The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-23 00:00:00, page 1

In C ONGRESS, March 20, 1776.
T THEREAS, in the execution of the resolve of
\A/ Congress of the fourteenth of March refpeding
YV the disarming difaffedled persons, many fire arms
' may be taken which may not be fit for use,
to arm any of the troops mentioned therein, therefore re
solved, That all the fire arms so taken, being appraised ac
cording to said resolve, none of them shall be paid for but
those that are fit for the use of such troops, or that may con
veniently be so made, and the remainder shall be fafely kept
by the Assemblies, Conventions, Councils, or Committees of
Safety for the owners, to be delivered to them when the Con
gress shall direct.
March 21, 1776.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assem
blies, Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety, and
, Committees of Correfponder.ee and Infpe&ion, that they ex
ert their utmost endeavours to promote the culture of HEMP,
FLAX, and COTTON, and the growth of WOOL, in
these United Colonies.
Resolved, That it be recommenced to the said Assemblies,
Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety, that
they take the earliest measures for erefting and ellablifhing, in
each and every colony, a Society for the improvement of
agriculture, art,' manufactures, and commerce ; and to main
tain a correspondence between such Societies, that the rich
and numerous natural advantages of this country, for sup
porting its inhabitants, may not be neglected.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the said Assemblies,
Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety, that
they forthwith confider of ways and means of introducing
the manufactures of DUCK and SAIL CLOTH, and STEEL,
into such colonies where they are not now understood ; and of
encouraging, increasing, and improving them where they are.
Extracts from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST-
Intelligence from North-Carolina.
Extract of a letter from Brigadier General James Moore, in
the Continental service, to the Honorable Cornelius Har
net, Esq; President of the Provincial Council, North-
Carolina, dated Wilmington, March 2, 1776.
ON the earliest intelligence that the Tories were collect
ing and embodying at Cross creek, which I received on
the ninth of February, 1 proceeded to take possession of Rock
fifu bridge, within seven miles of Cross creek, which I con
sidered as an important post. This 1 effected on the fifteenth'
with my own regiment, five 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 most, advifeable to
intrench and fortify that pass, and wait for a reinforcement.
By the nineteenth I was joined by Col. Lillington with one
hundred and fifty of the Wilmington minute-men, Col.
Keuon with two hundred of the Duplin militia, and Col. Aih
with about one hundred of the volunteer independant rangers,
making our numbers then in the whole about eleven hundred,
Vol. ll.]
Price only Two Coppers.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1776,
Published every Tuesday, Tburfday, and Saturday Evenings.
147
and from the belt information I was able to procure, the Tory
army, under command of General M'Donald, amounted to
about fourteen or fifteen hundred. On the twentieth they
marched within four miles of us, and sent in by a flag of
truce, the Governor's proclamation, a manifefto and letter
from the General, copies of which, together with another
letter and my answers, you have inclofed. I then waited only
until Col. Martin and Col. Thacktlon who 1 had certain in
telligence were on their march, should get near enough tocut
off their retreat, and determined to avail myfelf of the firft fa
vorable opportunity of attacking them. However, contrary to
my exportations, 1 learnt on the twenty-firft that they had
the night before, and that morning crossed the N. Weft river
at Campbelltown with their whole army, funk and destroyed all
the boats, and taken their rout the most direCt way to Negroe
Head point, I then defpatched an express to Col. Cafwell,
who was on his march to join us with about eight hundred
men, and directed him to return and take possession of Cor
berts's ferry overßlack river, and by every meads in his power
to obstruct, harrafs and distress them in their march ; at the
fame time I direCted Col. Martin and Col. Thackiton to take
possession of Cross creek, in order to prevent their return that
way. Col. Lillington and Col. Ash I ordered, by a forced
march, to endeavor if possible to reinforce Col. Cafwell, b^t
if that could not be effected, to take possession of Moore's
creek bridge, whilst I proceeded back with the remainder of
our 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 surround them there. On the twenty-third, I crossed
the river at Elizabeth town, where I was compelled to wait for
a supply of provisions until the 24th at night, having learnt
that Col. Cafwell was almost intirely without. Just when £
was prepared to march, I received an express from Col. Caf
well, informing that the Tories had raised a flat, which had
been funkin Black river about five miles above him, and by
ereding a bridge had passed it with their whole army. I then
determined, as the lall expedient, to proceed immediately in
boats down the N. W. river to Dollifon's landing about 60 miles
from them,and to take possession of Moore's creek bridge,about
ten miles, 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 landing,
but as we could not possibly march that night, for want of
horses for the artillery, I defpatched an express to Moore's
creek bridge, to learn the situation of affairs there, and was
informed that Col. Lillington,,who had the day before taken
his Rand at the bridge, was that afternoon reinforced by Col.
Cafwell, and that they had raised a fmail breastwork, and de
stroyed a part of the bridge. The next morning, the twenty
seventh, 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'Cloud at their head, made their
attack on Col. Cafwell and Col. Lillington, and finding a
small intrenchment next the bridge on our fide empty, con
cluded that our people had abandoned their poll, and in the
most furious manner advanced within thirty paces of our breast-
[Num. 183.