Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I > Part 13

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During the fiercest hours of their combined assault the noble Pole, Count Pulaski, rode at the head of his 200 cavalry whenever a charge could be made. At length he thought he saw an advantage through which he could penetratc the British lines, and, forming his gallant horse for a headlong charge, dashed at full speed into the city and bore all before him until he reached an obstruction of heavy abbattis, through which it was impossible to ride. This devoted body of brave men were then compelled to endure a galling fire from the British batteries and riflemen, which at last threw them into confusion. A canister shot driving through Pulaski's thigh, hurled him at this critical moment from his horse, and inflicted a deadly wound. The fallen hero was borne from the battlefield and afterward placed under skillful treatment aboard the "Wasp," but as the ship was departing for Charleston a few days later the patriot foreigner, who in love of liberty came to the help of Georgia in its extremity, yielded his great soul to death, and his body was consigned to the sca, where the waters of the Atlantic and the Savannah river met. The fierce battle continued until about noon, and the assault having failed with lamentable losses of officers and men, d'Estaing and Lincoln ceased firing, and running up a white flag asked for a truce to bury the dead and remove the wounded. This was agreed to by the British commander, and while these humane offices were being performed by both armies, a council was held in which Lincoln urged a renewal of the assault, but the discouraged count resolved to withdraw. Retiring to their original lines the French began to remove their heavy guns to the ships, and on October 17, without having made any further demonstration, d'Estaing drew off his command and embarked. Gen. Lincoln being left without support fell back upon the interior, and Georgia was again in control of the enemy.

Augusta was re-entered by the British with their Indian allies under the com- mand of Col. Thomas Browne, who held it with an iron hand for many months. Col. Elijah Clarke made a gallant attempt in September, 1780, to wrest the town from Browne's grasp by hastily gathering three companies of militia, commandcd by Col. McCall, Maj. Taylor and himself, and marched to an attack on the west side of the city. He first encountered the Indians, and driving them rapidly back, fell suddenly on a body of rangers in camp within a few miles of the city, and surprising the garrison, laid siege with vigor to the fortifications. Irregular fighting continued from day to day, resulting in an unsuccessful attempt by the patriots to either force Browne to surrender or to carry his works by storm. A body of Cherokee Indians arriving, and also a force of British under Col. Cruger coming to reinforce Browne, the Americans were compelled to raise the siege. They had suffered heavy loss, and Maj. Carter, defending the pass to the White House with great bravery, was killed, leaving behind him this eulogium from the commander: "A man of more bravery than Maj. Carter never occupied a space between heaven and earth." With him fell the fiery Luckie and many others equally brave. In one of the sorties Capt. Ashby,

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

with twenty-eight men, was captured by the British, and twelve of the number, including Ashby, were hanged on the White House staircase. Indian brutalities were also permitted within the knowledge of the British officers, which painfully disclosed the savage nature of the wild war which was waged in Georgia. Col. Browne was desperately wounded himself during the skirmishes of this siege, but recovered and remained in charge of Augusta until the final siege and surrender of the place in 1781.

