Bridges destroyed in the late expedition against the Tories to be rebuilt at the expense of the publick Committee to inquire into the ways and means to prevent the desertion of Slaves

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Tuesday, May 7, 1776.

The Congress met according to adjournment.

Whereas the Commanding Officers in the late expedition against the Tories, thought proper, for the benefit of the service, to cause to be cut down and destroyed sundry Bridges in the Counties of Duplin and Bladen, and it appearing to the House that it will be burdensome to the inhabitants of those Counties to be at the sole expense of rebuilding such Bridges;

Therefore, Resolved, That when it shall appear to be necessary and expedient to rebuild such Bridges, the expense thereof shall be paid by the publick.

Mr˙ James Williams exhibited his Account for acting as Attorney for the Crown at five Courts of Oyer and Terminer, held in this Province, from the 10th of June, 1774, to the 10th of June, 1775.

Resolved, That the said James Williams be allowed the sum of fifty Pounds, for prosecuting in behalf of the Crown in the said Courts of Oyer and Terminer; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick.

Resolved, That Mr˙ Ebenezer Folsome be allowed one hundred Pounds for his vigilance, and the important services rendered this country in the late insurrection, the Congress considering the said sum not as an adequate reward for his spirit and activity, but as a mark of his country' s confidence and approbation; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same.

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Resolved, That Mr˙ Nash, Mr˙ Burke, Mr˙ Ashe, Mr˙ Whitmell Hill, and Mr˙ Coor, be a Committee to inquire of ways and means the most probable to prevent the desertion of Slaves.

Resolved, That one hundred Light Cavalry, and two hundred Infantry, be ordered immediately to Cross-Creek, to be under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Folsome, until further orders.

That the said Horsemen be immediately raised from the Militia in Cumberland, and the adjacent Counties, who will voluntarily serve; and the Footmen be drafted from the Brigades of Salisbury and Hillsborough, by equal proportions from each Regiment, unless a sufficient number will immediately enter the service as volunteers.

Ordered, That two sets of blank Commissions issue for the Companies of Light-Horse, to be filled up by Colonel Folsome.

Resolved, That two thousand Pounds be paid into the hands of the Delegates for the County of Bladen, and by them paid to the Officers and Soldiers of the Militia of said County, now in service of the Province, in part of their pay, who have not had time to lay their Accounts before the publick; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay him the same, and be allowed in their accounts with the publick and that the said Delegates give bond and security to account for the same.

Resolved, That one thousand five hundred Pounds be paid into the hands of the Delegates for the County of Duplin, and by them paid to the Officers and Soldiers of the Militia of said County, now in service of the Province, in part of their wages for their services on the late expedition to Cape-Fear; that the Treasurers, or either of them, pay the same, and be allowed in their accounts; and that the said Delegates give bond with security to account for the same.

Resolved, That eight hundred and fifty weight of Powder be sent to the District of Salisbury, to the care of the Brigadier-General of that District.

Resolved, That four hundred weight of Powder be sent to the District of Hillsborough, to the care of the Brigadier-General of that District.

Resolved, That the Field-Officers in every Battalion of the Continental Troops be empowered to employ an Armourer for such Battalion, and that such Armourer be allowed the pay of one Dollar and a quarter of a Dollar per day, and one ration.

Resolved, That Ebenezer Folsome be appointed Colonel of the Militia in the County of Cumberland, in the room of Alexander McAlister, resigned; David Smith, Lieutenant-Colonel; Philip Alston, First Major; and John Armstrong, Second Major, in the same County.

Resolved, That Mr˙ Burke, Mr˙ Webb, and Mr˙ Penn, be a Committee to report on Mr˙ Cooper' s Petition.

Resolved, That William Rand take into his possession, wherever they may be found, all the Records and Papers belonging and appertaining to the Clerk and Register' s Offices in the County of Cumberland.

Ordered, That Colonel Long deliver to William Jones, who lately came express to this Congress, one of the Tory Horses in his possession.

Resolved, That the Managers of the Furnace directed to be hired in Chatham County, or purchased in Guilford County, for the publick use, take under care for that service the whole of the Negroes lately brought by order of the Congress from the Counties of Pasquotank and Currituck, belonging to the Estates of Thomas Macknight, James Parker, and Robert Gilmore, and make the best of them in that employment for the benefit of the publick; and that the Commissioners render to the next Congress a disposition of such Slaves, with an account of expenditures, upon oath; and that the Commissioners give a receipt for such Negroes.

Resolved, That William Glover be appointed Captain in the Sixth Regiment of Foot, of the American Army, to be raised in this Province, in the room of Jesse Saunders, resigned; and John Owens, First Lieutenant, in the room of William Glover, advanced; John Hart, Second Lieutenant, in the room of Pleasant Henderson, resigned; and Kedar Parker in the room of Thomas Grant, resigned; all of the Sixth Regiment, in Captain William Glover' s Company.

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The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o' clock.