In the first place, he ordered the supposed spy to be put in irons to prevent his escape, and then called a council of war to consider what was most proper to be done, in consequence of intelligence so puzzling and alarming. Some officers were of opinion, that the letter was intended as a deception to prevent them from attacking Frederica; others thought that the circumstances mentioned in it, wore such an appearance of truth, that there were good grounds to believe that the English general wished them to take place, and therefore gave their voice for consulting the safety of Augustine, and relinquishing a plan of conquest attended with so many difficulties, and putting to hazard the loss of both army and fleet, and perhaps the whole province of East Florida. While the Spanish officers were employed in these embarrassing deliberations, fortunately three vessels of small force, which the governor of Caroli na had sent out to watch the motions of the enemy, appeared at some distance on the coast.— This corresponding with part of Oglethorpe's letter, induced the Spanish commander to give credit to its entire contents. It was therefore determined, to attack Oglethorpe at his strong hold at Frederica, before the expected reinforcement should arrive; and accordingly the whole Spanish army was put in motion. Captain Noble Jones, with a detachment of regulars and Indians, being out on a scouting party, fell in with a small detachment in the enemy's advance, who were orders to ha These detach observed at a surprised and made prisoners, not deeming them. selves so far in front of the main army. From these prisoners information was received, that the whole Spanish army was advancing this was immediately communicated by an Indian runner to the general, who detached captain Dunbar with a company of grenadiers, to join the regulars and Indians, with rass the enemy on their advance. ments having formed a junction, distance the Spanish army on the march; and taking a favorable position near a marsh, formed an ambuscade. The enemy fortunately halted within a hundred paces of this position, stacked their arms, made fires, and were preparing their kettles for cooking, when a horse observed some of the party in ambuscade, and frightened at the uniform of the regulars, began to snort, and gave the alarm. The Spaniards ran to their arms, but were shot down in great numbers by Oglethorpe's detachment, who continued invisible to the enemy; and after repeated attempts to form, in which some of their principal officers fell, they fled with the utmost precipitation, leaving their camp equipage on the field, and never halted until they had got under cover of the guns of their battery and ships. General Oglethorpe had detached major Horton with a reinforcement, who arrived only in time to join in the pursuit. So complete was the surprise of the enemy, many fled without their arms; others in a rapid that retreat, discharged their muskets over their shoulders at their pursuers; and many were killed by the loaded arms which were left on the ground: generally the Spaniards fired so much at random that the trees were pruned by the balls from their muskets their loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, was estimated at five hundred. The loss in Oglethorpe's detachment was very inconsiderable. From the signal victory obtained over the enemy, and the great slaughter amongst the Spanish troops, the scene of action just described, has ever since been denominated the bloody marsh. On the 14th, the Spaniards burned all the works and houses on the south end of St. Simons and Jekyl Islands. On the 15th, all the large vessels with the Cuba forces on board, sailed to the southward, and the governor and troops from St. Augustine embarked in the small craft, and went by the inland passage, and encamped on the north end of Cumberland, at fort St. Andrews. On the 16th, the general pursued the enemy by the inland passage and landed where they had encamped, and sent an express in the night to ensign Stuart, who commanded at fort William, directing him in case of an attack, to defend it to the last extremity, and that he would reinforce him early the next day. At day-light twenty eight sail of the Spanish line appeared off fort William, fourteen of which came into the harbor, and demanded a surrender of the garrison: Stuart replied that it should not be surrendered, nor could it be taken they attacked the works from their gallies and other vessels, and attempted to land, but were repulsed by a small party of rangers who had arrived by a forced march down the island. Stuart with only sixty men, defended the fort with such bravery, that after an assault of three hours, the enemy discovered the approach of Oglethorpe, and put to sea with considerable loss: two gallies were disabled and abandoned, and the governor of Augustine proceeded with his troops by the inland passage: ensign Stuart was rewarded by promotion, for the bravery of his defence. Thus was the province of Georgia delivered, when brought to the very brink of destruction, by a formidable enemy. Don Manuel de Monteano, had been fifteen days on the small island of St. Simons, without gaining the least advantage over a handful of men; and in the several skirmishes, had lost a considerable number of his best troops; while Oglethorpe's loss was very inconsiderable. In this resolute defence of the provinces, Oglethorpe displayed great military skill and personal bravery, and justly merited the encomiums of Carolina as well as Georgia. It is more than probable that the Spaniards had Carolina chiefly in view, and had meditated a conquest where rich plunder could have been obtained, and where by an accession of slaves, they might have increased their force in the same ratio with their progress. The Ca rolinians made a poor figure in defence of their country when union, activity, and military exertions were so requisite, they ingloriously stood aloof, and suffered private pique to prevail over public utility, and seemed determined to risk the safety of their country, rather than that general Oglethorpe, by their assistance, should gain the smallest degree of honor and reputation. They at length sent some ships, but coming so late, they proved useful rather from the fortunate cooperation of an incidental stratagem, than from the zeal and public spirit of the colony. The Georgians, with justice reproached their more powerful neighbors, who, by keeping at a distance in the hour of danger, hazarded the safety of both provinces. Had the enemy pursued their operations with vigor and courage, the province of Georgia must have fallen a prey to the invaders, and Carolina had every thing to dread from such a conquest. Instead of raising or exaggera ting this success, to do honor to the general's character, we ought rather to lessen or abridge some of its circumstances, to render it in such an age as that, more credible; but having attempted no embellishments, the facts are represented step by step, and the reader is left to judge whether he did not gather laurels, which he well deserved to wear. The province of Carolina justified her conduct, by acknowledgements made to the governor, not only for his zeal and diligence in putting Charles. |
