History of Demerara — 1763. 265 
one of our people wounded and that was a brave young 
Dutch Officer whose name is not mentioned. The re- 
mainder of the rebels flew into the woods, and must have 
been destroyed soon after the defeat. Captain SMITH 
employed his prisoners with his own men, to cast up a 
breast-work, which he soon rendered secure against 500 
at least. Soon after this a sloop well armed as had been 
concerted, came up the river and joined Captain Smith, 
so that the whole united forces of the Rebels cannot now 
dislodge them. The Governor of the Berbices was to go 
up that river on 19th Deer., and if possible to be before 
Peereboom plantation on 25 Idem, where there- is a 
pretty strong brick house on a rising ground, to which 
the rebels have brought most of their ammunition, provi- 
sions, &c, with an intention as 'tis said to defend 
themselves to the last extremity. 
The Governor will have with him 300 men, besides 
the crews of the men-of-war and merchantmen, and the 
St. Eustatius troops, so that in all probability these 
wretches will soon be extirpated. 
The negroes that were taken at Savonnette declared 
that the white man with them had frequently urged them 
to march across to Demerary, and to attack that Settle- 
ment, which they would have done had they not had 
intelligence of the English forces being in that river, and 
of the arrival afterwards of the troops sent by the 
Directors. 
In Demerary the 1 January 1764, the soldiers were 
posted on different plantations on that river and the 
ships the Hoop t Cn. Jean Baak, the Land of Canaan 
and the Goode Verwagting. 
