An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, Volume 1Hewatt, Alexander
History
An Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, Volume 1
Hewatt, Alexander
Georgia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; South Carolina -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
In the mean time, the Indians on the northern quarter had made an inroad
as far as a plantation belonging to John Hearne, about fifty miles from
town, and entered his house in a seemingly peaceable and friendly manner;
but afterwards pretending to be displeased with the provisions given
them, murdered him and every person in it. Thomas Barker, a captain of
militia, having intelligence of the approach of these Indians, collected
a party, consisting of ninety horsemen, and advanced against them: but by
the treachery of an Indian, whom he unluckily trusted, he was led into a
dangerous ambuscade in a thicket, where a large party of Indians lay
concealed on the ground. Barker having advanced into the middle of them
before he was aware of his danger, the Indians sprung from their
concealments, and fired upon his men on every side. The Captain and
several more fell at the first onset, and the remainder in confusion were
obliged to retreat. After this advantage, a party of four hundred Indians
came down as far as Goose Creek. Every family there had fled to town,
except in one place, where seventy white men and forty negroes had
surrounded themselves with a breast-work, and resolved to remain and
defend themselves in the best manner they could. When the Indians
attacked them they were discouraged, and rashly agreed to terms of peace;
and, having admitted the enemy within their works, this poor garrison
were barbarously butchered: after which the Indians advanced still nigher
to town; but at length meeting with Captain Chicken and the whole Goose
Creek militia, they were repulsed, and obliged to retreat into the
wilderness.
By this time the Yamassees, with their confederates, had spread
destruction though the parish of St. Bartholomew, and advancing downwards
as far as Stono, they burned the church at that place, together with
every house on the plantations by the way. John Cochran, his wife, and
four children; Mr. Bray, his wife, and two children; and six more men and
women, having found some friends among them, were spared for some days;
but while attempting to make their escape from them, they were retaken
and put to death. Such as had no friends among them were tortured in the
most shocking manner, the Indians seeming to neglect their progress
towards conquest on purpose to assist in tormenting their enemies. We
forbear to mention the various tortures inflicted on such as fell into
their merciless fangs: none can be pleased with the relation of such
horrid cruelties, but the man who, with a smile of satisfaction, can be
the spectator of a Spanish _auto de fe_, or such savage hearts as are
steeled against every emotion of humanity and compassion.
[Sidenote] The Yamassees defeated and expelled.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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