98 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ dill. 73 
went, with some others, to them [and it appears by direct commission of Governor 
Craven who had rumors of trouble], desiring to know the reason of their uneasiness, 
that if any injury had been done them, they might have satisfaction made them. The 
Indians pretended to be well content, and not to have any designs against the English. 
Mr. Nairn therefore and the other traders continued in the Pocotaligat-Town, one of 
the chief of the Yammosee nations. At night they went to sleep in the round-house,, 
with the King and chief War-Captains, in seeming perfect friendship; but next morn- 
ing, at break of day, they were all killed with a volley of shot, excepting one man 
and a boy, who providentially escaped (the man much wounded) to Port-Royal, and 
gave notice of the rising of the Indians to the inhabitants of St. Helen's. Upon this 
short warning, a ship happening to be in the river, a great number of the inhabitants, 
about 300 souls, made their escape on board her to Charles-Town, and among the rest, 
Mr. Guy, the society's missionary; having abandoned all their effects to the savages: 
some few families fell into their hands, who were barbarously tortured and murdered. 
The Indians had divided themselves into two parties; one fell upon Port- Royal, 
the other upon St. Bartholomew's parish; about 100 Christians fell into their hands, 
the rest fled, among which [was] the Reverend Mr. Osborn, the society's missionary 
there. The women and children, with some of the best of their effects, were conveyed 
to Charles-Town; most of the houses and heavy goods in the parish were burnt or 
spoil'd. The Yammosees gave the first stroke in this war, but were presently joined 
by the Appellachee Indians. 1 On the north side of the province, the English had at 
first, some hopes in the faithfulness of the Calabaws [Catawbas] and Creek Indians, but 
they soon after declared for the Yammosees. 
Upon news of this rising, the governor (the Honourable Charles Craven, Esq.), 
with all expedition, raised the forces in Colleton county, and with what assistance 
more could be got presently, put himself at their head, and marched directly to the 
Indians, and the week af :er Easter came up with them and attacked them at the head 
of the river Cambahee; and after a sharp engagement put them to flight, and stopped 
all farther incursions on that side. 2 
The narrative in the Boston News is as follows: 
On Tuesday last arrived here His Majesty's ship Success, Captain Meade, Com- 
mander, about 12 days' passage from South* Carolina, by whom his excellency, our 
Governor, had a letter from the Honourable Gov. Craven, of South Carolina, acquaint- 
ing him that all their Indians, made up of many various Nations, consisting of between 
1000 to 1200 men, (lately paid obedience to that Government) had shaken off their 
fidelity, treacherously murdering many of His Majesty's subjects. 
Gov. Craven hearing of this rupture, immediately despatched Captain Nairn and 
Mr. John Cockran, gentlemen well acquainted with the Indians, to know the cause 
of their discontent, who accordingly on the 15th of April, met the principal part of 
them at the Yamassee Town, about 130 miles from Charlestown, and after several 
debates, pro and con, the Indians seemed very ready to come to a good agreement and 
reconciliation, and having prepared a good supper for our Messengers, all went quietly 
to rest; but early next morning their lodging was beset with a great number of Indians, 
who barbarously murdered Captain Nairn and Messieurs John Wright, and Thomas 
Ruffly, Mr. Cockran and his wife they kept prisoners, whom they afterwards slew. 
One Seaman Burroughs, a strong robust man, seeing the Indians' cruel barbarity on 
the other gentlemen, made his way good through the middle of the enemy, they 
pursuing and firing many shot at him. One took him through the cheek (which is 
since cured) and coming to a river, he swam through, and alarmed the plantations; 
so that by his escape, and a merchantman that lay in Port Royal River, that fired 
some great guns on the Enemy, several Hundreds of English lives were saved. 
i That part of the Apalachee settled near Augusta by Governor Moore in 1703. See p. 124. 
» Carroll, op. cit., pp. 548-549, 
