and carriages they could meet with in that state. This was in direct opposition to the conditions entered into by general Lincoln, that they should remain quiet, until he was able to afford them protection, by marching an army into their country.

This procedure on the part of the governor, had like to have produced a wound in the breast of the general, which would have been difficult to heal. General Moultrie foresaw the necessity of an immediate interference; and with all that military wisdom and candour, for which he was so much esteemed, remonstrated to the governor against his interfering with the command of the army. Governor Rutledge was duly impressed with the propriety of the general's reasoning; and on all future occasions, issued his orders to the militia, with caution and delicacy.

Some of the Georgia prisoners, who were exchanged for a like number sent from Charleston, were so much emaciated when they arrived in camp, that they were obliged to be carried from the boats, in which they were brought from the prison-ships. They complained highly of the illtreatment which they had experienced on board these filthy floating dungeons, of which their countenances and emaciated bodies exhibited condemning testimony. They asserted that they had been subsisted on condemned pork, which nauseated the stomach, and oat meal so rotten, that swine would not have fed on it; that the staff officers, and the members of council from Savan

nah, shared in common with the soldiery; even the venerable Bryan was obliged to partake such repasts, or die of hunger. The Jews of Savannah were generally favourable to the American cause, and among this persuasion, was Mordecai Sheftall, commissary-general, and his son, who was his deputy: they were confined in common with the other prisoners, and by way of contempt to their offices and religion, condemned pork given them for the animal part of their subsistence. In consequence of such food, and other new devices of mal-treatment, five or six died daily; whose bodies were conveyed from the prison-ships to the nearest marsh and trodden in the mud; from whence they were soon exposed by the washing of the tides, and at low water, the prisoners beheld the carrion-crows picking the bones of their departed companions.

General Lincoln's remonstrances to Sir Hyde Parker, against such inhuman conduct to prisoners, were disregarded: the flinty heart of Sir Hyde, was not the abiding place of humane feel, ings, it was a laboratory where a savage might refine his cruelties, and free them from such dross.

About the end of March, it was ascertained that the British were supplying their shipping, in Savannah harbour, with provisions and water, and that general Provost was re-calling detachments from his advanced posts on the river; by which it was conjectured, that they intended to evacuate Savannah, and leave the coast of Georgia.

General Lincoln removed his quarters to Black swamp, and having received the expected re-enforcement from North-Carolina, consisting of seven hundred men, commanded by general Sumner, determined to adopt some plan of active operations for the recovery of Georgia; for which purpose, he called a council of his general officers on the 19th of April, 1779; consisting of brigadiers Moultrie, Huger, and Sumner. The general stated to the council, that the troops then at head-quarters, seven hundred from North-Carolina, five hundred at Orangeburgh, and those with general Williamson near Augusta, amounted to five thousand men; and desired their opinion on the following plan of operation: to leave one thousand men at Purysburgh and Black swamp, to watch the passes on the river; assemble the remainder near Augusta, pass the Savannah river into Georgia, take some strong ground, and pre. vent if possible, the enemy receiving supplies from the back settlements; narrow their limits, prevent the loyalists and savages from Georgia and South-Carolina from joining them. After mature deliberation, the council were unanimously of opinion, that the measures proposed were advisable, and ought to be adopted.

One thousand men were placed under the or ders of general Moultrie, for the defence of Purysburgh and the passes over Savannah river; and on the 20th of April, general Lincoln with two thousand men, continental infantry, cavalry,

and militia, marched for Augusta, followed by his baggage and artillery.

General Moultrie was ordered to hold possession of the passes, particularly Purysburgh, as long as possible; and if the enemy should attempt to force their way toward Charleston, he was to retreat before them, and use every possible mean to retard their march, to skirmish with their front, and destroy the boats and bridges on the way; to advise general Lincoln of every occurrence, and to request the governor of South-Carolina, to put Charleston into the best state of defence, that time and circumstances would admit. General Moultrie was informed, that if circumstances required it, general Lincoln would advance with the troops under his immediate command, on the rear of the enemy, at the first notice from Moultrie that such a movement was necessary.

General Lincoln appears to have contemplated some advantages over the enemy, by inducing general Provost to divide his force; by advancing a part of them against the American army, in Georgia, or by a diversion into Carolina: in the latter event, he expected that Moultrie would be re-enforced by such numbers, as to enable him to hold the enemy sufficiently in check, and render the efforts to be made in Georgia, more certain in their result.

On the 23d of April, a party of about forty Indians, and white men painted like Indians, passed over the river at Yamasee, four miles below

Purysburgh, and attempted to surprise the guard: they were pursued, but escaped into the swamp. On the 25th, general Moultrie received intelligence that the enemy was in motion, and that some parties of them had passed over into SouthCarolina, below the town of Savannah: he order. ed lieutenant-colonel Henderson to retreat with his command from Purysburgh to Coosawhatchie, and two days afterward, a party of the British passed over from Abercorn to Purysburgh, and attempted to surprise Moultrie at Black swamp. Moultrie filed off toward Charleston for the purpose of keeping in the enemy's front, and sent an express to general Lincoln to apprise him of their movements, and his intentions to harass and retard their progress, until he received re-enforcements. General Provost's army consisted of two thousand chosen troops, and seven hundred loyalists and Indians; and Moultrie to oppose him, had one thousand militia, and instead of his numbers increasing, his troops wasted away by desertion, and when he had retreated to Ashley river ferry, he had only six hundred men.

Lincoln imagined that Provost only intended a feint on Charleston, to divert him from his purpose toward Savannah; continued his march on the south side of the Savannah river, and sent three hundred light troops and the legion of Pulaski, which had been stationed at the ridge, forty-five miles north-east from Augusta, to reenforce Moultrie.