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112 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
to 1716. It was called at first Savannah Town, afterwards Fort Moore,
and was planned as a sort of trading post to facilitate commerce with
the Gherokee Indians who occupied the mountain regions and with
the Upper Creeks who dwelt principally in Alabama. The first agent
in charge of the store was Theophilus Hastings. There was a well
established trail running through the wilderness from Port Moore to
Charleston, with which town there was also communication by water.
The garrison located on the west side of the Savannah River at this
time was called Fort Augusta, in honor of a royal princess by this name.
Besides a rude fortification built to defend the neighborhood there was
erected in its shadow a large warehouse well stocked with supplies such
as were usually sought by the Indians. Animal skins of various kinds
called pelts, taken in exchange, always brought good prices in the
CELTIC CROSS, MARKING THE SITE OP OLD FORT AUGUSTA
Charleston market. To divert this trade to Savannah was one of the
primary objects of the new settlement. Accordingly a line of boats was
established between Savannah and Fort Augusta, which in time became
a source of great profit. The new settlement proved to be a great resort
for traders, especially in the spring of each year. Here was purchased
from the Indians annually ''some 2,000 pack horse loads of skins^ and
other articles offered by the natives in the way of barter; and includ
ing residents of the town, pack horse men, boat hands and servants, it
is estimated that not less than 600 white persons were, at an early date,
engaged in commercial transactions." With the growing importance of
Fort Augusta, the settlement at Fort Moore began to decline. In addi
tion to a water route, there was also opened a road to Savannah over
which one could travel on horseback. On the authority of Colonel Jones
a man by the name of O'Bryan was the first settler at Fort Augusta,
erecting there at his own expense a well furnished store house. Roger