Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-05-08

DelOIt cutcIluS upoh shS ie"N W. SN@~>~
"reminiscences, the military operations in
which the people Of Beaufort and the
surrounding islands were personally en-
gaged-I will here enumerate, without
unnecessary comment, some other organ
izations, which, (now extinct forever
require the more, to be perpetuated in
our records. This should have been
! done in the last number as more properly
belonging there; but, as systematic al
rangement has not been hitherto OBJ
served, 1 propose to enjoy continuance
of the license. The nature and purposes
of these associations will best point out
the characters and motives of those who
composed them.
Inl7s6, two societies were incorporated
in the small parish of st. Helena for be-
nevolent purposes, coupled with educa-
ton. They were, 'The Beaufort Socie-
ty," and est. Helena Society" Next
in this connection comes 1.-THE Beaufort
Female Benevolent Society,"" whose
asylum, in mournful decay, still affords a
shelter to som, of Beaufort's prosecuted
and homeless non-combatants. 1t is stu
ated on Scott street next to the ice house,
fit vicinage for those who were guilty of
the objectionable offence Of flying from
aninvading army. Having been subjected
to the cold and heartless persecution of
the conqueror, its inmates, and among
them, the venerable matron, are daily
reminded of that cline which gave
birth to all their sorrows. This gloomy,
dilapidated pile is not, however, the only
monument of this noble charity, virtuous
mothers of virtuous households through
out our land will attest its merits. The
original names mentio ed in the act of
incorporation (1Sl5) are Margaret Nc
Kee, Ann Barnwell and others.
'sThe Beaufort Volunteer Artillery"
of whom l shall have more to say anon,
were organized in 1920; and in 1924, a
company of infantry, styled the "Beau-
fort Volunteer Guards
In 1926 was formed and duly incorpo-
rated, the Beaufort Agricultural socie-
ty." There was a similar organization
on St. Helena island. The names of
these announce their purposes. Lastly,
will mention here, the formation as late
as 1887, of the Beaufort Male Benevo-
lent Society" Enough has now been
said to point out the moral, intellectual
and social character and status of our
community before its overthrow.
Nothing remains sare to notice some
of the military operations, the political
differences which rendered such opera
tions necessary; and, last of all, the dis
tress, the unmerited, mot unavoidable
distress entailed upon people whose on
ly fiuit-if fault it bo, was that they emu
lated the examples of those forcfathers of
'76 who so fondly loved their liberties,
that they hesitated not, to pledge in their
behalf, "their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honor.
The circumstances Of our early settlers
rendered it necessary to cultivate militia
| ry art: Indians had to be kept in awe
and subjcction foreign invasion (both
French and Spanish) to be repelled; and
even daring aad atrocious pirates to be
chastised and exterminated. In the first,
Col. Barnwell distinguished himself, as
already mentioned; and in both the 9th
ers, Col. Rhett, rendered eminent SER
vices to the.colony. Appointed by Gov.
johnson, vice admiral of an improviscd
fleet, he captured in 1904, a French ship
which he took into Charleston with nine
ty prisoners. In IT'S he took the re-
nowned pirate, Stced Bonnctt, with his
vessel and crew. In this engagement
the admiral was severely wounled.
Although we do not know what part
Beaufort took in the expedition under
Col. Moore against the In ndians; yet, SO
important an undertaking, with so sue
ccssful result must be recorded, else
this imperfect sketch would be closed
with too wide gap untitled. Fortunate
", l have at hand, the official report Of
the Colonel, which | will here transcribe
at length, being more acceptable, | fee
assured, than anything from my Owl
pen. Indeed, the fact of its being taken
from the "Boston News" Of so early q
date as May |, 1704, will render it dou-
bly, interesting to many of its readers
promising that the bclligerents consisted
Of our people with Indian allies, on the
one side, and hostile Indians with Span
ish allies on the other, | proceed to give
the account from the News as above men.
toned:
"Io the Governor Of South Carotma::
May it please your honor to accept o
this short narrative of what |, with the
army under my command, have been
doing since my departure from the Oco'
mulgce, on the 18TH of December.
On the nth of December We came to
town, and strong and almost regular
fort, about sun rising, called Ayauhes
At our first approach the Indians in i