234 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



This account was taken from Elijah Hide, of Lebanon, who was a spec- 

 tator on Winter's Hill, during the whole action. 



" Congress at their session in May having resolved to raise a conti- 

 nental army, of which the Pennsylvania portion amounted to four thou- 

 sand three hundred men, the Assembly recommended to the Commissioners 

 of the several counties, as they regarded the freedom, welfare, and safety 

 of their country, to provide arms and accoutrements for this force : they 

 also directed the officers of the military association to select a number 

 of minute men, equal to the number of arms which could be procured, 

 who should hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice 

 to any quarter, in case of emergency ; they made further appropriations 

 for the defence of the city against attacks by vessels of war, and directed 

 the purchase of all the saltpetre that should be manufactured within the 

 next six months at a premium price. The House adopted also a most 

 important and effective measure, in the appointment of a Committee of 

 Public Safety, with power to call the associated troops into service, to 

 pay and support them, and generally to provide for the defence of the 

 province against invasion and insurrection ; issuing for these purposes 

 bills of credit for thirty-five thousand pounds, redeemable by a tax on 

 real and personal estate."^ 



A company of militia had been raised at Lancaster by Captain Ross. 

 A sermon preached before that company by the Rev. John Carmichael, 

 A. M., in the Presbyterian Church at Lancaster, is here reproduced in 

 the expectation that it will be read with much interest as a document 

 which reflects the sentiments of the time. 



WAR, A:SERM0N. 



To all the brave Sons of Liberty in North America, but in particular, to the Com- 

 pany of Militia in the Borough of Lancaster, known by the name of ROSS'S COM- 

 PANY, Gentlemen, Officers and Soldiers, who appeared in their uniform in Church, to 

 hear this Sermon, and at whose request it is now published, it is hereby most respect- 

 fully dedicated, by their 



Hearty Friend and very humble Servant, 



The Author. 



A Self -defensive War Laivful, proved in a Sermon^ 2^^^^^^^'-^ ^^ Lancaster, 

 before Captain Hoss^s Company of Militia, in the Presbyterian Church, 

 on Sabbath Morning, June ■ith, 1775, by the Rev. John Carmichael, A. 

 M., now jmblished at the request of said Company.- 



Then said he unto them, But now he that a hath purse, let himltake it, and like- 

 wise his scrip: And he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 



Luke 22: 36. 



undique totis 



Usque adeo turbatur agris. 



Virgil. 

 1 Gordon. 

 2Lanciuster: Printed by Francis Bailey, for Captain Ross's company of militia. 



