Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-08-19

enemy on the water. Colonel .Rhett, with
the fleet which had been, but few days be-
fore, hastily equipped, was ordered to push out
boldly against the enemys ships With six
small and insignificant vessels, he sailed down
the river to the point where the enemy lay at
anchor. So soon as the French fleet saw
Rhett and his little armament approaching,
they fled. The weather was unfavorable for
pursuing his foe, and Rhett returned without
an engagement. To all human appearances,
it seemed, that in fit of despair, the French
had determined to give up farther prosecution
of the attack upon Charles Town. Governor
johnson, to be sure that this conclusion was
correct, sent out the Sea Flower, under the
command of Capt. Watson, to search for the
enemy. He found some men whom the French
had left on the shore, but none Of the enemys
ships were to be seen. Having taken on
board the Sea Flower the men left by the
French, he returned to Charles Town, and
reported that the enemy was not to be seen.
The prisoners captured by him reported that
they were certainly gone.
Martial law was now suspended, and the
people began to feel easy once more. That
same evening, (Frday( it was reported that
an armed ship had entered Sewee Bay, and
that considerable number of armed men
had landed. The Governor at once deter
mined to make an attack upon them, both by
sea and land. Capt. Fenwicke, with one hun
dred and thirty men, was ordered to cross the
river and attack those who had landed, whilst
Colonel Rhett was to sail with the Dutch pri-
vateer and Bermuda sloop against the ship
anchored in Sewee Bay. Colonel Risbie,
Capt. Evans, the commander of Granville
Bastion, and number of volunteers, accom-
panied Colonel Rhett. Capt. Fenwicke came
up with those who had landed at Hobeaw,
but a short distance from Charles Town. An
engagement, which lasted but short time,
took place. The Carolinians were entirely
successful. Thirty of the enemy were killed,
and seventy taken prisoners. Colonel Rhett,
about the same time, entered Sewee Bay, and
the enemy's ship surrendered. Ninety pris-
oners were secured, together with number
of subaltern officers, and General Arbouset,
of the land forces.
1t seems that the plans Of the enemy were
either badly matured, or they were greatly
frustrated in their execution. The fleet con.
sisted of ten hips and eight hundred men,
who were mixture of whites, mulattoes, In.
dians and negroes. The ship which entered
sewee Bay was commanded by Capt. Pacque-
reau, and carried the land forces. In some
way, it seems to have become separated from
the rest, and to have known nothing of the
fate of the other vessels near Charles Town.
The French lost nearly one half of their
men, whilst the Carolinians lost only few
men. The whole expenses of the defense of
the province were borne by Governor john
son. AS reward for his services, it is ira
dition that the proprietors granted him large
tract of land, which afterward fell into the
possession of the Manigaults.
Certain it is, that the invaders made a
complete failure, and no doubt the success Of
the defense was due mainly to the military
skill of Governor johnson.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.