USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02401 8464
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofgeorgia02mcca
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THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA,
CONTAINING
BRIEF SKETCHES
OF THE
MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS,
UP TO THE PRESENT DAY.
BY HUGH M'CALL.
v. 2
. IN TWO VOLUMES 1
VOL ...... II. 2.
tu With a vast benevolence of soul, To range like OGLETHORPE, from pole to pole.
POPE,
SAVANNAH :
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM T. WILLIAST
1816.
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1727375
CONTENTS.
1
CHAPTER I.
C AUSES of the Revolutionary War,
1
Policy of governor Wright,
4
Ceded lands settled,
6
Franklin appointed agent,
7
Sherill's fort attacked by Indians,
9
War with the Cherokees,
11
Republican party formed,
15
General meeting in Savannah,
19
Wright's proclamation,
20
Contributions for the people of Boston,
24
Contest of parties,
25
CHAPTER II.
Meeting of congress,
27
Petition to the king. Assembly meet,
30
Parliamentary procedure,
34
American agents remonstrate,
37
American advocates in parliament,
38
Compliment paid them,
40
Members of congress appointed,
41
British army arrives. Magazine taken,
43
Council of safety appointed,
44
Tar and feathers used as a punishment,
45
British agents,
47
Maitland's powder-ship taken,
49
CHAPTER III.
President Erwin's proclamation, 50
Indian presents. Siege of Ninety-six, 52
Hostilities suspended. Royalists dispersed,
54
Kirkland's plan of attack by Indians,
56
Assembly meet. A. Bulloch, president,
59
Wright's capture and escape, His letter of advice,
61
63
Page.
Ir:
CONTENTS.
Page,
Savannah attacked by the British,
65
Patriotic resolution, 68
Hostile measures of Great-Britain,
70
Baker's attack on Wright's fort,
72
M'Girth's treachery. System of government, CHAPTER IV.
74
Cameron's Indian measures, 76
Attempt to take him prisoner,
77
Sufferings of the party,
. 79
General attack on the frontiers,
82
Indians defeated,
83
Attack on Charleston. Frontiers garrisoned,
84
Dooley defeated and killed,
85
Pulliam and Clarke's Indian skirmishes,
86
- Cherokee towns destroyed,
87
Independence declared,
90
Florida expedition projected, 95
97
Fort M'Intosh taken, 98
103
CHAPTER V.
Constitution formed, 104
Death of president Bulloch,
105
Political quarrel, 107
111
Prosecution of George M'Intosh,
112
His acquital by congress,
117
Expedition against Florida, 118
Baker's skirmish and defeat,
121
Ward's skirmish and death,
123
Elbert and Baker retreat to Georgia,
125
Brown and Anderson defeated,
129
Delk's family killed,
130
Carney's treachery,
131
CHAPTER VI.
Assembly meet in Savannah,
133
Florida expedition,
136
British vessels taken,
138
Howe advances to Alatamaha
140
Fort Tonyn burned,
143.
Skirmish at Alligator creek,
145
Lieutenant Bugg defeated at Beard's creek,
1 Georgia Continental establish ment augmented,
General M'Intosh joins the grand army,
CONTENTS.
Council of war,
Page. 148
The American army retreats,
152 .
Georgia attacked on the south,
154
Skirmish at Bulltown swamp,
155
Battle at Medway,
157
Americans retreat to Ogechee. Screven killed,
159
Sunbury attacked,
160
The enemy retreats,
161
CHAPTER VII.
British fleet appears off Tybee,
164
State records removed,
167
British army land at Brewton's-hill,
168
General Howe's order of battle,
170
Savannah taken,
175
Sunbury taken,
177
Lincoln assumes the command,
181
British government re-established in Georgia,
182
Conference for the exchange of prisoners, .
186
Colonel Campbell marches toward Augusta,
190
Skirmishes in Burke county,
191
Augusta taken,
192
Hamilton besieged at Carr's fort,
194
Boyd embodies the loyalists in Carolina,
195
Skirmish near the Cherokee ford,
197
Battle at Kettle creek,
199
British out-posts cut off at Herbert's,
204
Whitley's party surprised and taken,
205
'CHAPTER VIII.
Ash defeated at Brier creek, 206
General Lincolns's embarrassments,
215
British force in Georgia,
216
Indian skirmishes,
218
Court of inquiry on general Ash,
220
Opinion of the court,
224
American gallies taken,
225
Treatment of the American prisoners, .
