Hewat on Cherokee War
Alexander Hewatt, An
Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of the Colonies of South Carolina
and Georgia, Vol. II (1779)
The lower towns had all been destroyed by Colonel Montgomery
; the warriors in the middle settlements had lost many friends and relations ;
and several Frenchmen had crept in among the uppertowns and helped to foment
their ill humour against Carolina. Lewis Latinac, a French officer, was among
them, and proved an indefatigable instigator to mischief. He persuaded the
Indians that the English had nothing less in view than to exterminate them from
the face of the earth ; and, furnishing them with arms and ammunition, urged
them on to war. At a great meeting of the nation he pulled out his hatchet, and,
striking it into a log of wood, called out, Who is the man that will take this
up for the King of France? Salouè, the young warrior of Eltatoe, instantly laid
hold of it, and cried out,
“I am for war. The spirits of our brothers who “ have been slain
call upon us to avenge their death. He is no better than a woman that refuses “
to follow me. ” Many others seized the tomahawk, yet dyed in British blood, and
burnt with impatience for the field.
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[1761 Cherokee sue for peace]
ACCORDINGLY Attakullakulla and the other chieftains, being
furnished with a safeguard, set out for Charlestown to hold a conference with
Mr. Bull, who, on their arrival, called a council to meet at Ashley Ferry, and
then spoke to the following effect.
“Attakullakulla, I am glad to see
you, and as I have always heard of your good behaviour, as that you have been a
good friend to the English, " I take you by the hand, and not only you but
all “ those with you also, as a pledge for their security " whilst under
my protection. Colonel Grant acquaints me that you have applied for peace ; now
« that you are come, I have met with my beloved “ men to hear what you have to say,
and my ears are open for that purpose. ”
Then a fire was kin dled, the pipe of peace was lighted, and
all sinoked together for some time in great filence and solem pity.
Then Attakullakulla arofe, and
addressed the Lieu. tenant - Governor and Council to the following effect. “ It
is a great while since I last saw your honour ; now I am glad to see you, and
all the beloved men present ~ I am come to you as a messenger 6 from the whole
nation - I have now seen you, “ smoked with you, and hope we shall live
together “ as brothers. - When I came to Keowee, Colonel “ Grant sent me to you
- You live at the water side, " and are in light - We are in darkness, but
hope “ all will be yet clear with us. I have been con stantly going about doing
good, and though I am " tired, yet I am come to see what can be done for
my people, who are in great distress. ” Here he produced the strings of wampum
he had received from the different towns, denoting their earnest desire of
peace; and then added, “ As to what has happened, I believe it has been ordered
by our " Father above.- We are of a different colour from - the white
people — They are superior to us - But one God is father of all, and we hope
what is past will be forgotten. — God Almighty made all “ people - There is not
a day but some are coming " into, and others are going out of, the world.
“ The great King told me the path should never be “ crooked, but open for every
one to pass and re “ pass.- As we all live in one land, I hope we shall “ all
live as one people. ” After which peace was formally ratified and confirmed by
both parties, and their former friendship being renewed, all hoped that it it
would last as long as the sun shall shine and the rivers run.
Thus ended the Cherokee war, which was among the last
humbling strokes given to the expiring power of France in North America, and
Colonel Grant returned to Charlestown to wait further orders. But no sooner was
peace concluded, and the province secured against external enemies, than an
unhappy difference broke out between the two principal com manders of the
regular and provincial forces.
Colonel Grant, a native of Scotland, was naturally of a high
spirit, to which he added that pride of rank which he held among those British soldiers
who had carried their arms triumphant through the continent. During this
expedition it is probable that he scorned to ask the advice of a provincial
officer, whom he deemed an improper judge of military operations, and claimed
the chief glory of having restored peace to the province. Colonel Middleton was
equally warm and proud, and considering such neglect as an affront, resented it,
and while some reflections were cast upon the provincial troops, being the
chief in command, he thought himself bound to stand forth as a champion for the
honour of the province.
This ill - humour, which ap peared between the officers on
their return to Charles town, was encouraged and fomented by persons delighting
in broils, who, by malicious surmises and false reports, helped to widen the
difference. The dif pute became serious, and was carried on for some time in
the public papers by mutual charges of misconduct, and at length terminated in
a duel. Mr. Middleton called out Colonel Grant to the single combat, after they
had both given the best proof of their courage against the common enemy. The
duel, however, happily terminated without bloodshed, and not a little to the credit
of the Scots officer, though his antago- : nist fhewed no less spirit in the
field of honour, false, ly fo called, than in defence of his country. The
citizens of Charlestown feemed interested in the dir pute, and each spoke of
the conduct of the two offi cers as they were differently affected.
Indeed, how. ever much we may applaud the brave man who is
first in the field in defence of his country, with justico we with - hold our
praises from him that is first at the single combat with a private friend.
Colonel Grant, with great reason, considered such treatment, after having
brought the enemies of the colony to the most advantageous terms of peace, as a
base recompence for his services. From this period a party - spirit ap peared
in Carolina. All the malicious aspersions and inflammatory accusations against
the inhabitants of North Britain, which were at this time wantonly and wickedly
published in England, were greedily swal lowed by one party in the province,
and industri. oully propagated. Prejudices were contracted, che rished, and
unhappily gained ground among the peo ple. Terms of reproach and abuse were
collected from those factious publications in London and poured indiscriminately
upon all the natives of Scotland, who were by no means backward in retorting
the abuse.
In a growing province, where the utmost harmony and
liberality of sentiment ought to have been cherished by all, as the most
certain means of promoting the public strength and prosperity, such a party - spirit
was attended, as might have been expected, with the most pernicious consequence.
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