Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-08
S0UfA CAROLINA IN
FHk RER0hV VFt0N
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive By an
UncOnquerable People.
From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1876
INSTALLMENT ".
The War With the Cherokees and To-
ries.


ries.
From what has been already said,
1t is evident that a very undesirable
state of things existed in the up
country of South Carolina, at the
commencement of the Revolutionary
war. 1t has been recorded as his
toric fact that the Wings of South
Carolina and Georgia, had more diff
culties to overcome than the Wings
in any Of the thirteen colonies. There
were in the region between the Broad
and Saluda rivers, more Tories and
loyalsists than in any other region OF
the country embraced in the thirteen
colonies, in proportion to the number
Of the inhabitants. It was more hon
orable to be a patriot in South Caro-
lima than 1t was in Massachusetts.
The two colonies were situated to-
tally different in their relations to
the mother country. Self interest
moved Massachusetts, to rebel; but
self-interest prompted South Carolina
to cling to England. In 1719 she
had voluntarily given up the propri-
etary charter and placed herself un-
der the government Of England. In
this relation she was happy and
prosperous. A South Carolina Whig
was Whig from pure principle.
If he had been asked why he threw
off his allegiance to the crown of
England, he would have exclaimed
with emphasis-Liberty.
A we'll concerted plan had been ar
ranged by which to attack the pa
triots of South Carolina and Georgia,
both on the sea-board and in the in
terror, at the same time. The loyal
lists, Tories and Indians were to make
an attack upon the Wings living in
the interior, whilst the British fleet
was to besiege and capture the sea-
port towns. John Stuart was the prin-
cipal agent in devising and in attempt
ing to carry out this plan. The COL
leagues of Stuart were the loyal
Governors Wright of Georgia; Camp
bell of South Carolina; Martin Of
North Carolina: Dunmore Of Vir-
ginia: and Tonyn Of Florida.
When we consider all the circum-
stances, we will be enabled to see
that the plot was we'll conceived, and
the men chosen to put in execution
eminently fitted. John Stuart was
Scotchman. According to some au-
thorities, he was born in Charleston,
South Carolina. This we are dis
posed to think is incorrect. 1t is
probable that John Stuart came to
Georgia with Oglethorpe. 1t will be
remembered that amongst the first
settlers of Georgia, was company
of Highlanders under the father OF
General Lachlin Mcintosh. John
Stuart and his brother were in all
probability, in the Highland COL
ony that settled on the Altamaha.
Stuart was a man of talent, and be-
sides there was something in the
dress and general appearance Of the
Highlanders which made them great
favorites with the Indians.
We have already met John Stuart
in 1861, a prisoner in Fort Loudon.
After his release by the old chief,
Allakullakulla, he became very pop
ular in the colony, and was appointed
Indian agent in the south. His terri
tory embraced all of North America
south of Pennsylvania. He had by
virtue of his office, seat in the
Kings council of the provinces Of
Virginia, North Carolina, South Car
olina, Georgia and Florida. His res
idence was in Charleston, South Car
olina, in the house now owned by
William Carson. He married Miss
Fembrick, and thus was brought into
close relationship with the oldest
and most honorable inhabitants of
Charleston.
In order that the work of crushing
the rebellion in the colonies might be
successful, Stuart concerted with DR.
John Connolly who resided at Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania. Connolly was
commissioned by Governor Dunmore
of Virginia, to raise a regiment in
Canada and the adjoining region and
with the aid of the Indians, overrun
and destroy the country. Had the
plans of Stuart and Connolly succeed
ed, 1t is doubtful what would have
been the results to the cause of the
patriots. Allen Cameron, John
Smythe and Connolly. set out for
Ohio. In the neighborhood of Ha-
gerstown, Maryland, they were taken
up as suspicious characters and taken
to Fredericktown. Here they were
examined. Connollys papers were
found in the tree of his saddle. The
whole plan was revealed and Con-
molly was sent first to Philadelphia
and then to Baltimore and kept a
prisoner until the end of the war.
In Charleston, Stuart became an OBJ
iect of suspicion, and that he might
act free and without trammel, he
went to Florida.
In an interview with Colonel Haber-
sham of Georgia, Stuart intimated his
intention of uniting the various In
dian tribes against the enemies of the
King. lnlS uSCldIdlioll auihi'''N w
but one Interpretation. The King
had no enemies at that time in Amer
lea but the Wings. This was most
unfortunate disclosure for the cause
of Stuart, but fortunate for the people
of South Carolina and Georgia
Habersham communicated what he
had learned from Stuart to the Coun-
Gil of Safety at Charleston, and stu
art becoming alarmed, fixed his quar-
ters at St. Augustine out of the reach
of the patriots of South Carolina and
Georgia.
Arrangements had been made by
the English government to supply
the Indians with arms and ammunl-
ton. Part of the powder was to be
shipped to St Augustine and part tc
Savannah. All this powder was cap
tured by the patriots and used in de-
fence of the country against those
who sent it. Part was used at For
Moultrie and part sent 10 Genera