Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-09-16
Nisturg If $. Garolina.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
EarIy Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

BY Rev. ROBERT LATHAM.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
History teaches, and experience confirms
its testimony, that troubles rarely come alone
and single-handed The cares of to-day are
but the prelude of the calamities of to-mor-
row. The war with the Tuscaroras in North
Carolina, in which the South Carolinians
were so actively engaged, and by whose aid it
was so successfully, to the province, conducted
and concluded, was followed by another war,
of far greater magnitude, against the Yamas-
sees. The war against the Tuscaroras was
ended in 1713, and that against the Yamas-
sees commenced in 1715
Soc great was the magnitued of this war, and
so widespread was it in its operations, that
the very existence of the colonies planted in
Carolina was threatened. The bloody stick
was sent throughout the various tribes living
in the adjacent territory, and grand upris-
ing was planned. All this was done with
their usual secrecy. Intercourse with the
members of the various tribes and the settlers
continued as heretofore Nothing was sus-
pected until the war-whoop was raised and
the carnage commenced.
The Yamassees, who seem to have been the
prime movers in this war, lived in the region
back of Port Royal, on the northeast side of
the Savannah river. At one time they lived
in Florida and were the confederates of the
spaniards; but some of their chiefs having
been executed by this nation, they deserted
the Spaniards and came and settled in South
Carolina. Their principal town was Pocotal-
igo.
During the whole of Queen Anne's war,
the Yamassees we're the faithful allies of the
They, at that time, cherished an
inveterate hatred for the Spaniards. Several
traders connected with the colony had settled
amongst this tribe, and on several occasions
the Yamassees had rendered valuable aid to
the settlers in and around Charles Town.
Their hostility to the Spaniards prompted
them to ravage the Spanish territory and to
keep up almost constant war with the In
dian allies of that nation. So closely did
they watch the inhabitants of St. Augustine,
that it was dangerous for them to leave the
garrison. The woods were secured, and every
Spaniard that was seen, was captured and
brought away as prisoner. These prisoners
the Yamassees treated in the most inhuman
way. Sometimes the cruel savages satiated
their brutal hatred by cutting the poor pris'
oner into pieces, joint by joint, with their
knives and tomahawks. Sometimes the pris-
oner was buried in the ground, all except his
head, and then they shot at the head as at
target. That method of putting prisoner to
death was always chosen which was thought
to be the most painful. TO prevent this cruel
treatment, the Indians were given, by the COL
0ny, twenty dollars for every live Spaniard
they would bring to Charles Town. The
prisoners brought were sent by the Govern
ment to St. Augustine, and the expenses
charged to the Spanish Government.
The Yamassees, cherishing so much hatred
toward the Spaniards, and being on friendly
terms with the English settlers, no fears were
of any hostilities. The cause of
among the Indians seems to
have been the manner in which they were
treated by the traders. The truth is, the
traders generally were unprincipled men, who
made no scruples to cheat and defraud the
poor savages out of every thing they possess
ed. There is another thing which should not
be lost sight Of Near two thousand Indians
had been, in one way and another, reduced to
bondage; besides, vast numbers had been
sent off to other colonies and sold. This fact
stirred the spirit of revenge in the bosoms of
the sons of the forest. The Indians must
have seen that their tribes were fast melting
away before their English neighbors. All
these things, together with the intrlgues Of
the Spaniards, aroused the Indians, from the
to the sea-board, to wreak their
upon the settlers of South Carolina.
Although, by nature cruel and unforgiving,
the Indian is not reckless. Rarely does he
enter upon any enterprise until it has been
deliberated upon. For period of more than
a year previous to the Yamassee outbreak,
the traders settled amongst them discovered
that the bitter hate which they once bore To-
ward the Spaniards had been changed to
friendly intercourse The chiefs frequently
visited St. Augustine, and returned loaded
with presents. Amongst the Yamassees there
resided a Highland Scotchman, by the name
of John Fraser. This man was respected by
the Indians for his honesty, and the savages
had no disposition to conceal any thing from
him. Frequently, after their return from
Southern expeditions, they would enumerate
the presents they had received from the Gov
ernor of St. Augustine. One had received
hat, another a suit of clothes trimmed with
silver lace, and another hatchet. Among
other things they had received, were guns and
implements of war. As all evidence of the
friendly state of feeling existing between them
and the Governor of St. Augustine, they re-
lated that they had dined with him and wash
his face. This custom among the Indians, of
washing the face, was kind of pledge of