, and directed him to return and
take possession of Corberts's-ferry over Black-river
and by every means in his power t^obfhud, harrafs
and distress them in their march; at the fametime
I dire^ed Col. Martin and Col. Thackfton to take
pblfelhon of Cross creek, in order to prevent their
return that way. Col. Lillington and Co!. Ash I
ordered, by a forced march, to endeavour if pos
sible to reinforce Col. Cafwell, but if that could
not be c/feded, to take possession of Moore's creek
bridge, whilst I proceeded back with the remain
der of eur army to cross the N. Weft at Elizabeth
town, so as either to meet them on their way to
Corbert's ferry, or fall in their rear and fur
roundthem there. On the 23d Icroffed the river
at Elizabeth town, where I was compelled to wait
for afupply of provisions until ths 24th at night,
having learnt that Cul. Cafwell was almost entire
ly without. Just when I was prepared to march,
I received an express from Col. Cafwell, inform
ing that the Tories had railed a flat, which had
been f unk in Black river about § miles above him,
and by erecting a bridge had passed it with their
whole army. I then determined, asthe last expe
dient. to ptoCeed immediately in boats down the
N. W. rivet to Dollifon's landing about 60 miles,
and to take puffeffion of Moore's creek bridge, about
10 miles from them, at the fame time acquainting
Col. Cafwell of my intentions, and recommending
to him to retreat to Moore's creek bridge if possible,
but if not, to follow on in their rear. The next
day by four o'clock we arrived at Dollifon's land
ing, but as we could net possibly march that night
for want of horses for the artillery, I dispatched
an express to Moore's creek bridge, to learn the
iituation of affairs there, and was informed that
Col. Lillington, who had the day before taken his
Rand at the bridge, was that afternoon reinforc
ed by Col. Cafwell, and that they had railed a
small breastwork, and destroyed a part of the
bridge.
66 The next morning, the 27th, at break of
day, an alarm gun was fired, immediately after
which, scarce allowing our people a moment to
prepare, the Tory army with Capt. M'Cleod at
their h ad, made their attack, on Col. Cafwell
and Col- Lillington and finding a small in
trenchment next the bridge on our fide empty,
concluded that our people had abandoned their
post, and in the molt furious manner advanced
within thirty paces of our breastwork and artil
lery, where they met a very proper reception.
Capt M'Cleod and Capt. Campbell fell within
a riv paces of the breastwork, the former of
whom received upwards of twenty balls through
his body; and in a very few minutes their whole
army was put to the flight, and molt Shamefully
abandoned their General who was next day taken
prisoner. The loss of the enemy in this action,
from the best accounts we have been able to
learn-, is about 30 killed and wounded ; but as
numbers of them meft have fallen into the crock,
besides many more that were carried off, 1 s up .
pufe their loss may be estimated at about 50. We
had only 2 wounded, one of which died this
day. Thus, Sir, I have the pleasure to inform
you', has most happily terminated a very dange.
reus infurredion, and will, I trust, put an effec
tual check to Toryifm in this country.
~ The filiation of affairs at this place raade
it necessary for me to return here, which, at the
Special request of the Committee, 1 did lad night
with my regiment. The large reqUifitions made
by the men of war, who now lie just below the
town, gave the inhabitants reason to apprehend
every thing that could be fuffered from their
difappomted vengeance, however, the Commit
tee have most spiritedly determined rather to
fufrr the word of human eviL than afford them
any fupolice at all, and 1 have no doubt we Shall
be able to present them from doing any great
injury. , 1
" In order to lessen as much as possible the 1
expense incurred by this expedition, i some time
^ direaed Col. Martin to dilband all the .
traces under his command, except 1060, includ
ing the regulars, and with those to secure the
pedons and estates of the insurgents fubjed to
your farther orders, and then to proceed to this
klace, unless otlfrfedin&d. However, a#l
do net think the service just now requires such
a number ot men in arms, 1 Shall immediately
hired him to disband all except the regulars,
and with those ro remain in and about Ciofs
creek until forth r orders."
Extrafl of a letter from Col. Richard Cafwell, late
a Delegate for the province of North-Carolina in
the Continental Congref, and now Commander cf
a holy oftrobfos in that province, to the Non. ( or
neUar Harriet, F,fy PreJident of the Provincial
Council of North-^arolina, dated from his Camp
at Long-Creek Fe'. 29, 1776.