Gen. Greene had been sent to take charge of the southern department after the disastrous campaign of Gates, and had the assistance of the great partisan leaders, Marion, Sumter, Pickens, Clarke and Dooly. These noted leaders carried on a harassing warfare against the British, striking unexpected blows, and now began under the generalship of Greene to force the invaders of Carolina back toward the sea. With them "Light Horse Harry" Lee co-operated with signal distinction, and participating in the plan to drive the enemy from all their interior forts, moved his command into Georgia for the purpose of re-taking Augusta. Fort Galphin lay in his path, and there, he learned, had been recently stored a quantity of ammuni- tion and presents for the Indians. These he seized with little resistance and distributed among his troops. The cavalry, under Maj. Eggleston, forded and swam the river, and the entire command was quickly marched to the western side of the city, and formed a junction with the provincial troops which Gens. Clarke, Pickens and Jackson had in their command. The plan adopted was to first attack Fort Grierson, which had been erected in the upper part of the place, and this was done at the first assault. The garrison was taken by storm and its defend- ers were killed, captured or driven down the river to Fort Cornwallis, near the center of the city. The Americans then took a strong position, with Lee near the bluffy banks of the river, while Pickens and Clarke extended the right into adjacent roads. Taking advantage of the shelter which the curves and high banks of the river afforded, the Americans began to work their fortifications toward Fort Corn- wallis, but as the flat, even ground afforded no advantageous position for the light artillery which they had, the expedient was adopted of building a low tower of wood from which their cannon might be fired with effect. The besieged British made several furious sallies against the besiegers, to be driven back to their fort at the point of the bayonet. Several bloody hand-to-hand engagements took place along the river bank in the vain attempt of Col. Browne to take the American works. The erection of the tower endangered Fort Cornwallis. Several houses between the American and the British lines had been seized by a few sharpshooters from Lee's lines, and the situation grew desperate for the British garrison. Browne made a final effort to burn the tower and the houses which sheltered the sharpshoot- ers, but all means of defense failing, he was compelled to surrender. The British garrison marched out on the morning of June 5, 1781, at shouldered arms, with drums beating, to a spot near by, where their arms were piled, and they with the Indian allies were guarded toward Savannah, to be delivered as prisoners to the nearest American command until exchanged.

Col. James Jackson was ordered to march to Ebenezer with his command, and making that point the center of operations, engaged in numerous small battles with parties of British. Col. Jackson harassed the enemy at all points around Savannah until Col. Campbell followed after him with a large force of British cavalry, and overtaking him on the Ogeechee, compelled him after several hours of stubborn fighting to retreat into a swamp, from which he escaped during the night and returned to Ebenezer. Reinforcing his command he again scoured the country and intercepted the foraging parties sent out so successfully that the British commander ceased to occupy the country outside the limits of Savannah.

MILITARY HISTORY.

Georgia from Fort Heard to Savannah was once again free from British invasion. Gen. Greene, who had scarcely over 2,000 men when he assumed the command in the Carolinas, had fought Cornwallis, Rawdon, and Stewart succes- sively, each time outnumbered, but always with such success as to re-inspire confidence in the colonies and to force the enemy steadily from their positions until at length they held only Charleston and Savannah. Washington soon compelled the surrender of Cornwallis at York, and the long seven years' war. was over. Savannah was evacuated July 12, 1782, and Gen. Jackson entered it proudly with his dashing cavalry and received the surrender of the town.

The military organization which existed in Georgia during these years of war with England was of such an imperfect character as to have embarrassed the natural courage of the colonists. The number enlisted in service was small for the popula- tion, but a better organization and equipment with smaller forces would have been much more effective. The meager records show an attempt to form Georgia brigades in the continental line with regiments and battalions of infantry; com- panies of mounted men called dragoons; and certain bodies called legionary corps; unattached partisan rangers and troops of horse were accepted and used, sometimes in co-operation with the main body, and often in independent service. The artillery was least effective of all arms on account of the poor quality of the guns, the inadequate means of carriage, and the expensiveness of their use. Officers and soldiers were clad in coarse attire, generally home made, and by no means uniform in cut or color. These troops assembled and fought their battles, then many dispersed, and came together again in emergencies. And thus the state maintained its cause and won its place among the free commonwealths of the Union. The territory covered by the war, as has been noticed, was a narrow strip extending along the coast from St. Mary's to the Savannah, and then up between the Ogeechee and Savannah rivers to Elbert and Wilkes counties. The population was small and grouped around a score of little towns. The patriots were generally poor, hardy and brave, accustomed to perils by the Indians, and bred to the love of liberty. They fought well without complete military organization or equipment, but they learned the need of both and began to devise a militia system, which after many changes is growing into the more perfect plans of the present period.

UNDER THE CONFEDERATION.

