, Lieutenant Daniel Roberts, of the St. John's Rangers, and
Mr. Raymond Demere, of St. Andrew's Parish, solicited, and were
permitted by the commanding officer, to go on board and demand a
surrender of Rice and his people, who, with his boat's crew, had been
forcibly detained. Although, on a mission of peace, no sooner had
they reached the vessel, on board of which was Captain Barclay and
Major Grant, than they were seized and detained as prisoners. The
people on shore, after waiting a sufficient length of time, hailed
the vessel, through a speaking-trumpet, and demanded the return of
all who were detained on board; but receiving only insulting replies,
they discharged two four-pounders at the vessel; whereupon they
solicited that the people should send on board two men in whom they
most confided, and with them they agreed to negotiate. Twelve of the
Rangers, led by Captain Screven, of the St. John's Rangers, and
Captain Baker, were immediately rowed under the stern of the vessel
and there peremptorily demanded the deputies. Incensed by insulting
language, Captain Baker fired a shot, which immediately drew on his
boat a discharge of swivels and small arms. The batteries then
opened, which was briskly answered for the space of four hours. The
next step was to set fire to the vessels, the first being the
Inverness, which drifted upon the brig Nelly, which was soon in
flames. The officers and soldiers fled from the vessels, in the
utmost precipitation across the low marshes and half-drained
rice-fields, several being killed by the grape shot played upon them.
As the deputies were still held prisoners, the Council of Safety, on
March 6th, put under arrest all the members of the Royal Council then
in Savannah, besides menacing the ships at Tybee. An exchange was not
effected until the 27th."

As already stated, Darien experienced some of the vicissitudes of war.
On April 18, 1778, a small army, under Colonel Elbert, embarked on the
galleys Washington, Lee and Bullock, and by 10 o'clock next morning,
near Frederica, had captured the brigantine Hinchinbroke, the sloop
Rebecca and a prize brig, which had spread terror on the coast.

In 1779 the parishes of St. John, St. Andrew and St. James were erected
into one county, under the name of Liberty.

In March, 1780, the royal governor, Sir James Wright, attempted to
re-establish the old government,