[NOTE--A proclamation was issued soon after this, giving pardon to all who would submit to the government of the King, except General Robert Rowe and Cornelius Harnett.] QUESTIONS. 1. What was the situation in Wilmington in 1776? What important news was received? 2. What expedition was coming to Wilmington? How was it to be reinforced? How was Colonel Moore preparing to meet these men from Cross Creek? 3. Mention other preparations for a fight. 4. Give an account of Colonel Caswell's position on Moore's Creek. 5. Who commanded the Tories? Describe his charge upon the Whigs. 6. Give an account of the battle of Moore's Creek. When did this occur? Locate the scene of this battle on the map. 7. What was the result? 8. What is said of the victory at Moore's Creek? What was promptly done by North Carolina? 9. What is said of this campaign? 10. What distinguished British officer entered the Cape Fear? 11. How did the people feel towards Colonel Moore and other commanding officers? CHAPTER XXVII. FOURTH PROVINCIAL CONGRESS DECLARES INDEPENDENCE. A. D. 1776. The Hillsboro Congress of August, 1775, formally inaugurated a war of resistance to British oppressions, but to the Halifax Congress of April, 1776, was left the crowning glory of being the first in all the colonies to declare for absolute independence of the mother country and for foreign alliances. 2. It was quickly seen when the new Congress met at Halifax, on the 4th of April, 1776, that great progress had been made in public sentiment. At Hillsboro professions of loyalty and of a desire for continued connection with Great Britain, some honest, but many of questionable sincerity doubtless, were still to be heard. At Halifax there was neither halting nor hesitation in avowing that absolute independence from the mother country was the real aim of the people of the province. 3. The time for the final plunge had come, and North Carolina was quite ready for it. Accordingly, on the fourth day of the session, a committee was appointed to take into consideration the usurpations and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parliament of Britain against America, and the further measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of the province. Four days later, that is to say, on the 12th day of April, 1776, a day ever to be remembered in the annals of America, the committee reported as follows: