The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-18
OF THE
Renewal Of the Indian War-visilauce OF
the Gov-rnor-Ravages of the Fever.
--Safy With Tom BIount-Help From
South Carolina-Campsiga Of Colonel
Mocre-Capture Of the Indian Fort-Dis-
persion OF the Tribe
CStudies in North Carolina History, by
W. G. Allen.)

] persion OF the Tribe
| cStudies in North Carolina History, by
w. C. Allen.)
Reidsviile, N. c.. Feb. 10, 1898.
Only a short time passed, after the
sham peace between Barnwell and h
TuscaForas, before active hostflities
were recommended on both sides. The
wounded commander, Col. Barnwell.
was carried home to recover from his
wounds before entering upon the cam
paign against the Indians Of Carteret
and Hyde counties. AS previously re-
lated, the bulk Of the South Carolina
Indians that composed his command
had deserted soon after the battle of
Fort Barrwell, and taken the prison
ers and captured booty home.
Those that remained could not be
held in check by any authority, now
that they a gotten a taste of blood;
and accordingly they fell upon the vii
lagos of the enemy, with whom peace
had been made, and carried death and
ruin to the very doors Of their wig
vans. In return. for this breach OF
faith, the Tuscaroras- fell upon the
white settlements along the Neuse and
Pamlico rivers, destroying farms, driv-
ing off cattle, and inflicting all the
damage that an implacable foe is ca
pable of doing. In this way for sew
eral months the war dragged its weary
course along.
Gov. Hyde knew that this guerilla
warfare was destructive to the colony
Wlthou being damaging to any very
great extent to the Indians. Accord
ingly he looked about for an expedient
to bring the disastrous war to a sue
cessful conclusion. He could not main
tain a large force in the field for the
lack of funds, for the lords proprie-
tors, who should have been solicitous
about the welfare of the colony, had
failed to provide one penny for the
prosecution of the war though they
had been appealed to repeatedly by the
governor n his ouncil By their re-
fusal to provide means to defray the
expenses of hiring and equipping
troops, the colOnists saw that they
must rely upon self if the enemy were
to be kept from their hearthstones.
They,therefore, fell back upon their sec
ond strength, and no longer waited for
their gilded. lordships to act.
About the first of June, 1712, the
council of deputies met to discuss the
situation and to provide all available
means for continuing the war. All
agreed that it was necessary to strike
a decisive n effectual blow. Nothing
Of a substantial nature had been &C
complished since Barnwelrs attack
upon the indian fort on the Neuse
nearly five months before, and the In
dams were becoming bold and daring,
bringing their ravages even to the
doors Of the colony's most thickly set
tied community. The great question
for settlement, however, was the same
one that had bothered the council be-
fore; viz, how to secure men and to
IVY - n ~~ TNI0 -
debt Bills of credit had been issued;
and funds must be provided to liqui-
date them upon maturity and to pro-
vide for the maintenance Of the army
already in the field.
Something over one hundred and
fifty men We're in the field to guard the
extended frontier Of the colony. On
account of being so dispersed their sit
uation was critical. On Core sound in
is now Carteret county, a fort
had been built, called Fort Hyde in
honor of the Governor, in which thirty
men were placed to hold the natives in
awe in that quarter. Another fort
was constructed on the south side of
Pamlico river, a few miles below the
present town of Washington, called
Fort Reading, in which were stationed
ten Carolina heroes who were ready to
die in defense of their homes. Along
LIT ol Tire INOdllOhe I1N61
a few trusty soldiers ~bivouaced to pre-
vent, if possible, any surprise that the
savages might mediate in hat neigh
borhood.. On the Neuse Col. Mitchell
and Col. Moray, with about one hum
dred men, kept up the appearance of
an army in the field, though they were
not strong enough to begin an agrees
SiVe campaign.
One of the first things done by the
q cSanohn11 IDENTITIES Dvac tn nacS an ant
which was thought to be sufficient to
raise both men and one enough to
finish the war successfully. This act
provided that every person that
would not go III in the country'S SER
vice against the Indians should forfeit
and pay five pounds toward defraying
the charges of the war;" This act was
intended to strike the Quakers who
had steadfastly refused to contribute
anything toward paying the war ex-
penses. Now, they could stay at home
and l1umor their acknowledgement pro-
pensities, but they must pay some of
the sinews Of war in consideration of
that pleasure.
Another thing lone by the assembled
deputies on this occasion was to de-
spatch a messenger to South Carolina
to lay before that government the pre-
sent state of the war and to solicit aid
III 10 AAOtA' oN|'
Foster was chosen to perform this
duty which was similar to that done by
Hon. Christopher Gale the year be
fore.
While these measures were being en-
acted and put into execution a terrible
calamity happened. "a most malig-
nant type of the yellow fever broke out
among the colonists, carrying death in
its wake. Hardly a home escaped the
terrible malady. Many died from its
ravages, and at last On September Sth,
Gov. Hyde himself became a victim.
He died regretted and mourned for by
the entire colony, though there were
many who had opposed him in the first
part of his administration. He had
been ever Jealous to protect the colo
nists in their rights and to shield them
from the ravages of the Indians.
On September II, the deputies met to
elect a president of the council, who
should exercise the duties of governor
until the lords proprietors should
send over a successor TO the lamented