a tribe of Indians called the Savannahs, who had been compelled to abandon their towns and settlements, in consequence of a war between them and the Uchee tribe, who claimed the land adjoining them to the southward. When these families first arrived in the country, they had formed a kind of encampment, at a place afterwards called the Quaker-springs, seven miles from Augusta, and were impressed with a belief, from their own pacific temper, that they would have no difficulty in living on terms of friendship with the neighboring Indians: they had cleared some land, and made some progress in agriculture, before the Indians became hostile, but on the first appearance of the hatchet and scalping knife, they were alarmed, and at the sound of the war-whoop, fled and abandoned the country. The fortifications at Augusta had tumbled into ruins, and the people were greatly and very justly alarmed, at the hostile appearances which the state of affairs presented every man' was engaged at this important season of the year in making preparations for the support of his family, and while thus necessarily employed, they were kept in a constant state of alarm.

About the middle of May, an express brought intelligence from Patrick Graham, of Augusta, stating that James Maxwell, with a number of traders had just arrived from the Cherokee nation, from whence they had fled with the greatest precipitation, to save their lives; that two traders had

been murdered, and that they had been robbed of all their goods: that the inhabitants had fled from their plantations, and taken refuge in a church for mutual defence: that the number of women and children, crowded in such close quarters without subsistence, presented a most distressing scene. Detachments of mounted militia had been sent in different directions, but no traces of the enemy, had yet been discovered near Augusta. Another letter was received from James Fraser, which enclosed the copy of Maxwell's affidavit, of the facts relating to the hostile temper of the Indians: on a particular examination of this paper, some of the council were doubtful whether a trick had not been practised by some of the traders, to bring on a war with the Indians, by which means they would be screened from the payment of their debts; or that the whole story was untrue, and had been fabricated to answer their pecuniary purposes, as they were generally men of bad character, and had involved themselves in debts which they were unable to pay : that those idle abandoned spendthrifts, who had lost their credit, and had nothing more to lose, would perhaps, be most secure in the midst of confusion and war: but in either event, it was considered prudent, to put the country in a state of defence. Accordingly the magazine was examined, officers were appointed, and ordered to muster and discipline the militia: a troop of horse was ordered to be raised, composed of such inhab

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itants as were possessed of three hundred acres of land. Noble Jones was appointed colonel, and his son, Noble W. Jones, who had been a cadet in Oglethorpe's regiment, was appointed to command the dragoons. Bourquin and Francis, were appointed captains of the infantry, and an express was sent to captain Mackintosh, at Darien, and to the officers at St. Simon's and Cumberland, warning them of the danger which threatened the province. The governor of South Carolina had also put the frontiers of that province in a state of defence detachments of twenty-five men, were ordered to strengthen the posts on the frontier, and ammunition was sent to fort Moore, nearly opposite to Augusta, and to other garrisons where it was required. It appeared, eventually, that some of the young warriors of the Cherokee nation, had behaved insultingly to some of the traders, because they were not sufficiently supplied with ammunition; but the chiefs of the nation disapproved of the conduct of these young men, and were disposed to cultivate a peaceable and friendly intercourse: however, on the traders returning to the nation, with only small supplies of ammunition, they were all immediately seized by the Cherokees, who demanded the reasons why they had not been supplied with the quantity which they required; observing that their nation had been threatened with hostility by the Notteweges tribe, who were supported by the French, and that the destruction of their

!

people would be the consequence of the traders with-holding articles so absolutely necessary for their defence. The traders proposed if liberated to go immediately to Augusta, and bring them a plentiful supply; the Indians consented that two only should be released on condition that they would return in thirty days, but that the others should be detained as hostages for a fulfilment of this stipulation, and that their lives should pay the forfeit. The traders finding no better conditions could be obtained, were compelled to accede to them, and James Beamor and Richard Smith set out for Augusta. On their arrival they made oath to the facts before stated, and their joint-affidavit was sent by an express to the governor of Carolina, whose particular business and interest it was to notice and take care of the Cherokee Indian trade, as the people concerned in it were inhabitants, and under the particular government of that province. Suspicions were still entertained that the Cherokees had been bought over by the French, and that their real design was against Georgia and Carolina.

A circumstance occurred soon after which gave additional weight to these conjectures. Two Euchee Indians came to Savannah and informed president Parker, that some time before, a party of Cherokees and Notte weges, surprised their camp when the men were hunting, and carried off their women and children; that on their return to the camp they pursued their enemies, overtook them

on the third day, killed and wounded several, scalped four, and retook their women and children. They requested a supply of ammunition which was given to them; they offered to show the president the scalps as trophies of their victory, but he declined seeing them, as he wished as much as possible to discountenance barbarity, and avoid every appearance of taking any share or interest in a quarrel between two tribes, who were considered equally in amity with the provinces. The next day he was informed that a body of Indians consisting of Cherokees and Notteweges, about seventy in number, had lately spoken to a white man, forty miles below Augusta, and enquired particularly after the Euchees, threatening vengeance for their murdered friends. The president advised this party to notify to their tribe the danger with which they were threatened, and if they wanted assistance, to apply to the lower Creeks, who would furnish them with a sufficient number of warriors, to defend them against their enemies. About sun-set the same evening, the report of forty or fifty guns was heard a few miles above Savannah: a party of discovery was despatched under the command of captain N. W. Jones, who returned about two in the morning, and reported that he had found a number of Euchees dancing round a fire, at Mrs. Bosomworth's Cow-pen plantation, performing the funeral ceremonies at the burial of one of