"Gentlemen of the Regulation," General Hamilton began, speaking loud and clear as becomes an honest man who knows in his heart that he is in the true path, "we have been deceived, and are thereby cast down by sorrow. At a time when it appeared as if we held the threads which could be woven fairly to the interests of this colony, we have, by trusting in the words of one who has no honor in his heart, lost all our advantage; but we would be proving ourselves faint-hearted indeed if such a misfortune was accepted as final defeat. Now more than ever, must we struggle against wrong and oppression. It is not necessary you should again swear to be true to the cause; neither will it be of service to remain together just now, therefore I have this to propose, and it is for you to decide if it be the proper course: Let us disperse, each going to his home, there to remain one month; at the expiration of such time we will meet at Maddock's Mill to settle upon a further course of action."
The idea that we should remain as the Regulation, subject at any time to a call from our leaders, heartened us wonderfully, and with one accord our people agreed that Master Hamilton's plan should be adopted.
We broke ranks, each vowing friendship for his comrades, and entire devotion to the cause, and then went our several ways home firmly believing that in due course of time the purpose of the Regulation would be accomplished.
And now has come the time when I must hasten over the months and even years, without entering into details as to what Sidney or I did while we waited an opportunity to strike a blow for our distressed country.
True to the proposition of Master Hamilton, we met once each month, either at Maddock's Mill, or some other place equally central, and thus kept pace with the events which particularly concerned us of the Carolinas.
Tryon remained in Newbern in his palace which had been paid for by money wrung from a people who at times actually suffered for food, and flattered himself that he had finally destroyed the germs of rebellion that had been sowed by his own tyranny.
Contrary to our expectations, he did not make any decided effort to get into his clutches those of the Regulation whom he had declared outlaws, and it was quite as well that he remained quiet on that score, for a thousand of the king's soldiers could not have taken them from us.
The sheriffs of the counties in the upper Carolinas, knowing full well that the Regulation was neither crushed nor disheartened, no longer attempted to collect the unjust taxes, and thus it was that our people had been benefited in some slight degree.
We cultivated our lands, moved about at will without fear of being molested during nearly two years, and then, on a certain day in September, Sidney came to my home in hot haste, acting as messenger of the Regulation.
Word had come from Newbern that the Superior Court was to be convened on the 24th day of the month, and then would efforts be made to secure the bodies of those whom Tryon had styled "outlaws."