" Sir,
" I have the p'eafure to acquaint you that we
had an engagement with the Tories, at Widow
Moore's Creek bridge, on the 27th current. Our
army was about 1000 Strong, confiding of the
Newbern battalion of minutemen, the militia from
Craven, Johnffotz, Dobbs and Wake, and a detach
ment of the Wilmington battalion of minutemen,
which we found encamped at Moore's creek the
night before the. battle, under the command of
Col. Lillington. The Lories by common report
were 3000, but Gen. McDonald, whom we have
a prisoner, lays there were about 13 or <6oo ; he
was unwell that day, and not in the battle. Capt.
M'Cleod, who seemed to be the principal com
mander, with Capt. John Campbell, are among
the flan. Thenilmber killed and mortally wound
ed, fi om the best accounts 1 was able to collect,
was about 30, most of them were Shot on their
pafhngthe bridge. Several had fallen into the wa
ter, fonle of whom, I am pretty certain, had not
ri'en yederday evening, when I left the camp;
such prisoners as we have made, fay, there were
at lead §oof their men miffing. The Tories were
totally put to the rout, and will certainly disperse.
Cel. Moore arrived at our campa few hours after
the engagement was over ; his troops came up
that evening, and are now encamped on the ground
where the battle was fought; and Col. Martin is
at or near Cross creek, with a large body ofmen;
those, I presume, will be fufficient effectually to
put a flop to any attempt to embody agafa. I
therefore (with Col. Moore's consent) am re
turning to Newbern with the troops under my
command, where I hope to receive your orders to
dismiss them. There I intend carrying the Gene
ral. If the council should rife before my arrival, be
pleased to give order in what manner he ftiall be
disposed cf. Our officers and men behaved with
the spirit and intrepidity becoming freemen, con
tending for their dearest privileges."
H Letter from Donald M'Donald, Est; lately cre
ated Brigadier^General in the Tory army, by Gov.
Martin, to Brigadier-General Moore, at Rockfijh,
dated Feb. 19, 1776.
" Sir,
" I herewith fend the bearer, Donald Morri
son, by advice of the Commissioners appointed by
his Excellency Josiah Martin, and in behalf of
the army now under my command, to propefe
terms to you as friends and countrymen. I mast
fu^pofe you unacquainted with the Governor's
I reclamation, commanding all his Majesty's loyal
fubjecis to repair to the King's Royal Standard,
else I should have imagined you would, ere this,
have joined the King's army now engaged in hisMa
jefty's service—l have therefore thought it proper
to intimate to you, that in case you do not, by
12 o'clock to-morrow, join the Royal Standard,
I must confider you as enemies, and take the ne
cessary steps for the support of legal authority.
“ I beg leave to remind you of his Majesty's
speech to his Parliament, wherein he offers to re
ceive the milled with tenderraefs and mercy, from
motives of humanity, I again heg of you to accept
the profcred clemency. I make no doubt but you
will Tew the gentleman sent on this message, every
possible civility, and you may depend, in return,
that all your officers and men which may fall into
our hands, ftiall be treated with an equal degree
of refpe&. I have the honor to be, in behalf of
the army, Sir, your most obedient humble servant
DON. MAC DONALD.
His Excellency's proclamation is herewith enclosed.
Brigadier-Genera! Modre's answer.
"Sir,
" Yours of this day I have received, in anfwet
to which I muff inform you, that the terms which
you are pleased to fay, in behalf of the army un
der your command, are offered to us as friends
and countrymen, are such as neither my duty or
inclinations will permit me to accept, and which,
1 must presume you too much of an officer to ex,
ped ofme.—You were very right when you sup
posed me unacquainted with the Governor's pro
clamation, but as the terms therein proposed are
such as I hold incompatible with the freedom of
Americans, it can be no rule of conduct for me;
however, ffiould I not hear further from you be
fore 12 o'clock to-morrow, by which time I shall
have an opportunity of consulting my officers here,
and perhaps Col. Martin, who is in the neigh
bourhood of Cross-Creek, you may expert a more
particular anfiver ; mean time you may be assur
ed that the feelings of humanity will induce me to
(hew that civility to such of your people as may fall
into our hands, as I am desirous should be observ
ed towards those of ours, who may be unfortunate
enough to fall into yours. Jam, Sir, your most
obedient and very humble servant.".
Camp at ReckdJb,? JA. MOOR E.
