USA > Georgia > A standard history of Georgia and Georgians > Part 42
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(This chapter prepared by Charles Edgeworth Jones, Esq.)
Contemporaneously with the ill-advised acquiescence on the part of D'Estaing, occurred his junction with General Lincoln and his Conti- nentals. Unconscious of the impending tragedy, so soon to be enacted, the last-named were hilarious over their prospective triumph. While they were intent on this profitless rejoining, their antagonists were most active, and were bending their every effort toward supplying their exist- ing deficiencies. Besides the cannon already in position around Savan- nah, 100 more were now added; the warships being stripped of their batteries in order that the latter might be utilized for the armament of the earthworks. The protections of the southern, eastern, and western exposures of the town were also greatly strengthened ; and such was the progress made, that before the truce had expired, and fire had opened, the British had constructed thirteen substantial redoubts, and fifteen gun batteries mounting eighty cannon, field-pieces being distributed at regular intervals. Furthermore, ships were sunk in the channel, above and below the beleaguered city; and, as a result, the hostile aseent of the stream was effectually precluded. With a view to increasing the numerical strength of the defenders, all troops were recalled from out- lying posts. Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger, with his contingent, being withdrawn from Sunbury, and Colonel Maitland, with his strong detach- ment of 800 men, being summoned from Beaufort. Says Major MeCall, in alluding to the circumstance: "The acquisition of this formidable re-enforcement, headed by an experienced and brave officer, effected a complete change in the dispirited garrison. A signal was made, and three cheers were given, which rung from one end of the town to the other."
On the receipt of Prevost's unfavorable response, the siege was at once resolved upon by the allied commanders, who, accordingly, made
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preparations for the thorough investment of the town. By the 23d of September, all their dispositions had been perfected; and on the same day occurred the first skirmish between the opposing armies. During the night of October 1st, Colonel John White, with the aid of five associ- ates, achieved an exploit of a truly remarkable character; he with a handful of comrades effecting the capture of a detachment of 111 British regular. On the midnight of October 3d, the bombardment of Savan- nah was commenced; it being continued, irregularly, until the 8th. It was then decided by the allied chieftains to convert the siege into an ยท assault. And so, plans were carefully concerted for a general attack on the British lines on the morning of the eventful 9th of October. It was ascertained by the foe that the principal onslaught would be directed against the Spring Hill redoubt, and the adjacent batteries, and, as a consequence, Colonel Maitland was placed, with his choicest troops, at the point of greatest danger.
The aggregate French force, to be identified with this historie affair, approximated 4,500 men ; and was expected to form in three columns- two for assault, one for the reserve corps. The American contingent, participating, which could not have exceeded 2,100, was to be divided into two attacking columns; the weight of those allied armies being mainly concentrated upon the right of the British lines, where the Spring Hill batteries were located. The enemy's strength at this time was fairly estimated at 2,500; and they were intrenched behind practically impreg- nable defenses. The death-dealing works proved most fatal to the allied armies, they being hurled back from them, with a combined loss, in killed and wounded, of 1.150. The English casualties were reported as forty killed and sixty-three wounded. Thus ended this sanguinary and epochal siege, which occupies a lofty place among the conflicts of the American Revolution.
With the failure of the allied armies to recapture Savannah, despair again resumed its sway over patriotic hearts. The little commonwealth was now in extremis, and the war-clouds looked most ominons. About this time, Nancy Hart, the Georgia heroine, arose, and showed the people that all the dauntless souls were not dead, and that there was "life in the old land yet." . She acted courageously, and she was a present inspiration for everybody to do the same. The gallant partisans became emboldened once more, and gave their attention to important enterprises. Augusta was now in the hands of the Loyalists, and its recovery seemed most essential. They, accordingly, took that project in hand.
