454 J A M A I C A. 



and dimininilng in their numbers; their confederates in that parifli 

 looked upon their rout m ominous, and would not venture to aflbciate 

 with them in the undertaking, whilll thofe of Weftmoreland, who 

 would probably have given up the caufe, if they had met with a fevere 

 check at their firfl: outfet, v/ere now become fiuflied with a confidence 

 la their fuperioi-ity, and gathered reinforcements every day. How- 

 ever, they were not fufiered to remain long in this adlirance of fuccefs; 

 :i detachment of the 49th regiment, with a frefii company of niilitin, 

 and a party of the Leeward Marons, marched to attack them. The 

 regulars led the van, the militia brought up the rear, whilfi: the Marons 

 lined the wood to the right and left, to prevent ambufcades. The re- 

 bels collec^led behind their fortification, made fliew of a refolution to 

 defend their poft, and fired inceflantly at their opponents, though with 

 uo other injury than wounding one foldier. The officer, captain 

 Forfyth, who commanded the detachment, advanced with the utmoft 

 intrepidity, ordering his men to referve their fire, till they had reached 

 the bread:- work J at which time, they poured in fuch a volley, that 

 feveral of the rebels immediately fell, and the reft ran as faft as they 

 covild up the hill. A Mulatto man behaved with great bravery in 

 this a(!:lion; he leaped on the breaft-work, and affaulted the rebels 

 fword in hand. Having gained a lodgement, the troops declined a 

 puriuit, and carelefsly entered the huts, where they fat down to re- 

 frefii themfelves with fome provifions, of which they found a large 

 ftore; the rebels, perceiving this, difchargedfeveral random fhot from 

 the hill above them, which paffed through the huts, and had very 

 near been fatal to fome of the officers: the Marons, upon this, pene- 

 trated the wood at the foot of the hill, and afcending it on the oppofite 

 fide, and fpreading themfelves, fuddenly afilnilted the rebels in flank, 

 who were inftantly routed, and a great number killed, or taken pri- 

 foners. During the attack at the breaft-work, Jemmy, a Negroe 

 belonging to the late Mr. Smith, gave proof of his fidelity and regard 

 to his mafter, whofe death he revenged by killing one of the rebels, 

 and other fervices, for which he was afterwards rewarded with his free- 

 dom, and an annuity for life, by the afiembly. After this overthrow, 

 the Weftmoreland rebels were never able to a£t any otherwife than 

 on the defenfive; feveral fkirmiflies happened, in which they were 

 conftantly put to flight; their numbers were gradually reduced, and 



many 



