RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670 TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D. 
Preface dated "Charleston, December 31st, 1808"
Published in 1858, by W.J. Duffie, Newberry, S.C.  
Reprinted in 1959, by The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, S.C.   

THE MILITARY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM 1670 TO 1776.
CHAPTER V - SECTION I, pp 73-76
Contest with Spaniards.  
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[...continued]

  The day following, the enemy's four ships and a galley came over the bar, and
stood directly for the town, having the advantages of a fair wind and strong
tide. When they had advanced so far up the river as to discover the
fortifications, they cast anchor a little above Sullivan's Island. The Governor
observing their approach towards the town, marched his men into it to receive
them ; but finding they had stopped by the way, he had time to call a council of
war; in which it was agreed to put some great guns on board of such ships as
were in the harbor, and employ the sailors, in their own way, for the better
defence of the town. William Rhett, a man of courage and conduct, received a
commission to be Vice-Admiral of this little fleet ; and hoisted his flag on
board the Crown galley.

  The enemy sent up a flag of truce to the Governor to summon him to surrender.
George Evans, who commanded Granville bastion, received their messenger on his
landing from the boat, and conducted him blindfolded into the fort, until the
Governor was in readiness to receive him. In the meantime having drawn up his
men in such a manner as to make them appear to the greatest advantage, he
admitted the French officer; and having first shown him one fort full of men,
conducted him by a different route to another, where the same men sent by a
shorter way were drawn up before hand. Having given him a view of his strength,
he demanded the purport of his message; the officer told him that he was sent by
Monsieur Le Feboure, Admiral of the French fleet, to demand a surrender of the
town and country, and of their persons as prisoners of war adding that his
orders allowed him no more than one hour for an answer. Governor Johnson
replied, "There was no occasion for one minute to answer that message; that he
held the town and country for the Queen of England, and could depend on his men,
who would sooner die than surrender themselves prisoners of war; that he was
resolved to defend the place to the last drop of his blood;" and informed the
officer "that he might go when he pleased and acquaint Monsieur Le Feboure with
his resolution."

The day following, a party of the enemy went ashore on James Island and burnt
some houses. Another party, consisting of an hundred and sixty men, landed on
the opposite side of the river and burnt two vessels in Dearby's creek, and set
fire to a store-house. Sir Nathaniel Johnson ordered Captain Drake and his
company, with a small party of Indians to James Island, to oppose the enemy on
that side. Drake marched against them, but before he could bring up his men the
Indians, who ran through the woods with their usual impetuosity, had driven the
invaders to their boats. At the same time advice was brought to town, that the
party who landed on Wands neck had killed a number of hogs and cattle and were
feasting on the plunder. To prevent their farther progress into the country,
Captain Cantey, with one hundred chosen men, was ordered to pass the river
privately in the night and watch their motions. Before break of day the Captain
came up and finding them in a state of security, surrounded and attacked them
briskly. They were thrown into confusion and fled. Some were killed, others
drowned in attempting to make their escape, and the remainder surrendered
prisoners of war.

  The Carolinians, encouraged and animated by their success at land, determined
to try their fortune by sea. Accordingly William Rhett set sail with his fleet
of six small ships, and proceeded down the river to the place where the enemy
rode at anchor ; but the French perceiving this fleet standing towards them
weighed anchor and sailed over the bar. For some days nothing more was heard of
them. The Governor ordered Captain Watson, of the Sea Flower, out to sea to
examine whether the coast was clear. The Captain returned without seeing the
enemy ; but observing some men on shore, whom they had left behind, he took them
on board and brought them to town. These men assured the Governor that the
French were gone. In consequence thereof orders were given for the cessation of
martial law, and the inhabitants began to rejoice at their happy deliverance.

  But before night, advice was brought that a ship of force was seen in Sewee
Bay, and that a number of armed men had landed from her. Upon examination of the
prisoners the Governor found that the French expected a ship of war with
Monsieur Arbuset, their General, and a reinforcement of two hundred men to their
assistance. The Governor ordered Captain Fenwicke to pass the river and march
against them by land, while Rhett with a Dutch privateer and an armed Bermuda
sloop sailed round by sea to meet him at Sewee Bay. Captain Fenwicke came up
with the enemy and briskly charged them. Though advantageously posted, after a
few vollies, they gave way and retreated to their ship. Rhett soon after came to
Fenwicke's assistance, and the French ship struck without firing a shot. The
Vice Admiral returned to Charlestown with his prize, and ninety prisoners.

  Thus ended Monsieur Le Feboure's invasion of Carolina ; little to his own
honor as a commander and less to the credit and courage of his men. It is
probable he expected to find the province in a weak and defenceless situation,
and that the Governor would instantly surrender on his appearance before the
town. But he was deceived. Governor Johnson was a man of approved courage and
conduct. The militia undertook the various enterprises assigned to them with the
spirit of men, and success crowned their endeavers. Out of eight hundred who
came against the colony, near three hundred were killed and taken prisoners.
Among the latter were Monsieur Arbuset, their Commander-in-Chief by land, with
several sea officers ; who, together, offered ten thousand pieces of eight for
their ransom. On the other hand, the loss sustained by the provincial militia
was incredibly small. The Governor publicly thanked them for the unanimity and
courage they had shown in repelling the invaders. The proprietors were so highly
pleased with Johnson's good conduct that they made him a present of a large
tract of land by a special grant in terms the most flattering and honorable.[1] 

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[1] This land and the original special grant are now in the possession of Joseph
Manigault. This repelled invasion was ridiculed in a humorous burlesque poem
written above one hundred years ago in French, by one of the garrison, probably
a French refugee. The poet makes the Governor, in his answer to the invaders,
requiring an immediate surrender of the town and country to say as follows :

 "Que s'ils attaquoient nôtre camp,
  Ils y trouveroient bien mille hommes,
  Qui ne se battroient pas de pommes,
  Outre cinq cens Refugés
  Que la France a repudiés,
  Et reduits presque à l'Indigençe,
  Qui ne respiroient que vengençe,
  Ce qu'on leur feroit èprouver,
  S'ils ozoient nous venir trouver."

[To be continued....]

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