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As described in the graphic above, the Third Provincial Congress resolved on August 21, 1775 that North Carolina should begin raising Provincial Troops and a new concept known as Minutemen. They really did not want Militia, but each county had a long-standing tradition of providing for their own self defense and the civil authorities realized there was no point in resisting tradition.

On September 1st, the Third Provincial Congress authorized two regiments of Provincial Troops and appointed all officers, including Col. James Moore and Col. Robert Howe to lead these regiments, which were also called battalions by many at that time. Each regiment was to have ten companies with 50 "rank and file" plus officers, and these two regiments are stationed at four locations across the state. The 1st NC Regiment, led by Col. James Moore, was divided into two battalions - one stationed in Wilmington and one stationed in New Bern. The 2nd NC Regiment, led by Col. Robert Howe, was also divided into two battalions - one stationed in Edenton and one stationed in Salisbury. These Provincial Troops were authorized to go out of state, if necessary.

On September 9th, the Third Provinical Congress authorized the creation of six regiments of Minutemen (or Minute Men), one for each district. The Minutemen were created to operate only within the state's boundaries, with the objective of guiding or overseeing all Militia units within each district. Each county was to instantiate its own Militia regiment, plus provide one, two, or three additional companies to be assigned to the district Minutemen. All officers of the Minutemen and the Militia were appointed and commissioned by the Provincial Congress.

During the fall of 1775, the government becomes acutely aware that many items necessary for "the making of warfare" are in short supply, and even worse, there are no reliable sources of manufacture within the Province. First and foremost is gunpowder, and second is lead with which to make musketballs. The Committee of Safety soon learns that Virginia can supply the lead from Chiswell's Lead Mine in southwestern Virginia. Even after many attempts to encourage gunpowder production, North Carolina eventually gives up and concedes that this commodity will have to be procured from outside sources.

The Province/State is more successful in the establishment of salt-making facilities along the coast. Their attempt to encourage the manufacturing of "good Mechantable Steel equal in goodness to Bristol Steel" is not successful, however, even after supplying a considerable amount of seed money for the enterprise. The same is true about the manufacturing of Pig Iron. The civil government will learn the hard way that many things they have taken for granted as being supplied by Great Britain will now have to be purchased elsewhere.