USA > Georgia > A history of Georgia : from its first discovery by Europeans to the adoption of the present constitution in MDCCXCVIII. Vol. II > Part 18
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crime, a reward of five guineas is offered for the dis- covery of any person or persons concerned in that act of humanity."
General Wayne desired to get as many of these Indians as he could into his power, for the purpose of bringing them over to the American side, or at least of making them neutral in the strife. Knowing, there- fore, that many of them, unsuspecting the presence of American troops near Savannah, would attempt to get into the town on the land side, he despatched Major John Habersham, with a body of South Carolina cavalry, under Major Francis Moore, and some mounted militia, under Captain Patrick Carr, to collect the various parties known to be on their way to Savannah. The efforts of Habersham were at first quite successful, as he represented himself as Colonel Brown, with whose name they were quite familiar, and his orders, therefore, were promptly obeyed. But the whole plan was foiled by the knavery of a part of his mounted militia, who, with a lieutenant, under pre- tence that the bad roads would injure their horses, abandoned him in their thirst for blood,-slew several of the Indians, and then threw themselves precipitately into the neighborhood of Sunbury, where they killed eleven loyalists. This transaction opened the eyes of the Indians, and, notwithstanding all the vigilance which Habersham observed, the savages fled by night, carrying tales of outrage and blood into the surround- ing tribes. Major Moore was shortly after killed, in a skirmish with some Indians and Tories, at Reed's Bluff, on the Alatamaha, while on his return to headquarters; and Captain Lyons, of that corps, and Captain Carr, were so incensed at his fall, that they, with their
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several commands, breaking away from the orders of Habersham, determined to repass the Alatamaha, and avenge the death of their gallant comrade. But his death was avenged more speedily and by other hands, as appears from the following extract from the Order- book of General Wayne :-
"HEADQUARTERS, EBENEZER, April 16th, 1782.
" Five of Colonel Jackson's dragoons and young Sny- der were surrounded and fired upon a little before day- light on Sunday morning by a party of the enemy, thirty in number, under the command of Major Dill, but without effect. The fire was returned by Snyder with so good a direction, as to leave the Major dead on the spot. A pistol fired by one of the dragoons wounded two men of the party, which was all the arms made use of by our people on this occasion,-the enemy flying with such precipitation to their boats, as to escape the keen cutting swords of their brave pursuers.
" General Wayne requests Mr. Snyder, and those five brave dragoons, to accept his best thanks for their fortitude and gallant conduct in defeating five times their number, although attacked by surprise."
The return home of the Carolina cavalry, and the discharge of the State militia, whose term of service had expired, who, however, in the language of the General, " required some respite from duty and fatigue, which they have gone through with cheerfulness and forti- tude becoming the virtuous citizens of America," was in some measure made up by the arrival of one hun- dred and fifty Virginia troops under Lieutenant-Colonel
-
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Posey. Still the number in his camp was fluctuating, and he was embarrassed greatly by the lack of clothing and subsistence. "We are in great distress for want of shoes, shirts, and overalls; the Virginians have marched upwards of three hundred miles barefoot, in which situation they still continue. I send you," he continues, writing to Colonel Jackson (24th April, 1782), "a gill of spirits for each man with you, and a little for your own use, as we have not a sufficiency to divide among the officers in general. I have directed a distribution between Colonels White, Posey, and yourself, by which means your officers will participate in rotation at your tables."
In the general distress which then prevailed, the civil functionaries suffered equally with the military. A few days after the above letter was written, Governor Martin made a communication to the State Legislature, in which he says : "I am sorry to inform you that my family is frequently destitute of provisions, and that I have no mode of supplying them but through the Com- missary, who has it not in his power to prevent it, or is very neglectful; and that, in a fit of illness, from which I have not yet recovered, I was obliged to send to my neighbors for every article but sugar and coffee fit for a sick or weak person to eat. I have not had, since my commencement in office, as much money as would purchase the most trifling necessaries myself or family stands in need of from time to time. My family, such of the members of your body who stay with me (for want of public houses), and the guard, have been for some time, and are now, supported by grain pro- cured on my private credit."
