An account of the late Invasion of Georgia drawn out by Lieutenant Patrick Sutherland of General Oglethorpe’s Regiment who lately arrived in England and was sent Express on that occasion, but being taken by the Spaniards off the Lizard was obliged to throw the said Express and his other Papers over board.

The beginning of May last the Spaniards fitted out their Fleet from the Havannah containing 56 Sails and between 7 or 8000 men with an Intention to Invade Georgia and South Carolina and the other Northern Colonies at their first setting out in turning the Moos Castle they lost a large Settee with 150 men, a few days after their Fleet was disposed by Storm so that all Shipping did not arrive at Augustine. The latter end of May or beginning of June Capt. Hamar of the Hamborough in his Cruise to the Southward sent in to General Oglethorpe for Intelligence, who acquainted him that he would probably meet with some Spanish vessels to the Southward of Augustine which he accordingly did and engaged 10 sail off the Musqueto’s and drove some of them ashore, but in the Action lost his Boat and 17 of his men. He on his return acquainted the General with what had happened who could not then come in for the defence of Georgi but proceeded to Charles Town to clean his ship. The General thereupon sent Lieut. Maxwell by water and Lieut. Hugh Mackay over Land to Carolina with advice to the Governor but no Notice was taken of it, nor did any Assistance come from thence till after the Retreat of the Spaniards and all the Danger was over. Lieut. Colonel Cook was at Charles Town in his way to England when Lieut. Maxwell arrived with the said Advice.

The 21st of June 9 Sail attempted to come into Amelia Sound but the 18 Pounders from Fort William and the Guard Schooner with 80 men Commanded by Capt. Dunbar fixed so briskly that they sheered off as Fast as they could. The General on this advice resolving to support the Forts on Cumberland set out with a Detachment of the Regiment on board his Boats sent Capt. Horton with his Company of Grenadiers before and was himself obliged to fight his way with 2 Boats thro 14 Sail of Spanish Vessels which endeavoured to Intercept him in Cumberland Sound. In this Engagement several of the Spaniards being killed the said Vessels set out to Sea and did not join their Fleet till the day before they left St. Simons Sound Lieutenant Tolson who commanded the Boat of the greatest Strength instead of following the General run into a Marsh where he was till next morning and then returned to St. Simons for which misbehaviour he was put in Arrest in order to be Try’d. Major Heron from the shore seeing the General surrounded by the Enemy and hid in Smoak concluded him lost, but the next day to the great joy of the People he ruturned in the Guard Schooner to St. Simons after having withdrawn the Command from St. Andrews and the Stores and artillery that were there and reinforced Fort William where he left one of the Boats he had with him.

He having laid an Embargo on all the Vessels in the Harbour took Capt. Thomson’s Ship which mounted 20 Guns into the King’s Service and manned her out of the small Vessels which were of no force, he also called in the Highland Company from Darien, Capt. Carr’s Company of Marines and the Rangers from where they were differently detached, and sent Mr. Mulbryne to Carolina to get all the men he could.

The 28^th of June the Spanish Fleet came to Anchor off St. Simons Barr, who were diverted from coming in or landing any of their Troops for several days in which time the General raised another Troop of Rangers, and by rewarding those who did extraordinary Duty and promising great Encouragement to all who should signalize themselves on this Occasion he kept up the Spirits of the People and encreased their numbers daily.

The 5^th of July with the Tide of Flood and a brisk Gale 36 sail of Spanish Vessels entered St. Simons Harbour 9 of which were large Top mast Vessels. We received them with a brisk fire from our Batteries and Ships. Hulled several of them with our 18 Pounders from the Fort and our 4 Pounders from the lower Battery. The Spanish Commodore onboard a Ship of 22 Guns with a Settee with an 18 Pounder and 2 nine Pounders in her Bow attempted to board Capt. Thomson’s Ship but he with his great Guns, Capt. Carr with his Company of Marines, and Lieut. Wall and Lieut. Oterbridge with a Party of the Regiment made so brave a defence that the Spaniards were obliged to retire with loss. A snow of 16 Carriage Guns at the same time attempted to board our Guard Schooner but was also repulsed by Capt. Dunbar. The Engagement lasted upwards of 3 hours in which Engagement the Enemy lost 17 men and had 10 wounded. They passed all our Vessels and proceeded up the River, on which the General held a Council of War at the Head of his Regiment where it was the Opinion of the whole immediately to March up to Frederica for the defence of that place. The General accordingly gave orders for the Regiment to March and ordered all the Troops that were on board the Vessels to come ashore and directed Capt. Thomson with the Guard Schooner and Prize Sloop to make the best of his way to Charles Town, and this was all done in sight of the Enemy.

