Oglethorpe advises the Home Government of a reinforcement of eight hundred
men newly arrived at St. Augustine, and of a declared intention on the
part of the Spanish authorities to invade the provinces of Georgia and
Carolina so soon as the result of Admiral Vernon’s expedition in the
West Indies should have been ascertained. He makes urgent demand for
men-of-war to guard the water approaches, for a train of artillery, arms,
and ammunition, and for authority to recruit the two troops of Rangers
to sixty men each, and the Highland company to one hundred, to enlist
one hundred boatmen, and to purchase or build, and man two half-galleys.
Alluding to the expected advance of the Spaniards, the writer continues:
“If our men of war will not keep them from coming in by sea, and we have
no succour, but decrease daily by different accidents, all we can do
will be to die bravely in his Majesty’s service.... I have often desired
assistance of the men-of-war, and continue to do so. I go on in fortifying
this town, making magazines, and doing everything I can to defend the
Province vigorously, and I hope my endeavors will be approved of by his
Majesty, since the whole end of my life is to do the duty of a faithful
subject and grateful servant. I have thirty Spanish prisoners in this
place, and we continue so masters of Florida that the Spaniards have not
been able to rebuild any one of the seven forts which we destroyed in the
last expedition.”
It does not appear that the men-of-war and ordnance requested were ever
furnished.
With a little squadron composed of the Guard sloop, the sloop “Falcon,”
and Captain Davis’ schooner “Norfolk” carrying a detachment of his
regiment under command of Major Heron, General Oglethorpe on the 16th of
August, 1741, bore down upon a large Spanish ship lying at anchor, with
hostile intent, off the bar of Jekyll sound. A heavy storm intervening,
the Spanish vessel put to sea and was lost to sight. Unwilling to dismiss
his miniature fleet until he had performed more substantial service, the
General boldly continued down the coast, attacked and put to flight a
Spanish man-of-war, and the notorious privateer “Black-Sloop” commanded
by Destrade, a French officer, challenged the vessels lying in the inner
harbor of St. Augustine to come out and engage his small squadron,
remained at anchor all night within sight of the castle, cruised for some
days off the Matanzas, and, after having alarmed the whole coast, returned
in safety to Frederica.
In the midst of these labors and anxieties incident upon his preparations
to resist the threatened Spanish invasion, and at a time when harmony and
content were most essential to the well-being of the Colony, Oglethorpe
was annoyed by sundry complaints from evil-minded persons. Most of
them were frivolous, and a few quite insulting in their character. The
publication of two tracts, one entitled “An Impartial Enquiry into the
State and Utility of the Province of Georgia,”[105] and the other “A
State of the Province of Georgia attested upon Oath in the Court of
Savannah, November 10, 1740,”[106]—both presenting favorable views of
the Colony and disseminated in the interest of the Trust,—irritated
these malcontents and gave rise to several rejoinders, among which, as
particularly reflecting upon the conduct of the commander-in-chief and
his administration of affairs, may be mentioned “A Brief Account of
the Causes that have Retarded the Progress of the Colony of Georgia in
America, attested upon Oath, being a Proper Contrast to ‘A State of the
Province of Georgia attested upon Oath,’ and some other misrepresentations
on the same subject.”[107] The charge was openly made that some of the
magistrates at Savannah and Frederica (the principal towns in Georgia) had
wilfully injured the people by declaring “from the Bench that the Laws
of England were no laws in Georgia,” by causing “false imprisonments,”
by “discharging Grand Juries while matters of Felony lay before them,”
by “intimidating Petit Juries,” and, in short, “by sticking at nothing
to oppress the people.” It was further alleged that there was no way of
applying for redress to his Majesty. General Oglethorpe was accused of
partiality and tyranny in his administration. In support of these charges
various affidavits were obtained from parties claiming to be residents of
Frederica, Darien, Savannah, Ebenezer, and Augusta,—most of them, however,
being sworn to and verified outside the limits of Georgia. Those who are
curious with regard to the contents of these affidavits, so far as they
reflect upon the conduct of the Frederica magistrates, are referred to the
depositions of Samuel Perkins, John Roberson, and Samuel Davison.[108]
