the possessions of France and Great Britain in America was left unsettled, and it was rapidly becoming one of grave importance. In many cases the claims of the two countries were conflicting. There was no well-defined boundary-line between Canada and New England; none between Nova Scotia and the French possessions; and the extent of Louisiana, which France had also acquired, was altogether indefinite. About this time, also, the French began to entertain the grand scheme of building a chain of forts along the great lakes and down the Mississippi to their colony of New Orleans, which was now in a flourishing condition. CHAPTER XX. SOUTH CAROLINA, RESUMED. 1709-1754. The Yamassee War. 1. On the southwestern border of South Carolina, next to the Savannah river, there was a strong and warlike tribe of Indians, known as the Yamassees. These were, perhaps, the most warlike of all the southern tribes. Becoming angry with the whites, and jealous of their increasing power, they determined, if it were possible, to destroy them entirely. To effect this object they united in a great league all the tribes of Indians from Cape Fear, in North Carolina, to Florida. 2. They began the war by an attack upon Pocotaligo about daybreak on the morning of the 15th of April, 1715. They here killed about ninety persons. The inhabitants of Port Royal were warned in time, and made their escape to Charleston by means of a vessel which was then lying in the harbor. A few families in the country, who had not CHAPTER XX.-1. Describe the Yamassees-their situation. What did they determine ? 2. How did they begin the war? Where else also did they wage it? What orders were given by the Governor time to embark, were either killed or carried into captivity. The war was also waged in the country towards North Carolina, and the danger became so great that serious fears were entertained for the safety of Charleston itself. The Governor ordered out every man under arms, except the slaves, and even some of the more trusty of them were armed. 3. At the head of two hundred and forty men, Craven marched directly against the enemy, and sent a courier to Colonel Mackey, with orders to raise, at once, what forces he could, and then to proceed by water to meet him at Yamassee town. The Governor rested at night on the Combahee River, within sixteen miles of the enemy, and was attacked early next morning by about five hundred Yamassees. After a considerable fight, he routed the Indians and drove them back with great loss, while he had but one man killed and several wounded. Being without guides, and seeing great numbers of the enemy on the opposite side of the river, he returned to Charleston. 4. Col. Mackey, in the execution of the duty assigned him, surprised and drove the Indians from their town, in which were stored large quantities of provisions and plunder. He here learned that two hundred of the enemy had posted themselves in another fort, and he sent one hundred and forty men to attack them. At this time a young man named Palmer, who, at the head of sixteen men, had been on a scout, came to Mackey's assistance, and at once scaled the walls, but was driven back. He returned to the charge, and was successful. He drove the enemy out, and as they fled they were shot down in numbers by Mackey's men. 5. But though the Indians were checked here, they gained some advantages on the northern border of the colony. A party entered the plantation of Mr. John Herne, near the Santee, and treacherously killed him after being kindly en 3. With how many men did the Governor march against the Indians? What was the result of the fight? 4. What was done by Colonel Mackey? What is said of Palmer? 5. What advantage was gained by the Indians? What is said of Captain Bar ker his fate ? tertained. Captain Thomas Barker immediately collected a body of ninety men and advanced to meet them. Trusting to an Indian guide, he was led into an ambuscade in a great thicket of bushes, where the enemy lay concealed on the ground. Capt. Barker and several of his men were instantly killed, and the rest fled in disorder. 6. The panic now became so great that nearly all the inhabitants of the parish were fleeing towards Charleston. On one plantation, however, seventy white men, with forty negroes, had thrown up a breast work, resolving to defend themselves to the last extremity. For some time they were successful, but after a while they became discouraged, and, while listening to proposals of peace, they suffered themselves to be surprised. Very few escaped with their lives. The Indians were shortly afterwards met, defeated, and driven back by the Goose Creek militia, commanded by Captain Chicken, who proved himself a true gamecock on that occasion. The province was thus made secure on the north. 7. In the meantime the whole country became deserted to within twenty miles of Charleston. Many began to fear the destruction of the colony. The enemy numbered from eight to ten thousand warriors, while the Carolina musterroll could show but about twelve hundred men fit to bear arms. Yet Craven determined to send forces into the wilderness to meet the enemy upon their own ground. In his summons of the Assembly he said: "Expedition is the life of action; bring the women and children into our town, and all provisions from all exposed plantations. Virginia and New England must be solicited for aid." Francis Holmes was sent as agent to New England to purchase arms. Lieutenant-General James Moore, and Colonels John 6. What is said of the panic? What took place on Goose Creek? 7. What was the number of Indian warriors? the Carolina muster-roll? What language did Craven use in his summons? Who were appointed to command the troops! Barnwell and Alexander Mackey, were chosen to lead the troops. 8. The war was pushed so vigorously that the Yamassees were soon driven from the country to the region beyond the Savannah River. They took up their residence in Florida, from which place they continued for some time, in small parties, to infest the borders of Carolina. But the province was now well defended by a number of forts, garrisoned by six hundred Carolinians, one hundred Virginians, four hundred negroes, and a hundred friendly Indians. When a new Assembly met, in February, 1716, the war was almost entirely over, and the chief object of solicitude then was to secure a permanent peace with all the neighboring tribes. 9. After this signal failure to destroy the colony, the Indians became so well convinced of the invincibility of the Carolinians, that they never again combined against them or made any attempt to penetrate in hostile bands to the neighborhood of the capital. Governor Craven's family affairs requiring his presence in England, by permission of the Proprietors he left the colony on the 25th of April, 1716, leaving Colonel Robert Daniel deputy Governor. But he would not and did not leave the province until after the conclusion of the war, and all apprehension of danger had ceased. 10. In 1717 Robert Johnson, son of Sir Nathaniel Johnson, was appointed Governor. He was the last Governor under the authority of the Proprietors. With few intervals of calm the colony had been a scene of strife and bickering, between the people and Proprietors, from its first planting, until in 1719 the explosion took place which destroyed the Proprietary government. The members of the convention which overthrew the previous government proclaimed 8. What was the result of the war ? 9. What is said of Governor Craven ? 10. Who succeeded Craven as Governor? What took place in 1719? Who was proclaimed Governor by the convention? Who was appointed by the King? How was he received by the people? James Moore, Governor; but early in the year 1721 General Francis Nicholson arrived at Charleston with a royal commission as Governor. He was received with every demonstration of joy by the people, and by his wise measures the peace of the colony was preserved; all parties seemed to unite in the desire to promote the general welfare and prosperity. In 1729 the Lords Proprietors under the Carolina charter sold their rights to Parliament, and for the next forty years the peace of the colony was preserved, not only at home, but also with the neighboring tribes of Indians. CHAPTER XXI. SETTLEMENT OF GEORGIA. 1732-1754. Savannah-Darien-Frederica-Augusta-Ebenezer-Salzburgers Spanish War. 1. THE colony of Georgia was founded by James Edward Oglethorpe. A charter for this purpose was obtained by him on the 9th of June, 1732, from George II. of England. The country embraced in its limits was named Georgia, in honor of the King who granted the charter; and it extended from the Savannah River westward to the British boundary in that direction, which was the Mississippi River. The same country had been embraced in the Carolina charter, and in 1717 the Palatine and Lords Proprietors of South Carolina had granted to Sir Robert Montgomery that portion of it which lies between the rivers "Savannah and Altamaha," under the title of "Margravate of Azilia;" but as no settlements had been made under either of these grants, west of the Savannah River, the whole country embraced within the chartered CHAPTER XXI.-1. Who was the founder of the colony of Georgia? In what year was the charter granted? What was the object of the colony? |