The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-28
VENGEANCE OF THE COhONISTS.
The Blow of acknowledgements for the
Decisive Stroke--Appeal to Virginia and South
Carolina Campaign of Colonel Barnwell--Bat
tie and Defeat of the Indians--Results.
(studies i'm North Carolina History by w. c. AIer

Governor SpOtSwOOd was anxious to
help the Carolinians and It seemed the
council was of the same mind but when
The time came for decisive action the
house of ~burgesses failed to pass the
bill for raising and equipping troops
for the war, and, Of course, h gov
ernor could do nothing but extend his
personal sympathy. He, however, Sc
cured from the Tuscaroras by threats
the release Of the Baron de Graffen-
ried, who had been held as a prison.
er ever since before the massacre.
Before the baron was released, how
ever, he was forced to swear that he
n the Palatines around New Bern
would not engage in war against his
captors. After his release he offered to
the government to break this oath If
the council of state would furnish
arms and provisions to his people. The
council was unable to do that, and in
consequence the Swiss settlers remain
ed neutral in the a
In order to obtain money necessary
for the prosecution of the war, the
government had to resort to the plan
Of issuing bills Of credit. The first is
sue Of pap currency, the first ever
issued in the province, was sen forth
early in 1712 for $4,000. Soon after
wards another issue Of $4,000 was
made.
With these necessary plans laid, Gov.
Hyde began to take the forWard move
ment. Colonel Barnwell had set out
from Charleston, in December with
his force of two hundred settlers and
six hundred Yamassee Indians, through
the wilds of the country, ITO New Bern.
Hyde was busy in collecting the mi
1itia, providing supplies for his own
forces and for those expected from
South Carolina, and guarding the
homeless and destitute settlers on the
Neuse and Pamlico rivers.
BarnwelPs long march through the
forests of Carolina was toilsome and
beset with many difficulties and dam
gers. His men endured it, however,
without murmuring, and early in Jam
uary 1712 they appeared upon the banks
of the Neuse, in the very heart of the
enemy's country. His expedition had
been remarkable, and his men had
stood the tramp with great fortitude
and endurance.
las soon as they had reached the
neighborhood of New Bern the forces
of Gov. Hyde joined them, and the
two at once took an aggressive atti-
tude. They began the march against
the main body of the Indians, who
were posted in large numbers in h
upper part of what is now Craven
county. All their available force a
been collected into one body, well arm
ed and very we'll disciplined accord
ing to their native fashion. Barnwell,
however, did not stop to compare num-
beers, but at once led his troops against
the red skins, intending to bring them
to a general engagement.
Barnwell and mis- officers knew very
well that the battle, whenever it should
be fought, was not to be a trial of
strength upon an open field, or a strug-
. to be settled by skill and prowess;
ut would be after the ann of the
American Indian as mad been exhibited
ON so man. fields already. The forest
would be the battle ground, and trees
and hills would be the bulWarkS of
the enemy, from behind which their
deadly missiles would he sent to des-
troy the advancing enemy.
Tt was, therefore, with utmost cau-
tion hat the line of march was pur-
sue through the woods. The indian
allies were especially useful in defeat
ing the various s~tratagems of the Tus-
caroras by which they sought to draw
Barnwe1l's army into a snare. Seeing
Barnwell and his men on the alert at
all points the Indians retreated from
post to post as he approached drawing
him farther and farther into the for
est. Barnwell pursued with vigor and
overlook them on the banks of the
Neuse about twenty miles west of New
Bern.
Here they had erected a strong pal
isade fort within which they had COL
lected the booty which they had stol-
en- in their various incursiops upon the
whites. In it also Were placed the am
munition, tools, arms, and utensils of
all kinds that formed the wealth of
the Tuscarora nation. Here they had
(halted; here they were to make their
stand; and here they were to contend
for the very existence of their identity
as a nation. 1t is ITO be supposed then
that, their all being centred upon one
throw of the dice, they would fight
with determined purpos and heroic
~endeavor.
1t was on the 2Sth of January, 1712,
that Barnwel1's command came into
the neighborhood of the fort. Relying
upon their strength and trusting in
their Skill, the Tuscaroras and their
| adherents marched boldly out of the
fort and offered battle to h whites.
The offer was accepted and the battle
began. According to their custom they
began to shoot ron coveTts and from
behind trees at BarnwelTs men, but
the South Carolina Indians, under
standing their mode of warfare follow
ed suit and the battle became a trial
of skill at sharpshooting.
After engaging in this kind of battle
for some time, and seeing that no ad-
vantage would he gained, Barnwell
ordered an assault to be made with
his whole command upon the Indians
lying in the woods. With a shout the
Yamassees bounded forward to the
charge, supported bravely by the few
hundred white lei in the army. Into
the midst Of the enemy they rushed In
a tremendous onslaught, striking right
and left the Indian enemy lurking in
the bushes. After a brief struggle ii
was " and more than three hundred
Tuscaroras being left dead upon the
field, the survivors retreated into the
fort, n were closely. invested by
Barnwelps troops.
There should have been do delay In
attacking the fort and carrying 1T by