General James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia,
was among the few really good and great men that history tells us of.
We need to keep a close eye on the antics of history. She places the
laurels of fame in the hands of butchers, plunderers, and adventurers,
and even assassins share her favors; so that, if we are going to enjoy
the feast that history offers us, we must not inquire too closely into
the characters of the men whom she makes heroes of. We find, when we
come to look into the matter, that but few of those who figured as the
great men of the world have been entirely unselfish; and unselfishness
is the test of a man who is really good and great. Judged by this test,
General Oglethorpe stands among the greatest men known to history.
He had served in the army with distinction, as his father had before
him. He was on the staff of the great soldier Eugene of Savoy, and
under that commander made himself conspicuous by his fidelity and
fearlessness. A story is told of him that is interesting, if not
characteristic. While serving under Eugene, he one day found himself
sitting at table with a prince of Würtemberg. He was a beardless
youngster, and the prince thought to have some sport with him. Taking up
a glass of wine, the prince gave it a fillip, so that a little flew in
Oglethorpe's face. The young Englishman, looking straight at the prince,
and smiling, said, "My prince, that is only a part of the joke as the
English know it: I will show you the whole of it." With that he threw a
glassful of wine in the prince's face. An old general who sat by laughed
dryly, and remarked, "He did well, my prince: you began it."
[Illustration: Oglethorpe 028]
Born in 1689, Oglethorpe entered the English army when twenty-one years
of age. In 1714 he became captain lieutenant of the first troop of the
queen's guards. He shortly afterwards joined Eugene on the continent,
and remained with that soldier until the peace of 1718. On the death of
his brother, he succeeded to the family estate in England. In 1722 he
was elected to Parliament from Haslemere, county of Surrey, and
this borough he represented continuously for thirty-two years. His
parliamentary career was marked by wise prudence and consistency;
and his sympathies were warmly enlisted for the relief of unfortunate
soldiers, and in securing reform in the conduct of prisons. In this way
Oglethorpe became a philanthropist, and, without intending it, attracted
the attention of all England. Pope, the poet, eulogizes his "strong
benevolence of soul."
In that day and time, men were imprisoned for debt in England. The
law was brutal, and those who executed it were cruel. There was no
discrimination between fraud and misfortune. The man who was unable to
pay his debts was judged to be as criminal as the man who, though able,
refused to pay. Both were thrown into the same prison, and subjected
to the same hardships. In "Little Dorrit," Charles Dickens has told
something of those unfortunates who were thrown into prison for debt.
There was apparently nothing too atrocious to be sanctioned by the
commercial ambition of the English. It armed creditors with the power to
impose the most cruel burdens upon their debtors, and it sanctioned the
slave trade. Many crimes have been committed to promote the commercial
supremacy of Great Britain, and on that blind policy was based the law
which suffered innocent debtors to be deprived of their liberty and
thrown into prison.
This condition of affairs Oglethorpe set himself to reform; and while
thus engaged, he became impressed with the idea that many of the
unfortunates, guilty of no crime, and of respectable connections, might
benefit themselves, relieve England of the shame of their imprisonment,
and confirm and extend the dominion of the mother country in the New
World, by being freed from the claims of those to whom they owed money,
on condition that they would consent to become colonists in America.
To this class were to be added recruits from those who, through lack
of work and of means, were likely to be imprisoned on account of their
misfortunes. Oglethorpe was also of the opinion that men of means,
enterprise, and ambition could be enlisted in the cause; and in this he
was not mistaken.
He had no hope whatever of personal gain or private benefit. The plan
that he had conceived was entirely for the benefit of the unfortunate,
based on broad and high ideas of benevolence; and so thoroughly was this
understood, that Oglethorpe had no difficulty whatever in securing
the aid of men of wealth and influence. A charter or grant from the
government was applied for, in order that the scheme might have the
sanction and authority of the government. Accordingly a charter was
granted, and the men most prominent in the scheme of benevolence were
incorporated under the name of "The Trustees for establishing the
Colony of Georgia in America." Georgia in America, was, under the terms
of the charter, a pretty large slice of America. It embraced all that
part of the continent lying between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers,
and extending westerly from the heads of these rivers in direct lines to
the South Seas; so that the original territory of Georgia extended from
ocean to ocean.
In aid of this enterprise, Oglethorpe not only contributed largely from
his private means, and solicited contributions from his wealthy friends,
but wrote a tract in which he used arguments that were practical as well
as ingenious.
