Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-19

Charles Mackay and Sergeant Stuart having
distinguished themselves upon this occasion
appointed Lieut.. sutherland Brigade MAJOR
and Sergeant Stuart Second Ensign.
captain Demere aud Ensign Gibbon being
arrived with the men they had rallied, Lieut..
Cadogan with an advance party OF the regl-
ment, ana soon after the WnolS , ,TegIil .e
Indians and rangers, | marched down 10 a
causeway over a marsh very near the spanish
camp over which all were obliged to pass, ana
thereby stOpt those who had been dispersed IN
the light IN the Savannah from getting TO the
Spanish camp.
IS on We nth Of July the great galley
and two little ones came up the river towards
the town. We fired at them 50
warmly that they retired.
"A Frenchman, who without my knowledge
was come down amongst the volunteers, hfed
his gun and deserted. Orr Indians IN vain puf-
sued and could not take him.
''The next day prevailed with prisoner,
and gave him a sum of money to carry a let
ter privately and deliver it to that trenchman
who had deserted. This letter was written IN
French, as ffrOm friend of his, telling MN he
had received the money; that ne snOula strive
to make the Spaniards believe the Englsh
were weak: that he should undertake 70 pr
lot up their boats and galleys and then bring
them under the woods where ne knew the
hidden batteries were; that If he could bring
that about he should have double the reward
he had already received: that the french
deserters should have all that had been pro-
missed them. The Spanish prisoner got
into their camp. and was Immediately carried
anO. He was asked how he escaped, and
whether he had any letters, but denying MS
having any, was strictly searched ana the
letter found, and he, upon being pardoheu'
confessed that he had received money TO de-
liver it to the Frenchman, for the letter was
not directed. The Frenchman denied MS
knowing anything Of the contents of the letter
or having received any money or correspond
ence with me, notwithstanding which, a c0un-
ell of war was held, and they deemed the
Frenchman to be a double spy, put General
Montana would not suffer him TO De executed
having been employed by him: however, they
embarked all their troops and halted under
Jekyll. They also confined all the French on
board. and embarked with such precipitation
that they left behind them cannon, etc, and
those dead of their wounds unburied.
eve have returned thanks TO COO Tor our De
hverance; have set all the hands possibly
could to work upon the fOrtIhcauOns, ana nave
sent to the nOrthward to raise men reauY 10
form another battalion against His MaJestyS
orders shall arrive for that purpose.
Thus far | have presented only the pleas
ant part of the history Of this interest
ing corps; but there is a dark side of
the picture, and ! must now turn
to that also. Ii is said that even before the
regiment left England some Of the prlyates
gave trouble, and shortly after reaching GeOr-
gia these disturbances increased.
Next we have an account of mutny, which
is thus mentioned by stephens in his journal,
on Saturday, November II, ll3S: Among
other things generally talked of in teAyn on
this occasion none deserved the like attention
as what was told us concerning late mutlnv
among the soldiers at Fort st. Andrew, where
they attempted openly the life of the General
himself as well as their immediate officer.
Captain Mckay; but by the great presence OF
mind in the General, and his daring intrepid
ity. it was happily suppressed. with the loss of
man shot in the scute and divers taken into
custody to meet with their dement's at court
martial thereafter. These things coming to
my knowledge by report only, and Varlously
told | choose to waive the particulars, lest
9hOniH knowing
and automatically related" This trouble grew
out of the dscOntinuance of extra ratiOns,
which. for while after their arrival in Geor-
gia, had been allowed the troops. While
General Oglethorpe and Captain Mackay
were talking at the door of the Generals
cottage, one of the men approached
and demanded his ratiOns. He
was told that he had received all
that he was entitled TO by the terms of enlist
ment. and received a rebuke for his disre
spect He became insOlent, and Capt. Mac
kay drew his sword, which the man caught
and broke, and, throwing the hilt ~ the Cap
tam ran off He was afterwards joined by
five others, and fired at the General, only
scorchng his face. Another soldiers piece
missed fire, while still another tried to stab
him, but was run through by an officer.
court martial was held and the chief actors
were convicted and shot.