A desire to sell forbidden articles, and to ply trades for which special
permission had been granted to others, opposition to the regulation which
prohibited the owners of hogs and cattle from allowing them to run at
large on the common and in the streets of Frederica, alleged misfeasance
in the conduct of bailiffs and under-magistrates in the discharge of their
duties, the unprofitableness of labor, overbearing acts committed by
those in authority, and similar matters formed the burthen of these sworn
complaints. While they tended to distract the public mind and to annoy
those upon whose shoulders rested the administration of affairs, they
fortunately failed in producing any serious impression either within the
Colony or in the mother country. We allude to the subject in its proper
connection simply as a matter of history, and to show how ill-judged and
ill-timed were these efforts of the malcontents, among whom Pat Tailfer,
M. D., Hugh Anderson, M. A., and Da: Douglas should not be forgotten.
The utter destruction of the provinces of Georgia and South Carolina was
the avowed object of the Spaniards, who promised to extend no quarter to
English or Indians taken with arms in their hands. The struggle was to
be desperate in the extreme. To the urgent applications for assistance
forwarded by General Oglethorpe, Lieutenant-Governor Bull turned a deaf
ear; and the Carolinians, instead of furnishing supplies and munitions of
war, and marching to the south to meet the invader where the battle for
the salvation of both Colonies was to be fought, remained at home, leaving
the Georgians single-handed to breast the storm.[109]
The Gentleman’s Magazine[110] contains the following estimate of the
Spanish forces under the command of Don Manuel de Monteano, Governor of
Augustine and Commander-in-Chief of the expedition, and Major General
Antonio de Rodondo, Engineer General, participating in the attack upon St.
Simons island:
“2 Colonels with Brevits of Brigadiers.
“One Regiment of Dragoons, dismounted, with their Saddles and
Bridles.
“The Regiment call’d The Battalion of the _Havannah_.
“10 Companies of 50 each, draughted off from several Regiments
of _Havannah_.
“One Regiment of the _Havannah_ Militia, consisting of 10
Companies of 100 Men each.
“One Regiment of Negroes, regularly officer’d by Negroes.
“One ditto of Mulattas, and one Company of 100 Miguelets.
“One Company of the Train with proper Artillery.
“_Augustine_ Forces consisting of about 300 Men.
“Ninety Indians.
“And 15 Negroes who ran away from _South Carolina_.”
From the various accounts of this memorable struggle we select that
prepared by Oglethorpe himself, written on the spot, with the scars of
battle fresh around him, and the smoke of the conflict scarce lifted from
the low-lying shores and dense woods of St. Simons island. The commanding
eye that saw, the stern lips which answered back the proud defiance, and
the strong arm which, under Providence, pointed the way to victory, are
surely best able to unfold the heroic tale. We present the report as it
came from his pen:[111]
“FREDERICA IN GEORGIA, 30th July, 1742.
“The Spanish Invasion which has a long time threatened the
Colony, Carolina, and all North America has at last fallen
upon us and God hath been our deliverance. General Horcasilas,
Governour of the Havannah, ordered those Troops who had been
employed against General Wentworth to embark with Artillery and
everything necessary upon a secret expedition. They sailed with
a great fleet:[112] amongst them were two half Galleys carrying
120 men each & an 18 pound Gun. They drew but five feet water
which satisfied me they were for this place. By good great
Fortune one of the half Galleys was wrecked coming out.[113]
The Fleet sailed for St. Augustine in Florida. Capt. Homer the
latter end of May called here for Intelligence. I acquainted
him that the Succours were expected and sent him a Spanish
Pilot to shew him where to meet with them. He met with ten
sail[114] which had been divided from the Fleet by storm, but
having lost 18 men in action against them, instead of coming
here for the defence of this Place he stood again for Charles
Town to repair, and I having certain advices of the arrival of
the Spanish Fleet at Augustine wrote to the Commander of His
Majesty’s Ships at Charles Town to come to our assistance.[115]
“I sent Lieut. Maxwell, who arrived there and delivered the
letters the 12th of June, and afterwards Lieut. MacKay, who
arrived and delivered letters on the 20th of June.
“Lieut. Colonel Cook who was then at Charles Town, and was
Engineer, hastened to England, and his son-in-law Ensign Eyre,
Sub-Engineer, was also in Charles Town, and did not arrive here
till the action was over; so, for want of help, I myself was
obliged to do the duty of Engineer.
“The Havannah Fleet, being joined by that of Florida, composed
51 sail, with land men on board, a List of whom is annexed:
they were separated, and I received advice from Capt. Dunbar
(who lay at Fort William with the Guard Schooner of 14 Guns
and ninety men) that a Spanish Fleet of 14 sail had attempted
to come in there,[116] but being drove out by the Cannon of
the Fort and Schooner they came in at Cumberland Sound. I sent
over Capt. Horton to land the Indians and Troops on Cumberland.
