does not appear to have been sufficiently stored with information, to qualify him for the practice of great villanies; but to acts of a petty kind, his exertions compensated for the deficiency of his talents: his residence was favourable to his purposes, and under cover of his commission, they were practised for a considerable time without suspicion. He resided between the Alatamaha and St. Mary's rivers, where himself and many others owned large herds of cattle. After his own stock had been exhausted, in secret sales to the enemy, he aided them in the collection of others which belonged to the Americans. Suspicion at length alarmed him and he threw himself in the way of the enemy, under pretence of being carried off a prisoner; and afterward himself and his son, took an active share in the royal cause..

Many of the inhabitants of Georgia and South-Carolina, encouraged by the rapid increase of horned cattle, without the trouble of furnishing winter food, or any other expense, except for the employment of a few herdsmen; had purchased large droves, and placed them between the Alatamaha and St. Mary's rivers, where the country furnished a plentiful supply of pastu rage, during the whole year. Colonel Daniel M'Girth and many of his associates, were well acquainted with the country and made frequent incursions to drive off cattle for the supplies of the enemy at St. Augustine. It is said that the number driven off for this purpose, is moderately estimated at ten thousand,

CHAPTER VI.

AT the meeting of the assembly in Savannah, on the 8th of May, Noble W. Jones, was appointed speaker of the house of representatives; John Adam Truitlen, governor; Jonathan Bryan, John Houstoun, Thomas Chisolm, William Holzendorf, John Fulton, John Jones, John Walton, William Few, Arthur Fort, John Coleman, Benjamin Andrews, and William Peacock, Esquires, members of the executive council; and Samuel Stirk, secretary. On the 3d of June, the assem. bly passed a resolution to raise two battalions, under the denomination of minute men, for the permanent defence of the frontier, to be enlisted for two years. Large bounties and premiums were offered to the officers and men. The platoon officers were not to be commissioned until they had completed their quotas of men, none of whom were to be enlisted in the state. To encourage exertions in the recruiting service, the rank of the platoon officers, was to be governed by the number of men, each officer recruited. The greatest exertions were excited, by this extraordinary rule for promotion, though its defects, in many instances, were destructive to military discipline. There are many men who are well calculated for recruiting sergeants, who would not be at all qualified to command a company.

The scarcity of provisions in the country, particularly of the bread kind, which had been occasioned by the constant employment of the militia, became alarming. To remedy the evil as much as possible, the governor prohibited by proclamation, the exportation of rice, corn, flour, and all other kinds of provisions, which might be required for the subsistence of the inhabitants, or of the army. Another proclamation was issued, inflicting fines and penalties upon those who should be found guilty of undervaluing the state bills of credit; but as there was no fund for the ultimate redemption of the paper money, its value lessened every day. An act of assembly was passed to enforce the authority of such provincial statutes of the British code, as were not at variance with the new constitution, or repealed by a state law. A land office was opened to encourage an increase of settlers from the other states, with offers of land upon advantageous terms.

Previous to the raising of the minute battalions, the protection of the western division of the state, had been confided to colonel Marbury's regiment of dragoons. When he was relieved from this service, his regiment was distributed into ranging parties, south of Alatamaha river, to act against the incursions of M'Girth: but the extensive country he had to defend, intersperced with a vast number of swamps, thickly covered with shrubbery, enabled his cunning and expert adversary, to accomplish his purposes, either by stratagem or force.

Late in the year 1777, the command in the southern states, was confided to major-general Robert Howe, who removed his head-quarters from Charleston to Savannah, early in the succeeding year. On the 8th of January, the assembly met in Savannah, and John Houstoun, was appointed to succeed Truitlen, in the government of Georgia. The project of reducing East. Florida was still cherished; and in order to make the necessary arrangements for its accomplishment, the governor suggested to general Howe, the probable force he would be able to bring into the field, and the gratification he should feel in co-operating with him on an expedition, which had so long engaged the attention of Georgia. Howe agreed to exercise his reflections upon the proposition, and finally agreed to its adoption.

About this time, a party of loyalists, principally inhabitants of the interior of South Carolina, embodied near Ninety-six, and crossed Savannah river, forty miles below Augusta; where they were joined by a party of the same description from Georgia, commanded by colonel Thomas. They took possession of some boats, on the way from Augusta to Savannah with corn and flour; and after supplying themselves with as much as they wanted, the remainder was destroyed and the boats sunk. This body consisting of four hundred men, supplied their wants on their route to East-Florida, and added to the distress of the inhabitants, by the destruction of such provisions as they did not use.

This augmentation to the enemy's force on the south heightened the zeal of its advocates; and gave a spur to the action of the expedition. In the mean time, the movements of the enemy at Pensacola, as well as the preparations at St. John's and St. Mary's rivers, gave strong indications of a formidable attack upon Georgia. The probability was strengthened by reports, which were entitled to some credit, that a re-inforcement of British troops was expected at St. Augustine.

To counteract the operations of the enemy, general Howe determined to embody his disposable forces, and act offensively or defensively, as the condition of his army might justify. The weak state of Georgia, rendered it incapable of self defence; consequently general Howe could calculate on very little aid from its militia. It was assailable on every side; no where prepared for defence; many of the people disaffected to the American cause; the militia but few in number, almost without arms or ammunition; and the Creek Indians, with their much dreaded implements of war, ready to join their British allies. Property was but of secondary consideration, when the aged, the helpless, and the infant, were so ill fated as to fall into such hands.

General Howe's regulars, who were in condition to take the field, did not exceed five hundred and fifty, and the militia, who were called from the western division of Georgia, left that quarter almost defenceless. Howe ordered a re-inforce