USA > South Carolina > School history of South Carolina > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
6. The feet of the enemy came sailing in and came right up to the bar. But as the passage was dangerous they did not attempt to como in immediately. bat remained outside all night in view of the people of the town. Next morning. nut being acquainted with the passage into the harbor, they cast anchor outsile nud spont the day in sounding the depth of the water. This delay gave time for the militia companies to assemble and for the governor to come in and take command and dissipate by his presence aul calmaoss the anxiety and consternation of the people.
7. Johnson was an old soldier, calm and cool in time of danger, and not easily discomposed in time of an emergency. He found the people in great trouble, but he proclaimedl martial law at the Lead of the militia and soon brought order out of chaos. He also cent for those Indians who were friend of the Carolintans to come to their assistance. By bis oner-
39
WARS WITH THE SPANIARDS.
gotic proceedings he soon had collected all the troops in and around Charlestown.
8. Captain George Logan, with a troop of horse; two com- panies of fort. under Major George Broughton: a company From James Ihad, under Cape in Drake; another from Wando. ander Captain Fenwicke, and five other companies commanded by Captains Center, Inda Kearn, Langbois, and Seabrook, were all on hand. And when the enemy passed the bar and emmie sailing up the giver towards the town the governor was wly for them. They cast anchor a little above Sullivan's Island and sont a flag of trues to the governor calling upen him to surrender the town and country within an hour.
. Johnson's reply was that there was no need to wait one minute for an ausWer. Theo, 'after taking the messenger round and loving hha the fortifications and the means of defence, In told him he might return to Monsieur Le Feboure and tell him that there was no surrender to be thought of: that he and his new were there to defend the place, and would die rather than surrender. And then in conclusion he politily requested the messenger to go about he's busines.
10. The next day predatory parties numbering about 150 men were sout by the enemy to James Island and Haddrell's Point. Captains Feswiske and Cantey marched against them. atd. in the engagement which followed, about a dozen of the enemy were killed and wounded. aud thirty-three taken prisoner. Somo perished in attempting to escape by swimming. The Carolindans lo-t but one. killed. The next day Colonel Rhett. with his dept offered battle at sea, but the French did not accept the offer and got away as soon as possible. Colonel Rhett did not pursue as the weather was unfavorable. Four- teen of the enemy were soon afterwards found by Captain Watson on a point of land and brought prisoners to town.
1. The troops from the country were now discharged and martial law ceased. But soon word was brought that a ship
40
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
had anchored in Sewee Bay and that the crew had land . Captain Fenwicke was sent by land, and Colonel Rhett, with others. in a Bermuda sloop and a New York. privateer, by sea, against them. This party of the enemy seem not to have been aware of the repulse of their comrades at Charlestown. for their force was found divided and they were attacked in this condition. The portion at Hobeam was attacked by Cap- tain Fenwicke, who killed fourteen and took fifty prisoners. At Sevee Bay the ship surrendered to Colonel Rhett with about ninety men on board. After these were transported to town there were about 230 French and Spanish prisoners in Charlestown. A historian of this affair quaintly observes: "It is not on record how many, of them died of yellow forer."
12. Thus failed this first attempt to take the city of Charles. town by means of a naval force. The governor. the people. and the soldiers mutually congratulated and thanked cach other , for their brave and gallant conduct on the occasion. The truth is Governor Johnson deserves the chief credit for their success. for without bis cool and wise head the town, very probably would have been taken.
QUESTIONS .- 1. Who undertook an expedition against St. Augustine ? 2. Tell of Sir Nathaniel Johnson and his preparations for the defence of the city.
3. At this time what natives were at war with Ingland? What did they determine to do ?
4. When the French commander was at St. Augustine what dil he learn ? What did he do?
5. Tell of the watch on Sullivan's Island. What preparations did Colonel Win. Rhett make for defenfling the city?
6. Tell about the movements of the enemy's fleet.
7. What did Governor Johnson do on his return to the city ?
S. Name some officers who were to assist in defending the city. What did the enemy do after casting anchor?
9. What did foto ou reply to the enemy's demand? Tell of his tre it- ment of the messenger.
In. Give account of the attacks upen James Island and Haddrell's Point.