This letter drew a resolve from that body, on the 4th
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of May, empowering the Governor to take ten negroes belonging to any person or persons who have forfeited the same, for the purpose of supporting himself and family while in the exercise of government. The aspect of the times will perhaps be still better under- stood by inserting a report ordered by the House of Assembly, upon certain articles forwarded to Governor Martin from Captain Ignatius Few, a certain portion of which were set aside for the Governor and Council ; " the same being inspected by a committee, report, that there is seventy-five pounds sugar, nine bushels salt, and twenty-three gallons rum. To the President two gallons rum, to each member one gallon, the remainder for the Governor, to be disposed of as he may think proper. To the President ten pounds sugar, to each member five pounds, the remainder to be disposed of as the Governor may think proper. The salt to the President two quarts, to each member one, the re- mainder to be disposed of as the Governor may think proper. To the Messenger of this Board five pounds sugar, one quart of salt, half gallon rum."
At this juncture the State of South Carolina voted the Georgians some rice ; but so difficult was its trans- portation, that one-third of it was "allowed to any person or persons that will bring the said rice from Pocotaligo to Ebenezer." Strange as it may seem, at this time, the very legislature which granted ten negroes to Colonel Martin to support him as Governor, voted five thousand guineas, to be vested in three commissioners, to purchase an estate for General Green; and four thousand guineas to be likewise vested in an estate for General Wayne; so highly did the Georgians estimate the services of these
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distinguished men, and so liberally did they reward them.1 But they were not estimated beyond their value, nor rewarded beyond their merit. The grants were the more generous, from the deep poverty of the grantors; for when, a few months before, the Conti- nental Financier had called upon the Executive for the quota of this State, amounting to $25,000, Wereat wrote, 12th March, 1782, there is not " a quarter part of the money in the State without the enemy's lines, neither is there produce to raise it from, or a sufficient provision to last the people until harvest, besides a general want of every necessary."
General Wayne found much difficulty in filling up his regiments, and keeping up a proper force to sustain himself so near the enemy's lines. Yet, under diffi- culties of the most disheartening character, and in command of a post that demanded anxious vigilance, Wayne not only kept up good appearances toward the enemy, but so disposed his troops, and adjusted his plans, as to keep them in continual fear; hovering around the city, attacking their foraging parties, cut- ting off their supplies by capture or conflagration, even under cover of the guns of their redoubts. The energy and prowess of Wayne and his soldiers were soon, how- ever, put to a severer test. With the view of escort- ing into camp a body of Creek Indians, under the command of Guristersigo, who were to rendezvous at Harris's Bridge, on the Ogeechee, seven miles from Savannah, Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, with all the troops that could be spared from Savannah, marched out to conduct their allies into town. As soon as
1 Johnson's Life of Green, ii, 401, 419.
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Wayne heard of this at Ebenezer, on the 21st May, he immediately put White's dragoons and Posey's in- fantry in motion, who reached Mrs. Gibbons's, within six miles of Savannah, at 5 P.M. An hour after, he received an express from Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson, stating that the enemy were in full force at Harris's Bridge, on the great Ogeechee road, and that a smaller party were at Ogeechee Ferry, which he designed to attack with his corps. Upon inquiry, Wayne found that the only route to the enemy's position was through a tangled swamp of nearly four miles in extent, with many deep and dangerous morasses to pass, and then to intersect the Ogeechee road at an intermediate distance between Savannah and the bridge. He was properly impressed with the difficulty attending a night-march over such ground, as well as the delicacy of a manœuvre that placed him in con- tact with the whole of the enemy's force in Georgia ; but trusting to the experience and gallantry of the officers, and the steady bravery of the troops, he or- dered an advance, assured "that the success of a nocturnal attack depended more upon prowess than numbers." The vanguard, under Colonel White, reached the Ogeechee road at a point four miles southwest of Savannah at twelve at night, and there found the enemy advancing, and in good order. Without waiting for the rest of the troops to come up, Wayne ordered the vanguard to charge; which they did with such vivacity as to cause the precipitate flight of Brown and his large force, "without the use of powder." The almost impenetrable woods, deep swamps, and morasses into which they plunged, under cover of night, secured them from total ruin; they lost,
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however, many of their horses and arms in their hur- ried efforts to obtain personal safety. This sudden route of a force five times their superior, was effected by a company of light infantry under Captain Parker, and a few dragoons under Captain Hughes and Lieu- tenant Bowen, led on by Colonel White, under General Wayne; and the only weapons used were the sword and the bayonet. The remainder of Posey's detach- ment, and of White's dragoons, under Captain Gunn, did not reach the road until after the enemy had broken and fled. The flight was complete. Many were killed and wounded; among whom was Lieu- tenant-Colonel Douglass. Many prisoners were made, and between twenty and thirty of their best dragoon horses were taken. The discomfited troops reached Savannah by twos and threes; and Colonels Brown and Ingham did not get to town until the next night, when they entered unattended.
