59 Evil Deeds of the Spaniards (1740)

In 1702, before Queen Anne’s Declaration of War was known in these parts, the Spaniards formed another design to fall upon our settlements by land at the head of nine hundred Apalatchee Indians from there. The Creek Indians, in friendship with this province, coming at a knowledge of it and sensible of the dangers approaching, acquainted our traders then in the nation with it, when this army was actually on their march coming down that way. The traders having thereupon encouraged the Creeks to get together an army of five hundred men, headed the same [way] and went out to meet the other. The Creeks rushing forth fell on them, killed and took the greatest part, and entirely routed them.

In the latter end of the same year, Queen Anne’s War being commenced, Colonel Moore then Governor of this province with reason expected a visit from the Spaniards. And it having been suggested to him that St. Augustine might be easily taken if surprised, he judged it best to give them the first blow. Accordingly he undertook an expedition against it with about five hundred whites and five hundred Indians. He himself with four hundred of the Whites proceeded in the vessels directly to the Bar of St. Augustine harbor whilst Col. Daniel landing at St. Juan’s marched directly from there with the other hundred and the Indians and entered the town with them only, the same day as the vessels appeared in sight. This little army kept the castle close besieged above three months and repelled several sallies with the loss of very few men. Yet having no bombs with them and a Spanish Man of War coming to its relief from Havana with a considerable number of men on board four large transports which landed on Anastatia, they were obliged to retreat. But not without first burning the town.

In 1715, peace having been some time concluded between the Crowns [England and Spain] 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.

In 1727, peace between the Crowns continuing, fresh depredations were committed on this province from Augustine, both by land and water which created the expense of two expeditions to prevent the progress of them. At the same time a party of Yamasee Indians, headed by Spaniards from St. Augustine, having murdered our Out-Scouts, made an Incursion into our Settlements.

In the latter end of 1737, still peace subsisting, great preparations were made to invade openly this province and Georgia. For that purpose a great body of men arrived at St. Augustine in galleys from the Havana, which put this province to a very large expense to provide against. But happily they were countermanded just as they were ready to set off.

In 1738, although peace subsisted and Governor Johnson after his arrival here had in 1733 renewed the before-mentioned stipulation, another method was taken by the Spaniards to answer their ends. Hitherto the government of St. Augustine had not dared to acknowledge, much less to justify, the little villainies and violences offered to our properties. But now an Edict of his Catholic Majesty himself bearing date in November 1733 was published by beat of drum round the Town of St. Augustine (where many negroes belonging to English vessels that carried thither supplies of provisions, etc., had the opportunity of hearing it) promising liberty and protection to all slaves that should desert thither from any of the English colonies, but more especially from this. And lest that should not prove sufficient of itself, secret measures were taken to make it known to our slaves in general. In consequence of which numbers of slaves did from time to time, by land and water desert to St. Augustine. And the better to facilitate their escape, carried off their Masters’ horses, boats, some of them first committing murder, and were accordingly received and declared free. Our present Lieutenant Governor, by Deputies sent from here on that occasion to Señor Don Manuel de Montiano, the present Governor of St. Augustine, set forth the manner in which those slaves had escaped and redemanded them pursuant to the stipulation between the two governments and to the peace subsisting between  the Crowns. Notwithstanding which, though that Governor acknowledged those Slaves to be there, yet producing the King of Spain’s said Edict he declared that he could not deliver them up without a positive order for that purpose from the King. And that he should continue to receive all others that should resort thither, it having been an article of complaint against his predecessor that he had not put the said Edict in force sooner. Conspiracies were formed and attempts made by more slaves to desert to St. Augustine, but by great vigilance, they were prevented from succeeding. However,

In September 1739 our Slaves made an Insurrection at Stono, in the heart of our settlements not twenty miles from Charles Town, in which they massacred twenty-three whites after the most cruel and barbarous manner to be conceived. And having got arms and ammunition out of a store, they bent their course to the southward, burning all the houses on the road. But they marched so slow, in full confidence of their own strength from their first success, that they gave time to a party of our militia to come up with them. The number was in a manner equal on both sides and an engagement ensued such as may be supposed in such a case. But by the blessing of God the negroes were defeated, the greatest part being killed on the spot or taken and those that then escaped were so closely pursued and hunted day after day that in the end all but two or three were killed or taken and executed. That the negroes would not have made this insurrection had they not depended on St. Augustine for a place of reception afterwards was very certain. And that the Spaniards had a hand in prompting them to this particular action, there was but little room to doubt.

On this occasion every breast was filled with concern. Evil brought home to us within our very doors, awakened the attention of the most unthinking. Everyone that had any relation, any tie of nature; everyone that had a life to lose were in the most sensible manner shocked at such danger daily hanging over their heads. With regret we bewailed our peculiar case, that we could not enjoy the benefits of peace like the rest of mankind  and that our own industry should be the means of taking from us all the sweets of life and of rendering us liable to the loss of our lives and fortunes. With indignation we looked at St. Augustine: that den of thieves and ruffians! Receptacle of debtors, servants, and slaves! Bane of industry and society! And revolved in our minds all the injuries this province had received from thence, ever since its first settlement. That they had from first to last, in times of profoundest peace, both publicly and privately, by themselves, Indians, and negroes in every shape molested us; not without some instances of uncommon cruelty. And what aggravated the same was that this government (on the contrary) had never been wanting in its good offices with our Indians in their behalf. And even during Queen Anne’s War had exercised so much humanity towards them that in order to prevent those Indians from scalping them according to their Custom, when they should take any of them prisoners, a law was passed to give them five pounds proclamation money for every one they should bring in alive. And accordingly a great Number of the Spaniards by that means were brought in alive and the reward paid for them.

Source: Report of South Carolina legislative committee, in B. R. Carroll, compiler, Historical Collections of South Carolina (1836), II, 351-359. https://archive.org/details/toldcontemporari02hartrich/page/340/mode/2up