Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-09
Mistprp uf s. Garulina.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF THE
EarIy Settlement of South Carolina.
BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE INVASION OF FLORIDA.

BY REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE INVASION or FLORIDA.
During the Revolutionary war, or at least
during the early part Of it, Florida was
place of general rendezvous for British, to-
ries, loyalists and Indians. Hon. John Stuart,
early in the struggle, fixed his headquarters
there, and in conjunction with the loyalists Of
South Carolina and Georgia, be laid plans by
which he might serve his royal master.
Shortly after the battle of Fort Moultrie,
an expedition was planned for the purpose Of
thwarting the designs of these faithful sub
jects of the English government and bitter
and treacherous foes of the patriots. The
expedition was to proceed against St. Angus
tine. Major General Charles Lee, who was
then in command Of the Southern depart
ment, approved of the plan, and sent out a
body of troops under Brigadier General Rob-
ert Howe. a..... ..r ..a
In the month of August, 1776, Howe
reached Sunbury. The weather was exces-
sively hot, and the preparations for the expe.
dition had been poorly made. Howe had no
cannon, and was in every other respect lily
prepared to proceed further. The troops be-
gan to sicksn, and Lee was forced to abandon
the undertaking. The failure Of this contem-
plated expedition infused spirit into the to.
ries, Indians and loyalists. In turn, they
determined to make an expedition against
the Wings. Richard Winn, in honor Of
whom the county seat of Fairfield county is
named Winnsborough, had been placed in
command of Fort Mcintosh. This fort was
built on the north side of the Saltilla River.
It was simply stockade, one hundred feet
square, with block house in the centre
On the 7th of February, a large body Of
tories and Indians made an attack upon
Winn. For two days he was successful in
maintaining his ground; but on the third day,
Major-General Provost, coming up with a
large force, and renewing the attack upon the
fort with energy, Winn was compelled to sur
render Two of the officers were retained as
hostages and sent to St. Augustine. The rest
of the garrison were paroled. -, 1L.n.
The surrender of Fort Mcintosh, like the
failure ofthe recent expedition against St. Au.
gustine, inspired the enemies of the patriots
with confidence in themselves. Preparations
were made to invade Georgia from the south
and west. The tories of the Ninety-S region
began to collect in bands and cross the Sa-
vannah river. The aiders and abettors Of the
English government in Florida, and the In
dams of the West, began now to menace Sa-
vannah. The Wings of South Carolina saw
tAat in ths-epent that Georgia fell Into the
hands of the enemy, South Carolina would
then become frontier State. ....
Robert Howe was made Major General
by the Continental Congress, and placed in
command of the Southern army. 1t was evil
dent that unless prompt measures we're resort
ed to, Georgia, and possibly South Carolina,
would, in short time, be in the hands of the
enemy. Large bodies Of loyalsts, British
and Indians, were collecting on the St. Mary's,
St. Johns and at various other points, and re-
Inducements of British troops were daily ex-
pected. '.... rr... a; ...-. ..
Howe, Notwithstanding the previous failure,
determined to make another attempt to invade
Florida. The exigencies of the times, it was
thought by both Howe and bis military ad-
visers, demanded that this be done. Savan-
nah was made Howe's headquarters. He
had only Eve hundred and fifty regulars who
were fit for service. At Savannah, he was
Joined by the regiments of Colonels Pinckney,
Williamson and Bull. Governor Houstoun,
of Georgia, furnished three hundred and fifty
militia. ..
Although miserably prepared for such an
expedition, Howe was certain that he would
succeed. Many circumstances conspired to-
gether to cause him to cherish such hope.
The expedition met with the appreciation Of
all the Whigs, both in Georgia and South
Carolina. Hence, Howe felt that whilst he
was not fully prepared, 80 far as men and
army supplies were concerned, still he bad the
sympathy of all the Wings. '..
In addition to this, Lieutenant Colonel
Samuel Elbert, who had been stationed at
Fort Howe, had, but a short time before,
made an attack upon body of the enemy at
Fort Oglethorpe. Although Elbert had but
three hundred men, and small detachment
of artillery, still the garrison abandoned the
fort and took refuge in their boats. Amongst
other valuables captured by Elbert was brig
antine, on board of which was three hundred
uniform suits, which had been sent from
Charleston to Savannah, for Colonel Pinck.
ney's regiment. These uniforms had been
sent out in the sloop Halter, and whilst on
the way were captured by the enemy.
Encouraged by these circumstances, Howe
pushed on to Fort Tonyn, on the St. Mary's
On the approach of Howe, the enemy fled,
after having rendered the fort useless Howe
ordered all the troops to rendezvous at Fort
Touyn. On his arrival at Fort Tonyn he
learned that twelve hundred men and two
gaIleys having on board number Of field
pieces, had been sent from St. Augustine to
St. Johns, to operate in conjunction with the
troops at that point. 1t was also learned from
deserter that the effective force of the enemy
was about fifteen hundred. In order that the
arrival of the forces from St. Augustine might
be anticipated, great promptness was abso-
lutely required. Howe called council Of
war, consisting of the three Colonels from
South Carolina, Governor Houstoun and Com.