Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 3

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I > Part 3

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TOMO-CHI-CHI, THE INDIAN CHIEF.

In the immediate neighborhood of the spot on which Gen. Oglethorpe landed, and occupying a part of the bluff, stood an Indian village, and here lived Tomo- chi-chi, the aged chief or Mico of the Yamacraws. A Carolina trader by the name of Musgrove, whose wife was a half-breed Indian, had established a trading post with the natives, at this point; and before returning to his party Gen. Oglethorpe decided, if possible, to obtain communication with the old chief. He accordingly paid Tomo-chi-chi a visit for the purpose of securing his friendship in behalf of the colony, and to make known to the chief his own friendly intentions. Mary Musgrove, the wife of the trader, who was kindly disposed to Gen. Oglethorpe, acted as interpreter for them, and used her influence with the old chief to accom- plish the purpose of the Englishman. At the beginning of the interview the Indian chief was disposed to be ·uneasy, but he was soon persuaded of the benefits to be derived from the immigration of the English, and was led to look upon it with extreme favor before the coversation was concluded.

Having thus treated with the Yamacraws, Gen. Oglethorpe lost no time in returning to the emigrants who awaited him at Beaufort. He conducted the

CIVIL HISTORY.

colonists through a blinding and bitter storm to the bluffs on which he himself had landed a few weeks before; and thus the early settlement of Georgia com- menced. No time was lost by the colonists in transferring their supplies to land. They began to fell the trees and to busy themselves in the erection of rude huts for their provisional shelter and protection. They were greatly aided by volunteers who came over from South Carolina to help them along until they could manage to plant the colony upon a secure foundation. Religious exercises were held by Gen. Oglethorpe in gratitude to God for the safe landing of the emigrants, after which he implored his followers to guard against the evils of intemperance and idleness, and to so conduct themselves as to be a blessing and not a curse to the red men. In laying off the streets of the new town, Gen. Oglethorpe was ably assisted by Col. Bull, and for that gentleman one of the streets was named. It is now the leading thoroughfare of Savannah and is beautified by many handsome monuments. For nearly a year Gen. Oglethorpe, as an evidence of his desire to share in the common hardships of the colony, occupied a rude tent on the bluff overlooking the Savannah river. Seated in his camp on Feb. 10, 1733, he indited his second letter to the trustees, in which he gave a full account of the expedition after leaving Charleston, and the circumstances connected with the landing. He described the situation minutely, enclosing a key to the town, and also letters from the governor and council of South Carolina. He also expressed his obligations to Col. Bull and others for a loan of servants in addition to their personal help.

In his next letter, written the following month, Gen. Oglethorpe expressed his surprise at finding the province much larger than he had supposed. He had measured the distance between the Savannah and the Altamaha rivers and found it to be 120 miles. He described the Indians and also the general features of the country, and closed by saying that old Tomo-chi-chi was a regular attendant at church, and had given his nephew to him to rear in the faith of the Christian religion. Gen. Oglethorpe was regarded by the settlers as a father to them, and they looked up to him not only with respect but with love and veneration.

Having no machinery the work of building homes for the settlers proceeded slowly. One by one, however, the little frame houses began to rise, and the colonists with a pride in their new homes commenced to cultivate their sur- rounding lots and, in the midst of a wild and cheerless country, to grow the bloom and beauty of an English civilization. In gratitude to the colony of South Carolina for the kind assistance extended to the emigrants Gen. Oglethorpe paid a visit to Charleston, and was received with a cordial demonstration. He expressed his gratitude, in behalf of the young colony, in a very graceful speech and pledged to South Carolina, in all her undertakings, his hearty support and co-operation.

The traditional account of the treaty between Gen. Oglethorpe and the old Mico, Tomo-chi-chi, is interesting. As soon as the colonists arrived, under the leadership of Gen. Oglethorpe, they were met on the bluff by the chief himself, in company of his wife and a retinue of Indians. In front of the chief advanced the medicine man, bearing in his hands a fan of white feathers, emblematic of the peace and friendship that would always exist between them under the terms of the treaty. The chief, at this time, was ninety-one years old, but he was still erect and possessed a commanding influence over the neighboring tribes. A convention of all the chiefs was subsequently called and, at the instance of Tomo-chi-chi, it was agreed that no harm should befall the colony as long as they could prevent it. In view of the perilous situation of the young colony, between the Spaniards on the south and the Indians to the north and west, in addition to the hardships incident to pioneer life, the colony would never have survived its infant struggles without the favor and

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

friendship of the red men; and both the wisdom of Gen. Oglethorpe and the- magnanimity of the old Indian chief deserve to be commended.

