Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCORMICK, SOUTH CAROLINA Thursday, July 31, 1941 VcCORMICK MESSENGER Pabllshed Every Thonday g| BaUbllshed Jane 5, IMS pt EDMOND 1. McCBACKEN, | fr Editor and Owner PMtered at the Post Office at Me- ( Cormick, S. C^ as mail matter of : the second class. i I SUBSCRIPTION RATES: f One Tear $1.00 r Sts Months .79 ' Three Months AO Unveiling Of Fort MT. CARMEL, SOUTH CAROLINA, JULY 12, 1941, 2 O’CLOCK, P. M. surveying, it contains Pour Hun- December 10, 1766, Phillips re tired and Thirty acres. Butting ported to Gage that the Wall of and Bounding S. W. wardly on the Fort and the magazine were Savannah River, N. W. wardly on completed; but that, because “none land laid out to Edward Vann, S. of the cannon there were mount- E. wardly on land laid out to I ed”, he could not “go on with the Richd Johnston, N. E. wardly on platforms until he knows the vacant land, and hath such shape number of Carriages that were to and marks as the above Plat repre- be made”. He reported also that sents. Certified the 10th Day of I “soon after Mr. Williamson (one April, 1765. of the two undertakers) set about Mr. Andrew Williamson, later making the Ditch, Ensign Winter Major Williamson, of White Hall, put a stop to his proceeding any ^ear Bradley, South Carolina, con- further (until he should hear from tracted with Lieutenant Governor me) on account of the Earth fall- Bull for the erection of this fort ing into the ditch so fast that he with stone; and Dr. John Murray, expected the Wall of the Fort of Hard Labor, who was put in (had he proceeded any farther) charge of the work, assumed would have Followed this I repre- Charlotte Marker char & e in July, 1765. Dr. Murray sented to Lord Charles Montagu and Andrew Williamson employed who was pleased to desire me to Archibald McClelland, a Long give such directions as I thought Canes Settler, to build the fort, would be proper on that Matter, Captain Cochrane’s letter to Gen- my Oppinion was from the report Mr W W TWpp rhftirman i eral ° age ’ May 16 ’ 1765 ’ giveS S01Tle Mr * Winter made to me that the t ’ rri- 0 A tp idea of the difficulties under which Ditch ought to be revetted (if Pa<?tnr nf nvmroii Turf’ these workmen began their task: made) with Either Brick stone or Pastor of Presbyterian Church, Mt. ^ bad dlsposit 8 lon of many of Pickets .. ^ house at the Fort the Cherokees, from the ill offices had been fisished in either March of the Crackers by Spreading the or April, 1766, and a garrison of rpqh har a/tt-c most inflaming Stories; And the “an offocer and twenty-five men” McKlnney ' bad intentions of the Mortar, made stationed there. Artrtro««_J“A r-vioiip^o-o 1116 Apprehensive for those who On March 24, 1767, Ralph Phil- frnm thp Past Prpcpnt had undertaken to build Fort lips wrote General Gage that “the and thp Future” Rv Mr Maionlm charl °tte, Mr. Williamson who Contractors that built Fort Char- J Shirlev Denartment r ’ manripv ha d made the Agreement had been lotte have been ordered payment, of the Ampripan r»f Rnnth also uneasy, but did not know how and it is all done Except the Ditch °l 8 ° 1 i th to mention it. and some small matter within the Carolina. (Introduced by Senator u „ L. L. Hester.) > 1 save great satisfaction to both [ * 011 • Unveiling of Marker: Master the Lie ut. Govr. and him by pro- By order of General Gage, June Preston Brooks Mayson, Jr., and P osin S to order there a Sergt., 24, 1768, Fort Charlotte was aban- Brother, Atlanta, Georgia. (A Cor Poral and fifteen men; which doned by the Independent Regu- was a number neither sufficient lars. The then “present state of to give much alarm to the Indians, the Colonies under the security nor too Small to prevent the they derive from the important Schemes of skulking Rascalls. I Cessions made to his Majesty by have sent orders to Capt. Philips the Treaty of Paris”, General Gage to have that Party in readiness to thought, admitted “of the entire march about the middle of June reduction of the Forts and Posts at farthest As soon as the as well as the interior as settled Carmel. Music: America—By audience. History sketch of Fort Charlotte Mayson decendant). Music: The Star Spangled Ban ner—By audience. ‘ Pledge To The Flag—By audi ence. Benediction — The Rev. A. F. Doty, Pastor, Mount Carmel Pres byterian Church. FORT CHARLOTTE Fort Moore, one of the three small garrisons established about 1763, supplied and maintained supposedly at Provincial expense, was located on the Carolina side of Savannah River only a few miles from Augusta, Georgia. This fort, however, proved useless; and in August, 1764, the Assembly of South Carolina decided to abandon Fbrt Moore, “finding it badly Situated, and in many Respects not tenable in case of an Attack” and to replace it with another fort more advantageously situated, “at or above Stephen’s Creek”. In order to