Carolina. Governor Houstoun's apprehensions for the safety of Savannah, were encreased by the alarming intelligence which he received from every quarter. The security of the public records, demanded immediate attention. The governor ordered captain John Milton, secretary of the state; to have the books and papers appertaining to his office, packed up without delay and removed to a place of safety. They were accordingly put on board of the Hinchenbrook, a vessel which had been taken from the enemy by colonel Elbert at Frederica, but her draft was too great for the depth of water and it was found necessary to remove them in small boats to Purysburgh, and thence to the Union; the residence of Mr. Bryan, where they remained until the British army arriv ed at Tybee.

The weather proving unfavourable to the designs of the British fleet, they put to sea, and the first alarm had measurably subsided, under the belief that Savannah was not the real destination of the enemy. Influenced by this impression, the governor ordered captain Milton to return to Savannah with the records. Fortunately for the state, captain Milton disobeyed the order, and remonstrated to the governor against a step so hazardous to their safety. He repaired to the city for the purpose of waiting upon the governor to explain his motives; when certain information was received by the governor, that the British fleet and transports again appeared off the bar.

Milton was directed to return to the Union and proceed to Charleston with the papers, where they were deposited. Captain Milton joined general Lincoln's camp, and was appointed one of his aids.

On the 24th of November, lieutenant-colonel Archibald Campbell of the British army, an offi cer in whose bravery and talents, great confidence had been justly placed by the commander-inchief of the British forces at New-York; had embarked at Sandy-Hook, 'with the seventy-first regiment of royal Scots; two battalions of Hessians; four battalions of provincials, and a detachment of royal artillery. The transports were escorted by a squadron of the fleet under the command of commodore sir Hyde Parker. On the 27th of December they crossed the bar and came up to Cockspur island. Having made arrangements for landing: the Vigilant man of war, Keppel brig, Greenwich sloop of war, and the Comet galley, came up the river with a strong tide and favourable breeze; followed by the transports in three divisions. About five o'clock in the afternoon of the 28th, the Vigilant opened the reach at four mile point, and was cannonaded by the American gallies Congress and Lee, but without much effect. Night coming on, some of the transports grounded on a mud flat, but got off in the night at high water, and proceeded up in the morning above Five-fathom Hole, opposite to Brewton's Hill, where the first division of light

to take pos

infantry debarked, and marched up session of the high ground, so as to cover the landing of the troops from the other transports. As this division of the enemy landed, they formed for action and marched up with great confidence.

General Howe had formed his encampment, south-east of the town of Savannah, anxiously waiting the arrival of re-enforcements of militia and the continental troops from South-Carolina, under the command of major general Benjamin Lincoln. Howe's army had not yet recovered from the fatal effects of the Florida campaign, the preceding summer: about one fourth were yet confined by disease, and many of his convalescents too feeble to encounter the fatigues of a battle. The dread of a climate, where disease had produced more terrors than the sword and not less fatal, retarded the progress of militia, and prevented many from returning, who were absent on furlough. On the day of battle, Howe's army, exclusive of militia, amounted to six hundred and seventy-two, rank and file. The force of the enemy was two thousand one hundred, including land troops, seamen, and marines; but it was thought by Howe that the enemy exhibited the appearance of greater numbers, than what was really possessed, and that the opposing armies were nearly equal.

On the 28th a general order was issued to prepare for action, and on the 29th, the following order of battle:

"SAVANNAH, HEAD-QUARTERS,

December 29, 1778.

"Parole, Firmness. The first brigade is to be told off into sixteen platoons, of an equal number of files, the odd files to be formed into one platoon on the right wing of the brigade, to act as light infantry according to exigencies.

"Two field officers to be appointed to the command of the right wing of both brigades.

"The second brigade to be told off into eight platoons of an equal number of files to be formed on the left of the first brigade, in order to act as light infantry, as will be directed.

"Colonel Isaac Huger will command the right wing of the army, composed of the first brigade and the light troops belonging to it.

"The artillery of both brigades, and the park, to be posted before and during the action as shall be directed, and defend their ground until further orders. The artillery when ordered or forced to retreat, are to fall into the road leading to the western defile, where colonel Roberts is to take as advantageous a post as possible, to protect the retreat of the line."

The town of Savannah is situate on high level sandy ground, forty feet above the surface of the water, on the south bank of the river, and approachable by land at three points: from the high ground of Brewton's hill and Thunderbolt, on the east, by a road and causeway over a morass, with rice fields on the north side of the causeway to the

river, and the morass and wooded swamps from the causeway southward, several miles; from the south, by the road from White bluff, on Vernon river, and the road from Ogechee ferry which unite near the town; and from the westward, by a road and causeway over the deep swamps of Musgrove's creek, with rice fields from the causeway to the river on the north, and by Musgrove's swamp leading in from the southward. From the eastern causeway to that on the west, is about three quarters of a mile.

On the morning of the 29th, when colonel Elbert discovered the place of landing of the enemy, he advised general Howe of the advantages they would obtain, if allowed to gain undisturbed possession of Brewton's hill, and offered to defend it with his regiment; assuring him from a perfect knowledge of the ground, the advantages it would give over the enemy. Howe rejected the offer, and formed for battle on the south-east side of the town. His centre was opposed to the head of the causeway, by which he believed the enemy must approach him; his left with the rice fields in front, and flanked by the river; his right with the morass in front, and flanked obliquely by the wooded swamp, and one hundred of the Georgia militia. Colonel George Walton informed the general of a private way through the swamp, by which the enemy could pass from the high grounds of Brewton's hill and gain the rear of the American right; and which in his belief, was important