EARLY STRUGGLES OF THE COLONY.

The numerical strength of the colony was increased by the arrival of a new emigrant ship, the "James," bringing seventeen passengers in May, 1733. The ves- sel was commanded by Capt. Yoakley and contained a lot of additional supplies for- the colony. The new emigrants were given a hearty welcome by the settlers. No- uneasiness or alarm disturbed the peaceful life of the colony for several months. In wise provision, however, against the possibility of harm in the future, it was- deemed prudent by Gen. Oglethorpe to begin the erection of a fort on the Ogeechee. river at a point where the Indians usually crossed in carrying on their hostile. relations with South Carolina. To the new military post he gave the name of Fort Argyle, in honor of his friend, the Duke of Argyle. A large number of families were immediately transferred from Savannah to this neighborhood for the purpose of strengthening the fortification. This was the second settlement made. in Georgia. Fort Argyle was located near the mouth of the Ogeechee river about eighteen miles from Savannah.

In the neighborhood of Savannah a number of small villages were started, but they lacked the concentration of strength that was needed to give them life and vigor, and hence they declined. As a further protection to the colony a small fort was erected at Thunderbolt on St. Augustine creek. A light-house was con- structed on Tybee island and here also a guard was posted for security. As the number of emigrants increased, plantations were assigned to them along the several water courses in the neighborhood of Savannah and on the islands in the vicinity. On July 7, 1733, Gen. Oglethorpe called a meeting of the colonists for the purpose of giving names to the streets and parks, and also to make such divisions of the town as might serve to better advantage the purposes of govern- ment. The town was divided into four wards: Percival, Decker, Heathcote and Derby, in honor of the friends of Gen. Oglethorpe, who assisted his enterprise and who belonged to the nobility. Each ward was subdivided into four tithings and to each of these appropriate names were given. The public square was called Johnson square, in honor of Gov. Johnson of South Carolina. To the streets running north and south the names of Abercorn, Drayton, Bull and Whitaker were given. The streets crossing at right angles were designated as Bay, Bryan and St. Julian. In the middle of Johnson square a large sun-dial was erected. This spot is now marked by a handsome shaft erected to the memory of Gen. Nathaniel Greene. The town lots were intended simply as sites for private dwellings. In addition to one of these town lots, sixty by ninety feet, each settler received a garden spot of five acres in the neighborhood and a farm containing forty-four acres and a fraction, making in all the total prescribed in the regulations of the colony. Judges were appointed and courts of justice established with the proper officers attached.

A few days after this public meeting was held a colony of forty Jews landed at Savannah, having received the permission of the trustees. Much dissatisfaction was caused by their arrival, but the Jews were permitted to remain and they were soon absorbed into the life of the growing colony. The formal deeds conveying the requisite amount of property to each settler were executed in proper form on July 7, 1733.

The next movement of Gen. Oglethorpe was to make a survey of the southern frontier of the province in order to form an estimate of the defense needed to.

CIVIL HISTORY.

protect the colony against the Spaniards. " To one of the islands on the coast below St. Simon he gave the name of Jekyll island, in honor of Sir Joseph Jekyll. During this expedition he selected sites for the future defenses of the frontier to which the names of New Wilderness and Frederica were given. Gen. Oglethorpe returned to Savannah greatly pleased with his trip. The funds for meeting the expenses of the colony were nearly exhausted by this time, but they were shortly replenished by a handsome appropriation from the general government.

In the spring of 1734 a large colony of Salzburgers landed at Savannah on board the "Purisburg." These worthy settlers came from Germany, where they had been the objects of bitter persecution on account of their religion. They applied to the trustees and were given the privilege of coming to Georgia provided they would become true subjects of the British crown. The colonists were given a warm welcome by Gen. Oglethorpe, and after a few days they made a settlement in what is now Effingham county. To this settlement they gave the name of Ebenezer, in recognition of the fact that God had helped them. The Salzburgers labored under many disadvantages and were largely dependent upon the bounty of the trustees. In the following year they were reinforced by the arrival of a new colony of their persecuted fellow countrymen.

