and giving confidence to the people in the suc cess of the American cause.

On the 13th of February, colonel Jackson encamped at Cuthbert's Saw-mills. About eleven o'clock in the forenoon he was attacked by fifty loyalists and Indians, from Savannah, commanded by colonel Hezekiah Williams. The enemy had the first fire, and wounded two or three of Jackson's men. The bridges had been destroyed and the creek was not fordable. The parties were on opposite sides of the creek, and continued firing at long shot until near sun down, but without much effect. Jackson detached a party of infantry, with instructions to pass up the creek some distance, cross over and fall upon the enemy's rear; but they did not reach their destination un til after Williams had retreated toward Savannah. Though provisions of every description were very scarce in the country, policy dictated to general Wayne the necessity of destroying such as could not be withdrawn from the control of the enemy. A considerable quantity of rice, not yet thrashed out, remained on Hutchinson's island opposite to Savannah, and so near the town as to be under cover of the enemy's guns. Governor Wright had cultivated an extensive rice farm, about half a mile south-east of the town, which also remained in the stack. Wayne finding that he could not gain possession of it for the use of his army, adopted a plan for its destruction. With this view he detached major Barnwell, of

South-Carolina, with fifty men, in boats, who were ordered to pass down the north river which separates the island from Carolina, to burn all the rice upon the island, as well as on the main, Colonel Jackson was ordered at the same time, with thirty dragoons, to pass through the swamps and destroy the rice upon Wright's plantation. The night of the 26th of February was fixed on for the execution of these plans. Jackson succeeded in dislodging the British piquets, burned the ricebarn, and retreated without any loss. He passed through an encampment as he was retiring, which was occupied by some refugees and their families; but finding a number of them sick and in great distress, he did not molest them. Major Barnwell was not so successful: a discovery was made of his plan, by the enemy, while he was collecting his boats, and his object being suspected, a considerable detachment was thrown over upon the island, by whom an ambuscade was formed; and as he passed down the river, he was fired upon; two of his men, Dobbins and Smith, were killed, and four wounded: one of his boats got aground, and three of the crew, who could not swim, were taken prisoners. Barnwell was compelled to retreat without accomplishing his object.

A party of Indians, passing from Savannah to ward the Creek nation, had stolen some horses on the frontier of Liberty county. They were pursued by major Francis Moore, with fifteen men, by whom they were overtaken at Reid's bluff, in

a log-house. Moore was close to the house before he discovered the Indians, and in open ground, where he could not commence an attack, except under great disadvantages; therefore he advanced under the pretence that his command consisted of royal militia. He gave his hand to some of the Indians who came to the door, but soon found he was suspected. He ordered his men to prepare for action; the Indians closed the door, and on the first fire Moore was killed and Smith wounded. Finding that the Indians had a superiority of numbers, and were too well fortified to be dislodged; captain Nephew, who then commanded, was compelled to retreat, Smith could not be carried off, consequently he was murdered so soon as he fell into the hands of the savages.

When the British general found that his bounds were likely to be contracted to narrow limits, he sent expresses to the Creek and Cherokee nations, requesting the assistance of the Indian allies. This assistance was promised by some of the leading warriors of both nations, but the defeats which they had received from Pickens, Clarke, and Anderson, had in some measure discouraged them. They had a general meeting in the spring, and there was a diversity of opinion among the chiefs whether they would adhere to the British or remain neuter, In consequence of this disunion, the Indians did not arrive at the time which they had appointed to join the British in Savannah. General Clarke's force did not ex,

ceed one thousand men, consequently was not deemed sufficient to defend the extensive works.

The 15th of May was named by the Indians as the time that they would be on the southern frontier of Georgia to join the British; but the disagreement in their councils had retarded their movements and considerably lessened their force. Keeping open a communication to the southward of Savannah, to prevent general Wayne from cutting off the promised assistance by the Indians, was an object of considerable importance to the British general. With this view, connected with the hope of collecting an additional supply of for age and provisions, general Clarke sent out one hundred men, on the 19th of May, consisting of volunteer militia and a few regulars, under the command of captains Ingram and Corker. They crossed great Ogechee the next morning, and small detachments were employed collecting cattle. Having received no intelligence from the Indians, they re-crossed Ogechee with the booty, on their return to Savannah.

Colonel Jackson had been watching the move. ments of the enemy, and communicated them to general Wayne, stating that he would take advantage of thick low woods through which they must pass, and annoy them in front and flank with his dragoons. Soon after the enemy had crossed the Ogechee ferry, Jackson attacked the front guard, and drove it in upon the main body: he then retreated about three miles to Struthers' plantation,

where he posted his men on each side of the road, in a swamp; they gave captain Atwood's dragoons, who composed the front guard, another fire and retreated. Colonel Brown (who had been exchanged soon after he returned from Augusta,) was ordered out by general Clarke, with two hundred and sixty infantry, and eighty dragoons, to re-enforce the other detachment, which they joined at little Ogechee, eight miles from Sayannah.

His

General Wayne had been regularly informed of these movements, and had put his whole force in motion to intercept the enemy's retreat. van consisted of sixty infantry, under the command of captain Parker, and thirty dragoons under lieutenant Bowyer. Parker was directed to hasten his march, and take possession of Baillou's causeway. The difficulties which were presented in marching across a swampy country, retarded Wayne's movements so much, that he did not reach his destination until ten o'clock at night. When Parker reached the end of the causeway, he discovered a small patrole of cavalry in his front. Each party advanced until they met, and Parker demanded the countersign. The British officer, either from confusion or mistake, advanced in the attitude of friendship, until it was too late to correct his error. The officer and eighteen dragoons were taken prisoners, and only one escaped, and he gave colonel Brown the alarm, who was moving in column with his cavalry in front upon the causeway. Bowyer charged upon the dragoons,