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Here the reader should be informed, that Colonel Brown, having been tarred and feathered in Georgia by the liberty boys, for some intemperate conduct, did not feel much affection for them or their cause. To this enmity may be ascribed, in part, that inveteracy, zeal, and activity, which he always exhibited in every expedition directed against the Americans. He was taken from the paths of private life, and became an enterprising and intrepid officer. Inured to the hardships. fatigues, and privations, to which this species of warfare exposed him, he was a favourite with the colonial government, and their adherents; yet on that account, and from the great influence he had with the Indians, he was viewed with jealousy by the officers of the regular army.

Governor Tonyn issued a proclamation in August, 1776, inviting, in strong terms, the inhabitants of the town of St. Johns and of the Musquetoes, to assemble and co-operate with the king's troops, in resisting the "perfidious insinuations" of the neighbouring colonists; in opposing and repelling their future incursions into the province, and to prevent any more infatuated men from joining their "traitorous neighbours." This was met by a counter-proclamation in the early part of 1777, by President Button Gwinnet of Georgia, offering protection to the persons and property of those who would join the American standard, in opposition to tyranny. He remarked, that since the God of armies had appeared so remarkably in favor of liberty, the period could not be far distant, when the enemies of America would be clothed with everlasting shame and dishonour.

Beside the rangers, who were considered as a colonial

corps, there was a body of volunteers of about 200 men, with officers of their own choosing, well trained, clothed and armed at their own expense, whose services were accepted, to perform garrison duty, during the contemplated expedition of the regular troops, under Colonel Fuser, in Georgia.

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Two incidents occurred at this period that were highly favourable to the cause of liberty; and which, with a more dense population, understanding its rights, would have proved of serious consequence, and perhaps fatal, to the king's government in the province. One of these was, an attempt to place the militia under the orders of the regulars, which was permitted by the latter, though not without violent remonstrances. The other was the case of Walter Stewart, a Scotchman by birth, one of the volunteer militia, and at the same time a knight of the comb, who being called upon to exercise his professional talents upon Captain Sawyer, of the King's brig Porcupine, at anchor in the harbour, went on board, and either by accident, or otherwise, brought on shore a comb belonging to the Captain. An offence of this atrocious kind, was to be punished; and the power was most amply exercised by Captain Sawyer, who ordered the militiaman to be lashed to a gun, severely flogged, and detained on board. It was intended, no doubt, that he should remain there until his wounds were healed; but this unfortunate Scot thought otherwise, and availing himself of an opportunity, jumped overboard, and swam to the shore, to show his lacerated back to his comrades.

This event was calculated to arouse the angry feelings and

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excite the indignation of the whole community; but tended particularly to incense the militia, who, as they became more numerous by the arrival of the loyalists from the Carolinas and Georgia, were more tenacious of those rights of which Englishmen boast with so much pride. The affair was hushed, and the sufferings of the injured Scot were assuaged by a donation in money, better calculated to alleviate his circumstances, than to palliate the enormity of the offence.

This was a period at which the arm of government required all the strength it could collect; for an invasion was threatened by Colonel White from Georgia, who was said to be advancing on the Altamaha, which the Americans had fortified, so as to secure that frontier by a chain of forts. At the same time a proclamation was sent forth, inviting all the citizens of the United States to assemble at a camp formed in Burke county, and from thence to march into Florida, under the command of the governor of the state-provisions and ammunition to be supplied gratis, and all captures free plunder. These circumstances, together with the news of the treaty of alliance entered into between the United States and France, and a wavering disposition, manifested on the part of the Indian tribes, were alarming. The warriors, also, became restless, and were desirous of returning from the frontiers to their families; while Colonel Stuart, the superintendent of the southern department, who was actively engaged in negotiations among them, had much difficulty in restraining the Cussitahs, Oakfuskies, Big Talassies, Apalachicolas and Watskays, all favourable to the Americans, from taking, an active part against the royalists, who were joined by the

Chehaws and other lower Creeks. The arrival of Captain Elphinstone (Lord Keith) and of Captain Moncrief, two distinguished officers, high in the prominent departments of the navy and engineers, promising strong reinforcements, encouraged offensive operations. Upon which Colonel Fuser, of the 60th regiment, proceeded with about 500 men and a train of artillery against Sunbury, with a view of supporting the king's party in Georgia. However, his want of success, and his loss of men and officers, (among whom was Captain Muller of the 60th,) obliged him to fall back, for the purpose of awaiting the promised reinforcements.

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The daring inroads made by the Americans, whose hardihood brought them, on the 24th of June, 1778, to Amelia narrows, where they were cutting a passage through with a force said to amount to 1000 men, required the united forces of Captain Mowbray of the navy, who was preparing an expedition from St. Augustine, for the purpose of co-operating with Major Graham with 140 men of the 16th regiment, and Major Prevost, with a detachment of the 60th, who marched from the Cowford, to prevent their farther progress. such was the jealousy which existed in the various departments of the service, that notwithstanding every effort was made, a sufficient number of men could not be found willing to man two galleys carrying twenty-four pounders. Colonel Brown could only muster seventy half-starved men ; and the Crackers refused to join: thus rendering it necessary to fortify St. John's Bluff. For which purpose, and to allay the apprehensions of danger, Colonel Fuser, as commander of the troops, issued a proclamation on the 27th June, requiring

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all those who had not entered the militia, to join him, as the rebels might be expected every instant at the bar, or thereabouts."

To the alarm which this state of things naturally created, was added a catastrophe, in the death of Captain Skinner, deputy superintendent of Indian affairs, an active and faithful officer, while on service on the frontiers of Georgia. The cause and manner of his death were variously and not satisfactorily accounted for. The event created doubts as to the farther attachment of those important allies at such a critical juncture.

Thus far, the war in the south had been carried on experimentally, by both parties, in threatening proclamations; and, when those were found to be of no effect, by rangers, scouts, and riflemen, for want of regular troops, or of materials to form them in a thinly-peopled country. In the north, resistance to the king's armies became more systematic and violent; and the American forces, now joined by the French and Spaniards, were more successful.

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Policy, or necessity, prescribed a change of measures to the British ;-Georgia and the Carolinas became the theatre of war. General Prevost left Florida to be guarded by the militia, and marched into Georgia, with a considerable force of regulars and others, who endured many hardships, having been obliged to depend on oysters for food. On the 6th of January, 1779, he took possession of Sunbury, and subsequently of Savannah and Augusta; thus securing East Florida from any encroachments. Colonel Brown had succeeded in bringing over the Indians from the Cassetas, Big Talassies, and

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