41
WARS WITH THE SPANIARDS.
Ir. Tell of the attack on. the enemy at Sewee Bay. What does a historian of the affair say of the French and Spanish prisoners in Charles- town?
12. After the fillure of the enemy to take Charlestown whatylid the governor, the people, and the soldiers do? Who deserves chief credit for success ?
CHAPTER X.
WARS WITH THE SPANIARDS CONTINUED.
1. The bonillaries between Florida and Carolina had never been clearly defined, and as each, one wanted to extend its limits as far as possible, and secure and hold all the territory it could. mutual jealousies, injuries, and wrongs were continu- ally occurring. The Yamassees were friends of the Spanish. and their scalping parties, incited by the Spaniards. would frequently make incursions into Carolina territory: kill cattle. burn houses, kill andl scalp the whites, and carry off all the negro slaves that they could lay their hands on. To prevent the escape of slaves the Caroliniaus built a fort on the Alta- maba, which gave great offence to the Floridians, and they complained to the king of spain.
2. The Spanish Ambassador of London laid the complaint before the British Court and it was agreed that the governors of the two Provinces of Carolina and Florida should meet. and. in a friendly way. adjust the boundaries between the two, and settle all other difficulties as they ought to. The conference was bell according to agreement er order. but nothing was settled, and the same old state of things, and the same causes of irritation, continued.
3. At length Calocal Palmer, becoping very tired of this state of things determined to get anlataction. if possible, by going down into Florida, killing war of the inhabitants and
42
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
plundering and burning their houses, &c. With this end in view he collected a party of about three hundred men, Indians included. and invaded Florida. carrying fire and desolation wherever he went. He went as far as St. Augustine. com- pelling the inhabitants to take refuge in the castle. He burnt and laid waste the whole colony. scarcely a house or but escaping the flames. He destroyed the crops in the field: drove off the cattle and hogs, and left nothing for the people to live upou, except what provisions were protected by the guns of the fort at St. Augustine. In this way he proved to the Spaniards Low weak they were. and bow easily they could be prevented from settling and improving their province unless they chose to live in peace with their neighbors.
4. About this time, or soon after the French alvanced Learer to Carolina. building a fort on the Mobile river. which they callel Fort Alabama. It was their purpose, as we have already som, to Lom in the British possessions and contine them to the regions east of the Alleghany Mountains. They operated by means of agents amongst the Creeks and Chero- kees seeking to instill into their minds a feeling of hatred towards the English.
5. To counteract their influence Tobias Fitch was sent amongst the Creeks, and Colonel George Chicken amongst the Cherokees. The agents of Carolina found it very difficult to counteract the influence of the French, and ouly partially succeeded. The French supplied these savages with toma- hawks, mu-kots, and ammunition. and. after awhile. their intrigues resulted in rousing them to war with the English. The war which followed brought great loss to the English in Carolina, but ruin to the Cherokees. A brief account of that war will be given after awhile.
6. The settlement of Georgia in 1735 rescued Carolina from the con Ation :f belog a frontier colony, but it did not entirely save her from the viles of the spaniards, who continued to
43
WARS WITH THE SPANIARDS.
steal negroes and to do other injurious acts. It is a little singular that the Spaniards set free all runaway negroes from Carolina, and never had negro slaves at all in Florida; while in South America, to relieve the native Indians from the horrible slavery of the mines, through the influence of Los Cisas. a benevolent Catholic priest, negro slavery had been introduced as an act of humanity.
7. In 1789 war was declared by Great Britain against Spain. Meet afterwards an expedition was fiffed out by Carolina in mopjunction with General Oglethorpe of Georgia, who had command, against Florida. A regiment was raised in Virginia and North and South Carolina. the command of which was given to Colonel Vanderheusen. Indians also were callel in from all the diferent tribes that were friendly to the English. N. A Laval force consisting of four ships of twenty guns cub, and three sloops, under command of Vincent Price. was alto to assist in the expedition. All the forces were to rendez- vous at the mouth of the St. John's river on the Florida west. On the 9th of May, 175} Florida was invalel, and Fort Diego, about twenty-five miles from St. Augustine, was raptured. Here General Oglethorpe left sixty men under com- mand of Captain Drubar, and returned to the month of the St. John's where he was joined by the Carolina regiment under Colonel Tande thensen and a company of Highlanders under Captain McIntosh.