Having been away from England for nearly fifteen months Gen. Oglethorpe decided to return home on a short visit. The colony was in a prosperous state and the frontiers of the province were well protected. He decided to carry with him old Tomo-chi-chi, his wife and nephew and five Indian chiefs, who gladly consented to make the trip with him. The trustees were delighted with the Indians and with the glowing account of Gen. Oglethorpe as to the growth and outlook for the young colony. The Indians were greatly amused and entertained by the revela- tions of the new world into which they were ushered, and numerous presents were heaped upon them by their admiring friends of the nobility. During their stay in London a portrait of Tomo-chi-chi and his nephew was sketched by one of the leading artists of the kingdom.

Gen. Oglethorpe was detained in England for several months after the departure of the Indians. He was engaged, however, in prosecuting the affairs of the colony, and was instrumental in sending over a colony of Swiss and Moravian settlers in January, 1735. These settled at Fort Argyle on the Ogeechee river. A colony of Scotch Highlanders was likewise sent over in the fall of the same year and located at New Inverness, on the Altamaha river. They gave to the district in which they settled the name of Darien.

For the purpose of introducing two important measures for the welfare of the colony Gen. Oglethorpe temporarily resumed his seat in parliament. One of these measures was to prohibit the importation of intoxicating liquors into the colony, and the other the introduction of negro slaves. They were passed with the royal sanction but they failed to operate successfully, although wisely conceived. They served to place the colony at a great disadvantage, especially the prohibition of African slave labor, which was well adapted to the new and undeveloped country. New rules were adopted by the trustees for the regulation of the colony, which was fast growing and which called for important changes as experience and actual demonstration approved their expediency.

JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY.

The success of Gen. Oglethorpe in planting the colony of Georgia and the hardships which he voluntarily endured in order to promote his enterprise soon gained for him a reputation not only in Great Britain but throughout the Christian

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

world. His humane and liberal spirit, thus signalized by his success, became the toast of all Europe, and many sonnets were composed in honor of the illustrious soldier and statesman.

Among the companions of Gen. Oglethorpe, on his return to America, were two young men whose names were destined to become associated with the growth of Methodism in Georgia, John and Charles Wesley. In order to accompany Gen. Oglethorpe on his return voyage John Wesley gave up his position as a fellow in Lincoln college, Oxford, and decided to endure the hardships incident to mis- sionary work in the new world. His brother, Charles Wesley, desired to accompany him, and Gen. Oglethorpe agreed to make him his private secretary, and also the secretary of Indian affairs. Rev. Samuel Quincey, who had been the resident missionary in Georgia, failed to give satisfaction and his commission was revoked on Oct. 10, 1735.

The vessel was delayed by adverse winds and it was not until Dec. 10 that the sails were lifted. It was a stormy and tempestuous voyage, but the trip was finally accomplished. Mr. Wesley was deeply impressed with the religious conduct of the German emigrants on board, and he immediately began the study of German in order to understand the character of these people more fully. On his return Gen. Oglethorpe found that much dissatisfaction had prevailed during his absence on account of the oppressive conduct of Thomas Causton, who was left in charge of the government. Under the direction of Gen. Oglethorpe, however, order was again restored.

The Germans who came over with Gen. Oglethorpe were permitted to join their fellow countrymen at Ebenezer. On a subsequent visit to Ebenezer it was found that the colony was not prospering on account of the sterile condition of the land. Gen. Oglethorpe at first opposed a change of location, but the Salz- burgers felt that a change was necessary, and in a short time the old settlement was abandoned for a new one near the Savannah river. The plan of the settlement was drawn by Gen. Oglethorpe and closely resembled that of Savannah. Shortly after his return Gen. Oglethorpe founded the colony of Frederica, on St. Simons island, at the mouth of the Altamaha river, named in honor of Frederick, Prince of Wales. This was in February, 1736. Here he constructed a fort and fixed his own place of residence. After commencing these military fortifications on the island Gen. Oglethorpe continued his tour of inspection. He visited all the new settlements and found them in a flourishing condition. Passing beyond Jekyll island he discovered a new body of land, to which he gave the name of Cumberland island in honor of the Duke of Cumberland. Here he located two forts, one on the northern extremity called Fort Andrews and one on the southern extremity called Fort Williams. This tour was of great advantage to Gen. Oglethorpe in his subsequent difficulties with the Spaniards, as it gave him a thorough knowledge of the country.