On the 17th of November, 1732, all arrangements having been completed,
the "Anne" set sail for the Colony of Georgia, accompanied by
Oglethorpe, who furnished his own cabin, and laid in provisions not
only for himself, but for his fellow-passengers. On the 13th of January,
1733, the "Anne" anchored in Charleston harbor. From Charleston the
vessel sailed to Port Royal; and the colonists were soon quartered
in the barracks of Beaufort-town, which had been prepared for their
reception. Oglethorpe left the colonists at Beaufort, and, in company
with Colonel William Bull, proceeded to the Savannah River. He went up
this stream as far as Yamacraw Bluff, which he selected as the site of
the settlement he was about to make. He marked out the town, and named
it Savannah. The site was a beautiful one in Oglethorpe's day, and it is
still more beautiful now. The little settlement that the founder of the
Colony marked out has grown into a flourishing city, and art has added
its advantages to those of nature to make Savannah one of the most
beautiful cities in the United States.
Close by the site which Oglethorpe chose for his colony was an Indian
village occupied by the Yamacraws,--a small tribe, of which Tomochichi
was chief. At this point, too, was a trading post, which had been
established by a white man named John Musgrove. This man had married a
half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee, but who was
known as Mary Musgrove. In order to insure the friendly reception of his
little colony and its future safety, Oglethorpe went to the village and
had a talk with Tomochichi. Mary Musgrove not only acted as interpreter,
but used her influence, which was very great, in favor of her husband's
countrymen. This was fortunate, for the Indians were very uneasy when
they learned that a colony of whites was to be established near their
village, and some of them even threatened to use force to prevent it;
but Oglethorpe's friendly attitude, and Mary Musgrove's influence, at
last persuaded them to give their consent. They made an agreement to
cede the necessary land, and promised to receive the colonists in a
friendly manner. Oglethorpe returned to Beaufort when he had concluded
this treaty, and the Sunday following his return was celebrated as a day
of thanksgiving. After religious services there was a barbecue, which,
history tells us, consisted of four fat hogs, turkeys, fowls English
beef, a hogshead of punch, a hogshead of beer, and a quantity of wine.
[Illustration: Mary Musgrove 032]
On the 30th of January, 1733, the immigrants set sail from Beaufort, and
on the afternoon of the next day they arrived at Yamacraw Bluff. On the
site of the town that had already been marked off, they pitched four
tents large enough to accommodate all the people. Oglethorpe, after
posting his sentinels, slept on the ground under the shelter of the
tall pines, near the central watch fire. As a soldier should, he slept
soundly. He had planted the new Colony, and thus far all had gone well
with him and with those whose interests he had charge of.
To bring these colonists across the ocean, and place them in a position
where they might begin life anew, was not a very difficult undertaking;
but to plant a colony amongst savages already suspicious of the whites,
and to succeed in obtaining their respect, friendship, and aid, was
something that required wisdom, courage, prudence, and large experience.
This Oglethorpe did; and it is to his credit, that, during the time he
had charge of the Colony, he never in any shape or form took advantage
of the ignorance of the Indians. His method of dealing with them was
very simple. He conciliated them by showing them that the whites could
be just, fair, and honorable in their dealings; and thus, in the very
beginning, he won the friendship of those whose enmity to the little
Colony would have proved ruinous.
Providence favored Oglethorpe in this matter. He had to deal with an
Indian chief full of years, wisdom, and experience. This was Tomochichi,
who was at the head of the Yamacraws. From this kindly Indian the
Georgia Colony received untold benefits. He remained the steadfast
friend of the settlers, and used his influence in their behalf in every
possible way, and on all occasions. Although he was a very old man,
he was strong and active, and of commanding presence. He possessed
remarkable intelligence; and this, added to his experience, made him one
of the most remarkable of the Indians whose names have been preserved
in history. There was something of a mystery about him that adds to the
interest which his active friendship for the whites has given to his
name. He belonged to the tribe of Lower Creeks; but for some reason or
other, he, with a number of his tribemen, had been banished. The cause
of his exile has never been made known; but at this late day it may be
guessed that he became disgusted with the factional disputes among the
Creeks, and sought in another part of the territory the peace and repose
to which his years of service had entitled him; and that when he had
taken this step, the factions which he had opposed succeeded in having
him banished. Some such theory as this is necessary to account for the
tributes that were paid to his character and influence by the Creek
chiefs who assembled at Savannah to make a treaty with Oglethorpe.
Tomochichi was ninety-one years old when the Georgia Colony was founded,
and he had gathered about him a number of disaffected Creeks and
Yemassees, known as the tribe of the Yamacraws. When the Creeks came to
Savannah to meet Oglethorpe, the greatest of their chiefs said that
he was related to Tomochichi, who was a good man, and had been a great
warrior.
Thus, with Oglethorpe to direct it, and with Tomochichi as its friend,
the little Georgia Colony was founded, and, as we shall see, thrived and
flourished.