I WROTE you the 4th, 11th, and 14th instant. Doubtless the contents of my letters will give you some concern, and will be a means of hastening you over to us. I hope you will find us at our desired habitation. Hitherto the LORD seems to be on our side, and fights our battles. News is lately come from the General, that the _Spaniards_ have moved off in great confusion; but it is not sufficiently confirmed; when it is, we purpose moving to _Bethesda_. In mine of the 11th instant, I informed you, according to my knowledge of the state of your family, and the colony till that time. I told you brother _Grant_ and self were just returning to _Georgia_. We soon got there, and found our goods and house safe. _John Goldwire_, I, and a boy, staid at _Bethesda_ while brother _Grant_ went to _Carolina_, and returned with two boats. In the mean time we heard the General had engaged twice with a party of the _Spaniards_, and killed and taken one hundred and fifty of them, and that the enemy was so intimidated, and the General’s army so encouraged, that there was great expectations that the _Spaniards_ would soon be drove off the island. GOD was pleased at this time to bring me very low by bodily illness, so that I was almost incapable of making any escape, if the enemy had been suffered to come upon us, having a hundred miles to ride through bad swamps, to my friends in _Carolina_. Likewise there was no one there, nor at _Savannah_, to give me any relief.
The 20th instant, having left three people at _Bethesda_, and our family wanting necessaries at _Carolina_, brother _Grant_ and I returned with most of our goods. When we now left _Bethesda_, we were not very apprehensive of any danger of staying ourselves, or leaving the goods there; but as I was obliged to seek for some assistance, and our dear people wanted things we had there, we thought it was but a very little more trouble to load the boats. I have many times intended to write to you since I came here, but was not able conveniently till to day, but I bless GOD I feel myself much better in health. As far as I can learn, the General has behaved himself exceeding well, and the LORD has wonderfully ordered things for him, contrary, I believe, to his own and others expectations. His clemency to the _Spanish_ prisoners, his confidence, prudence, and courage throughout the whole affair is so conspicuous, that his greatest enemies cannot impeach his conduct. I don’t as yet hear, that he has lost (except by accident) above three or four men. Indeed the hand of GOD has been evidently against the boasting enemy. Some say near fifty vessels set out at first to invade us, but in their passage, which is usually run in a week or ten days, they were fifty days, and by some means fifteen of them were separated from the rest, and did not come up to them at St. _Simon_’s. They first proposed to land in _Carolina_, and cause an insurrection among the negroes; to that end they brought a number of negroes, to head and persuade our negroes (I suppose) to revolt. But being so long on their passage, they wanted water, and were obliged to put in at St. _Simon_’s. In their council of war there, they said they would soon cut off the General and his few men, and did not doubt but to settle and regain King _Philip_’s dominions, yea, even as far as the Capes of _Virginia_. I should have wished you had been present when we consulted about fleeing for our lives; it would have been great satisfaction to us all; but I am of opinion, you would not have staid with the great troop of little ones, under the apprehension of so much danger. I have met with none but what have approved of what we did.
Every one, I believe, are willing to contract expences.――I hope, nay I am assured, that all things shall work together for good; and I am of opinion, we shall all have reason to bless GOD for every, yea, especially for his late awful dispensation.――The deliverances we have had are many and wonderful, and he that has done much can do more. In regard to the _Spaniards_, they came like a flood, but the LORD can save by few as well as by many.
From Mr. _Habersham_.
_Bethesda, August, 19, 1742._
_My dearest Friend and Brother_,