Part 17 (2/2)

10. The defeat of the Tories thwarted the schemes of Governor Martin, and so dispirited the Scotch and Regulators that years elapsed before they gave further trouble. Lord Cornwallis came into the Cape Fear River with his army, but hearing of the disaster, sailed away, having effected nothing but an inglorious descent upon the farm of General Robert Howe.

11. Thus began and ended the first British invasion of North Carolina. Colonel Moore was made a General for his skill in planning the campaign, and Caswell, Lillington and Ashe, with their gallant commands, were everywhere honored for their bravery and success.

[NOTE--A proclamation was issued soon after this, giving pardon to all who would submit to the government of the King, except General Robert Rowe and Cornelius Harnett.]

QUESTIONS.

1. What was the situation in Wilmington in 1776? What important news was received?

2. What expedition was coming to Wilmington? How was it to be reinforced? How was Colonel Moore preparing to meet these men from Cross Creek?

3. Mention other preparations for a fight.

4. Give an account of Colonel Caswell's position on Moore's Creek.

5. Who commanded the Tories? Describe his charge upon the Whigs.

6. Give an account of the battle of Moore's Creek. When did this occur? Locate the scene of this battle on the map.

7. What was the result?

8. What is said of the victory at Moore's Creek? What was promptly done by North Carolina?

9. What is said of this campaign?

10. What distinguished British officer entered the Cape Fear?

11. How did the people feel towards Colonel Moore and other commanding officers?

CHAPTER XXVII.

FOURTH PROVINCIAL CONGRESS DECLARES INDEPENDENCE.

A. D. 1776.

The Hillsboro Congress of August, 1775, formally inaugurated a war of resistance to British oppressions, but to the Halifax Congress of April, 1776, was left the crowning glory of being the first in all the colonies to declare for absolute independence of the mother country and for foreign alliances.

2. It was quickly seen when the new Congress met at Halifax, on the 4th of April, 1776, that great progress had been made in public sentiment. At Hillsboro professions of loyalty and of a desire for continued connection with Great Britain, some honest, but many of questionable sincerity doubtless, were still to be heard. At Halifax there was neither halting nor hesitation in avowing that absolute independence from the mother country was the real aim of the people of the province.

3. The time for the final plunge had come, and North Carolina was quite ready for it. Accordingly, on the fourth day of the session, a committee was appointed to take into consideration the usurpations and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parliament of Britain against America, and the further measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of the province. Four days later, that is to say, on the 12th day of April, 1776, a day ever to be remembered in the annals of America, the committee reported as follows:

”It appears to your committee that pursuant to the plan concerted by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a power over the persons and properties of the people unlimited and uncontrolled, and disregarding their humble pet.i.tions for peace, liberty and safety, have made divers legislative acts denouncing war, famine and every species of calamity against the continent in general.

That British fleets and armies have been, and still are, daily employed in destroying the people and committing the most horrid devastations on the country. That Governors in different colonies have declared protection to slaves who should imbrue their hands in the blood of their masters; that the s.h.i.+ps belonging to America are declared prizes of war, and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated, in consequence of which mult.i.tudes of the people have been destroyed or from easy circ.u.mstances reduced to the most lamentable distress.

”AND WHEREAS, the moderation hitherto manifested by the united colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother country on const.i.tutional principles have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid wrongs and usurpations, and no hopes remain of obtaining redress by those means alone, which have been hitherto tried, your committee are of opinion that the house should enter into the following resolve, to wit:

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