This whole affair was as brilliantly achieved as it was daringly conceived, and reflected great honor on Wayne and his enthusiastic troops. After refreshing his men at Mrs. Gibbons's, General Wayne marched within view of Savannah, in the hope of drawing out General Alured Clark and the troops under his com- mand; but that cautious officer declined the virtual challenge, and Wayne therefore returned to Ebe- nezer, on the morning of the 24th, with the loss of only five privates killed and two wounded.
While these events were transpiring in the lower part of Georgia, active operations were being prose- cuted in the upper districts for the suppression of dis- turbances created by the tories and Indians. In the beginning of the year, General Pickens wrote urgent
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letters to General Rutherford, Colonels Clarke, Sevier, Shelby, and others, to join him in an expedition against the Cherokees, appointing an early day in February for their setting out, and the middle settlements as a place of junction ; stating that he had ordered his own brigade " to be in readiness by that time, with thirty- five days' provision, and pack-horses to carry it ;" urging this measure " as a means of saving this coun- try from total ruin, and enabling them to act with their whole force against the enemy below." Owing to the impossibility of mustering men from such remote districts at a given time, the expedition was delayed more than a month; and even then undertaken not as originally designed, as the Tennesseeans and North Carolinians did not reach the ground; for when Pickens reached Choti, where he purposed to rendez- vous, he had but two hundred and seventy-five men, "including officers, pack-horse men, and servants." Out of this number, two hundred only had guns, and about fifty swords. Undeterred by this small force, scarcely a fourth of what he anticipated, he deter- mined to march on, until obliged by necessity to turn back. His progress is thus described by himself, in a letter to Colonel Clarke, dated Long Cane, South Caro- lina, 3d April, 1782 :-
"Still in hopes to reach the middle ground and meet the over-mountain men, we crossed the moun- tains to Catoogojoy, and from there to Quanese and Cheweg, but the Indians had removed from their towns with their provisions. From there we took the road to the middle grounds, and reached the Coosa town, where we were in hopes to get some corn, but did not get an ear in the town. As the snow was
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excessive, and no cane or corn for our horses, many of them dropped dead on the road that day's march. In the town we met Crittenden and Jack Doharty, with two other young fellows, who were sent from the middle grounds the day before, to spy and watch our motions. Crittenden and one Indian was killed; Do- harty and the other was taken, who told us that the Indians had removed with their provisions into the mountains as soon as they heard the Indians with the flag was killed, which appeared to be the case. I told him we had come a great ways to meet their warriors ; that I had heard that they wanted much to meet us in that country. He said they were collecting their men to fight us, and that he expected them there that night, but, as the day had been very bad, perhaps they would not come till next day. The next morning I sent out parties with the prisoners to search for corn, and in the whole day found but about thirty bushels. The excessive snows and rains occasioned the loss of the most of our little provisions we had with us. The greatest part of the men were then entirely out. I called a council of the officers ; who were unanimous of opinion that it was not possible to proceed any further, as there was no prospect of getting any corn in the Indian towns, and could get no intelligence from the over-mountain men. We staid there two days in that neighborhood, but could not find more than forty bushels of corn and four small beeves, and through absolute necessity we were obliged to return. The officers and men that were out underwent the hard- ships and fatigues, and done their duty with more cheerfulness and less complaint or murmuring, than I ever saw amongst militia. Though I fear that this
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important expedition for our frontiers has not been as successful as I could have wished, through the inat- tention, neglect, or, I fear, the lukewarmness of some of the field officers of the different regiments in this State."
