Christopher Byrd Downey

“the fort, as required in the government charter held by would-be governor Colonel Whitney. To make matters worse, Colonel Whitney became gravely ill and was confined to his cabin onboard the Gambia Castle for weeks, rendering him unavailable to negotiate with the rebellious merchants as the soldiers’ situation grew increasingly desperate. Morale of the crew on the Gambia Castle was also reaching a critically low point. The Gambia Castle’s Captain Russel, burdened with the sick Colonel Whitney onboard and the uncertain fate of the soldiers ashore, was unwilling to depart and sail back to England. Objections raised by George Lowther on behalf of the crew were met with swift punishment by Captain Russel. Restless from weeks at anchor in the Gambia River and low on provisions, murmurs of mutiny spread amongst the crew.”
― Christopher Byrd Downey, Charleston and the Golden Age of Piracy