[Extract]
(Triplicate)
His Majestys Schooner St John had injudiciously made an Hospital on the Georgia side of St Mary's River nigh to a Stockade erected three Years ago by Mr Wright when an Indian War was expected. To which place Mr Germain and Charles Wright have retired from their Estate in this Province, and Armed their Negroes; it is opposite to the post occupied by His Majestys Troops, who had also inadvertently sent Sick Men there. The 11th Instant Lieutenant Bucher of the 16th Regiment upon this Detachment returning from a visit at the St John Schooner in the Cutter with the Master sent by Lieutenant [William] Grants Account to bring off the Sick, upon two alarm Guns being fired from Mr Wrights Stockade, a Canoe with five Soldiers attending Lieutenant Bucher followed at some distance, when the Cutter arrived within a Creek they were fired upon, a Sailor was killed, another mortally wounded, Lieutenant Bucher the Master and Boatswain taken prisoners, and the Cutter burned. The Canoe with the five Soldiers escaped back to the Schooner.
A Solider of the 60th Regiment in the Hospital with the Surgeon and the Sailors made their escape to Mr Wrights Stockade.
By Mr Wrights Account the Rebels carried off twenty of his Negroes.
The Rebels were fired on from the Stockade and it is certain some were wounded as it appeared when they retired Men had lain on the Ground and bled, and were tracted by their blood.
They have been exceedingly imprudent my Lord to fix the Sick Men on this Spot, Amelia Island being better situated within this Province, in the rear of Troops and Schooner.
(No 18) St Augustine 18. July [17]76
[Endorsed] Original & Duplicate supposed to have fallen into the hands of the Rebels.