The siege and capture of Angusta began in May, 1781 ; and with that notable affair, General Piekens and Colonels Clarke and Lee were hero- ically identified. Colonel Thomas Brown, the Tory, was in charge of the town, and his government of the place was high-handed and extremely obnoxious. At this time, two fortifications formed the principal defenses of Angusta : Fort Cornwallis and Fort Grierson. The latter was named in honor of the Loyalist lientenant-colonel, who commanded its garrison ; and stood very nearly npon the spot now occupied by the Riverside Mills The location of the former was identical with that of St. Paul's church and cemetery. British regulars were stationed at Fort Cornwallis; while the tenure of Grierson was confided to militia. After a careful consid- eration of the matter, it was resolved to drive Grierson ont of his fort,
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and either capture or destroy him in his retreat upon Cornwallis. To this end, arrangements were speedily made. So vigorous and repeated were the attaeks, that Grierson, finding further resistance useless, decided to evacuate his position, and to escape, with his command, to Fort Corn- wallis. The scheme was a desperate one, but his men, nothing daunted, entered boldly upon its execution. In the hazardous attempt, the greater portion of the garrison was killed, wounded, or captured, its major being slain, and its lieutenant-colonel taken prisoner. Comparitively few of those in the fort succeeded in escaping. After the surrender, Colonel Grierson, in retaliation for his many enormities, was himself shot to death by a Georgia rifleman.
The first step had been taken, but the most notable was to follow. The eyes of the republicans were now turned toward Fort Cornwallis, and plans were devised for its reduction. Behind the oaken ramparts of that fortress, Colonel Brown calmly awaited the enemy's approach. Brave and ingenious, he was always confident that a siege could success- fully be sustained. The levelness of the ground making it difficult to secure a platform high enough to render the only reliable field-piece in camp effective for easting projectiles within the fort, under the eircum- stances, it was deemed expedient to construet a "Mayham" tower. A contrivance of this sort had proven of signal service in the demolition of another fortifieation.
The tower was at length built, in spite of frequent efforts on the part of the besieged to interrupt the labors of the workmen. The interior of this tower, which was raised almost abreast the parapet of the fortress. was filled with fascines, earth, stone, briek, and every available material which was calculated to solidify the structure. Perched upon its lofty resting place, the six-pounder gun soon dismounted the two cannon of the fort, and raked its inner portions, which it commanded almost entirely. The fire of this gun was chiefly directed against the parapet of Cornwallis, fronting on the river. Toward that quarter it was pro- posed that the main attack should be launched. Preparations were made for a general assault, at 9 A. M., on the 4th of June, 1781. Twice had Brown been called upon to surrender, without success. On the morning of the 4th, however, and before an advance had been ordered, an officer, with a flag, was seen approaching from Cornwallis. IIe bore a message from Colonel Brown to General Piekens and Colonel Lee, the purport of it being that he desired to treat for a surrender.
Negotiations were at onee commenced, which culminated, on the fol- lowing morning, in the proposal and acceptance of articles of capitula- tion. These artieles called for the immediate evacuation, by the British garrison-some 300 strong-of the fortress. The loss sustained by the English at the siege of Augusta was fifty-two killed and 334 wounded and captured; sixteen slain and thirty-five wounded represent the eas- ualties as reported among the Americans who participated in that hotly contested affair.
The capture of Augusta practically broke the backbone of English domination in Georgia, and foreshadowed the eventual triumph of the patriots. Upon the re-occupation of the town by the victorious repub- Vol. 1-20
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licans, it again became the capital of the nascent commonwealth, and so continued, for the most part, to be regarded until the end of the Revo- lutionary war. In January, 1782, came the welcome news that General Anthony Wayne had at length arrived on Georgia soil. The finale of the great martial drama was drawing rapidly to a close. With the over- throw of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va., October 19, 1781, had occurred a revolution in English sentiment, and the current of popular sympathy had begun to set strongly toward the patriots. When, in February, 1782, the British House of Commons resolved that "the House will consider as enemies to the king and country all those who shall advise, or by any means attempt, the further prosecution of offensive war for the purpose of reducing the revolted colonies to obedience by force," it was clear that the reward for what had so'valorously been undergone would soon be forthcoming.
Contemporaneously with the passage of that resolution, General Wayne was aggressively engaged in his Georgia campaign. Victorious at every point, he was steadily pressing his advantage, and the capture of Savannah was expected shortly to be added to his triumphant oper- ations. The enemy, however, prevented this humiliation by their sur- render of the town in July, 1782. Some weeks before, or on the 23d of May, 1782, a communication from Sir Guy Carleton, at New York, was received ordering the evacuation, not only of Savannah, but of the whole province; and so, Georgia's Revolutionary period, properly speaking, terminates. On the 30th of November of that year a treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States (adopted at Paris) was officially signed; and the struggle, which had lasted since the 19th of April, 1775, was finished.
