Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/369

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
No. 118]
Evil Deeds of the Spaniards
341

preceding Expedition had been undertaken. . . . By this Conquest of Apalachee the Province was freed from any Danger from that Part during the whole War. And this important Service was effected without putting this Government to the least Expense.

In 1706, the Spaniards at St. Augustine joined the French from Martinico, in making up a Fleet of Ten Sail, with Eight Hundred Men, Whites, Mustees, and Negroes, and Two Hundred Indians, to invade this Province. The Ship on Board which the Chief Commander was, being separated from the Fleet, fell into Sewee Bay, not knowing the Place. The rest coming over Charles-Town Bar, anchored just within on a Sunday, where they remained, sending Parties ashore on James-Island and Wando-Neck, plundering and burning Houses, &c. 'till Friday following Capt. Fenwicke going from Charles-Town, with One Hundred Men, landed at Hobkaw in Sight of Town, upon a Party of One Hundred and Thirty Men, who had got thither and set a Ship on Fire. He attacked them, killed and wounded about Thirty, and took Seventy Prisoners. The next Day the Ship which had lost Company, still not appearing, the whole Fleet set Sail again.

In 1715, Peace having been some Time concluded between the Crowns, the Yamasee Indians . . . living contiguous to, and in the most intimate Manner with the Settlers in those Parts, having been ill used by some of the Traders amongst them, were so far disgusted, that they broke out war with this Province, by massacring on the Fifteenth Day of April above Eighty of the Inhabitants of Granville County. . . . headed by Spaniards, they cut off several of the Settlers, and carried off their Slaves. The Slaves themselves at length, taking Advantage of those Things, deserted of their own Accord to St. Augustine, and upon being demanded back by this Government they were not returned, but such Rates paid for those that could not be concealed as that Government was pleased to set upon them. The Evil encreasing, altho' Col. Barnwell who was sent from hence to St. Augustine, immediately after the Conclusion of Queen Anne's Peace, had in Behalf of this Government then entered into a stipulation with that, mutually to return any Slaves that should for the future desert either Government ; Col. Hall was sent to St. Augustine in 1725, with whom that Government confirmed the said Stipulation. Notwithstanding which, the very year following :

In 1727, Peace between the Crowns continuing, fresh Depradations were committed on this Province from Augustine, both by Land and Water ; which created the Expense of Two Expeditions to prevent the