Yamasee War (14 апр 1715 г. – 31 дек 1717 г.)

Описание:

A large conflict between South Carolinians and a variety of Native American tribes, including but not limited to the Yamasee, Ochese Creeks, Catawba, Cherokee, Waxhaw, and Santee.

The war stemmed from several conflicts. One of these was the aftermath of the Tuscarora War, in which North Carolinians received support from several Native American tribes (indeed, those tribes made up most of the Carolinian fighting force). This brought the initially disunified tribes closer together. One such tribe was the Yamasee, who were allied with the British, profiting off of trade with them. However, the British demand for Native American slaves and deerskin began to outpace the demand by 1715. leaving the Yamasee concerned that they themselves would be enslaved next. The tribes quickly amassed debt with the British, who they had come to rely on for supplies, as most of the available land in Carolina had been bought out by the island nation. Similar sentiments arose in the Ochese (Lower) Creeks.

After learning of a plot by the Ochese Creeks to attack, the South Carolinian government sent representative to the Yamasee for assistance. The tribe decided instead to attack the South Carolinians, slaughtering them in their sleep in an event known as the Pocotaligo Massacre. They then attacked St. Bartholomew's Parish, killing over one hundred people, as well as destroying plantations and taking prisoners. The South Carolinian militia numbering at about 250 engaged an equally sized Yamasee force. Alexander McKay followed by 100 men headed south towards a fortified encampment of Yamasee, ambushing and inflicting heavy casualties upon them. Meanwhile, British traders also suffered at the hands of the Yamasee, with 90% of the ones in the colonies when the war broke out being killed in the first few weeks.

The Catawba joined in the war soon after it started, killing Carolinian (but not Virginian) traders. On May 17, 26 out of 90 cavalry were killed by a ambush of Catawba, Wateree, and Sarraw warriors. The tribes then attacked and killed 19 out of the 30 defenders of a fort on Benjamin Schenkingh's plantation after claiming to desire peace talks. On June 13, 70 militiamen led by George Chicken ambushed the Catawba warriors. The tribe decided after that to make peace, and even militarily assist the colonists.

Unfortunately for South Carolina, the militia was starting to collapse, with many members deserting, even leaving the colony altogether. Instead, South Carolina Governor Charles Craven put together a professional paid army of nearly 1500, made of South Carolinians, Virginians, Native Americans, North Carolinians, and slaves. This was to combat the Ochese Creeks, a powerful Native American tribe waging war with the South Carolinians from the north. In fact, they are often viewed as having instigated the war just as much as the Yamasee. The Cherokee, on the other hand, were split on the war. The Lower and Middle Cherokee (especially Caesar, a Middle Cherokee chief) were generally opposed to the South Carolinians, while the Overhill Cherokee (who lived farthest away from South Carolina) wanted an alliance with the settlers. On January 27, 1716, South Carolinians found that a group of Cherokee had killed a dozen Creek at Tugaloo, claiming it was a war party. This forced an alliance between the South Carolinians and the Cherokee, and consequently a war between the Cherokee and Creek. This alliance was critical in the defense of the colonists, as even the large army Craven had organized was failing to protect the settlers from raids. By late 1717, the war was mostly over, though a few Native American tribes remained hostile towards the South Carolinians.

The colonists began to blame the Lords Proprietors, the owners of Carolina, for mismanaging the war. They called for the colonies to receive royal charters, which they did in 729. The withdrawal of the Yamasee from the area also allowed the colony of Georgia to be founded. The Yamasee was completely devastated by the war, with 25% left dead or enslaved, and the rest joined other tribes. The Catawba took over as the most powerful tribe in the region, even establishing an alliance with South Carolina.

Casualties:
7% of South Carolina's white citizenry
White casualties numbered in the hundreds, while Native American casualties numbered in the thousands.

Добавлено на ленту времени:

Дата:

Изображения: