Oglethorpe addresses a letter to Lieutenant-Governor Bull, suggesting an expedition against St. Angustine—­Follows this, by application in person—­Promised assistance, and cooeperation—­Returns to Frederica—­Collects his forces—­Passes over to Florida—­Takes several Spanish forts—­Is joined by the Carolinean troops—­The enemy receive supplies—­Oglethorpe changes the siege into a blockade—­Takes possession of Anastasia Island—­Colonel Palmer and his men surprised and cut to pieces—­Spanish cruelties—­English fleet quit the station—­Siege raised, and Oglethorpe returns to Frederica.

By the information which Oglethorpe was able to obtain from the prisoners, which confirmed the accounts received from other sources, he learned that the garrison at St. Augustine was in want of provisions; and that, the half-galleys having been sent to the Havana for troops and supplies, the river and sea-board were destitute of defence.  Such being the case, he conceived that a fitting opportunity now offered for the reduction of the place, taking the enemy by surprise, before the reinforcements arrived; and thereby dispossessing the Spaniards of Florida.  He, therefore, sent an express to Lieutenant-Governor Bull, urging an immediate compliance with his application for assistance.  The consideration was accordingly renewed in the Assembly on the 4th of February.  At length Oglethorpe, impatient of delays occasioned by their continued demurring about the feasibility of the project, presented himself before them, that they might be made acquainted more fully with his intentions, and with every thing relative to their being carried into execution.  After many conferences, a scheme of action was agreed upon, and an Act of Assembly passed, April 5th, 1740, for the raising of a regiment of four hundred men, to be commanded by Colonel Vanderdussen; a troop of rangers;[1] presents for the Indians; and supply of provisions for three months.[2] They also furnished a large schooner, with ten carriage and sixteen swivel guns, in which they put fifty men under the command of Captain Tyrrell.

[Footnote 1:  As the Rangers could not be procured, the Assembly afterwards voted an addition of two hundred men.]

[Footnote 2:  The term of service, and, of course, the amount of supply, were afterwards extended to four months.]

With this encouragement, and the promise of cooeperation by Commodore Vincent Price, who commanded the small fleet on that station, the place of rendezvous was appointed at the mouth of St. John’s river.  The General then published his manifesto,[1] and immediately hastened back to Georgia to prepare his forces for the Expedition.

[Footnote 1:  Appendix, No.  XXII.]

On the beginning of April he went to the Uchee town to engage runners to his Indian allies to inform them of his intended assault of St. Augustine; to bespeak their assistance, and request their chiefs and warriors to join his forces at Frederica, whither he immediately repaired.  There he completed the equipment of his forces; selected the field-pieces and their carriages, balls and powder; and attended to the military accoutrements, stores and provisions.