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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Manifesto by Thomas Rutherford concerning recruitment of loyalist troops in North Carolina
Rutherford, Thomas
February 13, 1776
Volume 10, Page 452

[Reprinted from the American Archives. Vol. 4. P. 1129.]
Manifesto from Thomas Rutherford, Colonel of the Cumberland (North Carolina) Militia.

Cross Creek, February 13th, 1776.

To the Lovers of Order and Good Government:

Whereas, I thought it expedient, for the support of our excellent Constitution, which the rebellious and disaffected have of late endeavoured to overturn, to call a general muster of the County of Cumberland at Cross-Creek, on Monday the 12th of this instant; and as, from the idle and false reports spread by wicked and ignorant men, great numbers of His Majesty's liege subjects have failed to attend, and others, who did give their attendance, have shown themselves influenced by those unjust apprehensions of danger:

This is, therefore, to command, enjoin, beseech and require all His Majesty's faithfull subjects within the County of Cumberland to repair to the King's Royal Standard at Cross Creek, on or before the 16th present, in order to join the King's army; otherwise they must expect to fall under the melancholy consequences of a declared rebellion and expose themselves to the just resentment of an injured, though gracious Sovereign.

THOMAS RUTHERFORD, Colonel.