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GEOEGIA AND GEORGIANS 113
De Lacy, a noted Indian trader, was also an early pioneer resident of
the town. The garrison at this place was commanded for some time by
a Captain Kent. Its maintenance was a charge upon the trustees.
Oglethorpe next turned his attention to the south. First a highway
was surveyed to connect Savannah and Darien. Mr. Hugh Mackay was
engaged to run this line, assisted by Messrs. Augustine and Tolme, with
guides furnished by Tomo-chi-chi. Captain MacPherson, at the head of
a detachment of rangers, was sent to aid the Highlanders on the Alta-
maha River.
But the founder's most cherished project was the fortification of
St. Simon's Island. With this end in view, he secured some fifty rangers,
besides one hundred workmen, to assist him in building a fort to com
mand the mouth of the Altamaha River, also a town to be located in its
immediate neighborhood. Having made these preliminary arrange
ments, he returned to where the Symond and the London Merchant lay
at anchor in the Savannah River. But he found their captains unwill
ing to risk a hazardous trip through unknown waters. He, therefore,
purchased the cargo of a sloop, the Midnight, on condition that its
freight should be at once delivered at Frederica. Captains Cornish and
Thomas were to board this sloop, leaving their vessels in charge of
Mr. Francis Moore, keeper of the stores, and proceeding southward
were to acquire a knowledge of the entrance into Jekyll Sound; after
which they were to conduct their vessels thither. With thirty single
men, Messrs. Plorton and Tanner were ordered to acompany the sloop,
which was well supplied with munitions for resisting an attack. Ogle
thorpe set sail in a scout boat to meet the sloop at Jekyll Sound. Cap
tain Hermsdorf, some Indians and two colonists accompanied him, while
Captain Dunbar, with his boat, followed behind. Threading the in
terior waters, St. Simon's was reached on the morning of February 18,
1736. All hands were immediately put to work. Three days later a
periagua arrived from Savannah bringing workmen, provisions, and
military supplies for the new settlement. On the 26th Captains Cornish
and Thomas returned to Tybee; but after sounding these waters they
were still unwilling to risk their vessels on a journey to Frederica. At
great delay, therefore, and much to the annoyance of Oglethorpe, it
was necessary to transfer the cargoes brought over by these vessels to
smaller ones, the Peter and the James; but in time both cargoes were
discharged at St. Simon's.
Fort Frederica was soon built. Nor could a better site have been
chosen. It faced one of the several streams into which the delta of the
Altamaha River divides on approaching the ocean, but it so happened
that the channel which it overlooked at this point constituted the most im
portant outlet to the sea. Oglethorpe possessed the trained eye as well
as the stout arm of the soldier. He saw at once the strategic value
of the bluff, while in the level area of ground which stretched behind
it he found the ideal spot for his future home town. Here" he began to
erect the fort, which was to guard the exposed southern frontier of
Georgia. The original structure was in the main built of tabby, a
concrete material of lime mixed with shells and stones. It was quad
rangular in shape, provided with four bastions, and defended by
eighteen-pounders. Oglethorpe himself superintended the work of con-