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150 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
Place: & To destroy all the provisions, Vessels, Artillery, &c., at
St. Simon's that they might not fall into the Enemy's hands.
"This was accordingly executed, having first drawn all the M.en
on shoar which before had defended the shipping. I myself staid till
the last, and the wind coming fortunately about I got Capt. Thomp
son's Ship, our Guard Schooner, and our Prize Sloop to sea and sent
them to Charles Town. This I did in the face and spite of thirty-six
sail of the Enemy: as for the rest of the Vessells, I could- not save
them, therefore was obliged to destroy them.
"I must recommend to His Majesty the Merchants who are sufferers
thereby, since their loss was in great measure the preserving the
Province.
'' We arrived at Frederica, and the Enemy landed at St. Simon's.
"On the 7th a party of their's marched toward the Town: our
Rangers discovered them and brought an account of their march, on
which I advanced with a party of Indians, Rangers, and the Highland
Company, ordering the Regiment to follow, being resolved to engage
them in the Denies of the Woods before they could get out and form
in the open Grounds. I charged them at the head of our Indians,
Highland Men and Rangers, and God was pleased to give us so much
success that we entirely routed the first party, took one Captain pris
oner, and killed another, and pursued them two miles to an open
Meadow or Savannah, upon the edge of which I posted three Platoons
of the Regiment and the Company of Highland foot so as to be covered
by the woods from the Enemy who were obliged to pass thro' the
Meadow under our fire. This disposition was very fortunate. Capt.
Antonio Barba and two other Captains with 100 Grenadiers and 200
foot, besides Indians and Negroes, advanced from the Spanish Camp
into the Savannah with Huzzah's and fired.with great spirit, but not
seeing our men by reason of the woods, none of their shot took place,
but ours did.
"Some Platoons of ours in the heat of the fight, the air being dark
ened with the smoak, and a shower of rain falling, retired in disorder.
"I hearing the firing, rode towards it, and at near two miles from
the place of Action, met a great many men in disorder who told me that
ours were routed and Lieut. Sutherland killed. I ordered them to halt
and march back against the Enemy, which orders Capt. Demere and
Ensign Gibbon obeyed, but another Officer did not, but made the best
of his way to Town. As I heard the fire continue I concluded our Men
could not be quite beaten, and that my immediate assistance might
preserve them: therefore spurred on and arrived just as the fire was
done. I found the Spaniards intirely routed by one Platoon of the
Regiment, under the Command of Lieut. Sutherland, and the Highland
Company under the Command of Lieut. Charles MacKay.
"An Officer whom the Prisoners said was Capt. Don Antonio Barba
was taken Prisoner, but desperately wounded, and two others were
prisoners, and a great many dead upon the spot. Lieut. Sutherland,
Lieut. Charles MacKay and Sergt. Stuart having distinguished them
selves upon this occasion, I appointed Lieutenant Sutherland Brigade
Major, and Sergt. Stuart second Ensign.
"Capt. Demere and Ensign Gibbon being arrived with the men