Contests with Indians pp 94-100 - Steven J. Coker
Subject: Contests with Indians pp 94-100
From: Steven J. Coker
Date: July 16, 1998

[...continued]

RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670 
TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D. 

Volume I
Preface dated "Charleston, December 31st, 1808"
Published in 1858, by W.J. Duffie, Newberry, S.C.  
Reprinted in 1959, by the The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, S.C.   

CHAPTER V, Section II, pp 94-100

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In the year 1752 South Carolina was nearly involved in an Indian war, but
happily escaped. The Creeks having quarrelled with the Cherokees, took their
revenge by killing a party of the latter near the gates of Charlestown. Some
Creek warriors had also scalped a British trader. For these and other
outrages, Governor Glen demanded satisfaction at a public congress held for
the purpose. The Indians, by their orator Malatchee, apologized for their
conduct in a speech that was deemed satisfactory, and peace was preserved.

The war between France and England, which commenced in 1754 or 1755, induced
both nations to court the friendship of the Indians. The French were assiduous
in connecting a chain of influence with the aborigines, from Canada to the
mouth of the Mississippi. The British pursued a similar line of policy, but
less extensive. Governor Glen held a treaty with the Cherokees in 1755,
ostensibly to brighten the chain of friendship, but really to obtain a cession
of their lands and a liberty to erect forts on the western frontier, as a
barrier against the French on the southwest. Both were granted, as has already
been related.

In the progress of the war the French were defeated in Canada, and compelled
to abandon Fort Duquesne. After they had retreated from the latter down the
Ohio, and the Missippi, they had the address to involve the Indians in a
serious war with Carolina. By the reduction of Fort Duquesne, the scene of
action was changed from Pennsylvania and Virginia to Carolina; and the
influence of the French soon appeared among the upper tribes of Cherokees.  An
unfortunate quarrel with the Virginians helped to forward their designs. In
the successful expedition of 1758, against Fort Duquesne, the Cherokees had
sent considerable parties of warriors to the assistance of the British army.
While the savages were returning home from that expedition, through the back
parts of Virginia, many of them having lost their horses took possession of
such as came in their way. The Virginians, instead of asserting their rights
in a legal manner, resented the injury by force of arms, and killed twelve or
fourteen of these unsuspicious warriors. The Cherokees, with reason, were
highly provoked at such ungrateful usage; and when they came home, gave a
highly colored account thereof to their nation. They became outrageous. Those
who had lost friends and relations resolved upon revenge. In vain did the
chieftains interpose their authority. Nothing could restrain the ferocity of
the young men. The emissaries of France among them added fuel to the flame, by
declaring that the English intended to kill all the Indian men and make slaves
of their wives and children. They inflamed their resentments - stimulated them
to bloodshed, and furnished them with arms and ammunition to revenge
themselves. Parties Of young warriors took the field, and rushing down among
the white inhabitants murdered and scalped all who came in their way. 

The commanding officer at Fort Prince George despatched a messenger to
Charlestown, to inform Governor Lyttleton that the Cherokees had commenced
war. Orders were given to the commanders of the militia immediately to collect
their men, and stand in a posture of defence. The militia of the country were
directed to rendezvous at Congarees, where the Governor resolved to join them
and march to the relief of the frontier settlements. 

No sooner had the Cherokees heard of these warlike preparations, than
thirty-two of their chiefs set out for Charlestown to settle all differences.
Though they could not restrain some of their young men from acts of violence,
yet the nation in general was inclined to friendship and peace. As they
arrived before the Governor had set out on the intended expedition, a council
was called; and the chiefs being sent for, Governor Lyttleton, among other
things, told them "that he was well acquainted with all the acts of hostility
of which their people had been guilty, and likewise those they intended
against the English," and enumerated some of them. Then he added "that he
would soon be in their country, where he would let them know his demands and
the satisfaction he required, which he would certainly take if it was refused.
As they had come to Charlestown to treat with him as friends, they should go
home in safety and not a hair of their heads should be touched; but as he had
many warriors in arms, in different parts of the province, he could not be
answerable for what might happen to them unless they marched with his army."
After this speech was ended Occonostota, who was distinguished by the name of
the great warrior of the Cherokee nation, began to speak by way of reply; but
the Governor having determined that nothing should prevent his military
expedition, declared "he would hear no talk in vindication of his nation, nor
any proposals with regard to peace." This highly displeased the Indians. 

