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RAMSAY'S HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
From ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1670 TO THE YEAR 1808.
by David Ramsay, M.D., "Charleston, December 31st, 1808"
1858, by W.J. Duffie, Newberry, S.C.
1959, by The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, S.C. 
Volume I, Chapter IV, pp 61-64

CIVIL HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.  CHAPTER IV.
Royal Government from 1720 to 1776.
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   In proportion as Carolina flourished and extended, the Spaniards of Florida
became more troublesome. At this time there were about forty thousand negroes in
the province. Long had liberty and protection been promised and proclaimed to
them by the Spaniards at St. Augustine. At different times Spanish emissaries
had been found secretly persuading them to fly from their masters to Florida,
and several had made their escape to that settlement. Of these negro refugees,
the Governor of Florida formed a regiment, appointed officers from among
themselves, allowed them the same pay, and clothed them in the same uniform with
the regular Spanish soldiers. The most sensible part of the slaves in Carolina,
were not ignorant of this Spanish regiment, for when they ran away, they
constantly directed their course to that quarter.
   While Carolina was kept in a state of constant fear, an insurrection, which
alarmed the whole province, broke out in the heart of the settlement. In the
year 1740 a number of negroes having assembled together at Stono, surprised and
killed two young men in a warehouse and then plundered it of guns and
ammunition. Being thus provided with arms, they elected one of their number
captain, put themselves under his command, and marched towards the southwest
with colors flying and drums beating. They forcibly entered the house of Mr.
Godfrey, and having murdered him, his wife and children, they took all the arms
he had in it, set fire to the house, and proceeded towards Jacksonborough. In
their way they plundered and burnt every house, killed the white people, and
compelled the negroes to join them. Governor Bull, returning to Charlestown from
the southward met them, and observing them armed, quickly rode out of their way.
He crossed over to Johns Island, and from thence came to Charlestown with the
first intelligence. Mr. Golightly in like manner met the armed black insurgents,
and rode out of their way; but went directly to the Presbyterian church at
Wiltown, and gave the alarm. By a law of the province, all planters were obliged
to carry their arms to church. Mr. Golightly joined the armed men, thus
providentially assembled, and proceeded with them directly from the church, to
engage the negroes about eight miles distant. The women were left trembling with
fear, while the militia under the command of Captain Bee, marched in quest of
the negroes, who by this time, had become formidable from the number that joined
them. They had marched above fifteen miles, and spread desolation through all
the plantations in their way. Having found rum in some houses and drank freely
of it, they halted in an open field and began to sing and dance by way of
triumph. During these rejoicings, the militia came up and stationed themselves
in different places to prevent their escape. The intoxication of several of the
slaves, favored the assailants. One party advanced into the open field and
attacked them.* Having killed some negroes, the remainder took to the woods, and
were dispersed. Many ran back to their plantations, in hopes of escaping
suspicion from the absence of their masters ; but the greater part were taken
and tried. Such as had been compelled to join, contrary to their inclinations,
were pardoned but the leaders and first insurgents suffered death.
   All Carolina was struck with consternation by this insurrection, in which
about twenty persons were murdered, and had not the people in that quarter been
armed and collected at church, it is probable many more would have suffered. It
was commonly believed, and not without reason, that the Spaniards, by their
secret influence and intrigues with slaves had instigated them to this massacre.
To prevent further attempts Governor Bull sent an express to General Oglethorpe
with advice of the insurrection, desiring him to double his vigilance in Georgia
and seize all straggling Spaniards and negroes. At the same time a company of
rangers were employed to patrol the frontiers, and block up all passages by
which they might make their escape to Florida.
   About this time, November 18th, 1740, nearly one-half of Charlestown was
consumed by fire. It began about two o'clock P. M., and continued until eight.
The houses being built of wood, and the wind blowing hard at northwest, the
flames spread with astonishing rapidity. From the south side of Broad street to
Granville's Bastion, almost every house was at one time in flames except the
north side of Broad street and the north end of the Bay; the trading part of the
town, was nearly destroyed. The rum, pitch, tar, turpentine, and gunpowder, in
the different stores, served to spread the desolating element. A violent wind
carried the burning shingles to a great distance. While floating in the air they
added to the horrow of the scene, and falling on remote houses, excited new
conflagrations rivalling the first. The cries of children and the shrieks of
women propagated a general alarm. The anxiety of each individual for his own
connections, prevented united exertions for common safety; while flames bursting
forth from different quarters at the same time, nearly induced despair of saving
any part of the town. The fire continued to spread desolation, until the
calmness of the evening closed the dreadful scene. Three hundred of the best
buildings were consumed, which, together with loss of goods and country
commodities, amounted to a prodigious sum. Few lives were lost, but the
lamentations of ruined families were heard in every quarter. From a flourishing
condition, the town was reduced in the space of six hours to a most deplorable
state. The inhabitants, whose houses escaped the flames, kindly invited their
unfortunate neighbors to them, so that two or three families were lodged in
places built only for the accommodation of one. After the legislature met they
agreed to make application to the British parliament for relief. It voted twenty
thousand pounds sterling, to be distributed among the sufferers. This relief was
seasonable and useful on the one side, and displayed a generous and noble spirit
on the other.

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  * The militia attacked the negroes just as they had dined, and were preparing
to move off.  They had a few minutes before fired the dwelling house at a
plantation which has been ever since called "Battlefield." As soon as they
discovered the white people, their black captain, named Cato, who had two loaded
guns, immediately discharged one, and as he stooped to get the other, was shot
down. After this the survivors made but little resistance, scattered, and
endeavored to escape. The fire in the house was extinguished, after burning a
hole in the floor. This was suffered to remain open for many years, as a
memorial of the transaction.

[To be continued....]

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