Feb. 19th, 1775.5
from Brigadier General Moore to Brigadier Gene
ral M'Donal'L
" Sir,
'' Agreeable to my promise of yesterday I have
eonfulted the Officers under my command, ref
peding your letter, and am happy in finding them
unanimous in opinion with me.—Y7e confider our
selves engaged in a cause the mod glorious and ho
norable in the world, the defence of the liberties
of mankind, in fupp n rt of which we are determi
ned to hazard every thing dear and valuable; ahd
in tenderness to the deluded people under your
command, permit me, Sir, through you to inform
them, before it is too late, of the dangerous and
deftruedive precipice on which they stand, and to
remind them of the ungrateful return they are
about to make for,their favorable reception in this
country ; ir this is not fufficient to recall them to
the duty which thev owe to therhielves and their
posterity, inform them that they are engaged in a
cause in which they cannot succeed, as not only the
whole force of this country, but that of our neigh
bouring provinces is exerting and now actually in
motion to suppress them, and which must end in
their utter dedruaion. Defir^us however of
avoiding the effufion of human blood. I have
thought proper to fend you a copy of the test re
commended by the Continen.al Congress, which
it they will yet fubferibe, and lay down their arms
by to-morrow 12 o'clock, we are willing to re
ceive them as friends and countrymen. -Should
thi3 4 offer be rejected, I Tall confider them as ene
mies to the Conditutional Liberties of America,
and treat them accordingly.
" 1 cannot conclude without reminding you,
Sir, of the oath whieh you and feme of your of
ficers took at Newbern, on your arrival to this
country, which I imagine you will find difficult to
reconcile to your present conduft.—l have no
doubt that the bearer, Captain James Walker,
will be treated with proper civility and refpea in
your camp. I am, Sir,
Campat RockfJh,? Your most obedient and
Feb. 20, 1776.) Very humble servant,
J A. MOORE."
From Brigadier General M'Denald to Brigadier
General Moore.
" Sir-,
" I received your favour by Capt. James Wal
ker, and observed your declared sentiments of
revolt, hostility and rebellion to the King, and to
what I tinderftand to be the constitution of this
country.—ls Ihm mistaken future consequences
must determine, but while I continue in my pre
sent sentiments I Tall confider myfelf embarked
in a cause which rauft, in its consequences, extri
cate this country from anarchy and licentiousness.
f canot conceive that the Scots emigrants, to
whom, I imagine, you allude, can be mder great
er obligations to this country than to that King,
under whose gracious and merciful government
they alone could have been enabled to visit this
western region And I trust, Sir, it is in the
womb of time'to fay, that they are not that delud
ed and ungrateful people which you would repre
sent them to be. As a soldier in his Majesty's
service, I must inform you, if you are yet tolearn,
that it is my duty to conquer, if I cannot reclaim,
all those who may be hardy enough to take up
arms against the best of matters as of Kings. I
have the honour to be, in behalfof the army un
der my command, Sir, your most obedient servant.
Head-Barters,') DON. M'DONALD.
20th Feb. 1776.3
JAMES MOORE, Esquire.
(For the remainder fee the Pefjeript.)
^^•%^^^^^s-^^-^s^§s§€,^
Tothe PEOPLE 0, PENNSYLVANIA.
LETTER IV.
ALAS POOR CATO!
Jg/*H Asa buzz haft thou raised about thine ears?
' How canfl thou proceed in th, lucubrations ?If
the following Soliloquy canyield thee an, consola
tion, thou art welcome to place it either tn front or
rear of thy next letted. Thou wilt perceive tbyfelf
more indebted for it to William Shakespeare,
than to Ib, Friend and Reader,
HAMLE T.
To write or not to write; that is the queftiou—
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to bear
Th' unlicens'd wrongs of furious party-zeal,
Or dip the pen into a nest of hornets
And Kill, by teazing, wake them? To write, to
answer—
No more ? And by a single answer end
1 he thousand scorns and heart-aches which an au-
Is born to fuffer—^'Tis a consummation [thor
Devoutly to be wifh'd! To write, to answer,
Reply, perchance rejoin—aye, there's the rub !
For in replies, and answers, and rejoinders,
Who knows what deadly broils and feuds may come,
When we have fliuffl.d off this mortal zest
Of mutual forbearance. There's the curse
That makes calamity of wordy war.