Major John Cunningham, who commanded the Geor- gians in this expedition, speaks of it " as the most fa- tiguing expedition I ever had. The weather was so desperate that we were all nigh perishing:" he attri- butes its failure to the "North Carolina men not meeting agreeably to their repeated promises, and the badness of the weather."
The failure of this well-laid plan reacted with disas- trous effect on the people of Wilkes County. They were left in a perishing condition. Over half of them had not a grain of corn, and not the least hope of a supply, and were obliged to live on roots and such fruits as the woods afforded. In addition to this, they were threatened by the Indians and Tories with a retaliating visit, with scarcely a hope of sustaining a contest against such fearful odds.
A week after the defeat of Brown, on the Ogeechee road, Sir James Wright received letters from his Ma- jesty's Secretary of State, inclosing copies of the pro- ceedings of Parliament on the 27th February, 1782, and also his Majesty's answer to this address of the Commons. These Sir James inclosed the next day to General Wayne, expressing his determination to "observe such conduct in every respect as may best promote a speedy and happy reconciliation and peace between Great Britain and America ;" and he proposed, " as the most effectual means for bringing about that
1
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desirable object," " a cessation of arms and hostilities for such time as shall be agreed upon."
This proposition Wayne referred to his commander, General Green, who, of course, referred it to Congress. It was well for Wayne that he did not enter into the proposed terms, for a body of three hundred Indians, under Guristersigo, was at that very time on its march to join General Alured Clark at Savannah, and would augment his force to a dangerous extent. The Indians, which had hitherto been captured by General Wayne, had been returned to their tribes with Mr. Cornell, the interpreter, with friendly talks and kind treatment. This, to a great extent, influenced the mass of the In- dians towards pacific measures; but this band, under Guristersigo, having long before determined on aiding the British, now proceeded to carry their resolve into execution. Wayne also, so soon as he heard of their movements, took every precaution to avoid surprise in his camp at Mrs. Gibbons, on the Ogeechee road. But on the night of the 24th they succeeded, by the most stealthy manœuvres and cautious approaches, in gain- ing undiscovered the rear of Wayne's encampment, and their startling war-whoop was the first notice the army had of their approach. The rear guard, finding the enemy in their midst, retreated, and formed under cover of some of the plantation houses. While the Indians took possession of his field pieces, and, in their futile attempt to turn these upon the Americans, they lost so much time that it gave opportunity for Wayne to rally and form his men and issue his orders, which he did with a promptness and decision that at once banished fear and inspired courage. As Wayne led on his men his horse was shot under him, but, putting
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himself at the head of Captain Parker's infantry, he ordered his troops to advance with charged bayonets ; and his orders were so well executed that the artillery was soon recovered and the enemy fled, leaving their chief, his white guides, and seventeen of their war- riors dead on the field. One hundred and seventeen pack-horses, loaded with peltry, were also left on the ground. The pursuit was not long kept up. About thirty Indians were ascertained to have been killed, though many wounded were probably borne off by their friends. No prisoners were taken, for such was the indignation of the soldiers, at the merciless scalp- ing of some of their wounded comrades, that no quarter was given; and twelve, who were captured in the woods, were shot as examples by General Wayne. The American loss was small, four killed and twelve wounded. Wayne received much praise for his cool- ness and firmness on this trying occasion ; and, indeed, but for this promptitude and self-possession, the mas- sacre of Paoli, in 1777, would have been re-enacted, to his own infamy and destruction.