227
Lincoln's plan for the recovery of Georgia,
229
Provost advances toward Charleston,
231
Provost demands a surrender, refused,
232
Battle at Stono river, 233
British officers taken by captain Spencer, ,
235
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vi:
CONTENTS.
Page.
Captain Muller defeated at Ogechee,
236
Skirmishes at the White-House,
236
British cutter taken by Spencer,
238
Twiggs defeats M'Girth at Lockhart's, CHAPTER IX.
239
Negociations with France,
240
British propositions rejected,
241
French fleet on the coast of Georgia,
242
Plan of operations against Savannah,
243
British preparations for defence,
244
French army land,
248
Count D'Estaing's summons to surrender, 249
252
Junction of the allied armies,
253
British re-enforced, 255
257
Assault,
262
Allied army repulsed,
268
Force employed,
269
Sergeant Jasper,
271
Count Pulaski,
276
Maitland's death. French fleet,
279
Combined army retreat,
281
Lincoln's letter to congress,
282
CHAPTER X.
Sufferings of the Georgians,
283
Forged letter,
291
Skirmishes on Ogechee,
296
Small pox,
299
Charleston taken,
301
Colonel Dooley killed,
306
Colonel Jones defeats the loyalists,
310
Skirmishes,
310
Clarke marches to North-Carolina,
315
Battle at Watford's iron works,
314
Ditto at Musgrove's mill,
315
CHAPTER XL.
Clarke returns to Georgia, 320
First siege of Augusta, 322
Siege raised, 326
Clarke retreats to Kentucky,
323
.
Truce granted,
Siege commenced,
CONTENTS.
vü.
Page.
Ferguson defeated,
336
Battle at Fish-dam ford,
338
Ditto at Blackstock's,
343
Ditto at Long-cane, Ditto at the Cowpens,
354
CHAPTER XII.
Skirmish at Beattie's mill,
361
Skirmish at Matthews' bluff, 363
Second siege of Augusta,
367
Fort Galphin taken,
371
Fort Cornwallis surrendered,
379
Siege of Ninety-six raised,
382
Treason in Jackson's camp,
384
American privateers,
387
Skirmishes near Ogechee,
392
CHAPTER XIII.
Indian expeditions,
396
Skirmishes,
402
.
Battle at Baillou's causeway,
406
Ditto at Gibbons',
409
Cherokee expedition,
411
Savannah evacuated,
420
Peace concluded, 423
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1
349
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THE
HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
CHAPTER I.
THE spirit of resistance to the encroachments of the crown of Great-Britain, on the rights of the provinces in America, was increased by every revenual act of parliament, imposed upon the colonies. These provinces having been planted under the auspices of a free constitution, which extended its benefits and paternal care to every subject in the British empire; the Americans, considered themselves of right, free from taxation until they were represented in parliament. The ministers of that government having yielded some joints in the repeal of duties, such as the stamp act, an opposition of more decision was made against the artful introduction of minor duties, which were imposed upon glass, paper, tea and painter's colours. Remonstrances having been resorted
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-HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773.
to without success, the colonies associated in op- position to the introduction of all British manu- factures, subject to taxation by the laws of Eng- land. The points of taxation were again yielded, with the exception of three-pence sterling per pound upon tea. This increased the confidence of the colonists and encouraged further. opposition. They alledged that they had given, and would continue to give, aid to his majesty when consti- tutionally required ; but an assemblage of Ame- rican patriots insisted that their essential liberty and happiness, required that they should be tax- ed, only, by representatives of their own choice ; and that they, being consumers of British manu- factures, paid by the purchase of them all the taxes which that government had a right to im- pose.
Luxury had made but little progress among the people of this quarter of the globe, and the extermination of every seed of its baleful influence, was an object of primary consideration in a new settled country, under existing circumstances. The exercise of a moderate portion of freedom and the free use of those rights to which they considered themselves constitutionally entitled as British subjects, with the necessaries of life pro- duced by industry, appears to have amounted to the summit of their wishes.
The resolutions of the American Congress, had rendered the tax upon tea a barren branch of revenue, until a scheme was adopted by the East-
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773.
India Company, for the exportation of a large quantity of that article, to be disposed of on their own account, in the American ports. This mea- sure produced that kind of commotion, from one end of the continent of America to the other, which the contrivers of the plan might have fore- seen. These and many other similar designs, which have been noticed by almost every Ameri- can historian, created a jealousy and hatred against Great-Britain.