0. In the mean time St. Augustine had been strengthened by the arrival of six halt galleys with four brass nine pounders and two sloops loaded with provisions. About the middle of May General. Oglethorpe, with his whole force of over 9.000 men, all kinds includel, mirchel to Fort Moosa. about two miles from St. Augustine. The garrison evacuated the fort without resistance and retired to the town. The General by this time began to discover that the enterprise was more difficult than he had bargained for.
44
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
10. The castle was so strongly fortified that an attempt to take it by storm would cost him very dearly, even though le succeeded, which was very doubtful. He therefore changed his plan of operations and reduced the seige into a blockade. and tried to close every channel by which provisions could be carried into the town. To effect this purpose he left Colonel Palmer with ninety-five Highlanders and somewhat over forty Indians at Fort Moosa, to scour the woods and capture the cattle going to the town. He stationed Colonel Vanderheuses at Point Quartel, which was about a mile from the castle. with orders to erect a battery upon it.
11. He himself, went with his regiment, and the greater number of his Indian allies, to the Island of Anastasia, from which he purposed to bombard the town. Captain Pierce stationed his ships so as to ent of supplies by sea. After having completed the disposition of the forces he sent to the Spanish governor a demand for surrender. The governor very courteously replied "that he would be very glad to shaky hands with bin in his castle." Nothing further now remained to be done in the way of negotiation. General Oglethorpe opened fire. He battered the castle without effect and threw some shells ado the town which did some damage.
12. The fire, was returned with spirit from the castle cal from the bolf galleys in the harbor, but with little hurt. the distance being too great. While the siege was in progress the Spanish governor sent out a party against Colonel Pahuer at Fort Moosa. Palmer was taken completely by surprise and bis men were nearly all killed. A fow escaped and went over to the Carolinians at Fort Quartel. Failing to reduce the enemy by starvation, and being unable to take the castle by storm, the enterprise was abandoned and Oglethorpe fell back to Federica. On the 13th of August the Carolina regiment returned to Chark down. No ouw had been killed. but fourtoon had died. Thus ended the expedition against St. Augustine.
WARS WITH THE SPANIARDS.
It hal involved the necessity of great expense on the part of Carolina, and left the colomy in an oufeebled condition.
13. Soon afterwards there was a war between the Spaniards of Florida and the colonists of Georgia, in which General Oglethorpe achieved great success and popularity, and provi- doatially saved that colony from destruction. The Spaniards threatened to renew the invasion after their repulse by Ogle- thorpe, but they did not renew it. And though they never surrendered their claims to Georgia and Carolina as part of Florida. yet they never made quy further attempt to gain possession by force of arms. This closes the record of the wars with the Spanish people of Florida.
QUESTIONS .- I. What i'd the undefined boundaries between Florida and Carolina lead to? Tell of the attacks of the Vainassees. What effect did the building of a fort on the Altamaha by the Carolimans have ?
2. How was it proposed to settle the difficulty, and what was the result?
3. Tell of Colonel Palmer's expedition against Florida.
4. Tell something of the movements of the French.
5. What was done to counteract the influence of the French? With what did the Freuch supply the savages, and what was the result ?
6. What can you say of the Spaniards in regard to negro slaves ?
7. In 1739 war was declared between what two countries? What expe- dition was fitted out and who were in command ?
8. What is said of the naval force? What happened on the 9th of May, 1740?
9. In what way had St. Augustine been strengthened in the meantime? What of the movements of Oglethorpe about the middle of May ?
10. Give account of the plan of Oglethorpe to capture the castle.
11. What did he himself do? What demand did he make of the Spanish Governor? What reply did he receive ? What happened then ?
12. Who did the Spanish Governor send a party to surprise? Was Oglethorpe successful in the attack ? What effect dil the expedition have on Carolina ?
13. Where was General Oglethorpe successful? Did the Spaniards at empt after this to gain possession of Georgia and Carolina ?