Before leaving the colony on his return voyage to England Gen. Oglethorpe had given instructions to lay out a military post further up the Savannah river. The name of Augusta was given to this new town. The first settler was Roger de Lacey, an Indian agent.

Gen. Oglethorpe's new secretary entered upon the discharge of his duties with zeal and earnestness, but he soon found that his lot was not a happy one, and a gradual estrangement sprung up between himself and Gen. Oglethorpe. The change was too decided for the young minister who was just from the cloisters, and who was accustomed to a more pronounced religious atmosphere than he found in the colony. A reconciliation, however, was afterward effected, though Mr. Wesley was never satisfied. In the summer of 1736 he resigned his com-

CIVIL HISTORY.

mission, but Gen. Oglethorpe prevailed upon him to withdraw it. He returned to England, however, and his health declining, he was not permitted to cross the water. His resignation was tendered, therefore, and accepted. Mr. Wesley is the author of many familiar hymns that are sung to-day in the Christian world. It was Charles Wesley who suggested to Mr. Whitfield the establishment of an orphan asylum in Georgia.

Rev. John Wesley, the more distinguished of the two brothers, and known as the founder of Methodism, began his missionary work among the Indians. He held his first interview with Tomo-chi-chi on Feb. 14, 1736. The old chief explained to him that he was greatly perplexed by the French on the one hand and the Spaniards on the other, but he would be glad to call his people together. The chief was not impressed with the conduct of the white Christians, as they had been guilty of many acts that seemed to contradict their religion. Mr. Wesley was not encouraged by his work among the Indians. He was ignorant of their language and lacked the services of a good interpreter. He was, therefore, compelled to give up his work among them and devote his time to the Europeans. His labors in Savannah were characterized by intense zeal, and his sermons, though bold and vigorous denunciations, were marked by a peculiar eloquence, and hundreds flocked to hear him whenever it was known that he was going to preach. The first Sunday school in Georgia was organized by Mr. Wesley in Savannah, and in the weekly services that were held each Wednesday evening the germ of the Methodist church was planted. On account of Mr. Wesley's bold and fearless conduct in denouncing people, and especially his attitude with reference to certain members of his congregation, charges were preferred against him and these proved very damaging to his reputation. Mr. Wesley was deeply grieved by the charges against him and he determined to quit the province. Accordingly on Dec. 24, 1737, he sailed for England, never to return.

In his dealings with the Spaniards Gen. Oglethorpe was soon convinced of their hostile intentions. Accordingly he set out for England a second time in January, 1737. This was long before the troubles of Mr. Wesley commenced. The fortunes of the province began to waver at this time. The threatened invasion of the Spaniards which necessitated the return of Gen. Oglethorpe to England in order to procure arms and ammunition, and the hardships incident to pioneer life, were beginning to fret the colonists and they were sorely discouraged over the situation. Fifty-seven thousand acres of land had been granted to the settlers and five large towns had been established. Slave labor, however, was needed in order to compete with the other colonists, but this the trustees steadily refused.

DIFFICULTIES WITH THE SPANIARDS.

The fullness of time had now arrived for the Spaniards to assert their claim to the land occupied by the colony of Georgia. In their settlement of South Carolina the English derived their claim from the discovery of the Cabots, John and Sebastian, in 1497. The Florida peninsula was settled by the Spaniards, and the dividing line between the two discoveries was never fully determined. The early Spanish discoverers who explored the continent were Juan Ponce de Leon, a daring officer, who labored under the delusion that the fountain of youth existed among the flowers of this tropical country; and Ferdinand De Soto, who pene- trated the wilds of the interior until he discovered the waters of the Mississippi. During this expedition De Soto marched through Georgia, camping near the site of the present city of Augusta 'and near the confluence of the Etowah and the Oostanaula rivers. Relics of this expedition have been preserved, and they have

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

thrown considerable light on Georgia's pre-historic annals. These explorations of the Spaniards were made during the early part of the sixteenth century.

The new colony of Georgia thus planted between these hostile frontiers, though it served to strengthen the arm of South Carolina was not calculated, by any means, to appease the greed of the Spaniards. It was now time for Spain to assert her dominion and accordingly she raised the standard of war on Oct. 22, 1739. In the meantime Gen. Oglethorpe had returned from England and every precaution was taken for the defense of the frontier. Soldiers were distributed along the coast and each fort was strongly garrisoned. A conference was held with the Indians and the original treaty was confirmed.

