Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-21
SPANISH INVASION.
How the Dons Once Tried to Capture
North America.

now the Dons once Tried to Capture
North America.
The present trouble with Spain recalls
the historic Gf1empt OF the dons to capture
North America.
In June, 1879, King George II granted
Oglethorpo charter, by it ceding to him
for tho period of 81 years the country be-
tween Savannah and the Altamaha river
and west from the headwaters of these to
tho Pacific, to be held in trust "for the
poor"
In 1895 O9lethorpc laid out town site
ut the mouth Of the Altamaha river on st.
Simon's island, the spot now being known
as Frederick.
In the meantime tho Spanish officials at
st. Augustine viewed with jealous ego
what they considered an encroachment on
their boundary rights and began to threat
en- war
Oglethorpo returned to England, while
there securing military communicating
over tho country now comprised in South
Carolina and Georgia and the title of brig
adler general.
lie then went to the highlands of Scot
land and gathered as sturdy band as
ever followed William Wallace on u battle
field. This he trained and drilled with
especial reference TO the wild kind of fight
ing which would have 60 be undertaken in
the new world. The regiment was then
transported to Georgia and the work of
the fort pushed steadily on to completion
In 11iO t!dings came of war between
England and Spain. OGlethorpe imme-
diatcly resolved on the invasion of Florida
After five weeks siege of st. Augustine
and accomplishing nothing he returned to
Frederick
The SpaniardS meanwhile busted them
selves concerning measures of retaliation
Troops were gathered from Cuba, and, ac-
| companied by a large fleet of powerful
men-of-war, tho army moved toward the
mouth of the st. Marys.
On July ., 1742, a bloody encounter &C.
Cured between the Spanish fleet of SO YES
sells and the batteries on the southern
point of st. Simon island, resulting in a
victory for the invaders.
The Spanish, finding themselves unop-
, posed, landed at Glasconis bluff and took
possession Of the abandoned English camp.
From this location a road led to Frederick.
On its one side was dense forest and on
the other Inorass. The Spanish officers
held a council of war and resolved to
march OH Frederick along this road. The
| army was divided into two sections. the
| one to precede and the other to reinforce
if the enemy proved too strong
Oglethorpe posted his men along the
wooded side of the road, with instructions
to attack at given signal and drive the
Sraniards into the morass. The Spanish
van was well to the front of the ambus-
! cade when the signal was sounded. I'M
mediately the attack 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 slow
ly pushed into the morass.
Disposing of the few remaining inyad-
ers, Oglethorpe ordered his followers to
| move farther down toward the enemy's
camp and awaited the coming of the sec
! ond division. Ignorant of the fate of their
brethren. the soldiers marched gayly for
| ward, moving in .disortiered ranks and not
troubled by any thoughts of danger.
They arrived opposite the men lying In
wait, and the first few columns passed
them until Oglethorpe, assuring himself
that none could escape, sounded the see.
| ond signal In an instant the narrow strip
| OF ground was converted into shamble.
30 discouraged were the few remaining
| Spanish officers and privates that re-
treat was resolved on, and seven days aft
f, CT the terrible chastisement which they
had sustained the remnant of the once in
sineible force boarded their ships, and,
following the example Of the armada and
in almost rs dcpiorable plight, sailed out
to sea. They left behind quantity Of
stores and ammunition, of which the
J English commissaries and quartermaster's
departments were sorely in need.