The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-11-21
NUMBER 9.


destroyed and turned back, and their
food dispersed far and wide over the de-
batable land of the Cypress Swamp
Then, when the heavy rains in the interi-
or have swollen the rivers, their eddying
currents deposit all along the edges Of the
sandy islands and capes the rich freights
they have brought from the calcareoqs or
granite mountains in which they rise, with
the organic waste of the great forests
through which they fow This is the
soil of the rice and cotton plantations,
which are always found in such parts of
the tidal swamps adjoining the mainland
or the sandy islands as are left nearly dry
at the ebb of the water.
The region around Port Royal entrance
and island has strange, cventful, and ro-
mantle history. 1t was, in fact, the first
settled spot on the coast of North Amer
lea. How interesting, in view of our ex-
petition, to read the story Of another ex-
pedition to the same locality just three
hundred years agol The first colony was
sent out by Admiral Coligni, Jealous
Protestant, and then one of the Ministers
of the Crown, who, at the time of the war
between the French Protestants and the
Catholics, obtained permission of Charles
X. to plant colony Of Potestants in Flor
ida-a name then applied also to a great
part of the Southern coast Command of
two vessels was accordingl y given to Jean
Ribault, IA man expert in sea causes"
and in the spring Of 1862 he landed on
the Florida coast Sailing northward, he
discovered several rivers, which from "the
fairness and largeness of its harbor," he
called the Port Royal river. The old
chronicler, Laudoniere, who accompanied
the expedition, describes the scene In
glowing colors. Splendid forests, shores
fcstooned with rich grape clusters, birds
of brilliant plumage, stays and deer In
the luxuriant savannahs. As the COM
mander cast his eye across the waters of
the beautiful river before him, says Lau-
doniere, and measured the breadth of It's
mouth and the depth of its soundings,
he persuaded himself that .'all the argosies
Of Venice could ride upon its bosom -.
Accordingly, upon the island a few miles
up Port Royal river he erected, it is said,
on the very spot where the town of Beau
fort now stands, pillar, with the arms of
France, and In few days after built fort,
which, in honor of his King, Charles, TX,
he called Charles Fort-4rse Cdrokind-
from which circumstances the country
took the name of Carolina. Ribault re-
minded the Colonists that they were now
occupants of ''vast country, filled with
every goodly promise, where every man
was to lie honored, not for his birth or
fortune, but on account of his own personal
achievements" Thus it was on that very
spot that, for the first time, three hun
IL : H.
coast, the flag of civilized colony might
be seen by the approaching mariner. But
this first French colony did not flourish,
and after sending out another to the same
locality, the French, in 1859, gave up all
idea Of making settlements.
1t was almost a century after this be-
fore the English began to colonize around
Port Royal. Early in the seventeenth
century, Lord Cadross led a colony from
Scotland, and settled at Port Royal; but
this place, claiming, from an agreement
with the Lords Proprietaries, coordinate
authority with the Governor and Grand
Council of Charleston, it was compelled.
with circumstances of outrage, to ac-
knowledge submission.
In 1870, William Sayle was sent out
as Governor, and in his letter of instruc-
tions he was told TO ''cause all the peoplc
at Port Royal to swear allegiance te our
sovereign lord the King, and subscribe
fidelity to the proprietors and the form Of
government established by them"
With regard to the capabilities of Port
Royal, an English writer spoke of 1t as
follows: "The whole royal navy might
ride with safety in Port Royal harbor-
Its situation renders it an excellent sta
ton for squadron of ships in time of
war" l1
a glance at the map will show that 4
more vulnerable spot for striking at the
rebels could not be selected. On either
hand lie Georgia and South Carolina,
with their capitals, Charleston and Savan-
nah, the hotbeds of Secession. The COM
munication between the cities would be
seized, the distance between the two cities
being 104 miles, and force moving mp
the waters from Beaufort would strike tho
road at Pocolalego, ffty-fve miles from
Charleston and forty-nine from Savannah,
by which means Charleston or Savannah
could be taken on the rear. The forts
and batteries OF both harbors would thus
be rendered useless as defences to their
respective cities. s