For the purpose of uniting in some general plan of operations in this critical state of affairs, with the other provinces in America, a meeting was called in Savannah. But the powerful arm of the royal government in the hands of a man of Sir James Wright's sagacity and talents, at the head of an influential train of civil officers, pro- hibited an open expression of the public senti- ment. Many of the most wealthy inhabitants, foresaw, that their pecuniary ruin would be the inevitable consequence of participating with the other colonies, in resistance to the aggressions of the crown. Another class composed of the dissi- pated and idle, who had little or nothing to risk, perceived their advantage in adhering to the royal government. A wide field for pillage would be opened, and the strong hold of St. Augustine in East Florida, would furnish a safe and secure re- treat for themselves, and a deposit for their booty, in the event of a revolution.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773.
In the year 1770, an inhabitant of South-Caro- lina, by the name of Schoval or Schovil; active, barbarous and of bad character; was commission- ed as colonel of militia, by Lord Grenville, the governor of that province. The banditti who be- came the followers of such a leader, were denom- inated Schovilites; and in the first years of the revolution, this term of reproach was indiscrimin- ately given to the adherents of the royal govern- ment, in the southern provinces. But in the pro- gress of things they received the more appropriate denomination of Tories ; which means loyalists, admirers of taxation to support sumptuously an host of placemen and pensioners. By the British and the friends of royalty, the American republi- cans, were denominated rebels.
The royal insurgents before mentioned, under the pretence of quelling the rebellion, had com- mitted many outrageous depredations, and render. ed themselves so obnoxious to a great majority of the people, that many of them were compelled to flee their country, and take refuge in East-Florida, and among the different tribes of Indians. These banditti, and others of the same description who fled from Georgia, were well calculated to scourge the province and awaken the greatest anxieties for the safety of their helpless families, in case the militia should take an active part against them. Georgia was charged in the first instance by the other colonies, with being tardy and inde- cisive; but the charge of inactivity vanishes, when
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773.
the sword and hatchet are held over the heads of the actors to compel them to lie still.
Sir James Wright, governor of Georgia, in conjunction with John Stuart, superintendant of Indian affairs in the southern department, called a convention of the Cherokees and Creeks at Au- gusta, on the 1st of June, * where they voluntarily ceeded to Great-Britain, a large tract of their ter- ritories, which these tribes requested might be accepted as a compensation for debts, due by them to the traders, which they were otherwise unable to pay. Governor Wright was not vested with authority to accept this cession of land by the powers of his executive appointment in Geor- gia; but, foreseeing the advantages to the pro- vince, and the influence which would be given to the king's government, by the control of the funds which would arise from the sale of those lands, he had previously applied to the ministry for leave to make the treaty ; and out of the proceeds of sales, 'to pay George Galphin and others, the large demands which they had for goods against the different tribes of Indians. By having the control of these funds, Wright had the power, and exercised it, of paying the loyal subjects the full amount of their demands ; and of withholding payment, from such as he deemed favorably disposed toward the American cause.
. Look at the top of each page for the year, when the month ouly is mentioned.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773.
The same partiality was evidenced in the dis. position of the lands. Galphin and many others who opposed the measures of the British govern- ment, never received any compensation, though their demands were to a very large amount, and the justice of their claims indisputable.
For the policy practised by Wright in chang- ing the direction of this fund into a measure for . - the support of his government, and for other polit- ical measures which he adopted, the order of knighthood is said to have been conferred upon him. He was a man of considerable talents, great industry, very avaricious and devoted to the mea- sures of his king.
The tract of country included in this transfer, north-west of Little river, and the head waters of Ogechee, was fertile and healthy, and consequently soon invited a number of settlers from the other provinces. Governor Wright digested a plan of settlement and appointed colonel Bartlet, Messrs. Young, Holland and Maddox, commissioners ; and vested them with powers to dispose of tracts of land to such persons as should apply-allowing two hundred acres to the head of each family, and fifty acres to each of its members brought into the province-comprehending wives, children and negroes-and paying five pounds sterling for en- trance money, for every hundred acres. When this sum was paid, a warrant was granted, upon which the survey was made. The commissioners were authorised to value each tract, agreeably .to
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773 -- 1774.
its quality, not exceeding five shillings per acre. Land courts were opened in September at Au- gusta; and at the confluence of Broad and Savan- nah rivers, where captain Thomas Waters' com- pany was garrisoned in fort James. A town was soon after laid off at this fort called Dartmouth, now Petersburgh; and several plantations were opened in its-vicinity.
