CHAPTER XVI.

Oglethorpe, informed that the Spaniards were making preparations for a renewal of hostilities, takes measures to repel them—­Meets with an alarming accident—­Lands on the Florida side of St. John’s—­Proceeds towards St. Augustine—­The Spanish do not venture out to attack him—­Returns to the Islands—­Sees that the Forts are repaired—­Takes passage to England to attend a Court Martial on an insidious charge against him by Lieutenant Cook—­Is honorably acquitted, and Cook is dismissed from the service.

In the beginning of the year 1743, General Oglethorpe, having had information that the Spaniards of St. Augustine were making preparations for another invasion of Georgia,[1] took measures to repel it; and set out, at the head of a force consisting of a company of grenadiers, a detachment of his own regiment, the Highlanders, and the Georgia rangers, and a numerous collection of Indians.

[Footnote 1:  “They were so apprehensive of this at South Carolina, that the fortifications of Charlestown were repaired and augmented.”  BOYSE’s Historical Review, Vol.  I. p. 381.]

He came very near being killed in his shallop, while sailing to reconnoitre St. Augustine; but Providence averted the fatality of the blow which he received.  One of his cannon burst, and a piece of a sail-yard struck the head of the General, and so wounded him that the blood gushed from his ears and nose.  The injury, happily, was not so great but that he soon collected himself, and cheered up his alarmed attendants.[1]

[Footnote 1:  URLSPURGER, IV. 2073.]

On the 6th of March he landed on the Florida side of St. John’s river, and attacked a much more numerous party of the Spanish troops than that under his command, quartered at Fort Diego, forty of whom were killed in the engagement and pursuit, and the rest made their escape into the castle.

After this he proceeded to the neighborhood of St. Augustine; and, having placed the greatest part of his troops in ambuscade, marched with the rest almost to the walls of the fortress, in hopes that the Spaniards, upon seeing so small a party, would have sallied out to have engaged it, in which case he was resolved to have made a retreating fight, in order to draw the enemy into the ambush which he had prepared for them.  But, it seems, that by accident they discovered the concealment of the troops, and deemed it prudent to remain in their stronghold.  This stratagem having been frustrated, Oglethorpe, perceiving that an assault would be unavailing, marched back to the river, where he continued for some time, expecting that the enemy would come out, and endeavor to drive him from their territory, but, as they made not the attempt, and as the affairs of the Colony as well as his own, required his presence in England, he returned, to make arrangements for going thither.