March 1776 Moord in Savannah river off the Island of Cockspur.
Monday 25 Anchored abreast of the Light House The Cherokee an Armed Ship at 2 (P M) The Hinchinbrook Schooner fired two Shot which alarmed the Ships found that the Rebels had sett the Houses on Tybee Island on Fire and taken the people prisoners man'd and Armed the boats with all the boats in the Squadron and a Company of Marines in the flats and went down to the Island to get the well affected People off their was a small party of Marines a wooding two of them they used in a very Inhuman manner and one they took prisoner who afterwards made his escape one Nichols a Shipwright they shot through the Head we took the wounded and what people there was left and came on board with the boats the Rebels got off without any Hurt their was about 50 with some Indians commanded by Mr [Archibald] Bullock who is their head at Savannah
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/771.