Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-12
SOUTH CAROLINA M
Ft}k REq0h VFf0N
How the Spirit of Liberty Was Kept Alive BY an
UncOnquerable People.
By REV. ROBERT LATHAM. ID. ID.
From the Yorkville Enquirer Of 1875.
INSTALLMENT V.
The Invasion Of Florida.

INSTALLMENT V.
The Invasion of Florida.
During the Revolutionary war, or
at least during the early part of 1t,
Florida was a place of general rem
devious, for the British Tories, loyal
lists and Indians. Hon. John Stuart
early in the struggle, fixed his head
quarters there and in conjunction with
the loyalists of South Carolina and
Georgia he laid plans by which he
might serve his royal master.
Shortly after the battle Of Fort
Moultrie, an expedition was planned
for the purpose of thwarting the de-
signs of these faithful subjects Of the
English government and bitter and
treacherous foes of the patriots. The
expedition was to proceed against st.
Augustine. Major-General Charles
Lee, who was then in command OF
the southern department. approved
of the plan, and sent out body OF
troops under Brigadier-General Howe
In the month Of August, 1776,
Howe reached Sanbury. The wealth
er was hot, and the preparations for
the expedition had been poorly made
Howe had no cannon and was In ev-
cry other respect lily prepared to
proceed further. The troops began
to sicken and Lee was forced to
abandon the undertaking. The fail
ure of this contemplated expedition
infused spirit into the Tories, In
dams and loyalists. In turn they
determined to make an expedition
against the Wings. Richard Winn,
in honor of whom the county seat OF
Fairfield county is named, Winns-
borough, had been placed in command
of Fort Mcintosh This fort was built
on the north side Of the Saltilla river.
It was simply a stockade, one hun
dred feet square, with a block house
in the centre.
On the 7th of February, a large
body of Tories and Indians made an
attack upon Winn. For two days he
was successful in maintaining his
ground; but on the third day, Major
General Provost, coming up with a
large force and renewing the attack
with energy, Winn was compelled to
surrender. Two Of the officers were
retained as hostages and sent to st.
Augustine. The rest of the garrison
were paroled.
The surrender of Fort Mcintosh,
like the failure of the recent eXpe-
dition against st. Augustine, inspired
the enemies of the patriots with con-
fidence in themselves Preparations
were made to invade Georgia from
the south and west. The Tories OF
the Ninety-six region began to collect
in bands and cross the savannah
river. The aiders and abettors Of the
English government in Florida and
the Indians of the west began now
to menace Savannah. The Wings of
South Carolina saw that in the event
that Georgia fell into the hands Of the
enemy South Carolina would then be-
come a frontier state.
Robert Howe was made a Major
General by the Continental Congress,
and placed in command of the south
ern army. 1t was evident that unless
prompt measures were resorted to,
Georgia and possibly South Carolina
would in a short time, be ip the hands
of the enemy. Large bodies of loyal
lists, British and Indians, were collect
ing on the st. Mary's, st. Johns and
at various other points, and reinforce
ments of British troops were daily
expected.
Howe, notwithstanding the previ-
Gus failure, determined to make an
other attempt to invade Florida. The
exigencies of the times, it was
thought by Howe and his military ad-
visors, demanded that this be done.
Savannah was made Howe's head
quarters. He had only five hundred
and fifty regulars who were fit for
service. At Savannah he was Joined
by the regiments Of Colonels Binck-
ney, Williamson and Bull. Governor
Houstoun of Georgia, furnished three
hundred and fifty militia.
Although miserably prepared for
such an expedition. Howe was GER
tain that he would succeed. Many
circumstances conspired together to
cause him to cherish such a hope.
The expedition met with the approba-
ton of all the Wings, both in Georgia
and South Carolina. Hence, Howe
felt that whilst he was not fully pre-
pared, so far as men and army sup
plies were concerned, still he had the
sympathy of all the Wings.
In addition to this, Lieutenant Colo
mel Samuel Ebert, who had been
stationed at Fort Howe. had, but a
short time before, made an attack
upon a body of the enemy at Fort
Oglethorpe. Although Elbert had
but three hundred men, and a small
detachment of artillery, still the gar
rison abandoned the fort and took
refuge in their boats. Amongst other
valuables captured by Elbert was a
brigantine, on board of which was three
hundred uniform suits, which had
been sent from Charleston to Savan-
nah for Colonel Pinckney's regiment.
These uniforms had been sent out in
the sloop Halter and whilst on the
way were captured by the enemy.
Encouraged by these circumstances.
Howe pushed on to Fort Tonyn, on
the st. Mary's. On the approach Of
Howe, the enemy fled after having
rendered the fort useless. Howe or
dered all the troops to rendezvous
at Fort TOnyn. On his arrival at
Fort Tonyn he learned that twelve
hundred men and two galleys, having
on board a number of field pieces,
had been sent from st. Augustine to
St Johns, to operate in conjunction
with the troops at that point. 1t was
also learned from a deserter that the
effective forces Of the enemy was
about fifteen hundred. In order that
the arrival of the forces from ST.
Augustine might be anticipated,
great promptness was absolutely re-