He had marched but a short distance, when some mounted militia and Indians, under the command of colonel M'Girth, appeared in his front and fired a gun, which he supposed to be a signal for the main body of the enemy in the rear. Colonel Baker ordered his men to dismount and prepare for action. Twenty or thirty fled into a swamp, without firing a gun. The remainder dismounted and a brisk skirmish ensued for about five minutes, when the Americans began to retreat. The main body of the enemy, commanded by colonel Brown, had been formed into three divisions of one hundred in each; the reserve commanded by captain Wolf, covered the retreat of those engaged, while the right and left attempted to turn Baker's flanks unperceived and surround him. In this manœuvre, the enemy so well suc ceeded, that Baker was obliged to retreat into the swamp through a galling fire. Baker narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the enemy, in consequence of one of his men having mounted his horse and rode him off.

The American loss in this defeat was eight killed, of whom five were murdered by the Indians after they were taken prisoners, nine wounded, and thirty-one including part of the wounded, were taken prisoners. Among the killed, were lieutenants Frazer and M'Gowen, lieutenant Robeson, wounded, and captains Few and Williams, prisoners. Thomas Coleman was drowned crossing Sattilla river. Colonel Baker and the

remains of his command, fled in small parties and in great confusion from the scene of action, which was near Nassau river. Some of them joined colonel Elbert, and the remainder reached the settlements in Georgia, in small parties.

Head winds, boisterous weather, and the want of pilots who were acquainted with the southern inland navigation; rendered colonel Elbert's share in the expedition, as useless as colonel Baker's, though not so fatal. He did not reach St. Mary's until six days after the time the junction was to have been formed with Baker at Sawpit bluff. In attempting to pass through Amelia river, one of the gallies grounded, and two days were exhausted in vain efforts to pass through the narrows.

Lieutenant Robert Ward, of the second regiment, was ordered by Elbert to land with a party of men and march to the southern extremity of the island; and on his way, to secure all the inhabitants, to prevent the enemy from gaining intelligence of Elbert's approach. A detachment of the enemy had been landed on the south end of the island, to watch the motions of Elbert; and the landing of Ward's party was communicated to the enemy by a spy. A small boat was immediately despatched to give the alarm to an armed vessel, at anchor to the southward of the island. Alarm guns were fired, and answered at the en. trance of St. John's river.

About eleven o'clock on the morning of the 20th of May, Ward's party was attacked by an

equal number of the enemy, who had marched up the island to meet him. The contest was pretty equal for ten minutes. The enemy retreated toward a low ground, covered with thick low woods, favourable to cover a retreat. Ward advanced in front of his men, with a precipitancy, bordering on imprudence and received a mortal wound, of which he died an hour after, and two of his men were wounded. The loss sustained by the enemy, if any, was not known. The pursuit was not carried beyond the margin of the thicket, where lieutenant Ward fell.

On the 19th, thirteen of colonel Baker's men joined colonel Elbert, and gave him an account of the disaster at Nassau river: but as they were among the first who fled, could give no detail of the particulars. On the 21st, three others joined and informed him, that the number opposed to Baker, was about three hundred and fifty, composed of British regulars, Florida rangers, Indians, and a few Florida militia. These three men, with five others, were taken prisoners by M'Girth, and put under the care of an Indian guard. The Indians fell upon them unexpectedly, killed the other five with knives and hatchets, and in the confusion, with great difficulty, they effected their escape. They conjectured that about one half of Baker's men were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, and supposed that their commander was among that number.

The enemy acknowledged that Baker, and about fifty of his men, acted with great courage and resolution, and that if the remainder had followed the example, a retreat might have been effected with an inconsiderable loss. The enemy had been apprized that Baker was on his march, and that Elbert was approaching by water. Correct information had also been received of the number which constituted the two American detachments. The commanding-officer at St. Augustine ordered a detachment of artillery to defend a battery which had been erected at Hester's bluff. A schooner mounting ten guns, and an armed sloop were ordered to defend the inland passage, between Amelia island and the main land, against small boats; well knowing that the depth of water would not admit the American gallies to pass through.

Elbert's party of observation from the south end of the island, informed him that two vessels, one of fourteen and the other of sixteen guns, were standing off and on over the bar, evidently with the intention to intercept the gallies, if any attempt was made to pass them round on the outside of the island. Elbert had laid up an ample stock of flour, but his other provisions, calculating on supplies in Florida, were nearly exhausted. The tedious time which had been spent in contending against head winds and shoal water; constantly exposed to the heat of the sun, and crouded in small vessels; created despondency

and disease.

These circumstances, combined with the defeat of colonel Baker, caused him to relinquish all prospects of success, and compelled him to abandon the expedition. He accordingly reported his condition and determination to general M'Intosh, and to president Gwinnett, by express. He retreated to Frederica, and from thence was ordered to Sunbury, Such was the issue of president Gwinnett's wild expedition, from which he vainly calculated on annexing another province to the United States.

The command of the southern army had been confided to general Robert Howe, about the close of the year 1776, who had fixed his head quarters in Charleston. When it was known to Howe, that colonel Fuser had reduced fort M'Intosh, it was also conjectured that he would invade Georgia with such a formidable force, as the troops in that state would not be competent to resist. The commanding-general ordered lieutenant-colonel Marion, of South-Carolina, to embark six hundred men in boats and small vessels, with four field pieces, a quantity of ammunition, camp equipage, intrenching tools, and provisions, to proceed immediately, by the inland passage to Savannah. Colonel Thompson's regiment marched to Purysburgh on Savannah river. Before these troops arrived, which was about the 15th of March, Fuser had retreated to Florida.

The term for which the North-Carolina militia were called into service, had expired, and