In a few days after this conference the Governor set out for Congarees, where
he mustered about fourteen hundred men. To this place the Cherokees marched
with the army and were in appearance contented, but in reality burned with
fury. When the army moved from the Congarees, the chieftains were all made
prisoners. To prevent their escaping, as two had already done, a Captain's
guard was mounted over them. Being not only deprived of their liberty, but
compelled to accompany an enemy going against their families and friends, they
no longer concealed the resentment raging in their breasts. Sullen looks and
gloomy countenances, showed that they were stung to the heart by such
treatment. Upon the arrival of the army at fort Prince George, the Indians
were all shut up in a hut scarcely sufficient for the accommodation of six
soldiers. 

The army being not only poorly armed and disciplined, but also discontented
and mutinous, it was judged dangerous to proceed farther into the enemy's
country. The Governor sent for Attakullakulla, who was esteemed the wisest man
of the nation, and the most steady friend of the English, to meet him at fort
Prince George. This summons was promptly obeyed. On the 17th December, 1759,
they held a congress, at which the Governor, in a long speech, stated to
Attakullakulla the injuries done by the Cherokees to the white people, in
violation of existing treaties - the power of the English - the weakness and
many defeats of the French, and then concluded as follows: "These things I
have mentioned to show you that the great King will not suffer his people to
be destroyed without satisfaction, and to let you know that the people of this
province are determined to have it. What I say is with a merciful intention.
If I make war with you, you will suffer for your rashness; your men will be
destroyed and your women and children carried into captivity. What few
necessaries you now have, will soon be exhausted, and you will get no more.
But if you give the satisfaction I shall ask, trade will be again opened and
all things go right. I have twice given you a list of the murderers. I will
now tell you there are twenty-four men of your nation whom I demand to be
delivered up to me to be put to death, or otherwise disposed of as I shall
think fit. Your people have killed that number of ours and more; therefore it
is the least I will accept of. I shall give you till to-morrow to consider of
it, and then I shall expect your answer. You know best the Indians concerned.
I expect the twenty-four you deliver up, will be those who have committed the
murders." 

To this long speech, Attakullakulla replied in words to the following effect:
"That he remembered the treaties mentioned, as he had a share in making them.
He owned the kindness of the province of South Carolina, but complained much
of the bad treatment his countrymen had received in Virginia; which, he said,
was the immediate cause of the present misunderstanding. That he had always
been the warm friend of the English - that he would ever continue such, and
would use all the influence he had to persuade his countrymen to give the
Governor the satisfaction he demanded; though he believed it neither would nor
could be complied with, as they had no coercive authority one over another. He
desired the Governor to release some of the head men then confined in the fort
to assist him, and added, "that he was pleased to hear of the success of his
brothers, the English;" but could not help mentioning "that they showed more
resentment against the Cherokees than they did to other nations who had
disobliged them. That he remembered some years ago several white people
belonging to Carolina were killed by the Choctaws, for whom no satisfaction
had either been demanded or given." 

Agreeably to the request of Attakullakulla, the Governor released Occonostota,
Fiftoe, the chief man of Keowee town, and the head warrior of Estatoe, who
next day delivered up two Indians, whom Mr. Lyttleton ordered to be put in
irons. After which all the Cherokees present, who knew their connections to be
weak, instantly fled; so that it was impossible to complete the number
demanded. Attakullakulla being then convinced that peace could not be obtained
on the terms demanded by the Governor, resolved to go home and patiently wait
the event; but no sooner was Mr. Lyttleton made acquainted with his departure,
than he dispatched a messenger after him to bring him back to his camp: and
immediately on his return began to treat of peace. Accordingly a treaty was
drawn up and signed by the Governor, by Attakullakulla, another chief, and
four of the confined warriors, who, together with a few others, thereupon
obtained their liberty. By one article of this treaty it was agreed that
twenty-six chieftains of the Cherokees should be confined in the fort as
hostages, until the same number of Indians guilty of murder were delivered up
to the Commander-in-Chief of the province. This was said to he done with their
own consent; but as they were prisoners they could have no free choice. If
they must remain confined, it was a matter of little moment under what
denomination they were kept. One more Indian was delivered up, for whom one of
the hostages was released. The three Indians, given up by their companions,
were carried to Charlestown, where they died in confinement.

After having concluded this treaty with the Cherokees, the Governor returned
to Charlestown. Perhaps the Indians who put their mark to these articles of
agreement did not understand them, or conceived themselves to be so far under
restraint as not to be free agents in the transaction, and therefore not bound
by it. Whether either of these, or deliberate perfidy was the case, cannot be
ascertained; but it is certain that few or none of the nation afterwards paid
the smallest regard to it. The treacherous act of confining their chiefs,
against whom no personal charge could be made, and who had traveled several
hundred miles to obtain peace, was strongly pressed on their minds. Instead of
permitting them to return home "without hurting a hair of their heads," as the
Governor promised in Charlestown, they were confined in a miserable hut. It
was said they were kept only as hostages until the number of criminals
demanded was completed by their nation. It was also said to be done by the
consent of the nation, as six of its chiefs had signed the articles of peace;
but when the relative situation of the parties, and all circumstances are
considered, nothing less could have been expected than that these wild and
independent warriors would violate the articles they had signed, and retaliate
for the confinement of their chiefs.