select a most ad vantageous site for the new fort, Lieutenant Governor William Bull requested Captain Gavin Cochrane, who was a captain in the 1st Bat talion of the Royal Americans, and who was about to visit the King’s troops “in Our Outposts”, to select, while on this tour, “the most p^-ier place on Savannah River which might cover the flourishing Lew Settlements of British French and Germans near Long Canes”. On December 8, 1764, Bull inform ed General Gage that Cochrane had selected a site “35 miles far ther up the river”; and on Jan uary 10, 1765, he informed the General Assembly that Cochrane had “found a Spot commanding an easy Ford over Savannah River about midway between the French and German Settlements, extreme ly proper on every account for the important Service”. The House informed Bull the following day that as soon as “your Honor lays before us the Estimates of the Expence attend ing the Building of the Fort that business shall meet with all possible Consideration and Dis patch”. A few days later, January 30, Bull submitted a “Plan of the New Fort to be built- _with a sketch of the surrounding coun try”. He stated also that he would “honor this Fort with the name of' day Mr. Williamson reported that her Majesty, and call it Fort Char lotte”; and that “John Murray, Esq., a Member of your House who Works begin to be Advanced, it parts of the Country except a cer- will be very proper to send a I tain specified number which are stronger body, this being the Fort I still to be kept up to facilitate the which, will on many Accounts be Indian Commerce and that his by much the most important. Scattered Troops may be Collected I also recommend that all the and put in a proper state with re workmen should have arms, they gard to discipline and regulation will be conveniently lodged in the so as to be in a condition to serve occasional Fort. As many things effectually upon any Emergency as possible are to be transported whatever”. Consequently General there before the 18th of July that Gage ordered Captain Fuser, who it may be at the expence of the was in command of three Corn- Province. The Fort is to be finish- panies of the First Battalion of his ed, by Contract, before the 1st of Majesty’s 60th or Royal American January; tho’ it will probably take Regiment in South Carolina and a longer time. Stones are there in Georgia “to abandon the Forts plenty; lime is not yet found; the occupied by the Kings Troops in inside of the Wall is to be with those provinces and to embark stiff clay, which is there remark- them to join their Battalions to ably good; the outsides pointed the Northward with as much ex- with mortar, the Square 100 feet, pedition and dispatch as the na- with 4 Bastions; the Wall, I think, ture of Service will admit”. Cap- 19 or 20 feet high, the price agreed tain Fuser was ordered, however on 1Q00 pounds ster. 430 Acres are to consult with the Governor of surveyed for the use of the Fort. South Carolina about the disposal The progress of construction was of Fort Prince George and Fort even lower than Captain Cochrane Charlotte before the Troops should had predicted. Lieutenant Gover- be withdrawn: whether he wished nor Bull notified the Board, No- “to dismantle those Forts convert vember 16, 1765, that Fort Char- them to fortified Truck Houses or lotte was then built up with stone to any other Publick use”. The about four feet high, and that Governor “observed to the Board some commodious barracks were that the Forts which the Troops built. He reported also “that a I were to ,evcauate had been built at Number of Creek Indians on the a very considerable Expence to oposite side of the River had late- this province and that he thought ly refused to let our Men fetch it would be proper to appoint fit Stone from a Quarry and in order persons to take care of them of to prevent any disturbances that such Stores as were to be kept might arise from their being in there until the assembly should the Neighborhood he thought it meet and informed the Board that would be proper to send the Ef- he proposed Mr. Williamson to fective Men now in Town being take the care and Charge of Fort only five in Number thither which Prince George and Col. Bell of would augment the garrison to an Fort Charlotte and to desire them Afficers Guard under whose in- to hire two Men each at Ten spection the work would be carried Pounds each pr. Month to assist on and irregularities prevented them till the assembly should de- than under the Command of the termine some way or other con- Present Officer (Winter) who was ceming them”, only a Serjent.” The Board con- Fort prince George was discon- curred in this opinion. tinned, but Fort Charlotte was not, On July 2, 1766, Dr. John Murray as is evident from the Lieutenant reported that “Fort Charlotte is Governor’s message, in 1770, from now finished”; and on the same | the