Montgomery's and Virginia's Expedition starting in 1760

The real British Army is on the march in South Carolina in April 1760. The Cherokees attacked settlers and forts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia January through April of 1760. While most of those attacks were going on in the Carolinas, there were developments up North. In February 1760, Amherst was arranging an expedition of British Army forces to help South Carolina. And now in April 1760 that British Army is on the march in South Carolina. Virginia was asked by South Carolina to help too but Virginia was much less efficient and much less urgent, despite an attack on Virginia's settlers on the rivers Mayo and Dan, March 26, 1760.

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This is all dry stuff. The real meat of all this was the treachery. Treachery drove all the events.

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Where do you start? Who started it all? Well that just goes all the way back to the European invasion. Then fast forward to 1758, on the Cherokees' return home from helping the colonies on the Forbes Expedition, Virginians had attacked the Cherokees. Cherokees had stolen horses since they were not paid with promised gifts at Fort Loudoun, Winchester VA.

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But was the most recent treachery?

SC Gov Lyttelton tricked the Cherokee peace expedition into becoming his hostages. He left them as hostages at Fort Prince George.

He also left another powder keg there. He left 2 tons of blackpowder the Cherokee needed for hunting so they can can trade deerskins with the English. Those deerskins would provide them other supplies they needed.

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Lyttelton put an embargo on trade of blackpowder and musket back in August 1759.

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So Cherokee hostages and 2 tons of blackpowder sat in Fort Prince George.

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The Cherokee tricked the Coytmore the Captain of Fort Prince George to come out for a peace parley and ended up killing him.

That leaves Lt Milne in charge, and his garrison kills all the Cherokee hostages held inside the fort.

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The Cherokees do not know this right away.

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That's it.

That's our lead story.

Skip around.

Read bits and pieces.

5 moving parts to all of this.

In February 1760 Amherst is raising a British Army to help.

Virginia is slowly arranging a force under Major Andrew Lewis and Nathaniel Gist to help Fort Loudoun (in today's Tennessee). Page 197.

In March 1760, Cherokees are attacking forts and settlers in NC and SC mostly, with some forays into Georgia and Virginia.

Cherokees are reaching out to the Creeks and French for help and fail in obtaining their assistance.

Little Carpenter is still holding out for peace with the English and not joining other Cherokees in this war.

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Timeline of Montgomery's 1760 Expedition starting

Montgomery follows Lyttleton's 1759 route.

Included are Virginia's meager efforts.

Feb 24 1760

Jeffery Amherst, Commander in Chief of the British forces in North America assigned Colonel Archibald Montgomery (or Montgomerie) of the 77th Regiment. 12 companies of Highlanders, totalling 1312 officers and men. This included a battalion of Royual Scots under Major Hamilton and a battalion under Major James Grant. Also included were 4 separate companies, two of light infantry and two of grenadiers. Page 207.

Side note: Many years later, Montgomery became a patron of the poet, Robert Burns.

March 4, 1760

Lt Gov Fauquier announces to House of Burgesses that Jeffrey Amherst is now Governor and Commander in Chief of Virginia.

March 16 and 24, 1760

Troops ship off from New York and Perth Amboy NJ.

March 26, 1760

Cherokee attack Virginia.

The Governor communicated a Letter he received last Week from Col. Maury dated Halifax County March 28th signifying that on the 26th of the said Month he was advised by an Express from Capt . William Satterwhite , living on Smith River , that the Indians had fallen upon the People settled at and near the Confluence of the Dan and Mayo , and taken and killed many Persons ; informing what he had done and intended to do thereupon , till he received his Honor's Instructions . House of Burgesses Journal.

April 5 and 6, 1760

British Troops arrive on Cooper River above Charlestown (Charleston SC)

April 10, 1760

His Honor [Lt Gov Fauquier] acquainted the Council , that upon Receipt of the said Letter [the March 26 letter mentioned above about the Cherokee attack on the Dan and Mayo settlements in what was then Halifax County ] , he dispatched his Orders to Major Lewis to send Eighty Men immediately with proper Officers into Halifax to be stationed in the most advantageous Manner for protecting the Inhabitants there ; which he judged more eligible than raising the Militia of the adjacent Counties ; that he at the same time signified this to Col. Maury , telling him he might provide for the Subsistence of these Men upon the terms of his former Contract ; and desired their Opinion if any more effectual Aid should be sent to the People in those Parts . Virginia Executive Council.

April 7-21, 1760

British Troops awaiting at Moncks Corner for baggage and provisions and transport for them.

April 23, 1760

Montgomery is tired of waiting for everything to arrive, used what he had and started up country.

May 2, 1760

Montgomery reached the Congarees, 110 miles from Charlestown (Charleston SC). He stays there for 2 weeks. He sends back the wagons and horses he used back to Moncks Corner to retrieve more supplies.

May 24, 1760

This British Army arrives at Fort Ninety-Six. "...it's horses worn and its cattle thin, it halted for several days to round up replacements and several hundred more beeves. Page 208.

May 28, 1760

Troops head for Fort Prince George next to the Cherokee Keowee town.

". . . accompanied by 295 rangers, 40 picked men of the provincials, about 12 guides, and 40 or 50 Catawbas, the highlanders set out for Fort Prince George. The force now numbered 1650, exclusive of Indians and pack-horse men." Page 208.

Compiled by Jim Moyer 4/14/2024