Contest with Spaniards, pp 72-73 - Steven J. Coker
Subject: Contest with Spaniards, pp 72-73
From: Steven J. Coker
Date: November 17, 1998

RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670 TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D. 
Preface dated "Charleston, December 31st, 1808"
Published in 1858, by W.J. Duffie, Newberry, S.C.  
Reprinted in 1959, by The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, S.C.   

THE MILITARY HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, FROM 1670 TO 1776.
CHAPTER V - SECTION I, pp 72-73
Contest with Spaniards.  
»»»»»»»•«««««««

[...continued]

  Four years after the termination of Moore's expedition against St. Augustine
the Spaniards and French, then at war with Great Britain, projected a combined
attack on Charlestown; with a view of recovering the province claimed by the
Spaniards as a part of Florida. Sir Nathaniel Johnson, then Governor, had been a
military man and was well qualified to conduct its defence. No sooner had he
received intelligence of the designs of the enemy, than he set every one to work
upon the fortifications, appointed a number of gunners to each bastion, and
diligently trained the men to the use of arms. A small fort, called fort
Johnson, was erected on James Island and several cannon mounted thereon.
Intrenchments were made on White Point, and other suitable places. A guard was
stationed on Sullivan's Island, with orders to kindle a number of fires opposite
the town equal to the number of ships they might see on the coast.

  Carolina was at this juncture the southern frontier of the British empire in
America; and though it had acquired some degree of strength, was in a feeble
state to resist an enemy of force. From its situation there was reason to
apprehend that the French and Spaniards would attack it, as it would be an
easier conquest than the more populous northern settlements. Before this time a
plan had been concerted at the Havanna, for invading it. Monsieur Le Feboure,
with a french frigate and four armed sloops, encouraged and assisted by the
Spanish Governor of Cuba, sailed for Charlestown. To facilitate the conquest,
Monsieur Le Feboure had directions to touch at St. Augustine and carry from it
such a force as he judged adequate to the enterprise. Upon his arrival there, he
received intelligence of an epidemical distemper, which raged at Charlestown and
had destroyed a vast number of inhabitants. Instead of discouraging, this
animated him to proceed with greater expedition. He took on board a considerable
number of forces and sailed for Charlestown. The appearance of five seperate
smokes on Sullivan's Island, announced to the inhabitants that the same number
of ships was observed on the coast.

  Sir Nathaniel Johnson being at his plantation, several miles from town, Lieut.
Col. Wm. Rhett, commanding officer of the militia, immediately ordered the whole
of the inhabitants to be put under arms. A messenger was dispatched with the
news to the Governor, and letters were sent to all the captains of the militia
in the country ordering them to fire alarm guns - raise their companies - and to
march with all possible expedition to the assistance of Charlestown.

  In the evening the enemy's fleet came near to the bar; but, as the passage was
intricate and dangerous, they hovered on the coast all night within sight of
land. Having come to an anchor, they employed their boats all the next day in
sounding the south bar. This delay afforded time for the militia in the country
to march to town.

  Governor Johnson, on his arrival, found the inhabitants in great consternation
; but his presence, as a man of known bravery and military capacity, inspired
them with confidence and resolution. He proclaimed martial law at the head of
the militia - issued the necessary orders for their conduct, and sent to the
Indian tribes in alliance with the colony to come immediately to his assistance.
As a contagious distemper was said to rage in Charlestown, the Governor judged
it imprudent to expose his men unnecessarily to danger; and therefore held his
headquarters about half a mile distant from the town. In the evening, a troop of
horse commanded by Captain George Logan, and two companies of foot under the
command of Major George Broughton, reached the capital and kept watch during the
night. The next morning a company from James Island, commanded by Captain Drake,
another from Wands under Captain Fenwicke, and five more commanded by Captains
Cantey, Lynch, Kearn, Longbois, and Seabrook, joined the other militia. The
principal force of the province with the Governor at their head, was now
assembled in and near Charlestown.

[To be continued....]

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