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 76-78
Contest with Spaniards. 
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  Though hostilities had been carried on by the Spaniards against Carolina, to
reclaim it as a part of Florida, the boundaries between these provinces were
neither clearly marked nor well understood ; for they had never been settled by
any public agreement between England and Spain. To prevent negroes escaping to
the Spanish territories the Carolinians had built a fort on the forks of the
river Alatamaha, and supported a small garrison in it. This gave offence to the
Governor of St. Augustine, who complained of it to the court of Madrid as an
encroachment on the dominions of Spain. The Spanish Ambassador at London lodged
the complaint before the court of Britain, and demanded that orders should be
sent to demolish the fort. It was agreed that the Governors in America on both
sides should meet in an amicable manner, and adjust the respective boundaries
between the British and Spanish dominions in that quarter. Accordingly Don
Francisco Menandez and Don Joseph de Rabiero, in behalf of Spain, came to
Charlestown to hold a conference on the subject with the executive officers of
the government. At their meeting Arthur Middleton, President of the Council,
demonstrated to the Spanish deputies that the fort, against which complaint had
been made was built within the bounds of the charter granted to the proprietors
and that the pretensions of Spain to the lands in question were groundless. At
the same time he told them that the fort, on the river Alatamaha, was erected
for defending themselves and their property against the depredations of Indians
living under the jurisdiction of Spain. Mr. Middleton then begged to know their
reasons "for protecting felons and debtors that fled to them from Carolina, and
for encouraging negroes to leave their masters and take refuge at St. Augustine,
while peace subsisted between the two crowns." The deputies replied, "that the
Governor of Florida would deliver up all felons and debtors; but had express
orders, for twenty years past, to detain all slaves who should fly to St.
Augustine for liberty and protection." Mr. Middleton declared that he looked on
such orders as a breach of national honor and faith, especially, as negroes were
as much private property in Carolina as houses and lands." The deputies
answered, "that the design of the King of Spain was not to injure any one, for
he had ordered compensation to be made to the masters of such slaves in money;
but that his humanity, and religion, enjoined him to issue such orders for the
sake of converting slaves to the Christian faith." The conference ended to the
satisfaction of neither party, and matters remained as they were; but soon after
the English fort, near the Alatamaha, was burned to the ground ; and the
southern frontiers of Carolina were again left naked and defenceless.

  As no final agreement with respect to the limits of the two provinces had been
concluded, the Indians, in alliance with Spain, continued to harrass the British
settlements. Scalping parties of the Yamassees frequently penetrated into
Carolina - killed white men, and carried off every negro they could find. Though
the owners of slaves had been allowed from the Spanish government a compensation
in money for their losses, yet few of them ever received it. At length, Colonel
Palmer resolved to make reprisals on the plunderers. For this purpose, he
gathered together a party of militia and friendly Indians, consisting of about
three hundred men, and entered Florida, with a resolution of spreading
desolation throughout the province. He carried his arms as far as the gates of
St. Augustine, and compelled the inhabitants to take refuge in their castle.
Scarce a house or hut in the colony escaped the flames. He destroyed their
provisions in the fields - drove off their cattle, hogs and horses, and left the
Floridians little property, except what was protected by the guns of their fort.
By this expedition, he demonstrated to the Spaniards their weakness; and that
the Carolinians, whenever they pleased, could prevent the cultivation and
settlement of their province so as to render the improvement of it impracticable
on any other than peaceable terms with their neighbors.

  Soon after these events, the French in Louisiana advanced nearer to Carolina.
They erected a stronghold, called fort Alabama, on Mobile river, which was well
situated for opening and carrying on a correspondence with the most powerful
nations, contiguous to the southern British colonies. The Carolinians had good
reason to be on their guard against the influence of these new and enterprising
neighbors. The tribes of upper creeks, whose hunting lands extended to the fort,
were soon won over by promises and largesses to form an alliance with the
French. The Cherokees lived at a greater distance ; yet by means of the creeks,
and other emissaries, the French endeavored to bring them over to their
interest. The river Mississippi, being navigable several hundred miles from its
mouth, opened a communication with the Chocktaws, Chickesaws, and other nations
residing near it. The French had, therefore, many convenient opportunities of
seducing these Indians from their alliance with Britain. The President of the
Council of Carolina employed Captain Tobias Fitch among the Creeks, and Colonel
George Chicken among the Cherokees, to keep these tribes steady and firm to the
British interest. These agents found no small difficulty in counteracting the
influence of French policy. From this period, the British and French settlers in
America became competitors for power and influence over the Indian nations. And
the Carolinians were farther from peace and safety than ever. The French
supplied these savages with tomahawks, muskets, and ammunition, by which means
they laid aside the bow and arrow, and became more dangerous and formidable
enemies than they ever had been.

[To be continued....]

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