I followed myself and was attacked in the Sound, but with two
Boats fought my way through. Lieut. Tolson, who was to have
supported me with the third and strongest boat, quitted me in
the fight and run into a River where he hid himself till next
day when he returned to St. Simons with an account that I was
lost but soon after found. I was arrived there before him, for
which misbehaviour I put him in arrest and ordered him to be
tryed. The Enemy in this action suffered so much[117] that the
day after they ran out to sea and returned for St. Augustine
and did not join their great Fleet till after their Grenadiers
were beat by Land.
“I drew the Garrison from St. Andrews, reinforced Fort William,
and returned to St. Simons with the Schooner.
“Another Spanish Fleet appeared the 28th off the Barr: by God’s
blessing upon several measures taken I delayed their coming in
till the 5th of July. I raised another Troop of Rangers, which
with the other were of great service.
“I took Captain Thomson’s ship[118] into the service for
defence of the Harbour. I imbargoe’d all the Vessells, taking
their men for the service, and gave large Gifts and promises
to the Indians so that every day we increased in numbers. I
gave large rewards to men who distinguished themselves upon any
service, freed the servants,[119] brought down the Highland
Company, and Company of Boatmen, filled up as far as we had
guns. All the vessels being thus prepared[120] on the 5th of
July with a leading Gale and Spring Tide 36 sail of Spanish
vessels run into the Harbour in line of Battle.
“We cannonaded them very hotly from the Shipping and Batterys.
They twice attempted to board Capt. Thomson[121] but were
repulsed. They also attempted to board the Schooner, but were
repulsed by Capt. Dunbar with a Detachment of the Regiment on
board.
“I was with the Indians, Rangers, and Batterys, and sometimes
on board the ships, and left Major Heron with the Regiment.
It being impossible for me to do my duty as General and be
constantly with the Regiment, therefore it was absolutely
necessary for His Majesty’s service to have a Lieut. Colonel
present, which I was fully convinced of by this day’s
experience. I therefore appointed Major Heron to be Lieut.
Colonel, and hope that your Grace will move His Majesty to be
pleased to approve the same.
“The Spaniards after an obstinate Engagement of four hours, in
which they lost abundance of men, passed all our Batterys and
Shipping and got out of shot of them towards Frederica. Our
Guard Sloop was disabled and sunk: one of our Batterys blown
up, and also some of our Men on board Capt. Thomson, upon
which I called a Council of War at the head of the Regiment
where it was unanimously resolved to march to Frederica to get
there before the Enemy and defend that Place. To destroy all
the Provisions, Vessels, Artillery, &c., at St. Simon’s, that
they might not fall into the Enemy’s hands.
“This was accordingly executed, having first drawn all the Men
on shoar which before had defended the shipping. I myself staid
till the last, and the wind coming fortunately about I got
Capt. Thompson’s Ship, our Guard Schooner, and our Prize Sloop
to sea and sent them to Charles Town. This I did in the face
and spite of thirty-six sail of the Enemy: as for the rest of
the Vessells, I could not save them, therefore was obliged to
destroy them.
“I must recomend to His Majesty the Merchants who are sufferers
thereby, since their loss was in great measure the preserving
the Province.
“We arrived at Frederica, and the Enemy landed at St.
Simon’s.[122]
“On the 7th a party of their’s marched toward the Town: our
Rangers discovered them and brought an account of their march,
on which I advanced with a party of Indians, Rangers, and
the Highland Company, ordering the Regiment to follow, being
resolved to engage them in the Defiles of the Woods before they
could get out and form in the open Grounds. I charged them at
the head of our Indians, Highland Men and Rangers, and God was
pleased to give us such success that we entirely routed the
first party, took one Captain prisoner, and killed another,
and pursued them two miles to an open Meadow or Savannah, upon
the edge of which I posted three Platoons of the Regiment
and the Company of Highland foot so as to be covered by the
woods from the Enemy who were obliged to pass thro’ the Meadow
under our fire.[123] This disposition was very fortunate.[124]
Capt. Antonio Barba and two other Captains with 100 Grenadiers
and 200 foot, besides Indians and Negroes, advanced from the
Spanish Camp into the Savannah with Huzzah’s and fired with
great spirit, but not seeing our men by reason of the woods,
none of their shot took place, but ours did.[125]
“Some Platoons of ours in the heat of the fight, the air being
darkened with the smoak, and a shower of rain falling, retired
in disorder.
