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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Richard Caswell to John Ashe
Caswell, Richard, 1729-1789
July 26, 1777
Volume 11, Pages 535-536

GOV. CASWELL TO GEN. JOHN ASHE.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Dobbs, 26th July, 1777.

Dear Sir:—

I wrote you about ten days ago requesting Gen'l Musters and drafts to be made in your district agreeable to the late act of

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Assembly. If that is not done, I most earnestly request you to have it done with all expedition, and lest you should be at any loss respecting the militia Law I have sent you herewith a copy of it. Last night I received letters from Cols. Williams and Long, of which I enclose you copies; and by other hands I have similar accounts. I am therefore to request you do immediately raise so many of your militia as you shall think a sufficient guard for the magasines of ammunition at Cape Fear, to be relieved by other of the militia so often and in such numbers as you shall think proper, until you receive further advice from me. The Council is required to meet at Kingston the 4th of August, any intelligence you shall be able to obtain previous to that time, of the conduct and movements of the Insurgents, you will be pleased to communicate to me then. Indeed I am inclined to think their aim is to get possession of our magasine. If it shall appear to you from what accounts you may gain, it may not be prudent to wait to receive the order of the Governor and Council, for raising the Militia, as it may be attended with such delay as to render any services from them futile. In this your own judgment must govern you, but in every step you take, be pleased let me hear from you. If you are obliged to take arms, let me know how you proceed, as I shall order the militia in this District (Gen'l. Bryan being out of the State) to your assistance.

If you hear the intention of the Insurgents is to proceed down the country, their plan will certainly be against your magasine. If a party advances against them, a Detachment with two or three Field Pieces from the Artillery Company under Captain Vance will, I conceive, be of great use. If you think so, pray give orders accordingly.

I am &c.
RICHARD CASWELL.
To John Ashe, Esq.