On this day 250 years ago at their home in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John representing Massachusetts in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia:

No event of any importance upon either side excepting the burning of some houses by the Enemy upon Dorchester Neck has taken place since you left us.

The preparations increase and something great is daily expected, something terible it will be. I impatiently wait for, yet dread the day.—I received a Letter from you wrote at Watertown, and a Book Last week; for which I am much obliged, tis highly prized here and carries conviction whereever it is read. I have spread it as much as it lay in my power, every one assents to the weighty truths it contains. I wish it could gain Credit enough in your assembly to be carried speadily into Execution.

. . .

The army is full, more men now in camp than has been since the army was first together. Not very sickly there, But in the Country the plurisy fever prevails and is very mortal. We have lost 3 grown persons in this part of the Town this week. Many others lay bad—it carries them of in 8 days.

The “Book” that Abigail Adams received from her husband was Common Sense. Like her husband, and like Thomas Paine, Abigail Adams was ready for Independence.

Source: “Abigail Adams to John Adams, 21 February 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0230. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 1, December 1761 – May 1776, ed. Lyman H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, pp. 350–352.]

On this day 250 years ago at his camp on Rockfish Creek south of the town of Cross Creek (now Fayetteville), North Carolina, Col. James Moore learned that the Highland Regiment commanded by Brig. Gen. Donald MacDonald had crossed the Cape Fear River and was marching towards Wilmington. Moore issued orders to Col. Richard Caswell to lead the New Bern, Dobbs, Johnston, Pitt and Craven County Militias to Corbett’s Ferry on the Black River to block Johnston’s presumed route. He also ordered Col. Alexander Lillington commanding the Wilmington Militia, and Col. John Ashe commanding the New Hanover County Militia to Moore’s Creek Bridge. Moore ordered Lt. Col. James Martin and the Guilford County Militia and Col. James Thackston of the Hillsborough Militia to occupy the Highlander’s base at Cross Creek. Moore led his own command to Elizabeth Town to prevent MacDonald’s men from crossing back across the Cape Fear River there. With this deployment of North Carolina forces, Moore had the Highland Regiment surrounded.

Sources: Rankin, The Moores Creek Bridge Campaign at 28; Desmarais, Norman, The Guide to the American Revolutionary War In Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, And North Carolina, Ithaca, New York: Busca, Inc. (2011) at p. 179