Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/272

248 his further progress. (June 27th.) In doing so he had to pass through a hollow valley covered with brushwood, through which ran a muddy river with clay banks. To scour this dangerous pass, Colonel Morrison advanced with a company of Rangers, when the Indians, suddenly springing from their ambush, killed him at the first shot, with several of his men. The light infantry being now moved forward, a warm fire was kept up on both sides, but the Indians still maintained the post without flinching till threatened in the flank by a movement of the agile Highlanders, they slowly fell back and reluctantly yielded the pass, posting themselves upon a hill, to watch the movements of their invaders. Supposing that Montgomery was advancing towards Etchoe, they ran to give the alarm to their wives and children, and prepare for a still more desperate resistance. But the English commander, deeming it not prudent to attempt anything further, retired to Charleston and prepared to leave for the north, in obedience to orders. The Upper Cherokees now beleaguered Fort Loudon, the garrison of which, almost in a starving condition, under promise of safe conduct had surrendered, early in August. But the promise was not kept. A few miles from the fort they were surrounded by a body of Indians, who opened a heavy fire upon them, which killed Captain Demeré, the commandant, and nearly thirty others, and carried off the remainder into captivity. The Cherokees, who could now muster three thousand warriors, continued to ravage the frontiers, and inspired such fear, that Amherst was earnestly solicited to send back the troops he had withdrawn. The conquest of Canada being now achieved, the Highland regiment commanded by Colonel Grant returned to Carolina; reinforced by the colonial militia and scouts dressed in Indian costume, Grant advanced, with two thousand six hundred men, to the spot where Montgomery had been repulsed, (June 10th.) The Cherokees bravely maintained the struggle for several hours, but were at length entirely defeated; their towns and magazines destroyed, their cornfields ravaged, and they themselves forced to retreat into the desolate recesses of their mountains. Their resources being thus cut off, they were compelled to sue for peace. In order to obtain it, they were at first required to deliver four warriors to be shot at the head of the army, or to furnish four green Indian scalps within twenty days; a degrading and brutal condition, from which they were relieved by the personal application of one of their aged chiefs to Governor Bull.

Notwithstanding the exulting feeling prevalent, everywhere, on account of the triumph of English arms in America, there was no lack of evidence how jealously the colonists regarded any invasion, real or supposed, of their rights and privileges. The question respecting "writs of assistance," is a significant illustration of this fact. Pownall, early in August, 1760, had been succeeded as Governor of Massachusetts by Francis Bernard. This latter held high notions of the authority of the mother country over the