Preparations were now made for bringing the war to a close; and negotiations were going on from the 5th of June, between Sir James Wright and Governor Martin on the one hand, and the British merchants and General Wayne, through Major Hale, on the other, with respect to the property, protection, &c., of the residents in Savannah. These terminating in a manner more satisfactory to the British than they dared to hope, a day was appointed for the formal de- livery of the town into the hands of the Americans. That day was the 11th of July, 1782, and by 2 o'clock in the afternoon the last of the English troops had
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. embarked on board the ships in the river, and at 4 P.M. General Wayne issued the following order :-
" HEADQUARTERS, SAVANNAH, 11th July, 1782.
" The light infantry company under Captain Parker to take post in the centre work in front of the town, placing sentries at the respective gateways and sally- ports, to prevent any person or persons going or enter- ing the lines without written permits, until further orders.
" No insults or depredations to be committed upon the persons or property of the inhabitants on any pre- text whatever; the civil authority only will take cog- nizance of the criminals or defaulters belonging to the State, if any there be. The merchants and traders are immediately to make out an exact and true invoice of all goods, wares, or merchandise of every species, dry, wet, or hard, respectively belonging to them, or in their possession, with the original invoices, to the Commissary, who will select such articles as may be necessary for the army and for the public uses of the State, for which a reasonable profit will be allowed; no goods or merchandise of any kind what- ever to be removed, secreted, sold, or disposed of, until the public and army are first served, which will be as soon as possible after the receipt of the invoices, &c.
"N. B. Orders will be left with Captain Parker for the immediate admission of the Honorable Executive Council and the Honorable members of the Legislature, with their officers and attendants."
That evening the troops paraded before the lines of Savannah ; and Colonel James Jackson, who, "in con- sideration of his severe and fatiguing service in the
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advance," had been selected by General Wayne to receive the formal surrender of the town, advanced to the principal gate, where a committee of British offi- cers stood in waiting, and received at their hands the keys of the metropolis of Georgia. The troops then marched into the town, which for three years and a-half had been in the possession of the enemy, and Georgia was once more free and independent.
Wayne received orders to leave Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson's corps and Major Habersham's new recruits in charge of Savannah, and then, with the rest of his troops, to join General Green, encamped on Ashly River in South Carolina. While the evacuation of Savannah, as the first formal and voluntary cession of British to American power, was hailed with joy as an earnest of the disposition of the ministry to comply with the prevailing desire for peace, though no articles or treaty had been signed ; yet the manner in which the evacuation was conducted, reflected disgrace on the authorities who permitted such gross disorders. Many of the most notorious Loyalists in the State, whose hands and hearts had been stained with fraternal blood, who had instigated and witnessed the cruelties of their savage allies, were gathered there, and in their anxiety to secure themselves, they laid hands on everything that they could possibly command. All movable pro- perty that could be secured was taken away ; and five thousand negroes, from three-fourths to seven-eighths of all in Georgia, and many of them plundered from their republican owners, were carried off in the general embarkation. The State was drained of everything that the enemy could avail themselves of, and was left in a crippled and dismantled condition.
VOL. II.
19
BOOK FIFTH.
GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.
CHAPTER I.
ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
HITHERTO we have been chiefly occupied by nar- rating the military transactions in Georgia, and have alluded to civil affairs mostly to illustrate the condi- tion of things under which the events recorded occurred.
In order to obtain a somewhat connected view of the civil condition of Georgia during this period, when two independent governments, one royal and the other republican, at times exercised jurisdiction in the same province, it will be necessary, in some instances, to state anew facts which have been already related, to avoid the necessity of continually referring the reader to former Chapters, or of making unpleasant breaks in the history.
The first effective organization of the friends of liberty in the province, took place among the deputies from several parishes, who met in Savannah, on the
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18th January, 1775, and formed what has been called " A Provincial Congress."
Guided by the action of the other colonies, a "Coun- cil of Safety" was created, on the 22d June, 1775, to whom was confided the general direction of the mea- sures proper to be pursued in carrying out resistance to the tyrannical designs of the King and Parliament. William Ewen was the first President of this Council of Safety, and Seth John Cuthbert was the Secretary.
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