Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-06-01
DRIVING OUT OF sPANIAR0a
their Expulsion from the Thlrtet
British Colonies In 1542.

their Expulsion from the Thtrteen
British Colonies In 1742.
How the Spaniards were last driven
rom the soil of the original thirteen
British colonies forms a pertinent story
low.
The causes which led to tho first
Spanish invasion began with the dawn
If the eighteenth century. At that
ime the farthest point south occupied
~ the English settlers was Charles
on. while the Spanish held domain
,ver the Florida coasts as far north as
st. Augustine. Between these two op-
posing forces, separated by every ele-
nent which represents dissimilarity,
vas the territory which now comprises
Georgia and the northern portion of
Florida.
In England there was q steadily
growing conviction that the British
should occupy the neutral ground, and
.hus in 1872. when Oglethorpe, respect
,d rs an hereditary loyalist and noted
'or his philanthrOpic schemes, appeal
Ell to Parliament, King George grant
ID Oglethorpe a charter. by 1t ceding to
aim for the period of twenty-one years
:hc country between Savannah and the
Altamaha River. and west from the
headwaters of these TO the Pacific, to
De held in trust "for the poor"
In the meantime the Spanish officials
1t st. Augustine viewed with Jealous
eye what they considered an encroach-
ment ON their boundary rights. and be-
fn lnf
patched messengers to them in the In
terest of peace, but they were seized
and treated as prisoners Of war. On
learning this Oglethorpe formed
junction with the Indian tribe of the
Uchces, ard that of Tormochichi, and
prepared for hoetilities. But the Span
ish were not as ready to fight as they
seemed. and peace was patched up and
an agreement entered Into by which
the st. Mary's River became the boun-
dary between the two disputing terri
tories.
Then Oglethorpe made new treaties
with the Indians, securing land from
Savannah to the Ogechee and along
the coasts to the st. Johns as for In
land as the tide flows.
On July 4, 1742, bloody encounter
occurred between the Spanish feet Of
thirty-eiGht vessels and the batteries
on the southern point Of St. Simon's
Island, resulting in victory for the in
vaders. Realizing that his only chance
was In n land struggle, Oglethorpe sig
nailed his ships TO run up to Freder!ca,
and, spiking the guns on th,. lower for
tifications, followed the feet to the
town. The Spanish, finding themselves
unopposed, landed at .Glasconis bluI
and took possession of the abandoned
English camp. From this location a
road led to Frederick. On its one side
was a dense forest and on the other a
mOrass.
OglethOrpe posted his men along the
wooded side of the road. with instruc-
tions to attack at a given signal and
drive the Spanlards into the morass.
The Spanish van was we'll up to the
front of the ambuscade when the sig
nal was sounded. Immediately the at
tack was taken up by each detail, and
before the astOunded Spaniards could
realize what had happened they were
falling before the well-directed volleys
of the Highlanders, and being slowly
pushed into the morass. Their COM
manders implored them to stand firm,
and reminded the dropping troops that
reinforcements were on the way, but 4
paralysis Of fright seemed to have
seized the surprised men. and they fell
q prey to the impetuosity Of their as
sailants.
So discouraged were the few remain
Ing Spanish officers and privates that
a retreat was resolved on. and seven
days after the terrible chastisement
which they had sustained the remnant
Of the once invinclble force boarded
their ships, and, following the example
Of the armada, and in almost as deplor
able plight, sailed out to sea.
Standing southwark to Fort William
the Spanish commander thought he
would have an easy conquest in that
point, which had a garrison Of fifty
Stuart, one of the boldest and most
skillful warriors Of that day, who
never blanched before superior mum.
bers. Forming Into close line the
fleet sailed past the fort, each vessel
discharging a broads1de at the walls
and being answered vigorously by the
guns Of the defenders The ordnance
in the fort, however, was heavier than
that on the vessels, and when the Span
ish commander discovered that several
of his vessels were .eakine and about
to sink he abandoned the attack and
sheered off towards his own waters.
This practically terminated the war
although a few minor engagements oc
Cured on the frontiers.
On July "a general Thanksgiving
was ordered for dehverance from the
enemy. Oglerhorpe remained in the
colony for another year, and then, sat
isfled that the Spanish would not at
tempt another invasion, took his final
departure for England.