3.

meet Lincoln. On March the 2d, the officer of the 1779. day reported, that reconnoitring parties of the enemy's horfe and foot had been seen within their picquets the night preceding. Afhe returned the evening of the 2d Mar. to camp. On Wednesday the 3d, nothing was in forwardness for repairing the bridge which Campbell had destroyed in his return downward, though it had been reported five days before, that the repair would take up but fix hours. About two in the afternoon, information was given, that one of their foldiers had fix balls fhot through his body; little or no notice was taken of it. Within an hour after, an account was brought, that 500 British regulars were at the ferry. At half past four a few of the American horfemen returned from skirmishing with the enemy, when orders were iffued for the troops to be formed into platoons from the right, and compofed into a column: it was not long before the British light infantry appeared. Lieut. col. Prevoft, after a circuitous march of about 50 miles, in which he croffed Briar Creek 15 miles above Afhe's encampment, came unexpectedly on his rear with a detachment of about 900 men, including fome horfe. Upon the appearance of the British light infantry, Ashe said to Elbert, who commanded the continentals-" Sir, you had better advance and engage them." They did not exceed 100 rank and file, but upon Elbert's ordering them, they formed, advanced thirty yards in front of the enemy, and commenced a very fharp fire on them, which continued about fifteen minutes. Afhe and the North Carolina militia remained about 100 yards in the rear entirely inactive. Instead of advancing to fupport the continentals, they were struck with fuch a panic at being fo com

$779. of ftrengthening the laft, and improving any advantages which might offer for croffing the river, and limiting the British to the fea coaft of Georgia, gen. Afhe was ordered to the upper parts of the country. He began his march on the 10th, with 1500 North Carolina militia, and the remains of the Georgia continentals; and on the 13th in the evening reached gen. Williamson's camp oppofite Augufta. That fame night col. Campbell made fo hafty a retreat from Augufta, that by eight the next morning he had marched 14 miles lower down. This precipitate movement was owing to fome falfe intelligence refpecting either Afhe's force, or the arrival of a large body of continentals at Charlestown; which Campbell credited, and from whence he inferred the neceffity of an immediate retreat to prevent his being cut off. Lincoln finding that he had quitted Augusta, Feb. wrote to Ashe, that it was of the greatest importance, that if the enemy was out of the upper part of the coun try, he fhould follow them down as faft as poffible, left by a forced march they fhould join their own troops below, attempt his poft, and drive him from it, before he (Afhe) could come up with their rear. Lincoln on the 22d fent him the following intimation" I think that Briar Creek will be a good stand for you, until fome plan of co-operation be digefted, for which purpose, as foon as you arrive there, I will meet you at the Two Sifters, you appointing the time." Afhe croffed the Savannah with about 1200 troops, befide 200 light horse. On Saturday morning the 27th, the ariny arrived at the lower bridge on Briar Creek. The next day gens. Brian and Elbert took poffeffion of a proper fpot of ground at twelve o'clock and encamped, Afhe being gone to

16.

3.

meet Lincoln. On March the 2d, the officer of the 1779. day reported, that reconnoitring parties of the enemy's horfe and foot had been feen within their picquets the night preceding. Afhe returned the evening of the 2d Mar. to camp. On Wednesday the 3d, nothing was in forwardness for repairing the bridge which Campbell had destroyed in his return downward, though it had been reported five days before, that the repair would take up but fix hours. About two in the afternoon, information was given, that one of their foldiers had fix balls fhot through his body; little or no notice was taken of it. Within an hour after, an account was brought, that 500 British regulars were at the ferry. At half past four a few of the American horsemen returned from fkirmishing with the enemy, when orders were iffued for the troops to be formed into platoons from the right, and compofed into a column: it was not long before the British light infantry appeared. Lieut. col. Prevoft, after a circuitous march of about 50 miles, in which he croffed Briar Creek 15 miles above Afhe's encampment, came unexpectedly on his rear with a detachment of about 900 men, including fome horse. Upon the appearance of the British light infantry, Ashe said to Elbert, who commanded the continentals" Sir, you had better advance and engage them." They did not exceed 100 rank and file, but upon Elbert's ordering them, they formed, advanced thirty yards in front of the enemy, and commenced a very fharp fire on them, which continued about fifteen minutes. Afhe and the North Carolina militia remained about 100 yards in the rear entirely inactive. Instead of advancing to fupport the continensals, they were ftruck with fuch a panic at being fo com

3779-pletely furprised, that they went to the right about, and fled in confufion without difcharging a fingle mufket. The few Georgia regulars finding themselves thus deferted, and being furrounded by a great part of the enemy, broke and endeavoured alfo to efcape. Elbert did every thing to rally them but in vain. He and the furvivors of his brave corps were made prifoners. About 150 Americans were killed, and 162 were captured. None had any chance of escaping but by croffing the river, in attempting which many were drowned; of those who got over fafe, a great part returned home, and never more rejoined the American camp; the number that joined it, did not exceed 450 men, This event deprived gen. Lincoln of one fourth of his number, fecured to the British the poffeffion of Georgia, and opened a communication between them, the Indians, and the tories of South and North Carolina.

Toward the end of the last year, an American camp was formed at Danbury, the fufferings it underwent you may collect from the following paffage in the letter of a field officer of January 23d.—"We were not under cover, till the beginning of the present year. It was diftreffing to see our officers and men in tents in fuch fevere cold weather. Added to which, and the former lift of grievances, was the want of provifions. From fix to nine days were our men frequently without bread. A revolt took place in general Huntington's brigade 400 men got under arms, and marched off the ground to an advantageous poft, where they expected to have been joined by the men of the other two brigades; but by the alacrity of the officers and gen. Putnam's influence, they were difperfed."

3

e

t

An expedition has been agreed on against the inimical 1779 Indians of the fix nations. The command of it is to be intrufted with gen. Sullivan. The plan is to divide the force' into three parts. The principal confifting of about, 3000 is to go by the way of Sufquehanna. Another of about 1000 is to enter the Indian country by the Mohawk river; and the other of about 500 is to attack by the Ohio and Allegahany rivers, Gen. Washington is endeavouring, by appearances of an expedition to Canada, to induce the British governor to keep his force at home; and with a view to it, befide jealoufies which have been excited on the fide of lake Champlain, he is trying to create others by the way of Coos. A confiderable number of Americans was employed the last year in cutting a road from thence toward Canada. Col. Hazen is now gone with his regiment to extend the road toward the Sorel, and give the appearance of an intention to invade the province by that paffage. The American army are better clad and more healthy than they have ever been fince the formation of the army.

The procuring of early and good intelligence is of the highest importance to the American commander in chief. He has therefore directed one of his confidential correfpondents to refide at New York, to mix with and put on the airs of a tory, thereby to cover his real character and avoid fufpicion. He has hinted to him an intimacy with fome well informed refugee. Members of congrefs are not trusted with the names of fuch correfpondents, concerning whom the ftricteft honor, and the profoundest fecrecy, is obferved, and every precaution taken to prevent a difcovery by unforeseen accidents. They are furnished with two chymical liquids,