Commons House of Assembly “humbly desiring he (Lieutenant “the work was finished except pointing”, which he “could not do till he had got lime, and at ever, reported the following day “that Fort Charlotte is by no 99 has connections in that part of , present his Horses was not in a the Province and who is very able Condition to draw the Waggons”, to execute this work with fidelity The investigating Committee, how- from a Motive of Public Spirit in forms me that he is willing to un dertake it”. The Assembly voted means compleated”; and the House 1,000 pounds sterling for its con- informed his Excellency the Gov- struction in brick or stone. ernor that it could not “at this Two months later, March 5, time make any provision for that Bull “proposed to send immediate- service”. At the December 4, 1766, ly an Order to the Deputy Survey- session, Dr. Murray again reported or General to Cause a Square Tract the completion of the fort. On of 400 Acres of Land to be run out on the following day the Committee the Savannah River being the Spot investigating Dr. Murray’s request intended for a Fort”. The original for reinbursement, reported that plat gives this information by Pat “the said Fort is now compleated Calhoun, Deputy Surveyor: Pursuant to an order to me and finished agreeable to Agree ment excepting a Ditch round the directed by the Hon. William Bull, Wall, the foundation of the land Esq., Lieut. Governor &c. dated 5th March, 1765, I have Measured and laid off for his Majesty’s Use a plantation or Tract of Land is such as renders it impracticable on Account of the Grounds giving way, and Caving in whenever an attempt was made”, and recom- formerly known by the name of mended that the House direct the "Vanns or Goudys Tract then es- j Public Treasurer advance the sum teemed at 403 acres. But now re- of Sever. Thousand Pounds. On Governor Bull) would be pleased to give directions to have the Arms Ammunitions &c now at Fort Prince George brought down to Fort Charlotte, where they pro posed for the future to keep six men in pay and had also desired him to cause the Ammunition to be distributed amongst the Irish German and French protestants who had lately settled in this Province on the Bounty”. That the Fort was still in use in 17.74 is evinced by the Lieutenant Gov ernor’s report to the Assembly of January 27, 1774, that he had re ceived “from Mr. Whitefield the Commandant at Fort Charlotte” a letter giving him a particular ac count of the skirmish, January 23, 1774, between the Creek Indians and some of the inhabitants of Georgia; and that by return ex press he had written “Mr. White- field to give a good lookout to pre vent being surprised as the Indians might be induced for the sake of the ammunition which they knew was lodged in Fort Charlotte to make an attempt upon that' place and to receive into the Fort such persons as might fly thither for safety”. The news of the battle of Lex ington, April 19, 1775, reached Charles Town the following May. Immediately the Provincial Con gress was called to meet in Charles Town, on June 1; and at this meeting the Council of Safety was set up and Henry Laurens elected President. In this capacity Laurens was really the Acting Governor of South Carolina. In accordance with a resolution of this Council of Safety, June 26, 1775, Henry Laurens, President, on that day ordered Colonel Thomson “forthwith to station at Fort Charlotte a Company of Rangers to garrison that post, and to take care of the military stores which are there deposited”. On July 1, Colonel Thomson directed Major Mayson to place Fort Charlotte in charge of Captain Purvis. Because Purvis was unprepared on the 10th to take charge, Major Mayson went by Ninety Six, and took with him to Fort Charlotte Captains John Caldwell and Moses Kirkland with their Companies, consisting of 28 and 23 men respectively. On Wednesday, July 12, 1775, cetween 11 and 12 o’clock. Major Mayson, in command of this force, arrived at Fort Charlotte, which was defended by Captain George Whitefield and Lieutenant Louis du Mesnil de St. Pierre. Upon ar riving at the Fort, Major Mayson sent a message to Captain White- field, and then, in the name of the Council of Safett, took posses sion of Fort Charlotte—Arms, Am munition, and Stores—and de manded the keys of the Magazine and Stores. Although Whitefield “did everything an Officer could do without Power”, he necessarily acquiesced, despite the fact that he “had knowledge of what was intended, by Some impruedent ex pressions of Mr. Calhoun to the Serjant of the Fort”; but he did so “with a grace that will do him honour”. The Fort was then placed under the care of Captain Caldwell and his Company with orders to defent it. Two days later, July 14, Major Mayson and Captain Kirkland and Company returned to Ninety Six. As Kirkland and his entire Com pany, except Lieutenant Mitchell, deserted