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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Stephen Cobb to Richard Caswell
Cobb, Stephen
July 26, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 176-177

STEPHEN COBB TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

26th July, 1779.

Dear Sir:

Mr. John Barefoot informed me yesterday that he saw one Stanly that was confined in Kingston to a bar of lead, and has since been two or three days and nights with the Bass's, in the woods. He told Mr. Barefoot that Moses Bass told him that while he was confined in Kingston he watched several days for an opportunity to get a loaded Gun, and said if he could get one he would be damned to hell if he did not waylay the Road from your house to Kingston and kill you as you passed, for you passed every day that way. If you can see Stanly you can inform yourself of their behaviour while he was with them. I am informed that they are determined to kill me and Jas. Simms and every other person that attempts to take them, if they can, and are determined to fight as long as life subsist. I have tried everything and way in my power to take them without killing them, but to no purpose.

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I have lived some time in expectation of the State Regiment coming up, and Capt. Harrison appointed to be up last Saturday, to try to take them, but he failed coming. If neither the State Regiment nor Capt. Harrison will not come up, I wish if in your power you'l send me a warrant to take them dead or alive, and to destroy what they have if they will not surrender themselves, and I will endeavor to get some men in whom I can confide, and encamp myself in the woods where they pass and try lives with them, as I cannot be satisfied to live so, and I do not believe they will surrender till some of them are killed, tho' I had much rather that a part of the state Regiment or Capt. Harrison would come up and do something with them, as I expect every time I go out of sight of my house to be shot from behind some log, bush or thick place.

I am, Dear Sir,
Your mo. ob. Serv't,
STEPHEN COBB.