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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Burke to Richard Caswell
Burke, Thomas, ca. 1747-1783
April 20, 1782
Volume 16, Pages 601-602

GOV. THOS BURKE TO GEN. CASWELL.

Hillsborough, Apl. 20th, 1782.

Sir:

The House of Commons having Suggested to me that the Enemy are imbarqued and put to Sea, and therefore that it is their Opinion the embodying the militia to Cover the places exposed in the district under your Command is unnecessary, in respect to their advice, I require you to forbear executing the orders I sent to you dated the 16th Instant, and to Countermand any you may have Issued in Consequence thereof.

I am of Opinion that the Enemy, neither private nor public, have fitted out Such an Armament as Every Information mentions, only for such an Object as they could expect and have obtained at Beaufort, but that Newbern or Edenton or both, promising to them a much richer prize, will be their principal object. The defenceless State of both leaves them little to apprehend, and their Success at Beaufort will embolden them to make further attempts. I recommend, therefore, that the People of those Towns and their

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Neighborhoods be apprised of the danger I apprehend, that they may have time to make Such Resistance as they may be able, or to remove their valuable Effects.

I am, Sr. yr. hum. St.,
THOS. BURKE.
Genl. Caswell.