Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-15
The Standard.
From Brancroft's q. 8. History, Volume 81
NORTH.CARObINA IN 1776.

From Brancroft's U 8. History, Volume s..
NORTH.C AROBlNA IN 1776.
The expedition to tho Carolinas never met the
approval Of Howe, who condemned the activity OF
the southern governors, and would have had them
avoid all Disputes till New York should be recover
ed. When Lord Dunmore learned from Clinton
that Cape Fear River WIS the place appointed for
the meeting of the seven regiments from lreiahu,
lie broke out into angry complaints, that no heeu
had been paid to his representations his suterings,
and his efforts; that Virginia the first on the con-
tinent for riches, power and extent" was neglected;
and the preference given to a poor, insignificant
COLONY" where there were no pilots, nor harbor
that could admit half the fleet and where the army,
should it land, must wade for many miles through
a sandy pine barren before it could reach the i'll
habited part of the country.
But Martin, who had good reason to expect the
arrival of the armament in January or early in Feb
ruary, was infatuated with the hope, that multi
tudes even in the county of Brunswick. would re-
volt from their new-fangled government" and
"his unwearicd, persevering agent" Alexander
Maclean, after a careful computation OF the num-
bers that would flock to the kings standard from
the interior, brought written assurances from the
principal persons to whom he had been directed,
that between two and three thousand men, of whom
about half were we'll armed, would take the field at
the governors summons Under this encourage
inent he was sent again into the back country, with
a commission dated the tenth of January, authoriz-
ing Allan Macdonald of Kingsborough, and eight
other Scots of Cumberland and Arson, and seven
teen persons who resided in belt of counties in
middle Carolina and in Rowan, to raise and array
all the kings loyal subjects, and to march with them
in body to Brunswick by the fifteenth of Feb
ruary. Donald Macdonald, then in his sxtyffh
year, was to command the army as brigadier; next
him in rank was Donald Macleod.
The first return to Martin represented that the
loyaliss were in high Spirits that their force would
smount even to six thousand men; that they were
well furnished with wagons and horses and that by
the twentieth or twenty fifth of February at furhest
they would be in possession Of Wilmington, and
within reach of the kings ships. On receiving
their commission, Wm Campbell, Neil Macarthur,
and Donald Macleod issued circular letters, inviting
all their associates to meet on the fifth Of February
at Cross Creek, or, it is now called, Fayetteville.
At the appointed time all the Scots appeared, and
four only Of the rest The Scots who would promise
no more than seven hundred men, advised to await
the arrival of the British troops; the other royaiss,
who boosted that they could bring out five thous-
and, of whom five hundred were already embodied,
prevailed in their demand for an immediate rising.
But the Highlanders, whose past conflicts were en-
nobed by their courage and fidelity to one another,
whose SORROWS borne for generations with forttude,
deserved at last to find relief were sure to keep
their word from blind instinct of kindred. they
took up arms for a cause in which their traditions
and their affections had no part while many of the
chiefs of the loyalsts shrunk from danger to hiding
places in swamps and forests. Employing few days
to collect his army, which was composed chiefly of
Highanders and remnants of the old Regulators,
Macdonald, on the eighteenth, began his march for
Wilmington. and at evening his army, of which
the number was very variously estimated. cncamped
on the Cape Fear River, four miles below Cross
Greek.
On that same day Moore, who, at the first menace
of danger took the field at the head of his regiment,
and lay in an intrenched camp at RockfiSh. was
joined by Ellington, with one hundred and fifty
minute men from Wilmington, by Kenan with two
hundred of the Duplin militia, and by Ashe with
about hundred volunteer independent rangers; so
that his number was increased to eleven hundred.
On the nineteenth the royalists were paraded,
with view to assail Moore on the following night
but his camp was too strong to be attempted; and
at the bare suspicion of such project, two COM
panes of Cotton'S corps ran off with their arms
On that day Donald Macdonald, their commander,
sent Donald Morrison with proclamation. prepared
the month before by Martin, calling on Moore and
his troops to join the kings Standard or to be con-
sidered as enemies. Moore made answer instantly.
that "nether his duty his inclination permitted
him to accept terms so incompatible with American
freedom" and in return, he besought Macdonald
not to array the deluded people under his command,
against men who were resolved to hazard every thing
in defence of the liberties of mankind. "You de-
clare sentiments Of revolt, hostility, and rebellion to
the king and to the constitution" was Macdonalds
prompt answer "as soldier in his majesty ser
vice. 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 masters"
But knowing that Caswcll, at the head of the
mi fnon nf Narh o,p onI l. Al.
number of six or eight hundred, was marching
through Duplin county. to effect junction with
Moore, Macdonald became aware of the extremity of
his danger; cut off from the direct road along the
Cape Fear, he resolved to leave the arnlv at Rock
fish IN his rear, and by CELEBRITY Of movement and
crossing rivers at unexpected places, to dsengage
himself from that larger force, and encounter the
party with Caswell alone. Before marching, he
urged his men to fidelity, expressed bitter scorn of
y the base cravens who had deserted the night be-
fore;" and continued: 81 any amongst you is so
faintheared as not to serve with the resolution of
conQucrlng or dying this is the time for such to de-
clare themselves" The speech was answered by
general huzza for the king; but from Cottons corps
about twenty men laid down their arms. The army
then marched to Fayetteville employed the night
in crossing the Cape Fear, sunk their boats. and
sent party fifteen miles in advance to secure the
bridge over South River This the main body
passed on the twenty first and took the direct route
to Wilmington. On the day on which they effected
the passage Moore detached Ellington and Ashe to
REINFORCE Caswe, or if that could not be effected
to occupy Moores Creek bridge.
On the following days the Scots and Regulators
drew near to Caswell, who perceived their purpose
and changed his own course the more effectnaly to
intercept their march. On the twenty third they
thought to overtake him, and were arrayed in the
order Of battle, eighty ablebodied Highlanders,
armed with broadswords, forming the centre of the
army; but Caswell was already posted at Corbetts
Ferry and could not be reached for want of boats
Inc royaiists were in extreme danger; but at a
point six miles higher up the Black River negro
succeeded in raising for their use broad shallow
boat; and while Maclean and Fraser, with a few
men, drum and apipe, were left to amuse Caswell,
the main body of the loyalists crossed Black River
near what is now Newkirk Bridge
On the twenty-ffth Ellington, who had not as
yet been able to join Caswell, took post with his
small party on the east side Of the bridge over
Moores Creek. On the afternoon of the twenty
sixth, Caswel reached its west side and raising
apI oc.L. IL