“I hearing the firing, rode towards it, and at near two miles
from the place of Action, met a great many men in disorder who
told me that ours were routed and Lieut. Sutherland killed. I
ordered them to halt and march back against the Enemy, which
orders Capt. Demere and Ensign Gibbon obeyed, but another
Officer did not, but made the best of his way to Town. As
I heard the fire continue I concluded our Men could not be
quite beaten, and that my immediate assistance might preserve
them: therefore spurred on and arrived just as the fire was
done. I found the Spaniards intirely routed by one Platoon of
the Regiment, under the Comand of Lieut. Sutherland, and the
Highland Company under the Comand of Lieut. Charles MacKay.
“An Officer whom the Prisoners said was Capt. Don Antonio
Barba[126] was taken Prisoner, but desperately wounded, and two
others were prisoners, and a great many dead upon the spot.
Lieut. Sutherland, Lieut. Charles MacKay and Sergt. Stuart
having distinguished themselves upon this occasion, I appointed
Lieut. Sutherland Brigade Major, and Sergt. Stuart second
Ensign.
“Capt. Demere and Ensign Gibbon being arrived with the men
they had rallied, Lieut. Cadogan with an advanced party of
the Regiment, and soon after the whole Regiment, Indians, and
Rangers, I marched down to a causeway over a marsh very near
the Spanish Camp over which all were obliged to pass, and
thereby stopt those who had been dispersed in the fight in the
Savannah from getting to the Spanish Camp.[127] Having passed
the night there, the Indian scouts in the morning advanced to
the Spanish Camp and discovered they were all retired into
the ruins of the Fort and were making Intrenchments under
shelter of the cannon of the ships. That they guessed them
to be above 4,000 men. I thought it imprudent to attack them
defended by Cannon with so small a number but marched back to
Frederica[128] to refresh the soldiers, and sent out Partys of
Indians and Rangers to harrass the Enemy. I also ordered into
arrest the officers who commanded the Platoons that retired.
“I appointed a General Staff: Lieut. Hugh MacKay and Lieut.
Maxwell Aids de Camp, and Lieut. Sutherland Brigade Major.[129]
On ye 11th of July the Great Galley and two little ones came up
the river towards the Town. We fired at them with the few Guns,
so warmly that they retired, and I followed them with our Boats
till they got under the cannon of their ships which lay in the
sound.
“Having intelligence from the Spanish Camp that they had lost
4 Captains and upwards of 200 men in the last Action, besides
a great many killed in the sea-fight, and several killed in
the night by the Indians even within or near the camp, and
that they had held a Council of War in which there were great
divisions, insomuch that the Forces of Cuba separated from
those of Augustine and the Italick Regiment —— of Dragoons
separated from them both at a distance from the rest near
the woods, and that there was a general Terror amongst them,
upon which I was resolved to beat up their Quarters in the
night and marching down with the largest body of men I could
make, I halted within a mile and a half of their camp to form,
intending to leave the Troops there till I had well reconitred
the Enemy’s disposition.
“A French Man who without my knowledge was come down amongst
the volunteers fired his Gun and deserted. Our Indians in vain
persued and could not take him. Upon this, concluding we were
discovered, I divided the Drums in different parts and beat the
Grenadiers march for about half an hour, then ceased, and we
marched back with silence.
“The next day[130] I prevailed with a Prisoner, and gave him
a sum of money, to carry a letter privately and deliver it
to that French Man who had deserted. This Letter was wrote
in French as if from a friend of his, telling him he had
received the money that he should strive to make the Spaniards
believe the English were weak. That he should undertake to
pilot up their Boats and Galleys and then bring them under
the Woods where he knew the Hidden Batterys were; that if he
could bring that about, he should have double the reward he
had already received. That the French Deserters should have
all that had been promised to them. The Spanish Prisoner got
into their Camp and was immediately carried before their
General Don Manuel de Montiano. He was asked how he escaped
and whither he had any letters, but denying his having any,
was strictly searched and the letter found, and he upon being
pardoned, confessed that he had received money to deliver
it to the Frenchman, for the letter was not directed. The
Frenchman denied his knowing anything of the contents of the
Letter or having received any Money or Correspondence with
me, notwithstanding which, a Council of War was held and they
deemed the French Man to be a double spy, but General Montiano
would not suffer him to be executed, having been imployed by
him: however, they imbarqued all their Troops,[131] and halted
under Jekyl, they also confined all the French on board and
imbarked with such precipitation that they left behind them
Cannon, &c., and those dead of their wounds, unburied. The
Cuba Squadron stood out to sea to the number of 20 sail:
General Montiano with the Augustine Squadron returned to
Cumberland Sound, having burnt Captain Horton’s houses, &c., on
Jekyll. I, with our boats, followed him. I discovered a great
many sail under Fort St. Andrew, of which eight appeared to me
plain, but being too strong for me to attack, I sent the Scout
Boats back.
