REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

APPOINTED BY THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

IN 1740,

ON THE

ST. AUGUSTINE EXPEDITION

UNDER

GENERAL OGLETHORPE.

PUBLISHED BY

THE SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

CHARLESTON, S. C.

WALKER, EVANS & COGSWELL CO., PRINTERS,

Nos. 3 and 5 Broad and 117 East Bay Streets.

OF THE

South Carolina Historical Society,

VOLUME IV.

CHARLESTON :

PUBLISHED BY THE

SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

The Expedition against St. Augustine, under General Oglethorpe, a subject of controversy almost a century and a half ago, has again been discussed in certain publications of recent date. The authors of these are biographers and apologists of General Oglethorpe, and they seem to have been of opinion that his defence required the repetition of certain charges, made by his admirers long ago, while the mortification of failure was fresh, against the Carolinians who took part in that expedition. A reader of these late publications cannot fail to observe that the writers simply copy from each other the same allegations, in the same words, referring always to the same authorities, without, as it would appear, further investigation or research. To one author this remark, we are glad to say, does not apply, viz: Bishop W. B. Stevens. But he wrote as a historian, not a mere panegyrist, and no doubt felt it incumbent on him not to accept, without question, ready-made statements, but to make diligent search for information. Even he does not refer to the following Report-so that he must have reached his conclusions from other sources probably as accessible to other writers as to himself. The only imputation he makes upon the Carolina troops is this: "The Carolina troops were refractory." Perhaps acquaintance with the Report would have disabused him of this impression. The following is an extract from his History of Georgia: The plans of Oglethorpe were eminently military and judicious; his valour was unimpeached, his zeal untiring, and his energy unexhausted. It was not, therefore, the fault of his skill or of his courage that the expedition failed. The causes of this disaster were such as no commanding General could control, and for the results of which no one could be made responsible.

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"It has been asserted by some historians that the raising of the siege was owing to the defection of Col. Vanderdussen and the Carolina Regiment. On the contrary, he remained with Oglethorpe until the last, and Gen. Oglethorpe acknowledged his anxiety to fight for his country, by saying that Col. Vanderdussen had made several handsome offers of service, which necessity had compelled him to decline. Some of the Carolina troops did indeed desert, but no more in proportion to their numbers than fell off from other corps. Col. Vanderdussen remained in Florida until Oglethorpe left it, and did not, with his Regiment, reach Charleston until 13th August,* having lost only

*NOTE BY EDITOR.-Gen. Oglethorpe began his final retreat on 4th July. "On 4th July everything he had on the island was re-embarked, the troops transported to the Continent, and the whole army began their march for Georgia."-Harris's Memorials of Oglethorpe.