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152 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
man, for the letter was not directed. The Frenchman denied his know
ing anything of the contents of the letter or having received any money
or correspondence with me, notwithstanding which, a Council of War
was held and they deemed the French Man to be a double spy, but Gen
eral Montiano would not suffer him to be executed, having been employed
by him; however they imbarqued all their Troops, and halted under
Jekyll; they also confined all the French on board and imbarked with
such precipitation that they left behind them Cannon, &c., and those dead
of their wounds, unburied. The Cuba Squadron stood out to sea to the
number of 20 sail; General Montiano with the Augustine Squadron
returned to Cumberland Sound, having burnt Captain Horton's houses,
&c., on Jekyll. I, with our boats, followed him. I discovered a great
many sail under Fort St. Andrew, of which eight appeared to me plain,
but being too strong for me to attack, I sent the Scout Boats back.
'' I went with my own Cutter and landed a man on Cumberland who
carried a letter from me to Lieut. Stuart at Fort William with orders
to defend himself to the last extremity.
"Having discovered our Boats & believing we had landed Indians
in the night they set sail with great haste, in so much that not having
time to imbarque, they killed 40 horses which they had taken there, and
burnt the houses. The Galleys and Small Craft to the number of fifteen
went thro' the inland Water Passages. They attempted to land near
Fort William, but were repulsed by the Rangers; they then attacked it
with Cannon and small Arms from the water for three Hours, but the
place was so bravely defended by Lieut. Alexander Stuart that they
were repulsed and ran out to sea where twelve other sail of .Spanish
vessels had lain at anchor without the Barr during the Attack without
stirring; but the Galleys being chased out, they hoisted all the sails they
could and stood to the Southward. I followed them with the Boats
to Fort William, and from thence sent out the Rangers and some Boats
who followed them to Saint John's, but they went off rowing and sail
ing to St. Augustine.
"After the news of their defeat in the Grenadier Savannah arrived
at Charles Town, the Men of War and a number of Carolina People
raised in a hurry set out and came off this Barr after the Spaniards had
been chased quite out of this Colony, where they dismissed the Carolina
vessels, and Capt. Hardy promised in his letters to cruise off St.
Augustine.
"We have returned thanks to God for our deliverance, have set all
the hands I possibly could to work upon the Fortifications, and have sent
to the Northward to raise men ready to form another Battalion against
His Majesty's Orders shall arrive for that purpose. I have retained
Thompson's ship, have sent for Cannon shott, &c., for Provisions and
all kinds of stores since I expect the Enemy who (tho' greatly terrified)
lost but few men in comparison of their great numbers, as soon as they
have recovered their fright will attack us with more caution and better
discipline.
'' I hope His Majesty will- approve the measures I have taken and I
must entreat Your Grace to lay my humble request before His Majesty
that he would graciously pleased to order Troops, Artillery and other
Necessarys sufficient for the defence of this Frontier and the neighbor-