For who would bear the fcoffing of the times,
The Tory's hated name, the Lool of Power,
The contumely of the penfon'dfave,
When he himfelf might his quietus make,
With a dry quill? Who would endure this Pain*,
This foul difeharge of wrath from Adam's sons
Marfhall'd in dread array, both old and Young,
Their pop-guns here, end there their heavy Cannon,
Our labor'd pages deem'd not worth a Ru/h
^ut that the dread of fomethin; worse to some,
Some undifcover'd mischief, puzzles thought,
And makes one ratter court the ancient path
Than fly to others that we know not of !
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is ficklicd o'er with the pale caff of fear,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard, their currents turn awry.
THE foregoing Soliloquy, my dear country
men, was really put into my hands by a friend,
and I have beftewed feme furious thoughts upon its
contents. But I had before resolved upon my part.
The authors, or if I must fay author, cf what is
called Common Sense has certainly had fair play.
Full time has been allowed him, by the sale of his
pamphlet, to reap the fruits of his labors, and gra
tify that avidity with which many are apt to devour
doQrines that are out of the common way —bold,
marvellous, and flattering. What was intended as
a compliment to the public-—to give them time to
gaze with their own eyes, and reason with their own
faculties, upon this extraordinary appearance—the
author's vanity has conftiued wholly in his own fa
vor. He has called repeatedly fo< answers, and
announced his fecoad edition to the world in the
following drain cf felf-adulation, “ That as no
answer hath yet appeared it is now preferred that
none will," and therefore, as may be fairly implied,
that he is unanswerable. Why then, wh n his
challenge is accepted, will not he and his fecends
fight upon fair terns? Why will they leek to draw
the attention of the public from things to med, re
lufing that quarter to others which the author of
Common Sense craves for himfelf? “ Who the au her
cf this publication is (fays he) is wholly unneces
sary to the public, as the object of attention is the
dollrine idelf, not the man 1 " Can this sentence be
reconciled to all the pother made about Cato, who
and what he is; or does it net rather betray some
Symptoms of fear and cowardice, to beset him .t
tile threlhold, and seek to flop him in his match to
' Some writers in imitaßon f our anchors vet spell
thlt ward Pay ne.
the field ? What, although be ?itim„s '0 walk
forth humbly with b^ ft h in hi, ham-, me .has
been lumewhn late in filling I s fetip wb^ Acres
to nice, tlris GOLI a rt; should he tuer'lor* b^ taunt-'
ingly defied ? If what iscalltd Cg^.^oa Sense be
le-diy Common Senfa it is invulnerable, and every
attack upon it, will but add to the authors tri
umph. if it should be piovid, in any inrtances, to
be Non-Sense, millions will be interested in the dist
coveiy ; and to them I appeal.
Once iHore 1 repeat the dtfen of these letters, in
which I c n eive a question to be involved of the
greased in parlance that ever came before us a
question not yet decided, and which ought there
fore to be fully difeuffed. Opprobrious names can
prove nothing here, except that they who use ihfm
have nothing better to lay, and are afraid of their
cause. It is probable that some may fee their inhe
red upon one tide of the question, and some uppa
the other; but that the great body of the people
can have any interest leparate from their country, or
(when fairly underfloor) purine a»y other, is not
to be imagined. It Cato may be believed, he can
confeientioufly class himfelf with this great body,
and can aflure his readers that the guesses hitherto
made concerning him are rather unlucky.
Great pains have been taken to engage him in a
contest with our Committee, but as nothing has,
been quoted from him which concerns that body in
general, he leaves his letters to answer for them
telves § and if his comments on the circular letter co
the County Committees should appear to the pub
lic not to be well warranted, he will submit to their
judgment. But he finds it would be endless t@
answer all the filly queries, and daily scribble, of
his opponents ; and has learned better than to be
drawn bom his main olje& by indulging them in
this w^y. It would be too great a trespass upon the
readei s patience, he has viewed the ground ora
which he itands, and is not afraid to tread it in the
fight of the m®ft vigilant Son of Liberty; making
that free use of the Pre, which is promised to him°,
without the least violation of any relolve of this con
tinent, hitherto made.
One fide of a great question has been held up to
us. We are told that it can never be our interest to
have any future connexion with Great-Britain, and
are pressed immediately to declare our total repara
tion, for now is the time— send the time has found us.
