Gentlemen

The intimate Connection between this and your Province in a particular Manner, renders it necessary to acquaint you with the Occurrences in the former, since the Date of our last; to which, and the Dispatche preceding, we refer you.

Our Dispositions in the Evening of the 2d, were such as appeared to our Officers the most likely to prevent the Landing of our Enemy; and so as, if they should make their Landing good, either above or below the Town, to prevent their getting in; however, notwithstanding our Vigilance, they, by Collusion with the Masters and others on board the Merchant Shipping, which hawled near the Shore of Hutchinson's Island in the Night Time, got on board these Ships, about four o'clock yesterday Morning; to the Number, as far as we are competent to judge from the Observations we made, and the Intelligence we received, of between two and three hundred, where the affected to conceal themselves.

We had our Fears respecting these Shipping; and therefore kept a good Watch upon them; but it was impossible for Centinels, on this Shore, to descry them in boarding from the other, the Vessels being betwixt.

Capt. Rice, who commanded a Boat of Observation, was sent on board the Shipping about nine o'Clock, to order the Rigging on Shore, and was, without any Noise, or the smallest Knowledge of us, kidnapped. This we did not know till about half an Hour afterwards: Two Sailors, under Pretence of coming on shore for Cloaths, gave Information of the Troops being on board the Shipping, and of Rice's being taken. About three hundred Men were then immediately marched to Yamacraw, opposite the Shipping, with three 4 Pounders, and threw up a Breastwork. The armed Schooner Hinchinbrook, of ー Guns, with a Number of Men on board, which, with others, went up the Ba.ck River, in the Afternoon of the Day preceding, about this Time set sail down to the South River, with Intent, no Doubt, of covering the Landing of the Troops, from on board the Merchant Shipping: But being continually fired at, by two Companies of Riflemen who were placed in Ambuscade, she was obliged to come very slowly, and often came to, and returned a very smart Fire at the every place where the Riflemen fired from, until the Tide was spent, and she could not go down. During the Course of this firing, only one of our Men got wounded, and that slightly in the Thigh; but on board, several men were seen to fall.

In Town we had exhibited a still more interesting Scene. We found the Officers and Men clamorous, about the Capture and Detention of Rice; and two Gentlemen, Lieut. Daniel Roberts, of the St.John's Rangers, and Mr. Raymond Demeré of Saint Andrew's Parish, solicited, and were permitted, to go on board, to Demand a surrender of Rice and his People. They accordingly divested themselves of Arms, and were rowed by a Negro on board the Vessel, in which were, Capt. Barclay, the Commodore, and Major [James] Grant; and these Officers, contrary to all the Principles which cement Society, and govern Mankind, immediately arrested our Deputies, and yet detain them as Prisoners. We waited with anxious Expectation for near half an Hour, when we demanded our Deputies, by the Help of a Trumpet, without getting any other, but insulting Answers; whereupon we fired two 4 Pounders directly into them; and then they informed us, that they would send an Answer in Writing; which they presently after did, signed by Lieut. Roberts and Mr.Demeré, purporting, that if we would send two of the Persons in whom the People most confided, they would treat with them.

Capt.[James] Screven, of the St.John's Rangers, and Capt. [John] Baker, of the St.John's Rifle-men, chagrined no doubt, the former particularly, on Account of his Lieutenant, by detention of our Deputies, took about a Dozen of Rifle-men in a Boat, and rowed directly under the Stem of Capt. Inglis, in whose Vessel were a great Part of the Soldiery, and, in peremptory Terms, demanded the Deputies, and were answered, after one Shot from Col. Baker, by a Discharge, down directly upon them, of near two hundred Shot, both from Swivels and small Arms, which was kept up while they were in Reach; the Captains and Men in the Boat, not in the smallest Degree confused, or even, perhaps, disappointed by the Attack, fired their Rifles, most of them three several times, and as they say, not without Execution; and wonderful to tell! not a Man of them killed; one Man only received a Slug in the fleshy part of his Shoulder, which was immediately cut out, without the smallest Inconvenience or Danger. The Spectators declare, as we now do, that such a providential Deliverance has not yet been known.

This unmanly Attack, upon a few Men in an open Boat, produced a general Fire from our Field Pieces and Intrenchments; and as smart - Return from two 4 Pounders and several Swivels from the Shipping; which lasted from about Twelve o'Clock to Four; and although they often fired langridge, which continually whistled about our Men, not a single Man was even touched; but we have no doubt, a Number of the Enemy met with a worse Fate, as they were seen frequently to fall.

About Four o'Clock we called a Council, and determined to have the Vessels immediately burnt; and issued orders to Col. [Lachlan] M'Intosh accordingly: Whereupon the Inverness, late Capt. M'Gillivray, loaded with. Rice and Deer-Skins, was set on Fire, and cut loose. Upon this, the Soldiers, in the most laughable Confusion, got a shore in the Marsh; while our Rifle-men and Field pieces, with Grape Shot, were incessantly galling them. The Shipping were now also in Confusion, some got up the River, under cover of the Armed Schooner, while others caught the Flame, and, as Night approached, exhibited a Scene, as they passed and repassed with the Tide, which, in any but the present Times, would be truly horrible, but now a subject only of Gratulation and Applause.

The Ships of Capt. Inglis and Wardwell, neither got up the River, or on Fire; they were ordered on Shore, and now are Prisoners of Capt. Screven in the Country, and their Vessels brought down close in to a Wharf. They were permitted to write to Capt. Barclay in the Evening, to inform him of their situation, and to request an Exchange of Prisoners, which the latter peremptorily refused.

We have thus given you a particular Detail of Things, as they really happened, to prevent the Belief of any erroneous Intelligence; and, from which you will be competent to judge of our Situation.

Col. M'Intosh laid before the Board, a Resolution of your Congress to aid us, accompanied by a Letter from Mr.[Rawlins] Lowndes; and we are very glad you have determined to afford us further Assistance. We wish it may arrive in Time.

By Order of the Council of Safety,