Manifesto From Thomas Rutherford, Colonel of the Cumberland (North-Carolina) Militia

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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 faithful 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.

Cross-Creek, February 13, 1776.