During the session of the assembly in Savan- nah in September, a law was passed, forming the tract of country between the Alatamaha and St. Mary's rivers, into four parishes, to be known by the names of St. David, St. Thomas, St. Patrick and St. Mary. These parishes were afterward represented in the provincial legislature, according to their population. The other provinces had appointed agents to the court of Great- Britain, to represent their wants and wishes, and to remon- strate against such acts of the crown, as had be- come oppressive to the American colonies, and to oppose the introduction of any new species of taxation at variance with the constitution. Many of the provinces had confided this trust to doctor Benjamin Franklin, and during the session above- mentioned, he was appointed for the same purpos- es from this province, and a fund was appropriat- ed to meet the expenses of the mission. Gray Elliott, an inhabitant of this province, was ap- pointed to act as an assistant to doctor Franklin, and to communicate the wishes of the assembly in person. He was also vested with the same
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774.
powers which had been confided to doctor Frank- lin, in case of his absence, or of vacancy in the office to which he had been appointed.
These measures did not meet with the ap- probation of governor Wright, as this duty was specially confided to the executive, and properly became his business : he did not, however, feel disposed to irritate the public mind, by an inter- ference with what was claimed, and generally be- lieved to be a constitutional right ; therefore, he only advised another course, which, he said, would be more likely to succeed.
When the peace of the county was disturbed by Indian warfare, it was generally to be attributed to the improper conduct of the Indian trading-hous- es, and persons in their employ. An extensive trading-house had been established at Pensacola, under the firm of Panton and Lessly ; and it was believed, that their interest prompted them to cherish the evil disposition of the Indians, toward the people of Georgia, and to draw the Indian trade from this province to their own establish- ment. It was suggested to governor Wright, that that house had offered rewards for scalps of the people of Georgia ; and that in consequence, of such reward being proffered, several scalps were actually taken from the head of one white man. Governor Wright remonstrated against this abominable and inhuman practice, and it was afterward discontinued.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774:
The Quakers, who had been driven from their settlements on the south side of Little river in 1751, had returned to their farms, and had made considerable progress in agriculture. These people are valuable inhabitants of a country in a state of peace, but the most useless in time of war. The settlements on the ceded lands, on Ogechee, and north of Little river, increased in numbers beyond the most sanguine expectation ; but in January, they were invaded by a party of Creek Indians, who attacked Sherrill's fort, in which there were five white men, three negro men and twelve women and children. About nine o'clock in the morning, the Indians approached secretly, and fired upon the people, where they were at work on the fort. Sherrill and two others fell on the first fire; the remainder retreated into the houses, where they were encouraged to make good their defence, by the bravery and example of one of the negro men, who rushed out upon an Indian and shot him through the head. The In- dians set fire to the fort and houses in three pla- ces, but fortunately it was extinguished. Two men of the neighbourhood heard the firing, and approached so near the fort as to be discovered by the Indians, and were pursued, but they escaped and gave notice of the attack to captain Barnard, who collected about forty men and ad- vanced to their relief. Barnard attacked the In- dians in the rear, and compelled them to retreat into a swamp. In the fort, seven persons 2
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774.
were killed, and five wounded. Five Indians were killed, but the number wounded was not known, as they were carried off by their compa- nions.
A few days afterward a skirmish took place, in which twenty-five white men were engaged against one hundred and fifty Indians. Grant, Weatherford, Hammond and Ayers, were killed, and one man wounded, who died next day at Wrightsboro'. The Indians burned several forts. and houses, which had been abandoned by the in- habitants. Captain Few and lieutenants Williams and Bishop, collected a party of men and buried the bodies of those who were slain in the recent action. Lieutenant Samuel Alexander, collected a few militia and pursued a small party of Indians,. who were separated from the main body, and on the succeeding day, attacked and defeated them : two Indians were killed. Colonel Rae, who was an agent of Indian affairs, threatened Alexander with punishment for having taken such rash mea- sures without authority ; but on being fully in- formed of the circumstances, he was convinced of the necessity of them. He conjectured that when the whole of these transactions were ex- plained to the Chiefs of the nation, they would view the provocation in its proper light, and ac- quiesce in the justness of the retaliation.
This unexpected invasion of the settlements on the ceded lands, occasioned the settlers to. re- treat to places of greater security. On the Savan-
HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774.
nah and Little rivers, they constructed forts for the lodgment of their families and moveable property, and for places of retreat for the men in the event of being driven from their farms, on which they performed their labour in companies for mutual. safety.
