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CHAPTER XVII
OGLETHORPE's TREATY WITH THE INDIANS AT COWETA TOWN NEGOTI
ATED NONE Too SOON—RELATIONS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SPAIN
REACH AN ACUTE STAGE—WAR Is DECLARED—ADMIRAL VEENON Is
COMMISSIONED TO COMMAND A SQUADRON IN THE WEST INDIES—
SPANIARDS BUTCHER DEFENSELESS SETTLERS ON AMELIA ISLAND—
THE FIRST BLOODSHED—OGLETHORPE PURSUES THE MURDERERS
WITH DIREFUL VENGEANCE AND BY WAY OF RETALIATION SWEEPS
THE ST. JOHN'S AND BURNS THREE OUTPOSTS—RAVAGES THE COUN
TRY IN THE DIRECTION OF ST. AUGUSTINE—NEXT PLANS A DECISIVE
BLOW AT THE FLORIDA CAPITAL—EXPECTS FLEET, IN THE HARBOR TO
RE-ENFORCE LAND OPERATIONS—WHY THE ATTACK UPON ST.
AUGUSTINE FAILED—COLONEL PALMER'S DISOBEDIENCE OF ORDERS—
His TRAGIC DEATH—FORT MOOSA A DEATH-TRAP FOR THE GEOR
GIANS, WHO FIGHT LIKE LIONS AT BAY—MORE THAN A YEAR
ELAPSES—THE SPANISH INVASION AT LAST MATERIALIZES—THE
HISTORIC BATTLE OF BLOODY MARSH—OGLETHORPE's ACCOUNT—
SPAIN Is GIVEN A DECISIVE BLOW—CARLYLE'S OPINION—WHITE-
FIELD'S COMMENT—OGLETHOBPE'S FAREWELL TO GEORGIA—FINAL
RETURN TO ENGLAND—His SUBSEQUENT CAREER.
NOTES: BLOODY MARSH—FORCES ENGAGED—MEMORIAL OF BLOODY
MARSH—FORT FHEDERICA—GENERAL OGLETHORPE's EPITAPH.
Ogletliorpe's treaty with, the Indians at Coweta Town was negoti
ated none too soon. Relations between Spain and England had
reached an acute stage. British trade with America had for years been
harrassed by Spanish, coast guards who, under the most frivolous pre
tenses, had seized English merchantmen, confiscating the property on
board. At the same time, English sailors had been thrown into prison
and subjected to cruel treatment. There was naturally a demand for
redress raised throughout England, but Walpole, eager for extending-
British trade, was anxious to maintain peace, a condition essential to
this end. He, therefore, sought reparation by means of indemnity;
and, under the terms of an agreement signed at Pardo, in January, 1739,
Spain had agreed to pay a stipulated sum to cover losses sustained by
British subjects. With respect, however, to the territory in dispute
between Georgia and Florida, the issue as to a boundary line was to 1
be settled by a commission representing the two powers. But Spain
had failed to meet her obligations under this compact and had defaulted
in the matter of paying an indemnity at the time stipulated. War,
therefore, was declared.
Oglethorpe's defensive activities in safeguarding Georgia had given
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