Contest for empire in the Southeast Fort King George

moat , wall



wall on riverside



a view of fort northeastern sentry tower



a coehorn mortar



historical marker @ site



historical marker fort king george in darien @ intersection of 17 , fort king george road

the spanish first arrive in southeast, first explorers, settlement of st. augustine in present-day florida in 1565. started creating mission system, converting native american tribes , using them workers agricultural production. city became base spanish protect treasure ships carrying gold , silver south. used missions expand catholic faith numerous tribes found in southeast. converted native americans incorporated spanish system of repartimiento. used indigenous labor force capable of growing surplus grains needy colonists in spanish-american empire.

by mid-17th century, dozens of spanish missions controlled southeastern coastline thousands of native americans drawn , around them. system centered on missions accompanied troops occupying presidios. created 4 mission provinces: tumucua (interior northern florida), apalachee (northwestern florida), guale (georgia coast north of altamaha river), , mocama (from altamaha river south st. johns river). name guale possibly derived native american chief of name visited pedro menéndez on st. catherines island in 1566. in year, menéndez established troops on island. santa catalina de guale later become 1 of largest , productive missions mid-17th century.

another successful mission santo domingo de talaje. established sometime in 17th century, mission located on large bluff 3 miles (5 km) north branch of altamaha river. native americans had inhabited bluff thousands of years. english later used site location fort king george in 1720s.

guale threatened settlement of english carolina north, charlestown established in 1670. through late seventeenth century, carolinian forces , indian allies successful @ destroying spanish mission system. throughout 1670s , 1680s, attacked , destroyed missions on saint catherines island, st simons island, cumberland island, , several interior missions situated close coast. san joseph de sapala on sapelo island destroyed pirates in 1683, leading spanish abandonment of guale , mocama provinces. likewise, british , allied forces reduced apalachee mission province during first decade of 18th century. surviving mission indians retreated , aggregated farther south until remnants situated north of saint augustine base near st. johns river. during 1680s, carolina colonists had driven spanish entirely modern georgia coast. campaign intensified hostilities between spanish , english. catalyzed british interest in settling savannah-altamaha river region.

further west, french moving down mississippi , gulf region. in 1699 pierre le moyne d iberville founded biloxi, , mobile, first capital of french louisiana, settled in 1702. these bases, french fur traders planned move eastward incorporate regional tribes, creek, business enterprise. in 1718, built fort toulouse @ forks of coosa , tallapoosa rivers, in heart of creek country. settlement, designed take business carolina traders, close creek capital of coweta. british perceived threat plans control trade networks throughout southeast, among creek , cherokee. tribes geographical proximity carolina colony made stability vital. british intended expand trade westward other southeast tribes, such choctaw , chickasaw.

fort toulouse, in modern-day alabama, built french in 1718; threatened british trading among creek people.

in 1702, during war of spanish succession, spain , france allied against great britain. south carolinians bordered enemies south , west, intensified competition native american alliances. year, british colonists learned of enemies plan known projet sur la caroline . spanish florida , french louisiana allied forces intended encircle south carolina, native americans. officials in south carolina convinced large number of yamasee settle in beaufort, south carolina area north of savannah river basin. relations yamasee ensured protective buffer along southern borders of colony. british worked maintain relations creek , cherokee tribes west. projet sur la caroline, while never implemented, left south carolina colonists high anxiety many years, , convinced officials of necessity maintain indian alliances.

the yamasee war of 1715–1717 broke out. war started because of grave injustices carried out carolina traders against native american clients. many years traders had been systematically cheating indians in fur trade using bogus weights , measures, applying tough credit standards, severely indebting native american suppliers, , taking indian slaves unpaid debts. finally, yamasee turned on south carolina , destroyed colony. virginia s support , cherokee warriors helped deflect yamasee attacks.

the yamasee war, 1715–1717, left legacy of fear among south carolinians on colony s defense.

after surviving yamasee expelled, migrated st. augustine area , cultivated new alliance spanish. south carolina left weak , vulnerable no military buffer along southern fringes, , war alienated creek tribes west.