Recapitulating, we find that one president of the Council of Safety, Hon. William Ewen; three presidents and commanders-in-chief, Hons. Archibald Bulloch, Jonathan Bryan, and Button Gwinnett; and ten governors, Hons. John A. Treutlen, John Houstoun, John Wereat, George Walton, Richard Howley, George Wells, Stephen Heard, Myrick Davies, Nathan Brownson, and John Martin, officiated, at different times during the Revolution, as chief magistrate of the little commonwealth. Condi- tions, occasionally, were so peripatetic, that some of these worthies were able to serve for only a short period. They freely contributed their patriotic mead, however ; and in the roster of executive heads they should be mentioned. Richard Howley and Nathan Brownson are recalled as members of the Continental Congress. Archibald Bulloch and John Houstoun should also be similarly referred to. George Walton will like- wise be remembered as a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Governor Martin filled the closing months of the Revolution with his administration. When he was installed, he saw the rainbow of peace in sight, which promised rest to his battle-scarred people, after all of their strenuous endeavors.
Aside from Hons. Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun, Rev. J. J. Zubly, Noble W. Jones, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, and George Walton, eight others, from Georgia, were, during the Revolution, com- plimented with seats in the Continental Congress. They were as fol- lows: Hons. Joseph Clay, William Few, Edward Telfair, Richard How-
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ley, Edward Langworthy, John Walton, Nathan Brownson, and Joseph Wood.
Five of the executive heads of Georgia were not so fortunate as to live until the conclusion of the historic struggle, and to enjoy its well- earned fruits. These were Hon. Archibald Bulloch, who died unex- pectedly at his home; Hon. Button Gwinnett and Governor Wells, who fell, at different times, in duels; and Governors Treutlen and Myrick Davies, who were inhumanly murdered by the Tories.
On the bank of the Savannah River, just behind St. Paul's Church, is a Celtic Cross memorial, marking the site of Fort Augusta, around which the little town was built in 1735. This was, probably, the exact location of Fort Cornwallis in the Revolution, and one of its identical cannon is mounted at the base of the above-mentioned monument. The very sight of this gun calls up martial memories, "in the brave days of old," when the sturdy Georgia partisans heroically fought for home and country, and took as their inspiring motto, in the words of our sweet singer, Paul H. Hayne :
"What strength to feel, beyond our steel, burns the Great Captain's eye."
THE STORY OF AUSTIN DABNEY .- One of the finest examples of loyalty displayed during the period of the American Revolution was furnished by Austin Dabney, a negro patriot. He came to Pike with the Harris family within a very short while after the new county was opened to settlement, and here he lies buried near the friends to whom in life he was devotedly attached. The story of how he came to enlist in the patriot army runs thus: When a certain pioneer settler by the name of Aycock migrated from North Carolina to Georgia, he brought with him a mulatto boy whom he called Austin. The boy passed for a slave and was treated as such; but when the struggle for independence began, Aycock, who was not cast in heroic molds, found in this negro youth a substitute, who was eager to enlist, despite the humble sphere of service in which he moved. The records show that for a few weeks perhaps the master himself bore arms in a camp of instruction, but he proved to be such an indifferent soldier that the captain readily agreed to exchange him for the mulatto boy, then a youth of 18, upon Aycock's acknowledgement that the boy was of white parentage, on the mother's side, and therefore free. This happened in the County of Wilkes. When the time came for enrollment, the captain gave Austin the sirname of Dabney, and for the remainder of his life Austin Dabney was the name by which he was everywhere known. He proved to be a good soldier. In numerous conflicts with the Tories in Upper Georgia, he was conspicuous for valor; and at the battle of Kettle Creek, while serving under the famous Elijah Clarke, a rifle ball passed through his thigh, by reason of which he ever afterwards limped. Found in a desperate condition by a man named Harris, he was taken to the latter's house, where kind treatment was bestowed upon him, and here he remained until the wound healed. Austin's gratitude to his benefactor was so great that for the rest of his life he considered himself in the latter's debt, and in many ways he befriended Harris, when reverses overtook him. He appears to have been a man of sound sense and to have acquired property, at the close of the Revolution. He removed from Wilkes to Madison, taking the family of his benefactor with him. Dabney was fond of horse racing, and whenever there was a trial of speed anywhere near he was usually found upon the grounds, and he was himself the owner of thoroughbreds. He drew a pension from the United States Government, on account of his broken thigh, and the Legislature of Georgia, in the distribution of public lands by lottery, awarded him a tract in the County of Walton. The noted Stephen Upson, then a representa- tive from Oglethorpe, introduced the measure, and, in terms of the highest praise, he eulogized Dabney's patriotism. There was some dissention among the white people of Madison over this handsome treatment accorded to one of an inferior race. It doubtless arose, through envy, among the poorer classes. But Austin took no offense, and when an opportune mement came, he quietly shifted his residence te
