Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-16
Misturp nf s. Garulina.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
Early Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK


all the numerous posterity of Adam, lives in
dependent. He is linked to the whole b.
countless ties. Invisible, it may be, but still
strong and indissoluble. The countless horde
of human beings that swarm upon the face Q
the habitable earth are made up of nations
these nations are made up of families; ant
these families are composed Of single individ
uals Often it is that the history of singh
person contains all that is important in th
history of nation during the period of hi
earthly..existence. More frequently it is tn
case that single act of one individual give
direction to the acts of succeeding generations
A single stone completes the arch. Thi
stone, however small or insignificant Of itself
adds beauty and strength to the whole fabric
So it is with human acts. One single deed
has often saved a nation, whilst slight neg
lect has changed the course Of events and
caused victory to perch upon the standard Of
the discounted. James Oglethorpe~ saved
South Carolina, if not from determination, al
least from invasion and temporary destruc
ton. He did this, not directly, but indirect
ly. He saved Georgia, and by saving Geor'
gia, saved South Carolina.
After this unsuccessful invasion of St. Au.
gustine, Oglethorpe returned to Frederica,
near the mouth of the Altamaha. He was
grieved and distressed. The Carolinians
abused and villifed him. They had lost all
confidence in him as a military chief, and were
not backward to express their opinion con.
cerning him. This wounded his generous
heart; but the havoc which the spaniards
had made upon the brave Highlanders, under
Colonel Palmer, grieved his noble spirit.
Exhausted by toll and broken down by
incessant watching, he returned to Frederick
Not to rest, however. This the Spaniards
would not permit An expedition was planned
in Cuba. A large naval and land force was
raised, part in Cuba and part in Florida
The intention was first to subjugate Georgia
and then South Carolina. From Havana
two thousand soldiers, under the command oi
Don Antonio de Rodondo, embarked, and ar
rived in May at St. Augustine Here farther
preparations were made for the expedition
The movements of the Spaniards we're discov
cred by Oglethorpe whilst they we're still al
St. Augustine. The fact was communicated
to the Governor of South Carolina Ogle
thorpe could not be mistaken with respect te
either the intended invasion or its main object
The Spanish feet had -haan- -aaanl by Captain
Haymor, whilos oru;oing botwoon Florida ano
Havana. The information sent to the Gov
ernor of South Carolina was true, beyond 8
doubt. The Carolina authorities treated the
intelligence with indifference, and positively
refused to send Oglethorpe any assistance
The object of contention equally concerned
Carolina and Georgia. 1t was avowedly 6
struggle for the extension of boundaries
but in reality, a struggle for empire
The territory claimed by Spain extended
farther north than the English we're willing te
admit. On the contrary, the English claimed
farther south than the Spanish would allow
Each was in fact attempting to root the Other
out ofthe country. The destruction of Gsorgia
would have been followed by the extermina
ton of Carolina. Hence the saving of Geor'
gia was the saving of Carolina.
Notwithstanding the many adverse circum
stances by which Oglethorpe was surrounded
he determined to defend the country, even il
it cost him his life. The Highlanders, whose
countrymen had been cut to pieces at fort
Moosa, heartily encouraged his resolution
They we're burning for revenge. Forts were
built at different places on the banks Of the
Altamaha, on the islands contiguous to its
mouth, and Frederick was put in readiness
for an attack. On the 18th Of July, a feet Of
thirty.six vessels and carrying more than three
thousand men, entered the harbor of St. ST.
mon, about eight miles below Frederick
The troops landed on the west side Of the
island of St. Simon, only short distance from
the town which bore the same name. Here
they commenced to erect Notifications. A
battery of twenty guns was soon in working
order. Oglethorpe, who was at this time on
St. Simon's island, commenced firing upon the
invaders as they entered the harbor, but the
enemy having learned that the water was Of
sufficient depth, rushed passed him until they
got out of reach of his guns. Amongst the
land forces Of the Spaniards, was regiment
of negroes, elegantly uniformed and comman,
ded by officers of their own race. This regi'
ment was equipped and brought along more
for the purpose of producing discontentment
amongst the Carolina slaves and thus instiga-
ting insurrection, than for the purpose OF
fighting.
General Oglethorpe had only eight hundred
men on St. Simon's Island. He was anxious
ly expecting reinforcements from South Car
olina. The Carolinians had determined that
since they had no confidence in Oglethorpe,
they would put Charles Town in a state OF
defense, and let Oglethorpe make the best he
could in repelling the spaniards from Georgia.
Finding that it would be impossible to &C.
complish anything by remaining on St. simon's
Island, Oglethorpe spiked his guns, destroyed
his military and other stores, and went to his
headquarters at Frederick. On the 18th Of
July, the town was attacked by the advance
party of the enemy, but failed to accomplish
anything besides, many of these we're killed.
The commander of the Spanish forces sent
three hundred men to support his advance
guard, but these were entrapped and about
two hundred of them taken prisoners. This
encouraged both Oglethorpe and his men.
The old Roman generals were accustomed to
say that the results of the first skirmish indi'