The day 177 Highlanders arrived in Georgia to build a new Scotland

Scottish Highlanders’ Journey from Inverness to Darien Colony

In 1735, a ship packed with 177 Scottish Highlanders set sail for Georgia.

They left Inverness on the Prince of Wales, lured by James Oglethorpe who needed tough folks to guard his colony from Spanish Florida.

By January 1736, the Scots came ashore at Fort King George, led by John McIntosh Mohr.

They soon moved upriver from the bug-filled marshes, built Fort Darien, and named their town after a failed Scottish colony in Panama.

These kilted warriors later fought hard against Spanish troops, helping lock down British claims in North America.

The Fort King George State Historic Site now tells their bold story of survival on America’s early frontier.

General Oglethorpe Wanted Scottish Warriors to Guard Georgia

James Oglethorpe needed tough fighters for his Georgia colony in 1735. He sent Hugh Mackay and Captain George Dunbar to find perfect recruits in Scotland.

The British wanted soldiers who could handle rough conditions, fight well, and farm when not fighting. Highland Scots fit perfectly – they were known worldwide as fierce warriors.

Each Scottish family got 50 acres of land, farming tools, cattle, seeds, and weapons including swords and axes.

Most recruits came from Clan Chattan in Inverness-shire, many with family ties to the 1715 Jacobite uprising.

The Prince of Wales Set Sail with 177 Brave Scots

On October 18, 1735, a ship packed with 177 Scottish Highlanders left Inverness harbor. John McIntosh Mohr and Hugh Mackay led this group of men, women, and children toward an unknown future.

They brought Reverend John McLeod from the Isle of Skye to meet their spiritual needs.

The winter crossing wasn’t easy – ocean travel in the 1700s meant tight quarters, limited food, and lots of seasickness. These Highlanders kept speaking Gaelic and stuck to their clan traditions throughout the journey.

Scots Landed at an Abandoned Fort in the Georgia Wilderness

The Prince of Wales reached Georgia on January 10, 1736, with the Highlanders stepping ashore at Fort King George nine days later.

They found only ruins – South Carolina troops had left in 1732 after facing disease, heat, and a strange fire. The Scots got to work right away, putting cannons on the old earthworks and building quick huts for shelter.

They called their settlement New Inverness, placing it at the mouth of the Altamaha River to watch river traffic and stop Spanish forces trying to move north.

Kilts and Swords Impressed the Colony’s Founder

General Oglethorpe came to check on his Scottish recruits on February 22, 1736, and got quite a show.

The Highlanders put on Georgia’s first military parade, marching proudly with their huge claymore swords, side arms, and traditional shields.

Oglethorpe showed his respect by wearing a Highland kilt and sleeping under an oak tree with the men instead of taking comfortable quarters.

The ceremony showed the unique bond forming between English leadership and Scottish Highland warriors.

Mosquitoes Forced the Scots to Find Higher Ground

By summer 1736, the Scots realized they had a problem – their Fort King George location made everyone sick. Marshes meant mosquitoes, and mosquitoes meant disease.

Oglethorpe told them to move about a mile upriver to a healthier, higher spot.

The settlers started building a new stronghold called Fort Darien, named after a failed Scottish colony in Panama from the 1690s. The move gave them better air, drier ground, and a more defendable position.

Scottish Women Could Fire Cannons in Emergencies

The Highlanders built Fort Darien as a rectangle with two strong points facing inland. They placed cannons along the bluff to shoot at enemy ships trying to come up the Altamaha River.

Unlike most colonial settlements, Scottish women learned military drills and could fire the fort’s cannons during attacks if needed.

The fort became headquarters for the Highland Independent Company of Foot, a military unit made up entirely of Scottish settlers. Fort Darien grew into a key defensive position against Spanish Florida.

A Captain’s Severed Ear Started a War

War broke out between Britain and Spain in 1739 over trade fights and land claims.

People called it the War of Jenkins’ Ear because a Spanish coast guard cut off English Captain Robert Jenkins’ ear during a ship check.

Oglethorpe saw his chance to get rid of the Spanish threat by capturing their fortress at St. Augustine.

The Highland Company got ready for their first real fight since coming to America. Fort Darien buzzed with activity as men prepared weapons, supplies, and battle plans.

Highlanders Marched South to Attack Spanish Florida

In 1740, the Highland Independent Company joined Oglethorpe’s army heading for St. Augustine.

Their force included British troops, colonial militia, Highlanders, and about 600 Creek and Cherokee allies.

The campaign started well, with Oglethorpe’s men taking smaller Spanish forts like Picolata and San Francisco de Pupo.

The Highlanders took over Fort Mose, a settlement built by escaped slaves north of St. Augustine. British ships blocked the harbor while cannons on Anastasia Island hit the Spanish fortress walls.

Fort Mose Became a Death Trap for Scottish Soldiers

Spanish forces hit back hard on June 26, 1740. Around 300 Spanish soldiers and free Black militia fighters launched a surprise attack at dawn on Fort Mose.

Colonel John Palmer led 120 Highland Rangers and 30 Indian allies defending the position.

The attack turned into chaos partly because Palmer couldn’t speak Gaelic, and many Highlanders didn’t understand his English orders.

The Spanish caught them completely off guard, killing 68 men and capturing 34 others, including Palmer himself.

Spanish Ships Brought an Army to Invade Georgia

In June 1742, Spanish Governor Don Manuel de Montiano launched a massive attack against Georgia. He brought about 5,000 men in 52 ships – a huge force for colonial America.

The Highland Independent Company rushed from Fort Darien to strengthen Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island.

Spanish troops landed at Gascoigne Bluff and took over the empty Fort St. Simons as their base.

Oglethorpe had fewer than 1,000 men total, including his Highlanders, regular troops, militia, and Indian allies.

Bloody Marsh Victory Saved Georgia from Spanish Control

On July 7, 1742, the Highland Independent Company fought in two battles that changed American history. First at Gully Hole Creek, they helped defeat Spanish scouts moving toward Fort Frederica.

That same afternoon at Bloody Marsh, the Highlanders and British 42nd Regiment ambushed a second Spanish force. The British troops fired multiple volleys from hidden positions in the woods.

The Spanish ran out of ammunition and retreated. These twin victories completely crushed Spanish hopes of taking Georgia.

The battles secured British control over the territory permanently, with the Highland Scots playing a crucial role in defending their new American home.

Visiting Fort King George State Historic Site, Georgia

Fort King George State Historic Site at 302 McIntosh Road SE in Darien tells the story of 177 Scottish Highlanders who sailed from Inverness on the Prince of Wales in 1735 to create this frontier settlement.

You can explore the reconstructed fort with its blockhouse, barracks, and moat for $8. 25 (adults).

The museum film covers the area’s history from Guale Indians through Spanish missions to the Scots. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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