two weeks after the seizure of Fort Charlotte and be fore his Muster Roll was given Colonel Thomson, there is no known roll of his Company. The following composed Captain Cald well’s Company that took part in the seizure of this Fort, and that subsequently guarded it: Names Date of enlistment Capt. John Caldwell, 18 June 1775 Lieut. Samuel Taylor, 17 July 1775 Lieut. David Anderson, 13 Sept. 1775 Sergt. Oliver Towles, 26 June 1775 Sergt. William Coffell, 15 July 1775 PRIVATES David Murry 26 June 1775 aughlin Leonard — 26 June 1775 Andrew Huggins 26 June 1775 John Huggins 26 June 1775 James Huggins 26 June 1775 William Huggins 26 June 1775 Robert Owens 26 June 1775 Andrew Caldwell 26 June 1775 Benjamin Hodges — 26 June 1775 Tames Murry 26 June 1775 John McMahen 26 June 1775 Robert Johnston 26 June 1775 Charles Heard 26 June 1775 William Forbes 26 June 1775 Samuel Smith 26 June 1775 William Cunningham, 26 June 1775 Roger McKinney 26 June 1775 Timothy McKinney 26 June 1775 ohn McMahen, Jun., 26 June 1775 Reuben Golding 26 June 1775 . ohn Eakins 26 June 1775 Samuel Harper 26 June 1775 Anthony Harper 26 June 1775 Henry Willson 26 June 1775 Daniel Clark 26 June 1775 Hezekiah Yancy 11 July 1775 James Brown 14 July 1775 Patrick Forbes — 2d August 1775 News did not travel so rapidly then as now. On July 15, three days after the seizure of Fort Charlotte, the Council of Safety ordered “that Colonel Thomson do that you should carry their Order of the 26th June into execution, and immediately take possession of the Fort, and of all the military and other stores contained in it— for this end the Council made another Order last night, for en forcing the former The gun-powder is most particu larly recommended to your care; not only to get possession of the whole, but to prevent damage, waste, or misapplication of any part, and not a moment to be de layed. I flatter myself with hopes, that you will anticipate the wishes of the Council, that the Fort is now inforce Fort Charlotte with Militia”, and informed the Council that he was giving orders to do so and intended “immediately to throw a Quantity of Provision in”. The following order was issued by Mr. Tennant, from Long Canes. September, 1775, to Captain Cald well, “commanding a detachment of the 3rd Regiment, and some militiamen” at Fort Charlotte: This is to direct you to employ six workmen to build platforms for fighting the cannon and small arms in the Fort you at present command, and as expeditiously as possible, to put it into the repair in the hands of their officer; ^7, ‘T nevertheless. I have it in charge. ^ * * AugUSt 6 . th ' to signify their, commands, that, if it shall be necessary, you im mediately attempt to surmount every difficulty, by the united ef forts of your whole Regiment, and you at their head, together with such assistance as our friends and 1775, now in your possession. You are to employ the men under your command to assist the workmen in the labor. You are also ordered to mount two of the best four-pounders on high wheels, that they be fit for either associates in that neighborhood fv.^ t f f SerViC 5’ as need ma y may think proper to lend upon 3 £777 ant * C0 ‘7 S ^ thi, moment™,. , Provided for them that they may be easily drawn with horses. For these you are to provide two am- their Order, you take possession of the Fort and stores, without de lay; and that also, without delay, you transmit a return of your pro ceedings, including a complete in ventory.” The following “return of Artil lery, Ammunition & Stores at Fort Charlotte” was made by Captain Caldwell on July 13, 1775: 2 brass Cannon, 4 Iron six Pounders, § Iron four Pounders, 4 Iron two Pounders, 2 Swivels on Tryangles, 15 Muskets, 6 Ditto without Locks, 50 Cartouch Boxes, 11 Great Gun Worms, 8 Great Gun Pickers, 4 Great Gun Chargers, 123 lb Match, 717 lb Gun Powder in Six Casks, 338 lb damaged in 4 Casks & Cags, 83 Cartridges in a Cask, 4619 Gun Flints, 343 Iron Balls, 2521 lb Musket Balls, 2 Iron Eyes for Swivels, 6 Iron bolts for Cartridges, 3 large Iron Crows, 3 Tackle Blocks, good and bad, 15 Quires Cartridge Paper, 3 Smiths Vices, 1 Smiths Anvil, 2 Sledge & hand Hammers, 1 Screw Plate, 1 Coopers. Crow Stock & Iron, 30 Copper Hoops, 1 Spade, 68 Shovels, 38 Grubbing Hoes, 34 Pick Axes, 10 Bill Hooks, 2 Broad Axes, 1 Lathing Hammer, 9 Old Chisels, * 1 Smoothing Plane, 1 Rabbit Plane, 2 Guttering Planes, j 2 Foot Adzes, j 4 Augres, 3 Old Files, 5 Old Hand Saws, 4 Old Cross cut Saws, 1 Whip Saw, 3 Tennant Saws, 2 Paring Gouges, 20 Cartridge Pins. The continued possession of Fort Charlotte for a few months was of great importance, and its protection was of correspondingly great concern. From White Hall, August 21, 1775, Colonel Andrew Williamson wrote Captain Cald- wen, still Commandant at Fort Charlotte, that he had received a letter from Colonel Thomson and Mayson, dated the 10th inst., in forming him that a body of men from the Regiment of Rangers, headed by some of the disaffected about Stephen’s Creek (Kirkland, Cuningham, and Brown among the number), were going to attack Augusta—Drayton adds Fort Char lotte also. Williamson was asked to give Caldwell “every intelli gence for the defence of Fort immediately"march*with his whole i Charlotte", that he might be on Regiment, or such part as may be j * 1IS 7 ard ' a >£ f7 ed ; " You ^ necessary for this service, and 1 de P« nd u P° n “ 7“ ‘ f , e ™ r ^ * make such an attempt they will have Fort Charlotte in their view. “I would take the liberty to ad vise you, if you should hear any- take possession of Fort Charlotte, if the same is not already secured agreeable to the order of June 26th* last”. On the following day, July 16, Henry Laurens again thing of the above report—that wrote Colonel Thomson as follows, Captain Taylor would order some which letter shows the significance his Company to re-enforce the of Fort Charlotte to the Council P° s t- “I think it would not be of Safety and to South Carolina: anhss to send one of your men, The Council of Safety, alarmed ? ou . can P u ‘ most confidence this momentous affair. The earnestness of the Council upon this important service, im- a ^ pells me, in conclusion of this' . ... ’ *77’, ; subject again to reneat that it is, nd a11 that may be needful for a l™!? ’ :A march, and so fitted as to fasten on the carriages. Take great care that no man enter the Fort on any pretence, that you do not know and in whom you cannot place confidence. Be much upon your guard against surprise, especially in the night; for this purpose, as often as convenient, order out ad vanced sentinels and patrols. You are to clear away the standing "orn to some distance from the Fort, and insist that the corn which is left be bladed and topped, nor leave any cover that may hide an enemy. In case of an alarm, and when the approach of an enemy is no longer dubious, you are to fire three cannon towards the thickest settlements as a sig nal; communicating timely notice of the same to the volunteer and other companies of militia that they may understand it, which companies are hereby ordered im mediately to assemble and march under the command of their re spective officers to your relief, or so to annoy the enemy as the service may require. And, where as, there is a great scarcity of am munition among the militia, and an attack from Indians is to be apprehended, you are directed to give out 150 lbs. weight of the powder, and lead in proportion, under your care to the captains of the volunteer and other militia companies in the upper part of this district, who havfe associated, taking a receipt from them, and directing them so to dispose it among their men, as that it may be returned upon demand when it shall be apprehended that the danger is over.” On September 29, 1775, Colonel William Thomson wrote the Coun cil of Safety that he had examined Fort Charlotte and “think it is in very good order for defence and that there is a very good Company in it”. The last reference to this Fort— that is, the last one found—is in Lord William Campbell’s letter of October 18, 1775, to the Board of Trade and plantations, in England. Drayton had requested a confer ence with Fletchall, Cuningham, and Thomas Brown to solicit peace. They refused to meet in such a conference; but they sent a series of instructions by Fletchall and six messengers, the 7th of which dealt with Fort Charlotte as follows: “And as a proper security for the performance of the above articles that Fort Charlotte with the Ar tillery, Arms, and Ammunition and Stores in the State they were seized upon by Orders of that body commonly called the Con gress shall be immediately put into our possession to be at his Excellency the Governor’s dis posal.” Needless to say, this re quest was not granted. Very soon thereafter, the use of Fort Charlotte, erected as a protection against hostile Indians, and supported and garrisoned at the expense of the Province, was evidently discontinued. The fact that the Indians had been checked by the recently re-organized mili tia, that they could not receive in the back country military sup plies from the British, and that private block houses were being frequently used, doubtless were contributing factors in this discon tinuance. by an intimation of Mr. St. Pierre’s in, to watch the motion of the proceedings with one Coffel, in disaffected about Stephen’s Creek, the Port, as given by Captain and tde Pine-a-wood House.” Whitfield in a letter to Mr. Ger- ! On August 22, 1775, Andrew Wil- vais, and not clearly informed of liamson wrote the Council of Safe- the part which the Captain him- ty from White Hall that Drayton self means to take, are anxious, had that day directed him” to re- j « PRINTING . to Order at Our PRINT SHOP