BOOK III. CH A P. III. 453 



which they acquired fo much fkill, that, after the mafliicre on the 

 eftate, when they found their partifans of the adjacent plantations did 

 not appear to join them, they killed fevcral Negroes, fet fire to build- 

 ings and cane-pieces, did a variety of other milehief, and then with- 

 drew into the woods, where thev formed a ftron? breaft-work acrofs 

 a road, flanked by a rocky hill; within this work thev erefted their 

 huts, and fat down in a fort of encampment ; a party of militia, who 

 were fent to attack them, very narrowly efcaped bting all cut off. 

 The men were badly difciplined, having been haflily colle(fled ; and 

 filling into an ambufcade, they were ftruck with terror at the difmal 

 yells, and the multitude of their aifailants. The whole party was 

 thrown into the utmoft confufion, and routed, notwithftanding every 

 endeavour of their officers; each ftrove to fiiift for himfelf, and vvhilft 

 they ran different ways, fcarcely knowing what they were about, fe- 

 veral were butchered, others broke their limbs over precipices, and the 

 reft with difficulty found their way back again. This unlucky defeat 

 raifed the fpirlts of the Coromantins in this p.irt of the country, and 

 encouraged fo many to join the victorious band, that the whole num- 

 ber very foon amounted to upwards of a thoufand, including their 

 women, who were neceflary for carrying their baggage, and dreffing 

 their viftuals. This confequcnce (hewed, how ill-judged it was to 

 make the firfi: attack upon them with a handful of raw, undifciplined 

 militia, without advancing at the fame time a party in refervc, to fuf- 

 tain their efforts, and cover their retreat. In fuppreffing ihefe muti- 

 nies, the firft a(^ion has always been of the utmoft importance, and 

 therefore fhould never be confided to any except tried and well- trained 

 men. The winning the firft battle from the rebellious party, ufually 

 decides the iflue of the war ; it difconcerts the confpirators, not as yet 

 engaged, and who keep aloof, irrefolute whether to join or not; and it 

 intimidates all that are in arms, and moft commonly plunges them 

 into defpondency: the reverfe is fure to follow a defeat of the Whites 

 on the firft encounter ; and nothing can add greater ftrength to rebel- 

 lion, or tend more to raife the authority of the priefis and leaders who 

 have fet it on foot. Thefe remarks have been fully verified, In courfe 

 of the prefent, and every other infurrcdion that has occurred in this 

 Ifland. The infurgents in St. Mary, who opened the campaign, were 

 rcpulfed in the firft conflict, and from that tuuc grew diffieartened, 



and 