Scarcely had Governor Lyttleton concluded the treaty of fort Prince George,
when the small pox, which was raging in an adjacent Indian town, broke out in
his camp. As few of the army had gone through that distemper, the men were
struck with terror and in great haste returned to the settlements, cautiously
avoiding all intercourse with one another, and suffering much from hunger and
fatigue by the way. The Governor followed them, and arrived in Charlestown on
January 8th, 1760. This expedition cost the province £25,000 sterling. Though
not a drop of blood had been spilt during the campaign, yet as articles of
peace were signed, the Governor, as Commander-in-Chief, was received like a
conqueror with the greatest demonstrations of joy. 

These rejoicings on account of the peace were scarcely over, when news arrived
that fresh hostilities had been committed, and that, the Cherokees had killed
fourteen men within a mile of fort Prince George. The Indians had contracted
an invincible antipathy to Captain Coytmore, the officer whom Governor
Lyttleton had left commander of that fort. The treatment they had received at
Charleston, but especially the imprisonment of their chiefs, converted their
former desire of peace into the bitterest rage of war. Occonostota, a
chieftain of great influence, became an implacable enemy to Carolina, and
determined to repay treachery with treachery. With a strong party of Cherokees
he surrounded fort Prince George, and compelled the garrison to keep within
their works; but finding that no impression could be made on the fort, he
contrived the following stratagem for the relief of his countrymen confined in
it.

He placed a party of savages in a dark thicket by the river side, and then
sent an Indian woman, whom he knew to be always welcome at the fort, to inform
the commander that he had something of consequence to communicate and would be
glad to speak with him at the river side. Captain Coytmore imprudently
consented, and without any suspicions of danger, walked down towards the
river, accompanied by Lieutenants Bell and Foster. Occonostota appearing on
the opposite side, told him he was going to Charlestown to procure a release
of the prisoners, and would be glad of a white man to accompany him as A
safeguard. To cover his dark design he had a bridle in his hand, and added he
would go and hunt for a horse. Coytmore replied that he should have a guard,
and wished he might find a horse as the journey was very long. Upon which, the
Indian turning about, swung the bridle thrice round his head as a signal to
the savages placed in ambush, who instantly fired on the officers, shot the
Captain dead, and wounded his two companions. In consequence of which, orders
were given to put the hostages in irons to prevent any further danger from
them. When the soldiers were attempting to execute these orders, the Indians
stabbed one and wounded two more of them; upon which the garrison fell on the
unfortunate hostages, and butchered all of them in a manner too shocking to
relate.

There were few men in the Cherokee nation that did not lose a friend or a
relation by this massacre, and therefore with one voice all immediately
declared for war. The leaders in every town seized the hatchet, telling their
followers "that the spirits of their murdered brothers were hovering around
them and calling out for vengeance on their enemies." From the different towns
large parties of warriors took the field, painted in the most formidable
manner and arrayed with their instruments of death. Burning with impatience to
imbrue their hands in the blood of their enemies, they rushed down among
innocent and defenceless families on the frontiers of Carolina; where men,
women and children, without distinction, fell a sacrifice to their merciless
fury. Such as fled to the woods and escaped the scalping knife, perished with
hunger; and those whom they made prisoners were carried into the wilderness
where they suffered inexpressible hardships. Every day brought fresh accounts
of their ravages and murders. But while the back settlers impatiently looked
to their Governor for relief, the small pox raged to such a degree on the sea
coast, that few of the militia could be prevailed on to leave their distressed
families. In this extremity an express was sent to General Amherst the
Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in America, acquainting him with the
deplorable situation of the province and imploring his assistance. Accordingly
a body of fine picked troops, consisting of six companies of the Royal Scots
regiment, and six companies of the seventy-second, in which were included the
grenadiers and light infantry companies of several regiments, was put under
the command of Colonel Montgomery and ordered immediately to Carolina. 

In the meantime William Henry Lyttleton being appointed Governor of Jamaica,
the charge of the province devolved on William Bull. Application was made to
the neighboring provinces of North Carolina and Virginia for relief. Seven
troops of rangers were raised to protect the frontiers, and prevent the
savages from penetrating further down among the settlements, and to co-operate
with the regulars for carrying offensive operations into the Indian country. 

[To be continued....]

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