ful sensation among the friends of freedom and independence. He sailed soon after for England.

In addition to the British force already stated, five hundred Indians were assembled on the Alatamaha river, and a proffer of all the aid of the Creek and Cherokee Indians, under the influence of Stuart and Cameron, to engage in any enterprise, which might be required of them.

Hudson's ferry and Paris' mill, were well fortified; cannon mounted at each, and strongly garrisoned. Ebenezer and Sister's ferries, were put into a state of defence, and all the passes of Savannah river secured by the British. The light troops were held prepared to move to any point, on short notice.

After the defeat of colonel Boyd, at Kettle creek, and the subsequent retreat of the British troops from Augusta; the Georgians who had fled to South-Carolina for safety, returned with their families and property to Wilkes county. They had scarcely occupied the forts and settlements, before they were alarmed by the approach of a body of Creek Indians, under the command of Tate and M'Gilvery, two Indian agents in the British interest. The approach and destination of this party were ascertained from an intercepted letter written by colonel John Thomas, who had been directed to supply them with provisions so soon as they arrived at Ogechee.

Colonel Pickens marched from South-Carolina to the assistance of Georgia, with two hundred

men of his regiment, and joined colonel Dooley, in Wilkes, with about one hundred. Colonel Clarke remained on the frontier to guard the forts. At that period, every man of sixteen years of age and upward, was required to bear arms. Dooley's and Pickens' regiments were joined at Wrightsborough, by parts of colonel Few's regi ment, colonel Leroy Hammond's, from Carolina, and major Ross, with two troops of horse. Lieutenants Alexander and Williams, were ordered to search for the Indian camp and ascertain their number and position. They proceeded to the encampment near Fulsom's fort: they returned and reported to the commanding-officer, that they had made a near approach to the camp, under cover of the night, and counted the numbers of the Indians at several fires; from which they judged that there were about eight hundred. The Americans marched all night, with a hope of reaching and surprising the Indians, before day light, but some of the disaffected inhabitants, apprised Tate and M'Gilvery, that the American army was approaching. Unwilling to meet in a general engagement, the Indians fled in small parties and in various directions. Detachments were ordered in the pursuit, and in three instances, the Indians were overtaken. Majors Ross and Cooper came up with the party which they followed, killed three and dispersed the remain. der; but unfortunately, major Ross received a mortal wound, of which he died two days after.

The activity and courage of this officer, who pos sessed a mind quick in expedients, in taking advantage of an enemy, and fertile in invention, in escaping from embarrassments; rendered his loss important to the cause in which he was engaged. Captain Newsom, lieutenants Bentley and Alexander, with five others, fell into an ambuscade; the two former, and a man by the name of Thomas, were killed; the other five escaped with the loss of their horses and caparisons. Major Burwell Smith overtook the Indians which he pursued; killed one, and had one of his own men wounded.

With the greatest appearance of confidence, the functions of the royal government in the eastern division of the state, continued in operation.. The security of private property was promised, and the vents to wealth were laid open to those who had returned to the king's standard. On the 15th of March, John Penman, Martin Jollie, James Robertson, William Telfair, and Roger Kelsal, were appointed commissioners of claims, by lieutenant-colonel Campbell. The duties assigned to this board, were to take possession of all the negroes, and other effects belonging to those who had taken an active part against the king's government. They opened an office in Savannah, and required all those who had possession of negroes or other effects, such as are above described, to make a return of them without delay; otherwise prosecutions were to be commenced by the attorney-general against defaulters.

The purport of Campbell's instructions to the commissioners, was to appoint such overseers and managers as they might deem necessary, not only for the care and employment of the negroes, stocks, and effects, on the confiscated plantations of the American adherents, but also for the improvement and cultivation of them. They were also directed to require of these overseer's and managers, monthly reports, specifying the numbers of negroes and stock, and the progress of cul tivation made on the several plantations entrusted to their care. Regular accounts were required of the disbursements necessary in cultivation, for the transportation of the proceeds to market, for the use of the king's troops, and other purposes, connected with the prosecution of the war. After paying the contingent expenses, the residue was to be appropriated as above mentioned, under the direction of the governor and his council, Through the medium of these arrangements, the deluded inhabitants, who had yielded and taken the king's protection, vainly hoped for freedom from future taxation.

The defeat of general Ash at Brier creek, was canvassed by the American army with great freedom: the public voice charged him with cowardice and a deficiency of military talents. Finding that he was viewed by all grades in the army, with contempt and disrespect, he demanded of general Lincoln, a court of enquiry, which was granted. The court was convened on the 9th of March,

with instructions to inquire into the causes which had occasioned the disastrous defeat of the American army, on the 3rd of that month, under the command of general John Ash, and to report the opinion of the court, relative to the military conduct of that officer. Brigadier-general Moultrie, was appointed president; brigadier-general Rutherford, colonels Armstrong, Pinckney and Locke, members; and Edward Hyrne, deputy-adjutantgeneral, recorder. General Ash was asked by the president, if he wished to make any observations to the court, before the witnesses were examined? he answered in the affirmative. He proceeded to describe the situation of the camp between Brier creek and Savannah river, and the country around it. He alleged that the creek was forda. ble above and below the camp, and that it was so narrow in many places, that by felling a tree across it, infantry could pass over without diffi culty. The other observations made by the gen. eral, were similar to those in his narrative of the action and defeat. He added that he had no intrenching tools; the time he had been upon the ground, was too short to admit of his making himself acquainted with its advantages or disadvantages; the militia under his command were without pouches or cartouch boxes, nor was it in his power to prevent a useless waste of ammuni tion, if they had been supplied before the action. He acknowledged that he had galloped off the field of battle, while the Georgians under Elbert