The General during this Action being obliged to be some times on the Ship board, sometimes at the Batteries and to Act as Engineer found himself under a necessity of having a Lieut. Colonel with the Regiment, he therefore appointed Major Alexander Heron Lieut. Colonel in the Absence of Lieut. Col. Cook who was also Engineer and whose Sub Engineer having attended him to Charles Town being also absent. Late at Night the General arrived at Frederica after having destroyed all the Stores at St. Simons and Sunk the Vessels that might be of use to the Enemy, and rendered the Guns incapable of Service, and ordered the Wounded to be carried off on Horseback. That night the Enemy landed their Forces on a dry Marsh about a mile and half from the Camp under Cover of their great Guns. They lay all that night under Arms and the next morning took possession of the Camp which we left. About noon the Creek Indians brought us 5 Spanish Prisoners from whom we had Intelligence that Don Manuel de Monteano Governor of St. Augustine Commanded in Chief the Expedition and that Major Gen. Antonio de Rodondo Chief Engineer and two Brigadiers came with the Forces from Cuba. That their whole number consisted of about 5,000 and that the night before they had landed about 4,300 men, one of the Prisoners the General sent with Mr. Bedon to Charles Town.

The 7^th of July about 9 in the morning a Ranger of the Patrole brought an Acct. that the Enemy were marching within a mile and half of the Town. Whereupon the General immediately ordered 4 Platoons of the Regiment to March and in the mean time went himself with the Highland Company who were then under arms. The Indians and a Party of Rangers came up with the Enemy about a mile from the Town as they were entering the Savannah to take possession of a Ditch they had a mind to use as an Intrenchment, but the Enemy were attacked so briskly that the General soon over came them. Most of their party which consisted of 120 of their best Woodsmen and so Indians being either killed or taken Prisoners. They General took 2 Prisoners with his own hands Lieut. Scroggs of the Rangers took Captain Sebastian Sanchio Prisoner who commanded the Party. Tooanohowi being Shot thro his Right arm by Capt. Mageleto, drew his Pistol with the left and shot him thro the head. The General pursued the Enemy near 2 miles and halted on an advantageous piece of Ground until the party of the Regiment came up. He posted them with the Highlanders in a wood with a large Savannah or meadow in their Front over which the Spaniards must pass in their way to Frederica, after which he hastened back and ordered the Rangers and Company of Boatmen to make ready, in the mean time two Companys of Grenadiers of 50 men each and 200 more of the Enemys best Troops came up with Shouts and Drums beating. Whereupon the General hearing Platoons firing immediately made haste that way and met three of the Platoons who in the Smoak and drisling rain had retreated in disorder and the fire continuing he ordered them to Rally their men and follow him who hastening on found That Lieut. Sutherland with his Platoon and Lieut. Charles Mackay with the Highlanders had entirely defeated the said 300 of the Enemy. In which action Don Antonio Barba was made Prisoner and Mortally Wounded several others were killed and two Grenadiers were taken Prisoner Capt. Demere and Ensign Gibbon Rallyed their Platoons and came up to the Ground, Capt. Carr with his Company of Marines and Lieut. Cadogan with a party of the Regiment came up at the same time and were and were [sic] followed by Major Heron with the Body of the Regiment. In both actions they lost 2 Captains 1 Lieut. 2 Serjeants 2 Drums and about 160 Private men, and one Capt. And 19 men were taken Prisoners. The General with the Regiment halted all night about a mile and half from the Enemys Camp to Intercept those who had straggled in the Woods and Expecting the Enemy to make a second attempt to march in the morning. But the General having advanced with a Party of Indians before Day Break towards the Spanish Camp found them all Retreated into the Ruins of the Fort and under Cover of their Cannon, next morning the 8^th of July the General and his men returned to Frederica and he appointed a general staff viz. Lieutenants Primrose, Maxwell & Hugh McKay Aid de Camps, Lieutenant Sutherland Brigade Major, and Serjeant John Stewart second Ensign for his Brave Behaviour in the last Engagement.

The 9^th and 10^th of July all hands were Employed in the Works at Frederica and the Indians brought us in some scalps and Prisoners.

