mány to join them, who had previously been in. active. Notwithstanding the influence of Stewart over the Indians, the Creek tribes had never heartily entered into the war: small parties only, had joined the Floridians in their predatory excursions. When the Cherokees were pressed by the armies which marched against them, they solicited the aid and alliance of the Creeks; but a shrewd old chief remarked, "you have taken the thorns out of our feet; you are welcome to them."

In January 1777, colonel Lachlan M'Intosh, ordered the Georgia continental troops to be dis tributed among the garrisons at Darien, fort Howe, Beards bluff, and fort M'Intosh, A de tachment marching to Beards bluff, under the command of lieutenant Bugg, was surprised by a party of Indians, ambushed in the swamp of Beards creek. Three of Bugg's men were kill. ed, and his party defeated. Captain Chesley Bostwick's company was ordered to that place, and built a small stockade fort,

Lieutenant-colonel Elbert received intelli gence that a party was marching from St. Augustine, consisting of regulars, loyalists and Indians. Fort M'Intosh was a small stockade work of one hundred feet square, on rising ground, on the north-east side of Sattilla river, eighty yards from the waters edge, and thirty miles in advance of fort Howe. It had a bastion in each corner, and a block house in the centre, which answered

for the combined purposes of a lodgement for the troops, a magazine, and a place of defence. Captain Richard Winn's command consisted of forty men from the third South-Carolina regiment, and twenty continental troops from the Georgia brigade.

On the 17th of February, about the dawn of day, an attempt was made to surprise the garrison, by colonels Brown, Cunningham, and M'Girth, with seventy Florida rangers, and eighty Indians. The assault was continued without intermission for five hours, when a demand was made for a surrender, without any conditions, accompanied by threats of death to the whole garrison, in case of refusal. Captain Winn proposed that hostilities should cease for an hour, and at the expiration of that time, he gave the following answer, "I have considered your proposition, but am bound in honor not to comply. Should we fall into your hands we shall expect to be treated as prisoners of war." This letter was handed to colonel Brown by serjeant Hollis, with a flag. Brown presented a copy of Lord and general Howe's proclamation to the serjeant, with a request that it should be handed to captain Winn. Hostilities re-commenced and were continued until late in the afternoon. At this time, Winn had one man killed, and three wounded. The latter suffered greatly, for the want of a surgeon to dress their wounds. Brown withdrew his command a short distance, and posted strong

guards around the fort, to prevent the besieged from making a retreat under cover of the night.

ment.

Immediately after dark, captain Winn sent an express, by sergeant Owens, to colonel Francis Harris, at fort Howe, informing him of his critical situation, and requesting immediate reinforceUnder the assurance that this request would be complied with, he would hold out as long as possible, and at the first signal, he would sally out upon the enemy, when the reinforcement commenced an attack upon the rear. express arrived at fort Howe about day light the next morning, but the garrison consisted of only forty men fit for duty, consequently, unable to furnish the reinforcement which Winn had required.

The

Brown waited for the reinforcement which was to join him the next morning, from the south side of the river, under the command of colonel Fuser, consisting of detachments of light infantry from the fourteenth, sixteenth, and sixtieth regiments, consisting of two hundred men. The assault was renewed about nine o'clock in the morning, from the most advantageous positions which could be selected. The Indians made near approaches, and sheltered themselves behind logs and stumps, and very much annoyed the besieged by keeping a close watch upon the loop

holes.

The hope was still cherished by the garrison, that, reinforcement was at hand, and the moment

was looked for with anxiety, when they were to join their countrymen in the open field against the enemy. About three o'clock, another demand was made for the surrender of the garrison. Winn thought it important to gain time, and wasted away two hours in consultation with his officers. Despairing of the arrival of a reinforcement, and finding upon examination that his ammunition was nearly expended, and that he had not more provision than would last one day, he found his condition too critical to risk a con. tinuance of defence, beyond the time allowed for the arrival of assistance, which he now considered as having elapsed. Under these unpropitious prospects, he thought it best to accept the most advantageous terms which could be obtained, before he was reduced to the necessity of an unconditional surrender, for want of the means of defence.

Captain Winn proposed a personal conference with colonel Fuser, and it was agreed to meet upon a middle ground between the fort and the eneThe articles of capitulation were drawn up and agreed to, except one that was offered by captain Winn, which perhaps, under any other circumstances, would not have been considered ne

my.

cessary.

It required, "that for the further safety of the prisoners against Indian treachery, a com plete company of British regulars, should escort them to the Alatamaha, opposite to fort Howe, and that the British commander should be res

ponsible for the conduct of the Indians and Florida rangers toward the prisoners." Fuser peremp torily rejected this article, and refused to become responsible, except for the conduct of the British regulars. This language suggested more strongly to the mind of Winn, the necessity of this article's being incorporated, and he peremptorily refused to surrender, if it was rejected. He adverted to the fatal consequences which had resulted from the surrender of a fort on the borders of Canada, under similar circumstances, where the prisoners were delivered up to the Indians, and murdered. He also suggested the cruelty which he had good grounds to expect from such characters as Brown, Cunningham, and M'Girth, aided by the savage disposition of Cussuppa, the chief and commander of the Creek Indians. As he was taking his leave, he added, that he did not despair of defending the fort until he was reinforced.

When Winn represented these circumstances to his command, they united in the determination to defend the fort, and die honorably. While the garrison expected a re-commencement of hostilities, Fuser renewed the negociation to surrender, agreeing to introduce the article which he had previously rejected, upon which the garrison sur

rendered.

The terms of capitulation, were, that the garrison should not take up arms in the American cause, until regularly exchanged, and that lieute