$6
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER XL
WARS WITH THE INDIANS. -
1. In the opening chapter of this book something was sarl of the various tribes of Indiens inhabiting the region of Cars lina when white men first came to settle in it. If thes tribes could have foreseen what wouldl come from the intrusion of these strangers there can be little doubt that they would Lave united for the common ? ferre and would have driven the strangers away, and prevented, for many years, the settl ment of the whites. But these Indians knew nothing of the world: knew nothing of engure; of the growth of States, or the acquisition of wealth. They know nothing, Indeed. of individual ownership of the soil and had not aren any wall dofined tribal or wrutional bosalaries. And naturally the appearance and settlement of these strangers in their weigh- barhool give dem very little. if any. manches Their friendship was easily won by acts of kindness: by presents of beads and cheap and showy trappings of any kind.
2. In their prayer for a charter the proprietors declared that one gret object and purpose they had in view to float ing a colony in Carolina was the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts and the dissemination of Cheisten'y in beathen lands. There is no doubt that they had such parnos in view. But it does not where that much was ever then in that way. I'm difficulties of planting a colony so far away! Were so great, and the continual straggle of the e.nists themselves for existence, rended to divert the miils of all both proprietors and colonists from this object.
3. The proprietors considered the land granted by the charter ad absolutely their, without regard to the rights of the Red man whom they had in evenpane; and it does not appear that there was over any formal purebase of any part
47
THE INDIAN WARS.
of the low country from the natives. As to the lands in the upper part of the State it was different. That region was obtained and held by the whites, partly by conquest, partly by treaty. In the low country occasionally a private individual bought land from a neighboring Red man.
4. But the rule was for persons to settle wherever they could, on any vacant or unoscupit land, having no regard to any title that the Indians' might have. As the English thought little of the In liaus' title to the land. so the Indians thought is little of any vested right in movable property. What the white man called theft the Indians thought nothing of. as they had been in the habit of taking animals of all kinds wherever they found them. They know no difference between wild and doniestic, until the listinction was learned from their intercourse with the whites.
a. The people being thus so different in all their manner- and customs, to say nothing of color, they could not easily :Asinilate. The white people had little desire to mix with the Indians and form one people, and not much to convert tunn to Christianity and elevate them in the scalo of being. at least not enough to move them to any great practical efforts in that direction. They felt that they had about as much as they could woll do to take care of themselves. Whenever neighboring tribes were at war with each other, which was frequently the case. they did not scruple to encourage them in this warfare, so that thereby their own condition might be wandered more secure. But with all their wariness they could not long avobl war with the natives.
. During the summer of 1971. the first year of their settle ment, the colonists were involved in war with the Kussces, who lived in the immediate neighborhood of Charlestown. These lations, not understanding the rights of private property. took widont seraple whatever came in their way, hogy, pigs, turkeys. and indeed anything that they thought might be of use to them.
45
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
The white people stood this about as long as they could. At last finding no remedy but war they marched into their terri- tory and captured many prisoners, whom they threatened to send to the West Indies as slaves if they did not behave better for the future. The Kossoes submitted, but it is very doubtful whether their good behavior continuel very long.
7. Early in the year 1650 a war commencel with the Westoes, a very powerful tribe between Charlestown and the Edisto. This war nearly ruined the settlement. A peace was concluded in 1651, the old Indians giving security for the good behavior of the young. To prevent the return of similar troubles, the proprietors appointed commissioners to settle all disputes between the English and the Indians. These com- missioners were Maurice Matthews, William Fuller. Jonathan. Fits, and John Boone. The arrangement, however. dil not work well and it was discontinued. About this time the Westoes were involved in a bloody war with their neighbors. the Yamassees. and were conquered and driven from their country.
S. Soon after the trouble with the Westoes, the proprietors ordered all Indians within four hundred miles of Charlestown to be taken under their protection. thus making them British subjects. The purpose no doubt, was good, but not being suited to the nature of the Indian, nor to the actual condition of the colonists, of course failed.
