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114 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
struction and taught the men to dig the ditches and to turf the ramparts.
There were two large magazines, sixty feet in length and three stories
in height included within the stockade. The barracks were at the north
end of the town, where they occupied quarters ninety feet square. Over
the gateway rose a tower, while on either side there were bastions two
stories in height and twenty feet square, each equipped with heavy
guns. To furnish adequate water supplies, a well was dug within the
fort. In honor of Frederick, Prince of Wales, the stronghold was
christened Frederica.
To quote Colonel Jones again: "Such was the simple beginning of
Frederica. Near this town Mr. Oglethorpe fixed the only home he ever
owned in the province. In its defence were enlisted his best energies,
military skill and valor. Brave are the memories of St. Simon's Island.
None prouder belong to the colonial history of Georgia.'' But we must
dissent from a statement made by Colonel Jones in the foregoing para
graph. Oglethorpe's ownership of a home contravenes one of the ex
press rules adopted by the corporation forbidding a trustee to own any
land in the province. It was not, therefore, in any sense of absolute
proprietorship that Oglethorpe owned a home on St. Simon's Island.
Having given explicit directions to the workmen at Frederica the
founder once more turned Ms face northward to superintend the trans
fer of stores and passengers from the vessels anchored off Tybee Island.
En route, he stopped over to visit the Highlanders at Darien. These
Scotch settlers accorded him a hearty welcome, and there was great re
joicing among them when it was learned that a town was soon to be
established on St. Simon's Island and that direct communication by
land was soon to be opened with Savannah. Though importuned by
Capt. Hugh Mackay to occupy his tent for the night, Oglethorpe ex
cused himself, preferring to make his couch at the Guard Fire, wrapped
in his Scotch plaid, "for he wore the Highland Habit." Despite the
cold weather, Captain Mackay followed his example, as did also the
other gentlemen.
In due season Oglethorpe reached Tybee Island. Assembling the
colonists together he informed them of his failure to persuade the two
captains to conduct them to Frederica in the ocean transports. He also
apprised them of the difficulties to be encountered in making a passage
of the inland waters in open boats, and gave them an option of settling
in Savannah; but after conferring for two hours they decided to make
the trip to Frederica, notwithstanding the hazards involved. On March
2d the new settlers embarked for Frederica in a fleet of open boats, for
each of which spare oars were provided. Oglethorpe accompanied them
on this trip, taking passage in the rear craft. To encourage the men
who operated the oars, Oglethorpe, we are told, "placed all the.strong
beer on board a fast boat." Five days were consumed in the voyage;
but finally on March 8th Frederica was safely reached.
To make amends for lost time the colonists worked with a vim. In
three weeks a battery of cannon had been mounted upon a high rampart
covered with sod, streets had been laid out for the town, and a store
house, sixty feet in width, had been started. The earliest description of