The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-28

age tribes that were the authors of sc
great misfortunes. Little by little they
recovered from the surprise and terror
occasioned by that dreadful outbreak.
Governor Hyde was diligent IL MAX
ing preparations for the war of exter-
animation which he saw was inevitable
and necessary. All parts of the prov
ince, grooming under the blow, were
crying aloud for vengeance, and ven
geance was sure to follow. The blow
of retaliation could o have been staid
even if the pow T of the government
had been exerted in 1 at direction. 1t
mad to come and the governor wanted
to make it as effective as possible.
1t was to be a war of determination
as the following extrac- from Governor
Hyde's book of DEGREES and judgments
will show:
Whereas, a most bloody and horrible
massacre has been committed upon
several of the inhabitants Of this gov
m by the Tuscarora Indians,
their adherents and abettors; and
whereas, upon the representation of
the same by the Hon. Edward Hyde,
Esq, president, ETC., to the government
of South Carolina, soliciting their re-
lief and succor, has, in tender compass
sion to the wretched state of this poor
country, detached a considerable force
under the command of the Hon. Col
onel John Barnwe1l, Esq, commander
in-chief to defend us from the immi-
nent danger with which we are threat
ened and very much exposed to: it is
therefore
Resolved by the honorable president
with the unanimous advice and consent
of the council Of this government, that
vigorous resolutions be pursued for
CARRYING out the war as follows:
First. That no treaty of peace, neu-
trality, or commerce shall be agreed
or concluded between this government
and the upper towns of the TuScaroras,
until such time as they deliver up such
Indians of their towns, either alive or
dead, as were Joined with Handbook
and his crew.
Secondly. That the Indians in those
towns actually joining with Handbook
in the massacre, it lis resolved that no
peace. or any terms whatsoever, be
agreed with them, but entirely to ex-
tirpaNte, them, according to the lauda-
BILE custom of South Carolina"
From the above it appears that there
were two classes of Indians to deal
with; namely, those who had not join
ed in the massacre, but were haTbor-
ing those who had; and those who had
joined in the massacre. The first
class were offered peace provided they
would deliver up the guilty parties;
ito the second class no conditions of
peace whatever were offered, but they
were to be entirely e~xtirpated. They
had sinned so grievously THAT it was
absolutely out of the question to hin
of allowing them to remain longer upon
even their own hunting grounds.
South Carolina had set an example Of
DISCRIMINATING the troublesome natives,
which North Carolina, by a decree Of
it's highest court, was to follow.
In order to carry out this decree
men and money were necessary. How
to secure the one and provide the
other was the tremendously practical
question that confronted the governor
and his council.
Men were hard to secure from the
fact that the majority of the inhabi-
tants of the province were Quakers,
and they absolutely refused to respond
to the call of the government for VOL
untteers. Notwithstanding the fact that
every mans home was Threatened, and
no mans life was safe, these religious
enthusiasts wOul contribute none of
their means nor muscle to keep the
enemy from their hearthstones. They
were stronger than the government,
wherefore, they could not he coerced.
In this Strengthened conditions of af-
fairs various Inducements were held
out to those who would enlist for the
war. For instance, all those who were
1InIar ind iotr1entS or inHOmpntS of
the courts were released from their
obligations if they would take the field
against the enemy; and all able bod
led men We're ordered to the front ex-
cept blacksmiths. Impressments were
frequently made of boots and food for
the use of the soldiers, many times
without consulting the wishes of the
owners.
In spite of all the vigorous measures
put into execution by the governor for
raising and equipping an army to
take the field, he plainly saw that his
force was Inadequate to perform the
arduous task before him. He knew
that the savage enemy could not be
subdued unless he could get aid from
abroad, or detach some of the Indian
tribes from their alliance with Hand
cock, and arm them against the foe.
The latter could not very we'll be done
on account OF the IuScarOraS, the lead
ers in the late massacre, being the
strongest tribe in the province, and all
other tribes were held in awe of them.
Applications, therefore, were made to
Virginia and South Carolina for sue
cor. Ion Christopher Gale WAS sent
as a special messenger to the latter
province to lay before the council OF
state the true condition of affairs. He
did it in a mastery address, which has
been preserved, in which. he narrated
the horror of Indian Ibutchery and the
imminent danger that threatened the
colony. The whole assembly was melt
ed in sympathy. and voted to speedily
dispatch Col. John Barnwell With a
considerable force to the aid of THEN
northern neighbors.
To the force, raised by South Caro-
lima, there were added five or six hun
dred Indian warriors, who were to lbs