The Army marched soon after 7 o Cl. this morning leaving the Guard for the Camp as directed, in the Order yesterday. The Barrils of Flour and pork were made Use of to Strengthen the Barricade formed by the Waggons. Note, the discharging three pieces of Artillery was the signal order'd for forming the Army into two Lines in Order of Battle agreeable to the plan.

About two miles from the Camp the whole were order’d by the above signal to form the Line, to see if the Several Detachments knew their Stations. This being performed in good Order, the Lines were reduced into a Column, and continued their March, and before 10 o Cl: came within half a Mile of the Rebels Camp, where the Army formed in Line of Battle. The Governor then sent Capt. Malcolm, one of his Aid de Camps, and the Sheriff of Orange, with his Letter, requiring the Rebels to lay down their Arms, surrender up their Outlawed Ringleaders &c Vide Letter No. [intentionally blank], about half past Ten Capt. Malcolm and the Sheriff returned with the Information that the Sheriff had read the Letter four several Times, to different Divisions of the Rebels who rejected the Terms offer'd with Disdain, said they wanted no Time to consider of them, and with rebellious Clamour called out for Battle; As the Army kept moving on slowly during the Absence of Capt. Malcolm and the Sheriff, when they returned the Army was within 300 yards of the Van of the Rebels, who had also advanced towards the Loyalists, waving their Hats and daring them to come on. An Engagement being then inevitable both Lines were order’d to advance nearer; and they even drew upon the Ground upon which the Van of the Rebels first shewed themselves the latter retreating back to their main Body as the Lines advanced.

About this Time the Officers petitioned the Governor for an Exchange of prisoners in lieu of the two Gentlemen taken over Night. After some Messages passing on both Sides, it was agreed that all the prisoners taken by the Loyalists (number Seven) should be restored for Mr. Walker and Lieutenant Ashe; But the Rebels delaying upwards of half an hour to Send back the two Gentlemen, under pretence that they were at a distance in the Rear, and the Governor being suspicious that they were only protracting the Time that they might Outwing his Flanks by the Superiority of their Numbers sent them word by an Aid de Camp he should wait no longer for the prisoners, and cautioned the Rebels to take Care of Themselves, as he should immediately give the Signal for action. Accordingly the Artillery began the Fire which was instantly seconded by a discharge from the Whole of the first Line. The Action was hot on both sides tho' the Rebels soon took to the Trees, from whence they kept up a brisk Fire for near two Hours, at the Expiration of which Time their Fire slackened considerably. The Artillery was ordered to cease, and the Army to advance in the best Order the Circumstances would admit of: The left Wing of the first Line having turned upon the second Line of the said Wing; threw both into much Disorder, tho' by the Spirited Behaviour of the Officers they were again brought into the Field and moved forward with the Right Wing—This soon drove the Enemy from the Trees and the Whole Rebel Army fled in great Confusion, leaving behind them near 20 prisoners taken in the Field, Seventy Horses with Saddles, provisions and a small quantity of Amunition.

The Army pursued not more that half a mile beyond the Field of Battle, thro' the Enemy’s Camp to a House where were found in a Garret, Mr. Walker and Lieutenant Ashe, who had been left to shift for themselves in the hurry of the Action; the night they were taken they were Stript and tyed to a Tree and both most severely whipt with small Hickory Sticks—

It being now half past two O’Cl:, the Enemy entirely dispersed, and the Army five miles from Camp, it was thought adviseable to lose no Time, but to return immediately to the Camp to Alamance. Empty Waggons were order’d from Camp which took both the Killed and Wounded of the Loyalists, and even several of the Wounded Rebels, who acknowledged had they gained the day no quarter would have been given but to such as would have turned Regulators, these were nevertheless taken good Care of, and had their wounds dressed.

The Army got into Camp about 5 in the Evening, and remained under Arms, as in the preceding Nights.