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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 155
other Merchantmen they can fit out, which they have taken into con
sideration.
" 'The Mamborcragh, Man of War, and two Sloops, with a Galley,
have been gone from this place a fortnight, and been drove to the North
ward by a Gale of Wind. They yesterday came abreast of this place
and had account how the General's Affairs stood: upon which they made
sail for the Southward.
" ''I wish our Fleet had been ready to have gone with them, and I
dare say we would have catcht them all. Every minute .appears an
age to me till we can assist our Friends to the Southward and 'till I have
Satisfaction for being left naked: They have got my all amongst them:
not having one shirt but as I •• borrow. I hope next opportunity to write
you better news. In the mean time remember me to all our Fiiends.'
'' On the 28th of June, 1742, thirty three Spanish Vessels appeared off
the Bar. The General staid at St. Simon's taking all possible measures
for the Defence of the Harbour, and opposed them in such a manner
that they could not become Masters of the Bar 'till 5th instant when
they entered the Harbour in line of Battle ahead. The General's Dis
position of the Land Troops prevented the Spaniards from Landing.
The General's three Vessels, with Captn Thomson's Ship, fought stoutly.
The Officers and Men in the Merchant Service, as well as those of the
Regiment behaved with the greatest courage. After three hours' fight
by the Land Batteries as well as the Vessels, the Spanish Fleet broke all
through and made for Fredcrica, but in a very Shatter'd condition,
which obliged the General immediately to send the Regiment for the
defence of that Place, and followed in the rear himself, and before he
would leave St. Simon's, had all the Cannon, Magazines, &c., burst and
destroyed, and sent out such Vessels as were on float to sea, the Harbour
having been left open by the Spaniards running up the River. The
loss is very considerable, and chiefly owing to the want of Artillery, En
gineers, good Gunners, and Ships of Force,—the Officers of the Regi
ment, Sailors, Indians, &c., having done all that men could do for their
numbers. The General himself was everywhere but chiefly at the Main
Battery and Shipping, Major Herpn being with the Regiment on Shore,
and Col. Cook at Charles Town, by leave of Absence by reason of siek-
ness, on his way to England. The General is preparing to make the
best defence he can in this Place.
"General Oglethorpe being arrived on the 6th of July by day
break, without the loss of a man, having brotight up all the wounded
on his horses, he dismounted and marched on foot himself and gave his
own Horse to me. He immediately gave Orders for the Defence of this
Place, sending our Scouts on all sides .and, supplying the broken and
lost arms &e., ordered all the Companies to be paraded on the afternoon
of the same day. The Creek Indians brought in five Spanish Prisoners
on the 7th day: On which day about the hour of ten, the Rangers who
had been on the Scout came chased in by the Spaniards, giving an ac
count that the Enemy was within a mile of this Place where they had
kill'd one Small. The General leaped on the first Horse and immedi
ately marched the Highland Company, who were then under arms a
parading, and ordered sixty from the Guard to follow. He himself