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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Samuel Johnston to William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn
Johnston, Samuel, 1733-1816
April 13, 1776
Volume 10, Page 495


Halifax, 13th April, 1776.

Gentlemen,

The Congress this day have again taken under consideration their Resolve of the 9th, and finding that they had ordered a greater number of privates than were consistent with the Regulations of the Continental Army have ordered four Regiments to be raised as by the within resolve, the reasons that induced the Congress to this measure was the inconvenience they have experienced from the late frequent calls on the Militia and the certain intelligence they have received of a formidable attack being meditated against this province. General Clinton is now in Cape Fear River and is preparing to land. We have no certain intelligence of the number of Troops under his command; it is thought they do not exceed four hundred.

The Congress have likewise taken under consideration that part of your letter requiring their Instructions with respect to entering into foreign Alliances and were unanimous in their concurrence with the inclosed Resolve confiding entirely in your discretion with regard to the exercise of the power with which you are invested.

I enclose you a copy of an affidavit sent to the Congress by Genl Moore and some extracts from his letter by which you will be able to form some judgment of our situation.

It is hoped that the Continental Congress will approve of our having exceeded the number of men proposed by them to be raised in this province and that you will find no difficulty in getting them placed on the Continental Establishment, when it is considered that the Colonies of Virginia and South Carolina are in daily expectation of being invaded and that we have therefore very little reason to hope for succour or assistance from other of them.

To the Honorable W. Hooper, Joseph Hewes and John Penn.