The 11^th of July a Settee and 2 quarter Galleys came within gunshot of the Town but upon our firing some Guns & Bombs from the Fort and the General going towards them with his Boats they returned to their Fleet & with the rest drew up in line of Battle. The next morning being the 12^th of July an English Prisoner escaped from them who had Informed us that the Enemy on their Landing had Resolved to give no Quarter but from the day their Grenadiers were defeated they had been in great Terror & intrenched themselves and given orders that no one should go without their Centinels for fear of being surprized by our Indians. By other Prisoners and Deserters we were also told that on calling over their Rolls there were 240 men and 19 of their Indians missing. That there were great Divisions amongst them in so much that Don Antonio de Rodondo who Commanded the Cuba Forces Encamp’d separate from those of Augustine and that the Commodore had ordered all his seamen on board. That night the General with 500 men marched within a mile of the Enemys Camp intending to surprize them but was prevented by the Treachery of a French man who was got[?] among the Company of Boatmen and fired his Piece and gave the alarm to the Enemy and then Deserted to them. When the General found his Intentions discovered to the Enemy he ordered all his Drums to beat the Grenadiers march and then returned to Frederica. The General next day being 13^th of July in order to defeat the Information of the French Deserter directed a Letter to be wrote and sent by a Spanish Prisoner who for the sake of money the General gave him and the Promise of Liberty undertook to deliver it to the said French man wherein he was instructed to acquaint the Enemys Commanding officer of the Defenceless state of Frederica and Encourage them to come up by Water under his Pilotage Which Letter the Spanish Prisoner delivered to the Governor of Augustine and it had so good an Effect That the said French man was immediately taken into Custody and looked upon as a double spy and thereupon put into Irons. The next morning being the 14^th of July the Spaniards burned the Barracks and Officers Houses at St. Simons and Capt. Horton’s House on Jekyll, and the same night they reimbarked with so much precipitation that they left a quantity of ammunition Provisions & some Guns behind them.

The 15^th of July all the large Vessels with the Cuba Forces on board Sailed to the Southward the Governor and Troops from Augustine on board the small craft went within Land and Encamped in St. Andrews & catched 50 Horses with a design to carry them away. But on the General’s appearing with his Boats the Enemy shot the said Horses and burnt the Fort and Houses at St. Andrews.

The General next Day being the 16^th of July followed the Spaniards with all his small Craft but was not strong enough to attack them. He landed a man out of his own Boat on Cumberland who that night passed the Enemys Camp and early the next morning came to Fort William with advice to Ensign Stewart that the Spaniards were beat off St. Simons and that the General was coming with Succors[?] and ordered hi to defend the Fort to the utmost.

The 18^th of July 28 sail of Spanish Vessels appeared off Fort William 14 of which came within Land & attacked the Fort from their Galleys & other Vessels & attempted to Land but were repulsed by a Party of Rangers from behind the Sand Hills. Ensign Stewart who commanded with 60 men in the Fort defended it so bravely that after an Attack of upwards of 3 hours they were obliged to put to Sea with considerable loss. The 18 Pounders there disabled 2 of their Galleys.

The 19^th July the General was in his way to Fort William.

The 20^th of July the General arrived at Fort William and Sent his Boats and Rangers as far as the River St. Johns who returned the next day being the 21^st of July & brought advice that the Enemy was quite gone upon which the General gave necessary orders for the repairing of Fort William and on the 22^nd he returned to Frederica. A few days afterwards the men of War from Charles Town came off St. Simons Barr. But Capt. Thomson with some Voluntiers from Carolina our Guard Schooner and 2 Galleys came into St. Simons Harbour and Capt. Hardy of the Pye man of War receiving a message from the General by Lieutenant Maxwell who went on board him sent for answer that he would take a Cruize off Augustine with the rest of the King’s ships.

But the Gen apprehending the Spaniards upon Recovering their Fright might return with more Courage and better Conduct continued Capt. Thomson’s Ship in the King’s service and sent  Expresses over Land to the northern Provinces on this occasion.

A List of some of the Spanish Forces employed in the Invasion of Georgia under the Command of Don Manuel de Monteano Governor of Augustine Commander in chief of the Expedition.

Major General Antonio de Rodondo Engineer General.

2 Colonels with Brevits of Brigadiers.

1 Regiment of Dragoons dismounted with their Taddles and Bridles.

The Regiment called the Battalion of the Havannah.

10 Companys of 50 each draughted off from several Regiments in Havannah.

1 Regiment of the Havannah Militia consisting of 10 Companys of 100 each.

1 Regiment of Negroes regularly Officer’d by negroes.

1 Regiment of Mullatas & 1 Company of 100 Migulets.

1 company of the Train with proper Artillery.

Augustine Forces consisting of about 300 men.

90 Indians.

And 15 Negroes who ran away from South Carolina.