May 25th 1713
Hond Sir
I doubt not you have have had a full and true account of the glorious victory obtained by your forces under the command of Col. Moore over our Indian Enemies in killing and taking 800 of them at least in their strong Fort, which as it hath dispirited and struck a terror in all of them, so I hope it will in a short time bring peace and safty to the people here, which will be altogether owing to South Carolina under your Honor's government. Col Moore hath bravely and gallantly discharged the
trust put in him, enduring the greatest fatigue with cheerfulness, thereby encouraging his men, carrying on the siege of the Fort with great prudence and discretion, and storming it with great resolution, courage and conduct, and his moderation and modesty setting a great lustre on all his other virtues.We have concluded a peace with King Blount and all the other Tuscaroras that will come in under him, he being to deliver up all that we can prove had any hand in the massacre; a copy of which articles have sent herewith, enclosed. we were induced to this by reason we were not able to raise more provision to maintain the army; and also it was thought better to have some of them on the frontiers than to have our out plantations lie open to the insults of any of them that should escape, or of any other straggling Indians. Wherefore would entreat your Honor to put a stop unto your Indians coming in here until we see if keep the articles of peace or not. If Blount keep the peace, we shall have only the Mattamuskeets and Core Indians to mind, who of late have done us great mischief, having killed and taken of our people since my last to you, about 45 at Croatan Roanoke Island, and alligator River, these being about 50 or 60 men of them got together between Matchepungo River and Roanoke Island which is about 100 miles in length and of considerable breadth, all in a manner lakes, quagmires, and cane swamps, and is, I believe, one of the greatest deserts in the world, where it is almost impossible for white men to follow them. They have got likewise boats and canoes, being expert watermen, wherein they can transport themselves where they please. Col. Moore is gone to get what Indians are left to go after them, only a few that stay at Core Sound to guard the people there from some few of the Cores that lurk thereabout; and I have ordered some of our people to go by water to take their boats and canoes, to intercept their passage. If they have good success in this expedition. I hope it will end the war. Provision being very scarce here, the assembly thought it fit to have Col. MacKey's sloop hired in the country's service, to carry off what slaves the Indians have here, and to continue in the country's service between South Carolina and here until the wars are ended. As for what is owing Mr Lahorn for his sloop's hire, I have put into the assembly, but the provision being all spent to maintain the army, there is no possibility of a raising his pay until next winter, at which time, if he employ an attorney, I question not the assembly will raise it for him. Col. MacKey hath behaved himself extraordinary well here; he with his twenty Yamassee Indians defending all Bath County from the insults of our enemies, keeping a
watchful eye over Neuse and Pamplico from Col. Barnwell's departure until Col Moore arrival. As for Col. Barnwell, I can find nothing more meterial to be made appear here against him than what your Honor hath account of already: as for what private transactions have been carried on betwixt him and Mr Moseley, they have been kept so in the dark that it is next to an impossibility to prove them.In answer to your's by Mr Roach and one from himself I wrote to him, that if any person had wronged him, the law was open and he should have justice done him impartially; and for what goods of his had been impressed for the countrys service, on his putting his claims into the assembly I doubted not it would be allowed him; and as to his settling here in this government; he being one excepted in the proclamation, if he came in and gave bond with security to answer at the provincial court what should be objected against him on Her Majesty's behalf, when required, that I was willing he should not be called to answer until the Lords Proprietors' pleasure therein were known; notwithstanding which he comes with his sloop into Neuse River, and there trades for slaves and other goods without entering or clearing with the collector, but gets a simple man by threatening and drink to enter and clear his Vessel, and so is gone without paying the duties imposed on West India goods by our law, as I am informed; so that he acts with the greatest folly imaginable, expecting Your Honor will protect him in whatever he does here.
Col Cary is newly arrived from England, and I do not understand that he hath brought anything from the Lords Proprietors, only says that Brigadier Nicholson is to be here very shortly to regulate and settle all affairs, and I heartily wish he were, not doubting but being a prudent and generous man he would take such measures as would prove effectual to bring the people under due obedience and to see that the laws were better put in Execution, which is practicable now to be done without raising a difference and rebellion again amongst ourselves, which might prove fatal in this juncture, while the Indian war continues.
If your Honor would order Col Moore's stay here with what Indians are left, being in all about 120 as I am informed, would be of great service to this country, and I hope would be sufficient in short time to end the war here, if Blount keep his articles of peace, which I am in great hopes he will, if your Indians do not come in and force him to fly back with the rest of the Tuscaroras, for he now being to be the back-guard of our frontiers, if he go off with the rest, we shall lie open to the insults of all of them, and of all other straggling Indians, and by that means know no end of the war.
Your Honor's extraordinary favors to this poor people are inexpressible, and ought to be imprinted in all our minds in indelible characters. As for my own part, I shall be ambitious to find any ways or oppertunity to acknowledge at least my gratitude, and to testify that I am in all sincerity
Your Most obedient Humble Servant
>Hond Sir
Col Moore having but about 120 or 130 Indians left so far as I understand; and if he should think them too few, or that some of them leave him and march home, so that he writes that he writ that he hath occasion of more Indians, I would entreat your Honor to send them in. For I am very desirous that you have the whole Honor of ending the war without the help or assistance of any of other neighboring government.