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the land given to him by the State of Georgia. He was still accompanied by the Harris family, for whom he continued to labor. It is said that he denied himself many of the comforts of life, in order to bestow the bulk of his earnings upon his white friends. He sent the eldest son of Mr. Harris to Franklin College, and con- tributed to his maintenance while he studied law under Jndge Upson at Lexington. It is said that when young Harris stood his legal examination in open court Austin Dabney was outside of the bar with the keenest look of anxiety on his face and that when the youth was finally admitted to practice the old negro fairly burst into tears of joy. He left his entire property to the Harris family, at the time of his death. The celebrated Judge Dooly held him in the highest esteem, and when the latter was attending court in Madison it was one of Dabney's customs to take the judge's horse. mto his special custody. He is said to have been one of the best authorities in Georgia on the events of the Revolutionary war periods. Once a year Anstin Dabney made a trip to Savannah, at which place he drew his pension. On one occasion- so the story goes- he traveled in company with his neighbor, Col. Wiley Pope. They journeyed together on the best of terms until they reached the outskirts of the town. Then, turning toward his dark companion, the colonel suggested that he drop behind, since it was not exactly the conventional thing for them to be seen riding side by side through the streets of Savannah. Without demurrer Austin complied with this request, stating that he fully understood the situation. But they had not proceeded far before reaching the home of General Jackson, then governor of the state. What was Colonel Pope's surprise, on looking behind him, to see the old governor rush from the house, seize Austin's hand in the most cordial manner, like he was greeting some long lost brother, drew him down from the horse, and lead him into the house, where he remained throughout his entire stay in Savannah, treated not perhaps as an equal, but with the utmost consideration. In after years, Colonel Pope used to tell this anecdote, so it is said, with much relish, adding that he felt somewhat abashed on reaching Savannah, to find Austin an honored guest of the governor of Georgia, while he himself ocenpied a room at the public tavern .- L. L. Knight in Georgia 's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends, Vol. I.
COLONEL JOHN WHITE: HERO OF THE GREAT OGEECHEE .- In December, 1778, the British captured Savannah .* In September, 1779, Count d'Estaing with a force of about 1,700 men acting under instructions from the French government effected a landing at Beaulieu, and shortly thereafter was joined by General Lincoln. The purpose was to recapture Savannah by siege. General Prevost, the British com- mander, immediately summoned from all outposts every portion of his scattered command. Some reached the British lines in safety. But Captain French was not among this number. With 111 regular troops, accompanied by five vessels and their crews of forty men, he sought to join General Prevost, but interrupted in his attempt to enter Savannah by news of the investment of the town, took refuge in the Great Ogeechee River, about twenty five miles below Savannah, disembarked and formed a fortified camp on the left bank of that stream.
Col. John White, of the Fourth Georgia Battalion of General Lincoln's force, conceived a brilliant plan for the capture of French's command. Accompanied only by Capts. George Melvin and A. C. G. Elholm, a sergeant, and three privates, a total force of seven men (some accounts state five), on the night of October 1, 1779, this daring band located the British camp on the Ogeechee and built many watch-fires at various points around it, placing the fires at such positions as to lead the British to believe that they were surrounded by a large force of Americans. This was kept up throughout the night by White and his force marching from point to point with the heavy tread of many when, accompanied by the challenge of sentinels at each point surrounding the British camp, each mounting a horse at intervals, riding off in haste in various directions, imitating the orders of staff officers and giving fancied orders in a low tone. Anticipating the presence of the enemy, Captain French believed that he was entrapped by a large force. At this juncture Colonel White, unaccompanied, dashed up to the British camp and demanded a conference with Captain French.