Could it be expe&ed that all America would idifant
ly take a leapin the dark, or that any who had not
a p re d£liaion for the do&rine, or were capable of
reasoning upon it, would swallow it in the gross,
without wishing to hear the arguments on the other
fide? lam sure this is the wish of multitudes of good
men, particularly of those who may be principally
concerned in deciding the question ; and whose
sarneft desire it is not only to know the sense of in
dividuals, but the clear lenfe of their country upon
it; without which they could not think theinfelves
at liberty to give their decision.
Upon this ground, then, I proceed, and shall rest
the cause with my adversaries on the present ge
'"f' defence, wliich, (altho' I am sorry it was ne-<
ceffary) I have reason to think, will be more ac
ceptable to the public, than the mifpending time ia
private altercation. 1 hole who oppose me, may
enjoy for a while (perhaps unnoticed) all the tri
umph of the answers they may give; and if it is
found at lass, as has been already hinted, that I
have said nothing to the purpose, their fide of the
question will only be strengthened.
In my remarks upon the pamphlet before me, I
ftiall firit confider those arguments on which the au
thor appears to lay his chief stress; and these are
collected under four heads, in his conclusion.
It is the custom of nations, when any two are
" at war, for some other powers not engaged in the
" quarrel, to step in as mediators, and bring about
“ the preliminaries of Peace. But while America
'' calls herfelf a fubjeft of Great-Britain, no pow
“ er, however well difyofed ffie may be, can offer
" her mediation."
Is this Common Sexfe, or conimon Nonsense ? Sure
ly, peace with Great-Britain cannot be the obje& of
this writer, after the horrible chara&er he has given
us of the people of that country, and telling us that
reconciliation with them would be our ruin. The
latter part of the paragraph fe)ms to cast some light
upan the former, altho' it contradicts it; for these
mediators are not to interfere for making up the
quarrel, but to widen it, by Supporting us in a de
claration, that we are not fabjeNs of Great- Britain ;
a new fort of business, truly, for mediators !
But this leads us dirtily to the main enquiry-—
what foreign powers are able to give us this Cup
port? Whether they can be persuaded to engage
with us ? What will he their terms ? Is an alliance
with them fafe; or is it to he pieferred to an ho
norable and firm renewal of that ancient connexi
on, under which we have so long flourished?
These quaftions cannot but employ the most seri
ous thoughts of men whose all is at stake, in the
resolution of them ; and they ought to be answered
to the general fatisfaßion, before we are launched
out into a tempestuous ocean, of which we knbw
not the other fhore-.That a continuance of mutu
al violence and hate may at last force us upon such
an ocean, is not altogether improbable ; and it is
possible that we may gain feme port of fafety, al
tho' in a shattered condition. Not a word ftiall be
drawn from me to difcrelit oar own strength or re
sources, altho' the accounts given es them, by the
author of Common Sense, appear incredible t* some?
I will even „o beyond him in expressing my good
opinion of our situation. He thinks foreign affi
ance necessary to ug. I think we should but be in
jured by it. We ae able to defend our own rigi ts,
and to fruftrate the attempt of any nation upon
earth to govern us by force—For my part I would
rifqne niy all in refilling every attempt oi this kind
at every hazard.
But let us fee what nffiftnnce he offers us; and
we find France and Spain held out for that purpose,
altho' not as mediators, to “ strengthen the con
nexion between Great-Britain and America," but
wholly to dissolve it+
As to Spain, it is well known that the govern
ment of her own unwieldy Colonies is already a
weight which lire can hardly bear; and some pre
found politicians have thought that, from the firtt,
the has rather been weakened than '.Lengthened by
them ; and that all her returns of gold and silver
from A merica are but a poor compensation for the
lives and cost with which they are purcbafed. It
may well be questioned, then, tuppofing Spain were
able to assist us in er< fling an Independent Empire in
America, whether her jealousy would permit her
to risque the prffdrility of our seducing her own
American luf,&s into an alliance with us, for the
purpose of a futme revolt fiom hert'eif. But <ur
author mentions France as well as brain, and thus
q ropofes that both branches of the Bourbon Family,
so long the terror of Protefiarrts and Freemen, fbomd
row join /as their protestors ! By what means, <..r
at what price, is this marvellous revolution in the
fyltem of politics, rcftcion at d liberty, to be arcorn
prifhed ? How arc these two pixels to divide these
Colonies between them? I> their f tiidimflrip to he
j dot or separate r Umbo whole winj is I'etiPblvn
nia to fall—that or the mull Catholic or mor (drift
an King ?
1 conidia that theft quefomu HQ <r me § and,