after the engagement was over. His troops came up that evening, and are now encamped on the ground where the battle was fought. And Colonel Martin is at or near Cross-Creek, with a large body of men. Those, I presume, will be sufficient effectually to put a stop to any attempt to embody again. I therefore, with Colonel Moore’s consent, am returning to Newbern, with the troops under my command, where I hope to receive your orders to dismiss them. There I intend carrying the General. If the Council should rise before my arrival, be pleased to give order in what manner he shall be disposed of. Our officers and men behaved with the spirit and intrepidity becoming freemen, contending for their dearest privileges.

RICHARD CASEWELL.

To the Hon. Cornelius Harnett, President of the Provincial Congress of North-Carolina.

List of Rifle-Guns and other articles already taken from the Highlanders and Regulators, viz:

Fifteen hundred Rifle-Guns, all of them excellent pieces; two Medicine Chests, immediately from England, one of them valued at three hundred Pounds Sterling; one box, containing half-Johanneses and English Guineas, discovered by a negro secreted in a stable at Cross-Creek; thirteen Wagons, with complete sets of Horses; eight hundred and fifty common Soldiers, taken prisoners, disarmed, and discharged.

We have flying parties out, taking the ringleaders and all suspected persons, and disarming the common soldiers throughout the whole back country.

List of Prisoners taken by Colonel LONG, and now in HALIFAX Jail.

Colonel John Piles, Major Thomas Collins, Captain David Jackson, Captain Enoch Bradley, Captain John Piles, Captain Thomas, Bradford, Captain William Bradford, Lieutenant Stephen Parker, Lieutenant Donald McDonald, (wounded through the thigh,) Ensign John Downing, and Doctor Roberson York; also, in Halifax Jail, four of the name of Fields, one of the name of Turner, and three of the name of Bell, with a Midshipman and Quarter-Gunner, of the Scorpion man-of-war.

List of Prisoners taken by Colonel Martin, and sent, to HALIFAX Jail.

Colonel Kingsborough McDonald, Colonel Hugh McDonald, Colonel Thomas Rutherford, Colonel Hector McNeil, Colonel Alexander McDonald, Captain Morrison, Captain Mackenzie, Captain Thomas Weir, Captain Leggate, Captain Solomon Cross, Captain Person, Captain McCoy, Captain Muse, of the Light-Horse, Captain John Mulkeson, Captain Neil McCarter, Adjutant Fraser, Lieutenants Colin McIever, Joshua Hewes, Duncan Cameron, Donald Muse, Donald Cameron —and sundry other Lieutenants and Ensigns, whose names I have not yet an account of—Kenneth McDonald, Aid-de-Camp; James Hepburn, Secretary; Parson Battie, Chaplain; Aaron Verdy, Wagonmaster; Doctor Morrison, Commissary. He also took about three hundred and fifty Guns and Shot-Bags, with about one hundred and fifty Swords and Dirks.

DONALD MCDONALD, ESQ., LATELY CREATED BRIGADIER-GENERAL, IN THE TORY ARMY BY GOVERNOUR MARTIN, TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL MOORE.

Head-Quarters, February 19, 1776.

SIR: I herewith send the bearer, Donald Morrison, by advice of the Commissioners appointed by his Excellency Josiah Martin, and in behalf of the Army now under my command, to propose terms to you as friends and country­men. I must suppose you unacquainted with the Governour’s Proclamation, commanding all his Majesty’s loyal subjects 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 his Majesty’s service. I have therefore thought it proper to intimate to you, that, in case you do not, by twelve o’clock to-morrow, join the Royal standard, I must consider you as enemies, and take the necessary 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 receive the misled with tenderness and mercy, from motives of humanity. I again beg of you to accept the preferred clemency. I make no doubt, but you will show 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, shall be treated with an equal degree of respect.

I have the honour to be, in behalf of the Army, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

DONALD MCDONALD.

To the Commanding Officer at Rockfish.

P. S. His Excellency’s Proclamation is herewith enclosed.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL MOORE’S ANSWER.

Camp at Rockfish, February 19, 1776.

SIR: Yours of this day have received; in answer to which I must inform you, that the terms which you are pleased to say, in behalf of the Army under 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 I must presume you too much of an officer to expect of me. You were very right when you supposed me unacquainted with the Governour’s Proclamation; 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, should I not hear further from you before twelve o’clock to-morrow, by which time I shall have an opportunity of consulting my officers here, and perhaps Colonel Martin, who is in the neighbourhood of Cross-Creek, you may expect a more particular answer; mean time you may be assured that the feelings of humanity will induce me to show that civility to such of your people as may fall into our hands, as I am desirous should be observed towards those of ours, who may be unfortunate enough to fall into yours.

I am, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JAMES MOORE.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL MOORE TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL MCDONALD.

Camp at Rockfish, February 20, 1776.

SIR: Agreeable to my promise of yesterday, I have consulted the officers under my command, respecting your letter, and am happy in finding them unanimous in opinion with me. We consider ourselves engaged in a cause the most glorious and honourable in the world, the defence of the liberties of mankind, in support of which we are determined to hazard everything dear and valuable; and 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 destructive precipice on which they stand, and to remind them of the, ungrateful return they are about to make for their favourable reception in this country. If this is not sufficient to recall them to the duty which they owe to themselves 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 neighbouring Provinces, is exerting and now actually in motion to suppress them, and which must end in their utter destruction. Desirous, however, of avoiding the effusion of human blood, I have thought proper to send you a copy of the Test recommended by the Continental Congress, which, if they will yet subscribe and lay down their arms, by twelve, o’clock to-morrow, we are willing to receive them as friends and countrymen. Should this offer be rejected, I shall consider them as enemies to the constitutional liberties of America, and treat them accordingly.

I cannot conclude without reminding you, sir, of the oath which you and some of your officers took at Newbern, on your arrival to this country, which I imagine you will find difficult to reconcile to your present conduct. I have no doubt that the bearer, Captain James Walker, will be treated with proper civility and respect in your camp.

I am, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

J. MOORE.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL MCDONALD TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL MOORE.

Head-Quarters, February 30, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour by Captain James Walker, and observed you declared sentiments of revolt, hostility,