On the 10th of January, 1899. a report of a
court martial held at st. SimOn's showed that
Lieutenant Colonel Cochran had made false
and malicious charges as to another officer;
that he knew of mutiny and had concealed
his knowledge of it, and that he had insulted
the court. Cochran, by request of Gen. Ogle
thorpe, was transferred from Georgia, and
Major Cook was promoted to his posi-
ton Cook and his sOn-in- law,
Lieutenant Eyre, circulated SLAM
derous reports against OglethOrpe, and some
of the rumors reached London, causing some
of the Generals bills to be returned to Amer
lea protested. No less than nineteen charges
were preferred against OglethOrpe by Cook.
who named as his witnesses certain officers
and soldiers in Georgia. The court martial,
which could not meet until the arrival of these
witnesses sat on the 4th of june l744, and on
investigating fully the charges, pronounced
them all ''false, malicious and without founda-
ton" The result having been reported to
the King, with certain facts proved against
Cook, he was ordered to be dismissed and
turned out of the service,
About the last of December, 1879, or first of
January, l740, a duel was fought between
Ensigns Leman and Sutherland, when the
former was dangerously wounded, causing
him to lose a leg.
was fought with a more disastrous result.
stephens thus refers to il in his journal on the
18th: "This day began with the melancholy
news of more duelling at the camp in the
South, and the fatal consequences of it. En-
sign TolsOn. of Capt. NOrbury's company,
having a quarrel with Mr.. Eyles, surgeon
in the army, they fought, and the latter was
killed on the spot; man OF very good skill in
his profession and well esteemed. 1t
is not very long since Ensign Leman, in rem
counter, being wounded in his leg, and
modification ensuing. he was forced to suffer
an amputatiOn, and supply its place with a
wooden one. Surely our enemies will hear
this with pleasure
third duel was fought In May, l741, be-
tween CaDtains NOrburv and Desbrisav re-
sulting in the instant death of the former.
Concerning this Gen. Oglethorpe wrote to the
trustees as follows;
''GENTLEMEN-Upon hearing of an unfortu-
nate accident happened at the camp down at
( he al Of "A
tween Capt. Desbrisay and Capt. NOrbury,
wrote Immediately to Lieut. Col. Cook, and he
spoke to the Major, who sent me the enclosed
letter. on which | wrote to Mrs. NOrbury, of
which a copy IS enclosed. The Magistrates
ordered jury, being the Coroner's inquest, to
sit upon the body. who found the matter man
inquest went down to Port Royal that Mrs.
Norbury might be informed of the whole, and
| received answers from other people to whom
| wrote but had none from Mrs. Norbury.
''In the meantime one court day came on
and the Magistrates would not bring on the
trial of Captain Desbrisay that there might
be time for Mrs. Norbury to send up, on
which Captain Desbrisay applied TO be bailed
till the next court day. and on the 1st of June,
being court day, the grand jury found bill
against Captain Desbrisay. upon which he was
tried and found guilty OF manslaughter.
Some time after his trial, Mrs. Norbury came
up and send you copy OF her letters and my
answers enclosed. She refuses to bring any
evidence against any person here, as also TO
band. but seems to insist upon trying
Captain Desbrisay again in another cOun-
trV The Magistrates offered her the liberty
of using any records or EVIDENCE of the form
er trial here, and to examine any person, or
to commence any new suit that might be law
fully done. but she seems entirely to cOntemn
all authorities derived from the charter. |
believe the Magistrates will send home the
full proceedings to YOU. All the colonies in
America try criminal matters finally in the
colony. and if this or any other was deprived
of that privilege the oppression of twice be-
ing nut into jeopardy of their lives and car
rying witnesses so lar upon expenses would
be too great for. the subject to suffer. My
opinion was that if she thought there was any
or omissiOn"of evidence in the trial
of Capt Desbrisay, which was for the loss Of
the Kings subject. she might try him in the
colony for the loss of her husband, and being
upon the spot might have the benefit of all
witnesses without expense; but | believe she
is very sensible that the trial was very full
and seems by the removal of the trial only to
intend to put the persons she would attack to
expenses and to compass some other end.
.'As the precedent Of removing criminal
trials after sentence and putting men twice
in jeopardy of their lives would not only de-
strOV this colony. but also be an injustice to
the people here, must desire you would have
this matter well inquired into, and would
desire that Mr.. Towers and the other lawyers
who are of the trust would consider of it,
and whether it would not he hest to take the
Attorney solicitor Generafs opinion thefe-
upon.
1.-The charter gives power to the trustees
and they to these courts to try all matters,
capital or not capital, and to award eXecu-
ton thereon
bring this sketch to an end by giving the
following description of the homes of Ogle |
thorpe and Capt. Demere, written by Thomas
Spalding, whose father became the possessor
OF Qglethorpe's property on St. SIMON after |
the General went to England;
SIN describing the road executed immed- |