Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/371

No. 118] In September 1739, our Slaves made an Insurrection at Stono, in the Heart of our Settlements not Twenty Miles from Charles-Town ; in which they massacred Twenty-Three Whites, after the most cruel and barbarous Manner to be conceiv'd ; and having got Arms and Ammunition out of a Store, they bent their Course to the Southward, burning all the Houses on the Road. But they marched so slow, in full Confidence of their own Strength from their first Success, that they gave Time to a Party of our Militia to come up with them. The Number was in a Manner equal on both sides ; and an Engagement ensued, such as may be supposed in such a Case. But by the Blessing of God the Negroes were defeated, the greatest Part being killed on the Spot or taken ; and those that then escaped were so closely pursued, and hunted Day after Day, that in the End all but Two or Three were killed or taken and executed. That the Negroes would not have made this Insurrection had they not depended on St. Augustine for a Place of Reception afterwards, was very certain ; and that the Spaniards had a Hand in prompting them to this particular Action, there was but little room to doubt. . ..

On this Occasion every Breast was filled with Concern. Evil brought home to us, within our very Doors, awaken d the Attention of the most Unthinking. Every one that had any Relation any Tie of Nature ; every one that had a Life to lose, were in the most sensible Manner shocked at such Danger daily hanging over their Heads. With Regret we be wailed our peculiar Case, that we could not enjoy the Benefits of Peace like the rest of Mankind ; and that our own Industry should be the Means of taking from us all the Sweets of Life, and of rendering us liable to the Loss of our Lives and Fortunes. With Indignation we looked at St. Augustine (like another Sallee!) That Den of Thieves and Ruffians ! Receptacle of Debtors, Servants and Slaves ! Bane of Industry and Society ! And revolved in our Minds all the Injuries this Province had received from thence, ever since its first Settlement : That they had, from first to last, in Times of profoundest Peace, both publickly and privately, by Themselves, Indians and Negroes, in every Shape molested us, not without some Instances of uncommon Cruelty. And what aggravated the same was, that this Government (on the contrary) had never been wanting in its good Offices with our Indians in their Behalf: And even during Queen Ann's War had exercised so much Humanity towards them that, in order to prevent those Indians from scalping them, according to their Custom ; when they should take any