Georgia was now a member of the confederation of states formed during the revolution, and a few years later united with the other states in the adoption of the constitution of the United States. When the colonies first opposed the aggressions of the crown and parliament they had no idea of producing a separation between the countries. Their object was merely to obtain a redress of their wrongs, and to this end repeated petitions and remonstrances were made, all expressing the most loyal feelings, and claiming or asking only those rights and liberties to which they were entitled as British subjects. When, however, these were all disregarded, and new petitions produced only new violations of their rights-when the parliament assumed to itself the right to bind the colonists in all cases without their consent, and when by repeated oppressions the burden became too heavy to be borne by a free people, they indignantly threw off the trammels of tyranny, declared themselves free and independent of the mother country, and by an appeal to arms supported that declaration to the emancipation of thirteen states from the oppressions of a weak, misguided king.

Although now free from British invasion, the people of the state were still flanked from the seaboard to the mountains by the Indians, who occupied a large

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

extent of unceded lands which they claimed the right to use as hunting grounds. Their dangerous proximity and frequent predatory incursions upon the American settlements required the maintenance of a ready and vigilant military establishment, to be called at a moment's notice into actual service. The old organizations of the recent revolution provided a basis in part, and the officers who had distinguished themselves in that war furnished experienced commanders of divisions, brigades and regiments. Col. James Jackson was made a colonel, First regiment of regu- lars, and afterward brigadier-general of an important brigade composed of battal- ions from Chatham and contiguous counties. Tattnall was assigned to the duty of organizing commands to cover the exposed counties of Bryan, Liberty, and McIntosh, and for protection of the people against the troublesome Indians. The Chatham artillery was kept under Tattnall's instruction in superb drill. Gen. Wayne was also in constant service, and Gens. Twiggs, Elbert, Heard and other leaders were continued in commission. Col. Hammond, who had attained a richly deserved distinction as a partisan fighter, was sent with a battalion of Chatham militia to suppress a body of lower Creeks who were doing damage on the frontier. The office of adjutant-general was organized, the militia enrolled, and required to make regular reports. The legislature appropriated funds for the purchase of 10,000 stand of arms, 12 field pieces, 700 pairs horsemen pistols, 1,000 horsemen swords, 10,000 pounds of powder, and other munitions, to be deposited in the arsenal at Louisville, the capital of the state.

The following official return of a battalion of eleven companies will serve to show the military character of the organization of the times:

"A return of the First battalion of Burke county militia, agreeable to order with its present situation and rank, with the number of men in each company and the number of arms, shot bags, and powder-horns for the year 1792."

Captains.

Ist Lieut.

2d Lieut.

No. Men.

Arms. Shot.

Samuel White

Hopkin Dye

Jno. McGomery

Willis Watson

Lack Robinson

Martin Martin

Dill. Sapp.

Wills Davies

Henry Bryant

Daniel Evans

Charles Kilbee

Wm. Martin

Bart Gray.

John Buford.

Lem Lassiter.

John Tredwell

Wm. Edwards

Nich Stregles

John McCarroll.

Wm. Caursey

John Roberts

John Wright

Laban Thompson

Wm. Parrimore

John Salter.

Benjamin Matthews

Elihu Thompson

Wm. Dunn

Noah Williams

John Fryar

M. McCormick.

Jas. Rawles

Aaron Justice.

. .

WAR OF 1812.

The war of 1812 was fought by the United States against England for maritime independence. The honor of the new republic was assailed on the high seas by the insistence of Great Britain of a right to search American vessels for fugitive British subjects. A doctrine which America regards as established by the revolution, that a citizen of a foreign country could voluntarily surrender his native citizenship and swear allegiance to another government, was disputed by Great Britain, who held that "once an Englishman was to be an Englishman always." Upon this ground American vessels were held up on the ocean by English men-of-war and searched to such an extent that within the eight years of forbearance, over 6,000 men were

MILITARY HISTORY.