Hostilities began by the introduction of spies who endeavored to excite a mutiny among the soldiers and to murder Gen. Oglethorpe. The design of the Spaniards, however, was intercepted, and the men who were appointed to execute it were tried and shot. An effort to incite insurrection among the negroes of South Carolina was also made and, though the movement failed, it served to put Gen. Oglethorpe more securely on his guard in showing him the dangerous char- acter of the enemy.

In addition to the wily schemes of the Spaniards, Gen. Oglethorpe was menaced by a lack of enthusiasm and a spirit of discontent in his own camp. A number of the colonists were dissatisfied because of the refusal of the trustees to grant them a title to their lands in fee simple and to allow the importation of negro slaves. In consequence of this refusal the colony was in a wavering condition and there was little inclination on the part of the settlers to imperil their lives for such a restricted liberty. A petition was sent to the trustees at this critical juncture but they still refused. They sought, however, to pacify the discontented element by giving them a promise of speedy relief in a different direction.

On Oct. 5, 1739, Tomo-chi-chi, the old Indian chief, died. He had reached the advanced age of ninety-seven years and his dying exhortation to his people was to stand squarely by the English. His only regret in dying was that he was pre- vented from serving Gen. Oglethorpe in his war against the Spaniards. The death of the old Indian was calm and peaceful, and his soul passed out into the spirit land just as the red October sunset was beginning to shed its glory upon the forest and to give a crimson hue to the foliage. In the death of the old chief the colony realized a severe loss and he was mourned as if he had been one of their own countrymen.

Receiving orders to prosecute war against the Spaniards, who had committed a number of outrages along the frontier, Gen. Oglethorpe enlisted 1,000 Indians and started in pursuit of the enemy, routing them with great slaughter. On Dec. 1, 1739, he resolved to penetrate farther into Florida. The expedition succeeded, and after gaining possession of the St. John's river, he returned to Frederica. In May of the following year he collected 1,100 men and marched toward St. Augustine. He was reinforced on the way, however, by troops from South Carolina, and sending on a detachment in advance he hoped thereby to deceive the enemy. The movement failed, however, and many of the soldiers were either murdered or taken prisoners. Gen. Oglethorpe resolved to besiege the town, but after twenty days, on account of ill health, he was forced to abandon the siege and return to Frederica.

For several reasons the growth of the colony began to slacken and the trustees resolved upon a change of government. They made a division of the colony into two distinct counties-Savannah and Frederica. Each county was to be governed by a presiding officer, and the power of the courts was restricted to prevent them from oppressing the inhabitants. Two years later the two counties were con- solidated.

CIVIL HISTORY.

In a final effort to overthrow the colony the' Spaniards resolved to invade Georgia with a strong fleet. Seven thousand men and fifty-six vessels left Havana and started for the Georgia coast in the spring of 1742. They were met by Gen. Oglethorpe, however, in the sound near Cumberland island and driven back into the Florida waters. Gen. Oglethorpe returned to Frederica and sent to Charleston for immediate aid. On June 28 a fleet of thirty-six vessels, bearing 5,000 Spaniards, appeared near one of the islands, and raising the battle flag, proceeded to land on the southern extremity of the island. Gen. Oglethorpe had only 700 men, but he was momentarily expecting to be reinforced. On July I the first engagement occurred, but on account of the numerical weakness of his troops Gen. Oglethorpe suffered a severe defeat. It was found that two of his companies were missing and he was greatly concerned to know what had become of them. In the meantime, however, these companies retrieved the fortunes of the day by getting behind the Spaniards and secreting themselves in ambush along the road. As soon as the enemy came up they halted and stacked their guns. The signal was then given and a deadly fire of shot was poured upon the Spaniards. Two hundred and fifty of their men were killed. Gen. Oglethorpe hearing of the engagement immediately promoted the two officers. By a shrewd letter that was written to Gen. Oglethorpe in French, and addressed to one of his deserters who had fled into the Spanish camp and who would probably betray the weakness of his troops, unless intercepted, the desired effect was produced, and the Spaniards were given to understand that Gen. Oglethorpe was strongly reinforced and in possession of vast supplies of ammunition. The Spaniards were overcome with dismay, and setting fire to their camp they embarked on July 14, 1742. This concluded the Spanish difficulties, as the war between Spain and England across the water engaged the attention of the two countries and the colony was left serenely undisturbed.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 3

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1294

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294