Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

116 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
dented servant, a baker, was detailed to bake bread for them, while veni
son, brought in by the Indians, took the place of salt provisions, Ogle
thorpe was anxious to see the fort completed before an attack from the
Spaniards should materialize; and in order that news of any movement
from the enemy in this direction might be obtained without delay Indian
runners were employed to watch the walls of St. Augustine. In the event
of trouble the Chehaws had promised a band of warriors. Tomo-chi-chi,
with his brave Yainacraws, was also ready to assist. Ensign Delegal,
hearing that trouble was imminent, reached Frederica on the 10th of
May, with thirty men of the Independent Company, but only tarried to
locate a fort on the east side of St. Simon's Island. Here he mounted
several guns. Returning', on June 8th, with the rest of the Independent
Company, he brought thirteen cannon, and completed his earthwork
which became known as Delegal's Fort at the Sea Point. Volunteers
from Georgia and South Carolina offered themselves in such numbers
that Oglethorpe was compelled to issue orders directing all who had
plantations to cultivate them until summoned to arms.
Meanwhile steps were taken by England to conciliate the Spaniards.
Mr. Charles Dempsey, an envoy of the British government, had accom
panied Oglethorpe to America, with instructions to proceed to St. Au
gustine. On February 19, 1736, with Major Richards, he set out for the
Florida capital. We cannot enter into any detailed narrative of these
negotiations. It is useless to deny that, during his residence in St.
Augustine, Mr. Dempsey did much to adjust relations between Georgia
and Spain and to prevent a Spanish invasion of Georgia soil. His
visit was well timed, for Spain was only too eager to crush the struggling
Province of Georgia, She had long been maturing plans to this end.
But while much is to be credited to the diplomatic errand of Mr. Demp
sey, still more is due to the sleepless vigilance of Oglethorpe and to the
splendid show of batteries, scout boats and armed men which he made
on Georgia's ocean front. Thus two whole years elapsed before the
blow contemplated by Spain was finally delivered.
FORT AUGUSTA: 1736.—Overlooking the Savannah Biver, from the rear of St.
Paul's Church, stands a cross of Celtic design which marks the birth-place of the
present City of Augusta. It was on this spot, at the head of navigation, that the
great founder of the colony caused a fort to loo erected in 1736, the object of which
was to protect the trading post established at this point, in the fall of 1735, and to
divert the extensive Oherokee and Creek Indian trade hitherto monopolized by South
Carolina. In honor of the Princess of Wales, whose royal consort afterwards became
George III, it was christened Fort Augusta, though it was sometimes called King's
Port. It was not a large affair. The dimensions were 120 feet each way and the
walls were constructed of wood. But it answered the purpose: Augusta was never
attacked or pillaged by the savages. Sometimes they came quite near; indeed,
their faces often peered through the dense forest across the river and their foot
prints were often seen in the nearby trails, but they never ventured to hurl a torch
or a tomahawk against the village.
At first the garrison consisted of less than twenty men. However, with the
increase of trade, it was gradually strengthened. According to an early document
on the state of the province, dated November 10, 1740, and made under oath it
was estimated that 2,000 pack-horse loads of peltry were brought to Augusta an
nually and that 600 white persons, including servants, were engaged in the
traffic. Thus the importance of Augusta as a trading point, even from tho earliest
times, is clearly shown; and William Batrram, the celebrated English naturalist,