. . . about an hour after we set sail [from Gadsden's wharf] we crossed the harbour & came to an Anchor near the opposite shore not far from Captain Stones landing, it was with much difficulty that we disembarked, as we had but two small boats we could not land above fifteen men at a time, the Vessel being near half a Mile from the Shore & a long muddy flat, over which we partly draggd the boats, & then waded through the Water up to our Middless, this misfortune we attributed to the fear of the Captain who dreaded the consequence of being ha used down by the tide under the Cannon of Fort Johnson, which he apprehended was in the enemies hands, when One half a Mile more eastward would have given us a safe & good landing, without being commanded by the much dreaded Cannon of the Fort or the Tamar Man of War. Being arrived as I said before within half a Mile of the Shore Capt: Pinckneys Granadiers were orderd first to land & possess themselves of the sea beach, to cover us in case any foes should offer to Oppose our landing, as soon as his company was landed Captain Elliotts Granadiers, embarked from on board the Vessel in the small boats, Col: [Isaac] Motte landed in One & Captain Elliott in the other, by this time the day began to dawn, Col. Motte called Captains Pinckney & Elliott & consulted with them whether it would be best to make an attempt upon the Fort before day with the troops that were landed, or to waite till the rest of the Granadiers & Marians Light Infantry should land, they advised that an assault should be immediately made, & that Capt: Marion should be order'd to march up with his Company, & Lieut: Shubrick with the Granadiers not yet landed, as soon as possible to their assistance, this being agreed on the following regulation was orderd. vizt — Lieutent Mouat with a Detachment of the Granadiers of the first Regiment, & the Cadets was order'd to scale the Wall of the South face of the South West Bastion, which having a Ladder already fixed to it might be perform'd without much difficulty, this detachmt accordingly march'd off to perform their orders. Col: Motte with the remaining Granadiers, commanded by Capt Pinckney followed the first detachmt & Capt. Elliott brought up the rear, when the troops came within half a Mile of the fort they took their separate routs, in Order to invest the fort on three sides at Once, the other side being washed by the Sea could not be attempted but by Boats, which was thought unnecessary. When Lieut: Mouatt came up to the Glaces he found the Gates open, and rushed in with his detachmt & took possession of the Garrison making prisoners of all he found within. Col: Motte with the Granadiers under Capt: Pinckney soon after enter'd the Gate taking possession of the Fort while Capt: Elliott with a detachment of his Granadiers scaled the Walls of the Barbet Battery, & took possession of it, he found all the Cannon, consisting of Seven twenty Six pounders, Twelve Eighteen pounders, One Twelve pounder and One Nine pounder, dismounted & thrown off the Platform, so that they were renderd useless for immediate service, but upon examining the touch holes found they were not spiked, this he informed Col: Motte of immediately, who at this time had the commander of the Fort before him to deliver up the Keys of the Magazine & Gates of the Fort, the Col: desired to be informed by him who had done this Mischief, he reply'd that the Men of Wars Men under the direction of the Governors Secretary, Capt. [Alexander] Innes had left the fort two hours ago, that they had enterd his room, made him a prisoner and he supposed they had done it, he then gave up the keys, Col: Motte committed him & the rest of the Garrison to Prison, & placed Gentries, at the Gate of the Ravelin, the Inner Gate, on the Salient Iles of the Bastions, on the lower Battery, & at the Magazine, & kept a Captains Guard Mounted, which was relieved every 24 hours, the Relief were, for the Sentries every 2 hours. Not having any Engines to mount the heavy cannon, nothing could be done that day. Col: Motte dispatched Lieut: Shubrick off to the Council of Safety with an Account of his Expedition.