[Footnote 1:  WILLIAM B. STEVENS, M.D., letter, October 19,1840.]

“The difficulties with which General Oglethorpe had to contend, were peculiarly onerous and perplexing, not only with the Spanish foes,—­with the restless Indians,—­with the clamorous settlement,—­with discontented troops,—­with meagre supplies,—­with the defection of Carolina,—­with the protest of his bills, and with the refusal of a just naval protection;—­but the officers of his regiment were at enmity with him and with each other, and crimination and recrimination followed, disturbing the peace, and weakening the efficiency of the military corps.  At a Court Martial, held in the early part of January, 1739, composed of thirteen officers, they, in their letter, dated 12th of January, to the General speak thus—­’2d.  That we have observed a great spirit of mutiny among the soldiers, particularly those of Lieutenant Colonel Cochran’s company,’ and ’3d.  That by evidence given in Court, it appears to us that Lieutenant Colonel James Cochran was in the knowledge of, and concealed a mutiny.’  The wonder is, that, with such opposing influences, and such discordant materials, he effected any thing.  That he achieved so much, under such adverse circumstances, proves him to have been a firm, bold, intrepid, and sagacious man; to have possessed the most eminent military qualifications, and those sterling virtues which mock at the petty malice of the envious, and triumph over the machinations of malignity.”

He was, also, fully aware that, as the Spanish of Florida and Cuba entertained no good will towards him, they would seek an opportunity to retaliate his “assault and battery,” which, though it had proved on his part a failure, had been to them a grievous annoyance.  He, therefore, kept scout-boats continually on the look out, to give notice of the approach to the coast of any armed vessel.  On the 16th of August advice was conveyed to him that a large ship had come to anchor off the bar.  He immediately sent out the boat to ascertain what it was; and it was perceived to be manned with Spaniards, with evidently hostile purpose.  Whereupon he went on board the guard sloop to go in search of her; took, also, the sloop Falcon, which was in the service of the Province; and hired the schooner Norfolk, Captain Davis, to join the expedition.  These vessels were manned by a detachment of his regiment under the following officers:  viz.:  Major Alexander Heron, Captain Desbrisay, Lieutenant Mackay, Lieutenant Tamser, Ensign Hogan, Ensign Sterling, and Ensigns Wemyss and Howarth, and Adjutant Maxwell; Thomas Eyre, Surgeon and Mate; six sergeants, six corporals, five drummers, and one hundred and twenty-five privates.  Before they could get down to the bar, a sudden squall of wind and storm of thunder and rain came on; and when it cleared up the vessel was out of sight.