"I am the commander, sir, " he said, "of the American soldiers in your vicinity. If you will surrender at once to my force, I will see to it that no injury is done to you or your command. If you decline to do this I must candidly inform yon that
* E. H. Abrahams: Article in the Savannah Morning News, July 4, 1909.
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the feelings of my troops are highly incensed against you and I can by no means be responsible for any consequences that may ensue."
The bluff worked. Captain French at once fell into the trap and agreed to sur- render, as he thought it was useless to battle with the large surrounding force. At this moment Captain Elholni dashed np on horseback and demanded to know where to place the artillery. "Keep them back," replied White, "the British have sur. rendered. Move your men off and send me three guides to conduct the British to the American post at Sunbury." Thereupon the five vessels were burned, the three guides arrived, and the British urged to keep clear of the supposed infuriated American army hovering about, marched off, while Colonel White hastened away, collected a force of neighboring militia, overtook the British led by his guides, and conducted them as prisoners to Sunbury.
Nine days after this remarkable exploit, Colonel White was severely wounded at the assault upon Savannah made at the Spring Hill redoubt. He succeeded in making his escape from the British, but the wounds received so much impaired his health that he was obliged to retire from the army and died soon afterwards in Virginia .*
EBENEZER IN THE REVOLUTION .- The Salzburgers were slow to side against Eng- land. It was perfectly natural for them to feel kindly disposed toward the country whose generous protection was extended to them in days of persecution; but they were also the sworn enemies of tyranny, whether at home or abroad. When the question of direct opposition to the acts parliament was discussed at Ebenezer in 1774 there arose a sharp division of sentiment. Quite a number of the inhabitants favored "passive obedience and non-resistance." But the majority refused tamely to submit. At the Provincial Congress, which assembled in Savannah on July 4, 1775, the following Salzburgers were enrolled from the Parish of St. Matthew: John Adam Treutlen, John Stirk, Jacob Casper Waldhaur, John Floerl and Chris- topher Cramer. As a community, the Salzburgers espoused the cause of the Revolu- tionists, but, headed by Mr. Triebner, some of them maintained an open adherence to the Crown. Between these parties there sprang up an angry feud, in the midst of which the Rey. Mr. Rabenhorst, "who exerted his utmost influence to curb the dominant passions, crowned his long and useful life with a saintly death."
* The account of this remarkable capture is taken from White's "Historical Col- lections of Georgia," and accepted by that historian as correct. It is corroborated by a manuscript furnished that author by the Hon. Robert M. Charlton, giving a sketch of the life of Col. White.
Capt. Hugh McCall, one of the earliest of Georgia's historians, on page 60 of Vol. II of his history, mentions briefly the occurrence accepting the foregoing state- ments as true.
C. C. Jones, Jr., in his "Ilistory of Georgia," Vol. II, page 390, also mentions this statement as true.
In Vol. II, page 180, of the "Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries," is found an article communicated by I. K. Tett, in which the author corroborates the foregoing facts by an order then in his possession, given by Maj. William Jackson upon certain vendue masters for $500.00 "in the cause of the captors and claimants of the vessels taken in Ogeechee River by Colonel White, being his fees in said cause."
Dr. David Ramsey, writing in October, 1784, or five years after his remarkable exploit, in his "History of the Revolution in South Carolina" (p. 242, Vol. II), records as facts the details above outlined. This is substantial proof of its trust- worthiness.
Colonel White was survived by a widow and one daughter. The widow married Thomas Gordon, of Philadelphia. The daughter, Catherine P., first married William Limbert, and upon his death married a Mr. Hayden. Mrs. C. P. Hayden died in Savannah in January, 1866, leaving most of her property to St. John's Church. The will is recorded in Book M. P. 211, of the ordinary's office. The writer has in lis possession the papers of Mrs. Hayden, and among them are several military orders drawn by Colonel White, a copy of Mr. Teft's communication, with notations thereon by Mrs. Hayden, and a letter from the widow of Colonel White, written to Gov. John Houston in 1789, requesting him to recover for her a house and lot in Savannah owned by her late husband, and which had, through mistake, been confiscated as British property .- E. H. Abrahams.
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