“I went[132] with my own Cutter and landed a man on Cumberland
who carried a letter from me to Lieut. Stuart at Fort William
with orders to defend himself to the last extremity.
“Having discovered our Boats & believing we had landed Indians
in the night they set sail with great haste, in so much that
not having time to imbarque, they killed 40 horses which they
had taken there, and burnt the houses. The Galleys and small
Craft to the number of fifteen went thro’ the inland Water
Passages. They attempted to land near Fort William, but were
repulsed by the Rangers; they then attacked it with Cannon
and small Arms from the water for three Hours, but the place
was so bravely defended by Lieut. Alexander Stuart that they
were repulsed and ran out to sea where twelve other sail of
Spanish vessells had lain at anchor without the Barr during the
Attack without stirring, but the Galleys being chased out, they
hoisted all the sails they could and stood to the Southward. I
followed them with the Boats to Fort William, and from thence
sent out the Rangers and some Boats who followed them to Saint
Johns, but they went off rowing and sailing to St. Augustine.
“After the news of their defeat in the Grenadier Savannah
arrived at Charles Town, the Men of War and a number of
Carolina People raised in a hurry set out and came off this
Barr after the Spaniards had been chased quite out of this
Colony, where they dismissed the Carolina vessels, and Capt.
Hardy promised in his Letters to cruise off St. Augustine.
“We have returned thanks to God for our deliverance, have set
all the hands I possibly could to work upon the Fortifications,
and have sent to the Northward to raise men ready to form
another Battalion against His Majesty’s Orders shall arrive for
that purpose. I have retained Thompson’s ship, have sent for
Cannon Shott, &c., for Provisions and all kinds of stores since
I expect the Enemy, who (tho’ greatly terrified) lost but few
men in comparison of their great numbers, as soon as they have
recovered their fright will attack us with more caution and
better discipline.
“I hope His Majesty will approve the measures I have taken, and
I must entreat Your Grace to lay my humble request before His
Majesty that he would be graciously pleased to order Troops,
Artillery and other Necessarys sufficient for the defence of
this Frontier and the neighboring Provinces, or give such
direction as His Majesty shall think proper, and I do not doubt
but with a moderate support not only to be able to defend these
Provinces, but also to dislodge the Enemy from St. Augustine if
I have but the same numbers they had in this expedition.”[133]
That a small force of between six and seven hundred men, assisted by
a few weak vessels, should have put to flight an army of nearly five
thousand Spanish troops, supported by a powerful fleet, and amply equipped
for the expedition, seems almost incapable of explanation.[134] General
Oglethorpe’s bravery and dash, the timidity of the invaders, coupled
with the dissentions which arose in their ranks, and the apprehensions
caused by the French letter, furnish the only plausible explanation of the
victory. Whitefield’s commentary was: “The deliverance of Georgia from
the Spaniards is such as cannot be paralleled but by some instances out
of the Old Testament.” The defeat of so formidable an expedition by such
a handful of men was a matter of astonishment to all. Had Don Manuel de
Monteano pushed his forces vigorously forward, the stoutest resistance
offered along his short line of march and from the walls of the town
would have been ineffectual for the salvation of Frederica. Against the
contingency of an evacuation of this strong-hold Oglethorpe had provided,
as best he could, by a concentration of boats in which to transport
the garrison to Darien[135] by way of the cut previously made through
General’s island. This necessity, however, was fortunately never laid upon
him. If the naval forces at Charleston had responded to his requisitions,
a considerable portion of the Spanish fleet might have been captured.
Oglethorpe’s success in his military operations may be explained by the
fact that he constantly acted on the offensive. He was never content to
grant any peace to an enemy who was within striking distance. The temerity
and persistency of his attacks inspired his followers, and impressed his
antagonist with the belief that the arm delivering the blow was stronger
than it really was.