9. The next war in which the Carolinians were engaged wa- against the Apalachees, who were allies of the Spaniards. In December, 1703. Governor Johnson sent out Colonel Moore with fifty Carolinians, volunteers, and a thousand friendly Indians to ravage and lay wasto the country of the Appalachees. north and west of St. Augustine. The work was done very effectually. The towns between the Altamaha and the Savannah rivers were destroyed. Many savages were made prisoners and the others were reduced to submission. This exhibition
49
THE INDIAN WARS.
of strength and warlike prowess terrified the savages in that region and gave them a lively senso of the strength and courage of the colonists and paved the way for the settlement of the country between those two rivers. On his return from this expedition Moore brought back as prisoners 1,300 free Appalachians and 100 slaves.
10. In the autumn of 1711 John Lawson, the proprietor's Surveyor-General, having marked certain lands near the Neuse river which were claimed by the Tuscaroras, was seized by them and put to death. Dreading the consequences of this set, and suffering from "such grievances os all Indians living hear the whites endured." they speedily formed a conspiracy with other trines and laid a plan for a wide spread massacre. 11. On the night of the 25th of September they suddenly attacked the settlers and slaughtered about one hundred and fifty. Going from house to house as speedily as possible. they killed without discrimination all the mm. women. # Al children. Help was called for from South Carolina. The Assembly votel four thousand pounds for the purpose of paying expenses, and immediately raised and despatchel to the seat of war a considerable body of Indians and a fow whites. The Indians enlisted in this expedition were of the tribes of Cherokees. Yamassees. Creeks, Catawbas. Winyaws. Esaws and others.
12. These were all put under the conimsad of Colonel Barn. well, who immediately set out and marched through the intervening willpress and crossel tho Nous river on the 24th of January, 1712. He killed and en tured many of the cuomy and came finally to their stronghold where six hundred Indian warriors were ready to receive him. As he was short of provisions, and as many of his men were disabled by hardships, he thought it best to make a treaty of peace with the ladings. They were very willing and peace was accord- ingly made.
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
13. Colonel Barnwell then sent to Charlestown for a sloop to convey to that city his disabled men and himself. who were wounded. while his allies returned homeward by land. This was in July. 1712. It seems that Colonel Barnwell pleased nobody by the conduct and conclusion of this expedition. His reputation was sullied by the conduct of his allies, who behaved badly after he left them.
14. The Tuscaroras soon began their depredations anew. and while the North Carolinians were trusting to the treaty of peace and quietly resting and enjoying their first peaceful slumbers, a second massacre began. Again South Carolina was called on for help, and Governor Craven at once sent Colonel Moore. December, 1712. with a force of about forty whites and six hundred friendly Indians to their assistance. After a toilsome march he found a large force of Tuscaroras fortified on the Taw river and well supplied with arms. He laid seige and in a few hours took the fort. killing two hun- dred and capturing eight hundred. The prisoners were claimed by his Indian ellies, who, on their return, solt them into slavery in South Carolina.
15. Colonel Moore was thanked by the next Assembly, "his good conduct having repaired the faults of others." and was voted a hundred pounds sterling in addition to his pay. Soon after this war the Tuscaroras abandoned their country and joined a northern tribe of Indians on the Ohio river.
QUESTIONS .- 1. If the Indians had known what the intrusion of the white men meant, what do you suppose they would have done? Of what were they ignorant? How was their friendship easily won?
2. In asking for & charter, what did the proprietors sty was one great object? What tended to divert the minds of the colonist . from this object?
3. What view did the proprietors take of the lands granted by the charter in the low country? What about the lands in the up country?
4. What was the general rule for settlements? What did the Indians think of theft?
51.
THE INDIAN WARS.
5. Why dul the whites and Indians not mix and forin one people? It wars between neighboring tribes, what did the whites frequently do?
6. What led to a war with the Indians in 10 ;?? What was the result. of the war !
;. Tell about the war in novo. How did the proprietors attempt to prevent similar troubles ? What was the result;
8. What lul the proprietors do soon after the troubles with the Westoes? Was anything accomplishel by ic!
c. What can you say of the war with the Appalachee Indian ..
ro. What happened in the autumn of fil? Fearing the consequences of Jolin I rossi's death, what dil the Indians do? In what State is the Neuise river ?
1. What happened on the night of the 25th of September, 1;1I? What help did south Carolina give? Name some Indian tribes that. enlisted with the whites.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.