Mr. George Galphin, a principal agent for In- dian affairs, despatched a messenger to the chiefs of the nation, to ascertain whether they were de- termined on war, or disposed to peace; and to demand the reasons for the recent unprovoked at- tack. The chiefs disavowed the authority of the . attack; and declarations of their pacific disposi- tions, toward the people of Georgia, were returned by the messenger.
The Indian chief, called the big Elk, who was the leader of the savages in the attack on Sherrill's fort, finding that his own nation was not disposed for the war, went to the Cherokees, and invited them to join him against the white people. The Cherokees declined the invitation. In returning home, that chief, and his party, killed and scalped three white men. About the last of March, the head Turkey, a chief of the upper Creeks, accom- panied by two other chiefs and an Indian trader, visited the lower towns to prevail on them to make peace with Georgia. He obtained their consent to visit the governor and make proposi- tions. On his way, at Augusta, he was murdered, by one Thomas Fee, in revenge for a relation of. his who had been murdered by the Indians, on
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774.
the frontiers. Fee escaped into South-Carolina, where he was promised protection by some of the inhabitants. The governor of Georgia proclaim- ed a reward of one hundred pounds sterling, for apprehending and bringing him to punishment. He was arrested and lodged in the prison, at Nine- ty-six, where he remained but a few days, when an armed party came in the night time, forced the prison, and released him. When the Indians heard that Fee was apprehended, and in prison, a party of the chiefs came to Savannah to witness his execution; and were much displeased to learn that he had been forcibly released. The govern- or informed them that the proclamation was still in force, and that the governor of South-Carolina had offered a further reward of two hundred pounds, for apprehending him; and he hoped that Fee might yet be brought to suffer the pun- ishment which his crime merited. The governor then stated to the chiefs, that within four months, fifteen of his people had been killed without any provocation ; and that eleven more had been kill- ed on Long-cane, in South-Carolina. He de- manded of the chiefs, the blood of the Indians who had murdered those innocent people, and asked them with what propriety they could make a demand of that justice, which they were unwill- ing to render .? He stated to them, that the king would grant him a sufficient force to exterminate their nation, if he required it ; but he did not wish for war, which he had evidenced to them by his
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774.
pacific disposition, and forbearance .- That they must change their plan, and not spill the blood of his innocent people for petty offences committed by evil disposed persons ; and assured them, that whenever they were aggrieved, he would give them satisfaction, by making proper reparation for injuries of which they might justly complain : and that if thereafter, the Indians were guilty of the murder of his people, or of robbing them of their property, he would make their nation atone for such offences. The Indians were conscious of their guilt, and promised to be peaceable for the future. When they were about to depart, the governor ordered captain Samuel Elbert with his company of grenadiers, to escort them through the settlements, to prevent mischief being done to them by the inhabitants. While the chiefs were absent from the nation, several war parties had marched to the frontiers of Georgia, where they committed several thefts, and murders. Some chiefs of the upper towns, came in soon after- ward, and informed the governor, that they had sent out a party of their warriors, who had killed the leader and two of the men who had committ- ed the recent depredations on the property and people of Georgia; with which they expressed a hope that he would be satisfied.
During these Indian depredations and dis- putes, in which the attention of Georgia was deep- ly engaged, troops from England were landed in Boston, to enforce the operation of the offensive
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1774.
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acts of the British parliament. Governor Wright had secured to the interest of the king, as many men of wealth, talents and influence as he could find willing to hold offices. John Stuart, super- intendant of Indian affairs, had taken the same precaution in the selection of his agents with the different tribes of Indians. The friends of the rights of the provinces were not unobservant of passing events. Henry Laurens, esq. and many other gentlemen of influence and talents in South- Carolina, inquired of their friends in Georgia, whether the tree of liberty had been planted and taken root, and whether the rice swamps between the Alatamaha and Savannah rivers, would be fa- vourable to the culture of that valuable plant ? Observing that it had, already, been fostered to the westward of Augusta, notwithstanding the In- dian hatchet had been made sharp by British in- fluence and agency, and was held up ready to sever the roots from the trunk, as soon as it ap- peared in the bud. Captain Lachlan M'Intosh, was warmly invited to step forward to aid with his experience and military talents, in support of · the rights of the provinces, if arms should be re- sorted to for their vindication. This gentleman having been reared up under the patronage of gen- eral Oglethorpe, had attracted the attention of the. patriots toward him, as the commanding-officer in Georgia, in the event of the contest assuming a military form.
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