History of Liberia | Page 7

negotiations the injudicious
nature of the site selected was disastrously shown. The low marshy
ground and the bad water quickly bred the African fever, which soon
carried off all the agents and nearly a fourth of the emigrants. The rest,
weakened and disheartened were soon obliged to seek refuge at Sierra
Leone.
In March, 1821, a body of twenty-eight new emigrants under charge of
J.B. Winn and Ephraim Bacon, reached Freetown in the brig Nautilus.
Winn collected as many as he could of the first company, also the
stores sent out with them, and settled the people in temporary quarters
at Fourah Bay, while Bacon set out to explore the coast anew and
secure suitable territory. An elevated fertile and desirable tract was at
length discovered between 250 and 300 miles S.E. of Sierra Leone.
This was the region of Cape Montserado. It seemed exactly suited to
the purposes of the colonists, but the natives refused to sell their land
for fear of breaking up the traffic in slaves; and the agent returned
discouraged. Winn soon died, and Bacon returned to the United States.
In November, Dr. Eli Ayres was sent over as agent, and the U.S.
schooner Alligator, commanded by Lieutenant Stockton, was ordered
to the coast to assist in obtaining a foothold for the colony. Cape
Montserado was again visited; and the address and firmness of
Lieutenant Stockton accomplished the purchase of a valuable tract of
land.
The cape upon which the settlers proposed to build their first
habitations consists of a narrow peninsula or tongue of land formed by
the Montserado River, which separates it from the mainland. Just
within the mouth of the river lie two small islands, containing together
less than three acres. To these, the Plymouth of Liberia, the colonists
and their goods were soon transported. But again the fickle natives
repented the bargain, and the settlers were long confined to
"Perseverance Island," as the spot was aptly named. Space forbids
entering on the interesting details of the difficulties they successfully
encountered. After a number of thrilling experiences the emigrants, on

April 25, 1822, formally took possession of the cape, where they had
erected rude houses for themselves; and from this moment we may date
the existence of the colony. Their supplies were by this time sadly
reduced; the natives were hostile and treacherous; fever had played
havoc with the colonists in acclimating; and the incessant downpour of
the rainy season had set in. Dr. Ayres became thoroughly discouraged,
and proposed to lead them back to Sierra Leone. Then it was that Elijah
Johnson, an emigrant from New York, made himself forever famous in
Liberian history by declaring that he would never desert the home he
had found after two years' weary quest! His firmness decided the
wavering colonists; the agents with a few faint-hearted ones sailed off
to America; but the majority remained with their heroic Negro leader.
The little band, deserted by their appointed protectors, were soon
reduced to the most dire distress, and must have perished miserably but
for the arrival of unexpected relief. The United States Government had
at last gotten hold of some ten liberated Africans, and had a chance to
make use of the agency established for them at so great an expense.
They were accordingly sent out in the brig Strong under the care of the
Rev. Jehudi Ashmun. A quantity of stores and some thirty-seven
emigrants sent by the Colonization Society completed the cargo.
Ashmun had received no commission as agent for the colony, and
expected to return on the Strong; under this impression his wife had
accompanied him. But when he found the colonists in so desperate a
situation he nobly determined to remain with them at any sacrifice. He
visited the native chiefs and found them, under cover of friendly
promises, preparing for a deadly assault on the little colony. There was
no recourse but to prepare for a vigorous defense. Twenty-seven men
were capable of bearing arms; and one brass and five iron fieldpieces,
all dismantled and rusty, formed his main hope. Ashmun at once set to
work, and with daily drills and unremitting labor in clearing away the
forest and throwing up earthworks, succeeded at last in putting the
settlement in a reasonable state of defense. It was no easy task. The
fatiguing labor, incessant rains, and scanty food predisposed them to
the dreaded fever. Ashmun himself was prostrated; his wife sank and
died before his eyes; and soon there was but one man in the colony who
was not on the sick-list. At length the long-expected assault was made.
Just before daybreak on the 11th of November the settlement was

approached by a body of over eight hundred African warriors.
Stealthily following the pickets as they returned a little too early from
their