AUTHENTICK AND PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE ENGAGEMENT AT CAPE ANNE.

Gloucester, August 13, 1775.

On the ninth instant, the Falcon, sloop-of-war, Captain Lindsey, hove in sight, and seemed to be in quest of two schooners from the West-Indies, bound to Salem, one of which he soon brought to; the other, taking the advantage of a fair wind, put into our harbour, but Lindsey, having made a prize of the first, pursued the second into the harbour, and brought the first with him. He anchored, and sent two barges, with fifteen men in each, aimed with muskets and swivels; these were attended with a whale-boat, in which were the Lieutenant and six privates; their orders were to seize the loaded schooner, and bring her under the Falcon’s bow. The militia, and other inhabitants, were alarmed at this daring attempt, and prepared for a vigorous opposition. The barge men, under the command of the Lieutenant, boarded the schooner at the cabin windows, which provoked a smart fire from our people on the shore, by which three of the enemy were killed, and the Lieutenant wounded in the thigh, who thereupon returned to the man-of-war. Upon this Lindsey sent the other schooner and a small cutter he had, to attend him well armed, with orders to fire upon the damn’d rebels wherever they could see them, and that he would in the mean time cannonade the town; he immediately fired a broadside upon the thickest settlements, and stood himself, with diabolical pleasure, to see what havock his cannon might make. “Now,” said he, “my boys, we will aim at the damn’d Presbyterian Church. Well, my brave fellows, one shot more, and the house of God will fall before you.” While he was thus venting his hellish rage, and setting himself, as it were, against Heaven, the Almighty was on our side; not a ball struck or wounded an individual person, although they went through our houses in almost every direction, when filled with women and children. Under God, our little party at the water side performed wonders; for they soon made themselves masters of both the schooners, the cutter the two barges, the Boat, and every man in them, and all that pertained to them. In the action, which lasted several hours, we lost but one man, two others wounded, one of whom is since dead, the other very slightly wounded. We took of the men-of-war’s men thirty-five; several were wounded, and one since dead; twenty-four were sent to Head-Quarters; the remainder being impressed from this and the neighbouring towns, were permitted to return to their friends. Next day Captain Lindsey warped off with but half his men, never a prize boat nor tender, except a small skiff the wounded Lieutenant returned in.

To Mr. Isaiah Thomas, Worcester.

TRYON COUNTY (NORTH-CAROLINA) ASSOCIATION.

August 14, 1775.

The unprecedented, barbarous, and bloody actions committed by the British Troops on our American brethren, near Boston, on the 19th of April and 20th of May last, together with the hostile operations and treacherous designs now carrying on by the tools of Ministerial vengeance and despotism, for the subjugating all British America, suggest to us the painful necessity of having recourse to arms, for the preservation of those rights and liberties which the principles of our Constitution and the laws of God, nature, and Nations, have made it our duty to defend. We, therefore, the subscribers, freeholders and inhabitants of Tryon County, do hereby faithfully unite ourselves under the most sacred ties of religion, honour, and love to our Country, firmly to resist force by force, in defence of our natural freedom and constitutional rights, against all invasions; and at the same time do solemnly engage to take up arms, and risk our lives and fortunes, in maintaining the freedom of our Country, whenever the wisdom and counsel of the Continental Congress, or our Provincial Convention, shall declare it necessary; and this engagement we will continue in and hold sacred, till a reconciliation shall take place between Great Britain and America on constitutional principles, which we most ardently desire; and we do firmly agree to hold all such persons Inimical to the liberties of America who shall refuse to subscribe to this Association.

Signed by:

NEWBERN (NORTH-CAROLINA) COMMITTEE.

Committee Chamber, Newborn, August 14, 1775.

Whereas, all those who have not subscribed the Articles of Association, have sufficiently testified to the publick that they are enemies to the liberties of America; and as the principles of self-preservation make it absolutely necessary that they should be deprived of their Arms, therefore, it is

Ordered, That the Captains of the several Companies in this County and Town require of all such suspected persons as well their Fire-Arms, as Swords, Cutlasses, &c. &c., and all Gunpowder, Lead, and other Military Stores; and that the said several Captains be empowered to give receipts for all such Guns, &c. &c., and deliver them out to such persons of his or their Company, not having Arms, &c. &c., as may be willing to serve in the American cause.

By order:

R. COGDELL, Chairman.

MARYLAND CONVENTION.

At a meeting of the Delegates appointed by the several Counties of the Province of Maryland, held at Annapolis on Wednesday the 26th day of July, 1775; were present:

FOR ST. MARY’S COUNTY: John Reeder, Jun., Richard Barnes, Jeremiah Jordan.

CHARLES COUNTY: Wm. Smallwood, Robert T. Hooe, John H. Stone, Daniel Jenifer, William Harrison, Samuel Hanson, Jun.

CALVERT COUNT: Edward Gantt, Samuel Chew, Edward Reynolds, Benjamin Mackall, 4th.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY: Osborn Sprigg, Benjamin Hall, Thomas Gantt, Junior, George Lee, Thomas Contee, Robert Tyler, Colonel Joshua Beall, John Contee, William Bowie.

ANNE ARUNPEL COUNT Samuel Chase, Thomas Johnson, John Hall, Dr. Ephraim Howard, Charles Carroll, Barrister, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Thomas Dorsey, Thomas Tillard, John Dorsey.

BALTIMORE COUNTY: Charles Ridgely, Son of John, Benjamin Nicholson, William Buchanan, Jeremiah T. Chase, John Cradock.

FREDERICK COUNTY: Henry Griffith, Charles Beatty, Baker Johnson, Richard Brooke, Jacob Funk, John Hanson, Jr., Col. Samuel Beall, Wm. Deakins, Jr.

HARFORD COUNTY: Richard Dallam, Samuel Durham.

CECIL COUNTY: John Veazey, Jun., Joseph Gilpin, John D. Thompson, John Cox, Peter Lawson.

KENT COUNTY: William Ringgold, Col. Richard Lloyd, Thomas Smyth, Joseph Earle, Thomas B. Hands,

QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY: Turbutt Wright, James Tilghman, Thomas Wright, Dr. John Wallace.

TALBOT COUNTY: Matthew Tilghman, James Lloyd Chamberlaine, Nicholas Thomas, Col. Edward Lloyd, William Hindman, Richard Tilghman, James Benson.

DORCHESTER COUNTY: Robert Goldsborough, James Murray.

CAROLINE COUNTY: Nathaniel Potter, Joshua Clarke, Peter Adams, Richard Mason.

SOMERSET COUNTY: William Waters, Josiah Polk, George Dashiell, John Steward.

WORCESTER COUNTY: Samuel Adams.