450 J A M A I C A. 



time about 70 or 80 horfe, and had now a fair opportunity of routing 

 the whole body; they advanced towards the place where the rebels 

 were enjoying themfelves, and luckily difcovered them by their noife 

 and riot, or they might have fallen into an ambufcade. The Coro- 

 mantins did not exhibit any fpecimen of generalfhip upon this occa- 

 fion; on the appearance of the troop, they kept clofe in the wood, 

 from whence they poured an irregular fire, which did no execution. 

 The drilled bullet?, taken from the lifliing nets, defcribed an arch in 

 their projcftion, and flew over the heads of the militia, rifter keep- 

 ing thtir ranks for fome time, it was propofed that they fhould dif- 

 mount, and pufli into the wood; but on examining their ammuni- 

 tion, the militia found their whole Itock, if equally divided, did not 

 amount to more than one charge each man ; they therefore held it 

 more advifeable, for the major part to Hand their groimd on the re- 

 ferve, while their fervants, and fome others well armed, advanced into 

 the wood clofe to the rebels, feveral of whom they killed; a Mulatto 

 man was faid to have flain three with his own hand, and a brave 

 North Briton about the fan)e number. The rebels, intimidated witii 

 this bold attack, retreated; but it was not judged proper at that time 

 to purfue them. 



During all thefe tranfa6iions, two Negroes, belonging to Mr. 

 Bcckford, having taken horfe at the firfl: alarm, were on the road to 

 Spanifli Town, and traveled with fuch expedition through very bad 

 ways, that they brought the intelligence to lieut. governor Sir Henry 

 Moore, by one o'clock the fame day, who immediately difpatchcd two 

 parties of regulars, and two troops of horfe militia, by diiierent routs, 

 to the parifli; orders at the fame time were lent to the Morons of Scot's- 

 Hall Town, to advance by another road from the Eaftward, and a 

 party from the Leeward Towns were directed to enter by the Weft. 

 All thefe detachments were in motion as early as poflible, and no 

 meafures could have been more effectually taken. The lieutenant 

 governor happily poHtlfed, in addition to great abilities, uncommon 

 prefence of mind, prudence, and bravery, a moll: confummate know- 

 ledge of the geography of the illand, and of every road and avenue in 

 its feveral dillricts. By this means, he was enabled to take every fit 

 precaution, and form the moft proper difpolition of the foi'ccs, as well 

 for reducing the infurgents, as protefiing the ettates in thofe parts, 

 2 where 



