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Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 135<br />

as such. Mr. Henry Parker became first magistrate in his stead; while,<br />

to succeed him as storekeeper, Colonel William Stephens, who was <strong>the</strong>n<br />

in Savannah, serving as secretary to <strong>the</strong> trustees in <strong>the</strong> province, was<br />

appointed.* Oglethorpe demanded bond <strong>of</strong> Causton; but since <strong>the</strong>re<br />

were not in <strong>the</strong> colony men <strong>of</strong> sufficient means to make good <strong>the</strong> sums<br />

involved it was necessary to take Causton's individual bond secured by<br />

an assignment <strong>of</strong> his home at Ockstead, with all improvements <strong>the</strong>reon.<br />

Examining Causton's accounts proved intricate work. His system<br />

<strong>of</strong> bookkeeping was a marvel <strong>of</strong> confusion. Months elapsed without<br />

bringing matters to an end. Finally Causton was ordered to London<br />

to appear before <strong>the</strong> common council; but with no better result. Fail<br />

ing to produce proper vouchers, he was permitted to return to <strong>Georgia</strong>,<br />

where he promised to make everything satisfactory to <strong>the</strong> trustees.<br />

But, en route home, he died at sea and in a grave beneath <strong>the</strong> Atlantic's<br />

rolling waters <strong>the</strong> restless spirit <strong>of</strong> this unhappy man at length found<br />

rest.<br />

* Jones, History <strong>of</strong> Ga., Vol. I, p. 271.<br />

OGLETHORPE's KEGIMENT.—Whatever may be said to <strong>the</strong> disparagement <strong>of</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong><br />

as a colony <strong>of</strong> indigent debtors and <strong>of</strong> impecunious exiles, <strong>the</strong>re was not to be found<br />

in <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> King <strong>of</strong> England a body <strong>of</strong> soldiers whose family connections<br />

were superior to .those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men who composed Oglethorpe's Regiment. The story<br />

<strong>of</strong> how he ga<strong>the</strong>red <strong>the</strong>m is thus told by Colonel Jones. Says he:<br />

'' Oglethorpe's regiment was limited to six companies <strong>of</strong> one hundred men each,<br />

exclusive <strong>of</strong> non-commissioned <strong>of</strong>ficers and drummers. To it a grenadier company was<br />

subsequently attached. Disdaining to 'make a market <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> service' by selling<br />

commissions, <strong>the</strong> General secured <strong>the</strong> appointment, as <strong>of</strong>ficers, only <strong>of</strong> such persons<br />

as were gentlemen <strong>of</strong> family and character in <strong>the</strong>ir respective communities. He also<br />

engaged about twenty young gentlemen <strong>of</strong> no fortune to serve as cadets. These he<br />

subsequently promoted as vacancies occurred. So far from deriving any pecuniary<br />

benefit from <strong>the</strong>se appointments, <strong>the</strong> General, in some cases, from his private fortune<br />

advanced <strong>the</strong> fees requisite to procure commissions, and provided moneys for <strong>the</strong> pur<br />

chase <strong>of</strong> uniforms. At his own expense he engaged <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> forty supernumer<br />

aries—' a. circumstance,' says a contemporary writer, ' very extraordinary in our<br />

armies, especially in our plantations.' In order to engender in <strong>the</strong> hearts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

enlisted men an attachment for and an interest in <strong>the</strong> Colony which <strong>the</strong>y were to<br />

defend and also to induce <strong>the</strong>m to become settlers, permission was granted to each<br />

to take a wife with him, for <strong>the</strong> support <strong>of</strong> whom additional pay and rations were<br />

provided. So carefully was this regiment recruited and <strong>of</strong>ficered that it constituted<br />

one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best military organizations in <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> King."<br />

As ga<strong>the</strong>red by Mr. G. W. J. DeRenne, from <strong>the</strong> Book <strong>of</strong>) Army Commissions,<br />

from 1728 to 1841, in <strong>the</strong> Eeeord Office in London, some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> Ogle<br />

thorpe's Regiment are given below. The list is fragmentary, but a more complete<br />

one is probably not in existence. These names are as follows:<br />

James Oglethorpe, Colonel <strong>of</strong> a regiment<br />

<strong>of</strong> foot.<br />

James Cochran, Lieut-Colonel.<br />

Wm. Cook, Major.<br />

Hugh Mackay, Captain.<br />

Richard Norbury, Captain.<br />

Alcx. Herron, Captain.<br />

Albert Desbrisay, Captain.<br />

Philip Delegall, Senior Lieutenant.<br />

Philip Delegall, Junior Lieutenant.<br />

Raymond Demere, Lieutenant.<br />

George Morgan, rank not stated.<br />

George Dunbar, rank not stated.<br />

Will Horton, Ensign.<br />

James Mackay, Ensign.<br />

Wm. Polsom, Ensign.<br />

John Tanner, Ensign.<br />

John Leman, Ensign.<br />

Sandford Mace, Ensign.<br />

Hugh Mackay, Adjutant.<br />

Edward Dyson, Clerk and Chaplain.<br />

Thomas Hawkins, Surgeon.<br />

Edward Wansall, Quartermaster.

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