In 1711, the Tuscarora Indians started attacking colonists in outlying settlements and soon had then retreating toward the larger tons. Some 130-200 settlers were killed. The colonists screamed "Massacre!!"
Colonists called for help from South Carolina and a force of 30 whites and 500 Indians led by Col. John Barnwell marched into North Carolina forcing the Indians to eventually retire to Fort Neoheroka. By November 1812, King Hancock of the Tuscarora was executed.
The situation worsened in 1813 and another group from South Carolina, this time led by Col. James Moore, came to North Carolina. They caused the Indians to fall back to Fort Neoheroka and a three-day siege ensued. The Indian fort covered one and three-fourths of am acre and even had blockhouses. Moore's forces approached it by building trenches, setting fire to the fort and burining it down, killing around a thousand Tuscarora.
Survivors fled to surrounding swamps and to Virginia.Many eventually ended up in New York, joining the Iroquois Confederacy.
The site of Fort Neohheroka is on private land off NC Highway 58 in Snow Hill. A highway marker nearby gives information and a new memorial was dedicated this past weekend.
The Story of a Great People.
No comments:
Post a Comment