he
enemy were not yet apprized of his coming, he resolved to rush upon them
in the night by surprise. With this view, leaving his tents standing
with a sufficient guard for the camp and waggons, he marched through
the woods towards the Cherokee town of Estatoe, at the distance of
five-and-twenty miles: and in his route detached a company of light
infantry to destroy the village of Little Keowee, where they were
received with a smart fire; but they rushed in with their bayonets, and
all the men were put to the sword. The main body proceeded straight to
Estatoe, which they reached in the morning; but it had been abandoned
about half an hour before their arrival. Some few of the Indians, who
had not time to escape, were slain; and the town, consisting of two
hundred houses, well stored with provisions, ammunition, and all the
necessaries of life, was first plundered, and then reduced to ashes:
some of the wretched inhabitants who concealed themselves perished in
the flames. It was necessary to strike a terror into those savages
by some examples of severity; and the soldiers became deaf to all the
suggestions of mercy when they found in one of the Indian towns the body
of an Englishman, whom they had put to the torture that very morning.
Colonel Montgomery followed his blow with surprising rapidity. In the
space of a few hours he destroyed Sugar-Town, which was as large as
Estateo, and every village and house in the Lower Nation. The Indian
villages in this part of the world were agreeably situated, generally
consisting of about one hundred houses, neatly and commodiously
built, and well supplied with provisions. They had in particular large
magazines of corn, which were consumed in the flames. All the men that
were taken suffered immediate death; but the greater part of the nation
had escaped with the utmost precipitation. In many houses the beds were
yet warm, and the table spread with victuals. Many loaded guns went off
while the houses were burning. The savages had not time to save their
most valuable effects. The soldiers found some money, three or four
watches, a good quantity of wampum, clothes, and peltry. Colonel
Montgomery having thus taken vengeance on the perfidious Cherokees,
at the expense of five or six men killed or wounded, returned to Fort
Prince George, with about forty Indian women and children whom he had
made prisoners. Two of their warriors were set at liberty, and desired
to inform their nation, that,