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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the New Bern Committee of Safety
New Bern (N.C.). Committee of Safety
February 10, 1776
Volume 10, Pages 444-445

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
Proceedings of the Safety Committee at New Bern.

North Carolina,
New Bern District. } Ss.

In the Committee of Safety for the District of New Bern the 10th February 1776.

Present: Col. Richard Cogdell, President; Doctor Alexr Gaston, Richard Ellis Esqr, Mr William Tisdale, &c.

This Committee having this Day received by Express from the Counties of Orange and Johnston certain Intelligence that a Number of Men Inhabitants of the Counties Cumberland, Anson, Bladen and Guilford under the Command of a certain Fields and Hermons have began Hostilities against the Cause of United Colonies, and that on the fifth Instant they began their March in Order to join at Cross Creek the fifteenth to march from thence to Willmington and Brunswick, and that all the necessary Preperations for War are carrying on, in order to reduce all those who espouse the Cause of American Liberty; and that the Governors Proclamation authorized them to take all the Sons of Liberty wherever they may be found and force them to join or have them executed as Rebels.

It is therefore Resolved that Col. Richard Caswell do march immediately with the Minute Men under his Command to join the Forces which may march from different Parts of this Province in Order to suppress said Insurrection. And it is also resolved that the Colonels of Dobbs, Johnston, Pitt and Craven Counties do as soon as possible raise as Many of the Militia of said Counties as may be thought necessary to join the Minute Men under the Command of Col. Richard Caswell for the Purpose aforesaid.

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Resolved that the Col. of the Militia of Craven County do immediately raise two hundred of the Militia of said County to be stationed at New Bern, during the absence of the Minute Men. And it is also Resolved that the President of this Committee shall deliver to Col. Caswell or to Lieutenant Col. Bryan Ten Keggs of Powder and three hundred & fifty Weight of Lead and Bullets, and that the Committees of Dobbs & Pitt Counties, do furnish him with as much Powder & Lead as they can.

Resolved that Col. Caswell & the other Officers under him be impowered to hire convenient Carts, Waggons, Horses &c., as shall be necessary for this Service, or otherwise to press them, and also to purchase Camp Kettles for the Use of the Men. And it is Ordered that Lieutenant Henry Vipon & such of the Men as are accoutred, under his Command belonging to the Second Regiment of Troops in the Service of the United Colonies now at New Bern do march with as many Artillery as can be got ready to join Col. Caswell.

Time not permitting us to call all the Members of the Committee together upon this Emergency, we have proceeded on this necessary Business, in Confidence that the above Resolve will meet the Approbation of the absent Members, for whose Assent Colonel Caswell is desired to apply to such of them as may be convenient for him to see.

A true Copy—By Order

JNO. COOKE, Secy.