taken from the ships of the United States and forced into the British navy. At length the American ship "President" encountered and attacked the British war- ship "Little Belt," and with well-trained shots disabled and brought her to terms. About the same time the Indians in Indiana were excited by British agency to make war on the Americans, and were defeated in the great battle of Tippecanoe, fought under the leadership of Gen. William Henry Harrison. These victories roused the American spirit, and war was declared by congress against Great Britain in June, 1812. At that time the United States navy consisted of only thirteen inferior vessels, while the British numbered nearly 1,000, nor were the American armies yet organized and equipped. The first battles were therefore won by the British, and the war raged along the great lakes upon the frontier of New York, and in the west. But after a year of defeats the day brightened for the Americans by the naval victory of Perry on Lake Erie, and the brilliant battle where Col. Dick Johnson is famed for killing the great Tecumseh. Scott, Ripley and Gaines commanded in the New York district, winning the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. The little navy began also to astonish the world. The "Essex" whipped the "Albert," the "Constitution" vanquished the "Guerrier," the "Wasp" forced the "Frolic" to haul down its flag. Capt. Bainbridge blew up the "Java" with his "Old Ironsides," and the "Hornet" sank the "Peacock." Privateers put in commission scoured the seas, captured three hundred merchant ships and broke down British commerce.

During this time Georgia was not invaded at any point, but was endangered on its western frontier by the visit of Tecumseh, whom the Shawnees sent to engage the Creek Indians on behalf of Great Britain in the general quarrel. In this visit to Alabama Tecumseh, who was afterward slain, excited the Creeks to attack Fort Mims and massacre the prisoners, producing such alarm that the call on the government in Georgia by the Federal government for a levy of troops was immediately filled. Thirty-six hundred men were assembled at Camp Hope in the vicinity of Fort Hawkins and placed under command of Gen. Floyd, with orders to join Gen. Andrew Jackson, who was in supreme command in Alabama. Floyd's force was composed of two regiments of infantry armed with muskets, one battal- ion of riflemen, one squadron of dragoons, and a company of artillery, nearly all of whom were volunteers and the best quality of Georgia militia. Delayed for a time for the want of supplies and transportation, Floyd procured funds from the state treasury and purchased his supplies for active operations. Then constructing a line of blockhouses and stockadc forts from the Ocmulgee westward, he built a strong work on the Chattahoochee which was named Fort Mitchell. Establishing a camp there Floyd detached a body of 1,000 picked men, carrying their rations in their haversacks without baggage, and by a forced march of about two days and a night, reached the Indian town of Antossee at daybreak, which was instantly and furiously attacked. The Indians, although taken by surprise, fought with despera- tion, but were routed with great slaughter and the town was reduced to ashes. Floyd's command suffered severe loss, and he himself was seriously wounded, but after a short rest, the Georgians were reinforced from Fort Mitchell to the strength of 1,500 men, and moved to attack the upper Creeks at Challibee. On the march and when near the town they were in turn surprised by the Indians, who fell upon them at night in large numbers and kept them under murderous fire until, daylight coming, the Georgia troops rallied and drove the Indians entirely from the field with great loss.

Gen. Jackson, with Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia troops, rapidly reduced the Creeks to peace, and Floyd's command being disbanded to their homes, he was subsequently appointed to a new brigade to co-operate with Gen. Clarke on

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

the coast. The British, however, made a few attempts to enter Georgia from the sea. Landing at Cumberland island they made an effort to hold the island, but were so vigorously attacked by a small force under Capt. Messias, Capt. Tattnall, Lieut. Hill and Lieut. Hardee, that they were compelled to retreat to their boats. Another similar enterprise was made up the St. Mary's river with barges, but they were driven back by the sharp-shooters along the bank, who from all coverts dis- charged their rifles with almost unerring aim. Other small harassing events oc- curred, but meanwhile Jackson won the great victory at New Orleans, and the treaty of peace signed at Ghent December, 1814, gladdened the distressed country.

REVISION OF MILITIA LAWS.

