History of Liberia | Page 8

watch, the savages burst upon the colony and with a rush captured
the outworks. A desperate conflict ensued, the issue of which hung
doubtful until the colonists succeeded in manning their brass
field-piece, which was mounted upon a raised platform, and turning it
upon the dense ranks of the assailants. The effect at such short range
was terrible. "Every shot literally spent its force in a solid mass of
living human flesh. Their fire suddenly terminated. A savage yell was
raised, ... and the whole host disappeared."[8] The victory had been
gained at a cost of four killed and as many seriously wounded.
Ammunition was exhausted; food had given out. Another attack, for
which the natives were known to be preparing, could scarcely fail to
succeed. Before it was made, however, an English captain touched at
the cape and generously replenished their stores. On the very next
evening, November 30, the savages were seen gathering in large
numbers on the cape, and toward morning a desperate attack was made
on two sides at once. The lines had been contracted, however, and all
the guns manned, and the well-directed fire of the artillery again proved
too much for native valor. The savages were repulsed with great loss.
The unusual sound of a midnight cannonade attracted the Prince Regent,
an English colonial schooner laden with military stores and having on
board the celebrated traveller Captain Laing, through whose mediation
the natives were brought to agree to a peace most advantageous to the
colonists. When the Prince Regent sailed, Midshipman Gordon, with
eleven British sailors volunteered to remain, to assist the exhausted
colonists and guarantee the truce. His generosity met an ill requital;
within a month he had fallen victim to the climate with eight of the
brave seamen. Supplies were again running low, when March brought
the welcome arrival of the U.S. ship Cyane. Captain R.T. Spence at
once turned his whole force to improving the condition of the colonists.
Buildings were erected, the dismantled colonial schooner was raised
and made sea-worthy, and many invaluable services were rendered,
until at length a severe outbreak of the fever among the crew compelled
the vessel's withdrawal. It was too late, however, to prevent the loss of
forty lives, including the lieutenant, Richard Dashiell, and the surgeon,
Dr. Dix.

On the 24th of May, 1823, the brig Oswego arrived with sixty-one new
emigrants and a liberal supply of stores and tools, in charge of Dr.
Ayres, who, already the representative of the Society, had now been
appointed Government Agent and Surgeon. One of the first measures of
the new agent was to have the town surveyed and lots distributed
among the whole body of colonists. Many of the older settlers found
themselves dispossessed of the holdings improved by their labor, and
the colony was soon in a ferment of excitement and insurrection. Dr.
Ayres, finding his health failing, judiciously betook himself to the
United States.
The arrival of the agent had placed Mr. Ashmun in a false position of
the most mortifying character. It will be remembered that in sympathy
for the distress of the colony he had assumed the position of agent
without authority. In the dire necessity of subsequent events he had
been compelled to purchase supplies and ammunition in the Society's
name. He now found, himself superseded in authority, his services and
self-sacrifice unappreciated, his drafts[9] dishonored, his motives
distrusted. Nothing could show more strongly his devotion and
self-abnegation than his action in the present crisis. Seeing the colony
again deserted by the agent and in a state of discontent and confusion,
he forgot his wrongs and remained at the helm. Order was soon
restored but the seeds of insubordination remained. The arrival of 103
emigrants from Virginia on the Cyrus, in February 1824, added to the
difficulty, as the stock of food was so low that the whole colony had to
be put on half rations. This necessary measure was regarded by the
disaffected as an act of tyranny on Ashmun's part; and when shortly
after the complete prostration of his health compelled him to withdraw
to the Cape De Verde Islands, the malcontents sent home letters
charging him with all sorts of abuse of power, and finally with
desertion of his post! The Society in consternation applied to
Government for an expedition of investigation, and the Rev. R.R.
Gurley, Secretary of the Society, and an enthusiastic advocate of
colonization was despatched in June on the U.S. schooner Porpoise.
The result of course revealed the probity, integrity and good judgment
of Mr. Ashman; and Gurley became thenceforth his warmest admirer.
As a preventive of future discontent a Constitution was adopted at Mr.
Gurley's suggestion, giving for the first time a definite share in the

control of affairs to the colonists themselves. Gurley brought