also, during same period, number of slaves in colony growing exponentially point blacks outnumbered whites. spanish attempted incite revolts offering runaway slaves freedom , land in st. augustine. enrolled escaped slaves spanish army.

in 1718, french colonists attacked pensacola, settlement controlled spanish florida. time, spain , france had started war of quadruple alliance. french success threatened charlestown officials, convinced french aimed conquer southeast. built fort toulouse had been built in heart of creek country earlier year. french more active among creek , appeared though had designs expand further east.

frightened , upset, colonists exercised own revolt. rebelled against ineffective rule of proprietors in england. south carolina, being colony governed 8 proprietors across ocean, had suffered under proprietary rule. economy of colony hampered runaway inflation caused reckless economic policies , unreasonable restrictions on land ownership , trade regulation. of graver concern issues related defense. colonists , officials wanted greater protection enemies on borders. proprietors not willing fund greater military development. in 1719, colonists had enough. year ousted governor robert johnson, proprietary governor, , chose james moore, outspoken opponent of proprietary rule, replacement. secondly, sent carolina planter john barnwell petition british parliament south carolina become royal colony. happened parliament had been taking greater interest in colony , prospects of bringing under royal dominion. though colony having internal economic problems, overall 1 of productive in producing cash crops such rice , indigo. furthermore, fur trade in colony, creating fifth of exports great britain, quite lucrative merchants in england. finally, yamasee war had made many english officials realize preservation of south carolina principal in defending british north american empire. without colony , economic activities, empire weakened. therefore, petition granted , in august 1720, south carolina became royal colony, though in name decade later until proprietors nullified , colony officially taken on crown in practice. many felt royal control improve defensive measures colony. however, things did not vastly improve, though parliament did seem receptive newer ideas , token measures taken aid colony s defense.

colonel john tuscarora jack barnwell had come south carolina in 1699 northern ireland. man of considerable talent , leadership skills. gained reputation during successful fight against tuscarora indians in north carolina in 1712. owned large , successful plantation in beaufort, south carolina. barnwell influential in colony , proposed defensive measures it. developed plan became inspiration georgia. involved building series of forts in strategic locations along south carolina s frontiers in order check french , spanish expansion. these forts serve launching points towns soldiers receive land allotments , other furnishings facilitate settlement. settlements used expand colony s territory , trade natives.

during visit parliament in 1720, barnwell petitioned british board of trade implement plan. emphasized french threat opposed spanish one, since @ time french seemed gaining considerable ground in southeast. before board, barnwell argued strong possibility of french attack on colony , possible takeover of southern borders, @ headwaters of altamaha river (called river may french). secure area french encroachment, first proposal fort built along altamaha river. british board of trade approved of plan in building fort.

a example of royal pensioner, or invalid , stationed @ royal hospital chelsea in london during 18th century.

due south sea bubble financial crisis, british economy in shambles. government had minimal funds spare , showed in how fort king george operated, resourced, , funded. barnwell requested young, robust soldiers man fort. realized environment along altamaha tough one. long seasoning process inevitable settlers , take time them adapt , outfit settlement. instead, british sent elderly invalids colonel felding s 41st regiment. independent company, thereafter known majesty s independent company of foot of south carolina, composed of 3 sergeants, 3 corporals, 2 drummers, , 1 hundred privates, older men past prime. governor francis nicholson of south carolina commissioned captain of independent company barnwell later being named colonel. initial officers included lt. joseph lambert, lt. john emmenes, ensigns thomas merryman , john bowdler, robert mason surgeon, thomas hesketh chaplain. of soldiers , officers, including barnwell, perished @ fort 1727.

with land allotments, tools, , farming implements, soldiers expected establish new settlement around fort. first british attempt populate altamaha river region. planned have other settlers follow fort. fort king george highly significant in represented culmination of 200-year european struggle control southeast. constructing fort, british dominated river , surrounding territory. started diplomatic feud spanish, leading war between 2 nations. feud ended british success @ battle of bloody marsh on st. simons island in 1742, several years after fort had been abandoned. though fort considered failure in near term, contributed georgia s establishment , success.