After the war of 1812 the militia laws of the state were thoroughly revised, and with some occasional changes the system was continued in force until the period of the Confederate war. By this militia system the state was divided into small military jurisdictions called captain's districts, and were numbered con- secutively as districts of Georgia militia in which magistrates or justices of the peace had civil and criminal jurisdiction in limited cases. By the new statute of 1818, the militia was organized into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions and com- panies, respectively commanded by major-generals, brigadier-generals, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors and captains. The territory was divided into two de- partments and each of these departments was divided into six divisions, covering certain designated counties, making twelve military divisions, each under the command of a major-general. The divisions were composed of two or more brigades and these were formed of regiments and battalions of infantry, squadrons of horse and one company of artillery to each regiment. The regiments were made up of two battalions, and the battalions were composed of companies without special number, under command of the captains. The companies were divided into two platoons, and each platoon into four sections. The commissioned officers were first and second lieutenant and ensign. The non-commissioned officers were four sergeants and four corporals, and a drummer and a fifer were allowed for each company. Sixty-four privates constituted the limit of a company enrollment, and these were divided by the captains into four squads, each squad under direction and drill by a sergeant and a corporal. The enrollment of the citizen soldiery was de- signed to include the arms-bearing strength of the entire population, and every able- bodied white male citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was made subject to military duty, and required to be enrolled in the company of his district.

The United States was expected to furnish arms, but the state, without waiting for them from this source, voted liberal appropriations for that purpose, and dis- tributed them upon proper requisition among the troops. It was therefore required that every commissioned officer should be properly armed with his sword, every non-commissioned officer to appear at all musters "armed, equipped and provided with a firelock in good order, a cartridge box, and a shot-pouch." Grenadiers, or riflemen, the cavalry and artillery were to be armed and equipped fully, like regulars in the United States army, and all volunteer companies organ- ized apart from the militia of the line were to be held to the same rule as to arms, uniform and equipment.

The musket of that date was a smooth-bore barrel on a rough-and-ready straight stock, with thimbles on the under side of the barrel to hold the iron ram- rod, and it was discharged by means of a flint and steel lock which cast a spark into a small metal pan primed with powder. The powder in the pan caught the spark and flashing out a little puff of smoke, its fire entered the barrel at the side of

MILITARY HISTORY.

the breech through a touch-hole, and exploded the charge which had been rammed tightly to the bottom of the barrel. The round leaden ball, or the charge of buck- shot, was thus driven out with sufficient force to do good execution at the distance of a hundred yards. A bayonet was borne in a scabbard by the soldier and was adjusted so as to go over the muzzle of the musket, and by a turn of its shank was fastened securely in place. The manual of arms taught the soldier was necessarily adapted to the kind of weapon in his hands. He was taught to "Handle cartridge" in two motions, which transferred the cartridge from the cartouch to a position opposite his mouth: to "Tear cartridge," which he did by biting one end off with the teeth; "Load," "Draw rammer," "Prime," "Ready," "Aim," "Fire!" All these motions were gone through with in drill and were necessary to actual battle, al- though executed at the will of the soldier when face to face with the foe. It may be supposed that the firing was slow and the execution much less than in this period of improved weapons of war. The horseman's pistol was simply a short musket-barrel on a pistol stock. The entire arm was a little over a foot in length, heavy, cumbersome and of short range. A brace of them was carried by each trooper in holsters on the front of his saddle. But with these and his trusty, slightly curved broadsword, the mounted man did admirable service. The artillery was scarcely as effective in construction as these imperfect small arms. The guns were commonly smooth-bore ten and twelve-pounders, carrying round shot and grape, loaded by rammers at the muzzle and fired by being touched off at the vent near the breech. But they made a noise and were dreaded by the savages. The guns on the coast and the general equipment of the Chatham artillery were of superior qual- ity and had been often handled with great effect. The private militia soldiers were not required to dress in uniform and consequently they mustered in all varieties of suits, but the uniformn of the officers must correspond with those worn by the United States army officers, with this provision, that they "might be made of home- spun dark blue cotton and wool, with plated bullet buttons." The uniform of the volunteer was required to be blue, but with liberty as to ornament. The button worn by the militia was a round, hollow, brass or white metal attachment put on in triple rows, the center row serving to fasten the coat and the others for con- spicuous show. Field officers wore the heavy cocked hat with waving plume, and were further distinguished by epaulettes of gilt or bright yellow worsted fastened on each shoulder.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 13

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1294

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294