USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia, Volume II > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
1 See McCall's History of Georgia, vol.
ii. p. 145. Savannah. 1816.
" Letter to General Moultrie, dated
" Camp at the Ruins of Fort Tonyn, in East Florida, July 10th, 1778."
1
T
-
298
TIIE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
was no leading spirit to mould its discordant elements into a har- monious and efficient whole. Sufficiently powerful was it, if properly handled and wisely led, to have overrun East Florida and compelled the surrender of St. Augustine. But Governor Houstoun, remembering the powers conferred by his executive council, refused, with his militia, to receive orders from General Howe. Colonel Williamson's troops would not yield obedience to a continental officer, and Commodore Bowen insisted that the naval forces were entirely distinct from and independent of the land service. Thus was General Howe left to rely only upon the continental troops. Had a masterly mind been present quickly would these discordant elements have been consolidated ; rapidly, by stern orders and enforced discipline, would the army, in all its parts, have been unified and brought into efficient sub- jection. But there was no potent voice to evoke order out of confusion, - no iron will to dominate over the emergency. Gen- eral Howe simply accepted the situation as he found it, and, dis- couraged by the perplexing delays which had transpired, ap- palled by the sickness of the troops, embarrassed by the want of cooperation among the commanders, the lack of stores, and the inefficiency of the transportation department, and uncertain as to the future, convened a council of war at Fort Tonyn on the 11th of July, to pass upon the expediency of an abandonment of the expedition. That council was composed of General Howe, Colonel Elbert, Colonel White, Colonel Tarling, Colonel Rae, Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, Major Wise, Major Habersham, Major Pinckney, Major Grimkie, Colo- nel Pinckney, Colonel Eveleigh, Colonel Kirk, Lieutenant-Colo- nel Henderson, Lieutenant-Colonel McIntosh, Major Brown, Major Roman, Major Lane, and Major Low.
The conference was opened by General Howe, who remarked that the movements of the enemy in East Florida, the posts they occupied and were endeavoring to secure, the stations held by their men-of-war and armed vessels, the number of insurgents in Georgia and Carolina taking arms and concentrating in Florida, and the information received from deserters and reliable parties escaping from St. Augustine as well as from spies sent there to acquire a definite knowledge of the situation, all united in reveal- ing the fact that an immediate invasion of Georgia was contem- plated, -an incursion to all appearances too formidable to be repelled by that commonwealth alone. HIe further stated that South Carolina, responding generously to the call made upon
என்றது;
T
٠١
299
COUNCIL OF WAR.
her in this emergency, had, with the utmost readiness, sent for- ward for the succor of her sister State a larger body of troops than could reasonably have been expected ; and that with their assistance the continental forces of Georgia had succeeded in driving out the enemy. Fort Tonyn, whence the enemy was accustomed to make frequent inroads into Georgia to the detri- ment of the persons and property of her inhabitants, having been evacuated, and the contemplated invasion having been frustrated, this council of Field officers was called to determine whether the object which summoned these forces to the field had not been accomplished. The general, proclaiming a willingness to subor- dinate his own views to those which might be entertained by his officers, before proceeding to submit certain questions for their consideration, added "that drawing the enemy out of Georgia and dislodging them from Fort Tonyn were the principal ends he aimed at ; " that " had the enemy thought proper, in de- fence of that post or of any other, to have opposed him, he would have been happy in defeating them in detail and should have availed himself of every advantage which might have re- sulted from the victory ; " that from information acquired from Captains Moore, Heyrne, and Taylor, he was persuaded the roads leading towards St. Augustine, naturally bad, had been rendered impassable by the enemy, who had cut them in various places, destroyed the bridges, and so occluded the passage that neither artillery nor ammunition wagons could pass over them without a great expenditure of time and labor ; that the enemy had aban- doned all thought of opposition on this side of the river St. John ; that the deputy quartermaster-general of the army reported, from severe marches and hard service, a loss of many horses, and that others were unfit for use; that the physician-general and the army surgeons " report that at least one half the num- ber of men we set out with are already sick, many of them dan- gerously so, and that by the increasing inclemency of the climate the greater part of the army now well will, either by continuing here or advancing, most probably be destroyed ;" and that he learned from Commodore Bowen the galleys could not get into St. John River without great time and labor spent in cutting a passage through Amelia Narrows, and that if such passage was effected the enemy was prepared with a superior force to dispute the ascent of the river.
In view of all these facts, General Howe proposed for the de- termination of the assembled officers the following questions, and received from them the subjoined answers : -
1
300
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
"1. As drawing the enemy out of Georgia and demolishing Fort Tonyn were the objects principally aimed at, have not these purposes been effected ?
" Resolved unanimously in the affirmative.
" 2. As it appears from information above recited that the enemy do not mean to oppose us in force on this side of St. John's river, are there any other objects important enough in our present situation to warrant our proceeding ?
" Resolved unanimously in the negative.
"3. Is the army in a situation to cross St. John's river, attack the enemy, and secure a retreat in case of accident, though they should be aided by the militia now embodied under Governor IIoustoun and Colonel Williamson ?
" Resolved unanimously in the negative.
" 4. Does not the sickness which so fatally prevails in the army render a retreat immediately requisite ?
" Resolved unanimously in the affirmative."
The general then proceeded to inform the council that Gov- ernor Houstoun having denied him the right to command the militia, even if a junction should be formed between them and the continental troops, notwithstanding the resolution of con- gress declaring that "as to the propriety of undertaking distant expeditions and enterprises, or other military operations, and the mode of conducting them, the General, or other commanding offi- cer must finally judge and determine at his peril," he therefore thought proper to propound these additional inquiries : -
"1. Can he with propriety, honor, and safety to himself, or consistent with the service, relinquish the command to the Gov- ernor ?
" Resolved unanimously in the negative.
" 2. Can the army, whilst the command is divided, act with security, vigor, decision, or benefit to the common cause ?
" Resolved unanimously in the negative." 1
Such being the conclusions of the council of war, General Howe accepted them, and resolved to withdraw the continental troops from the army. Upon taking leave of his command, he published the following general order : -
"CAMP AT FORT TONYN, 14th July, 1778.
" PAROLE, Savannalı.
" The General leaves the army to-day. He parts with it with
1 Moultrie's Memoirs of the American Revolution, vol. i. pp. 232-236. New York. 1802.
L
301
ABANDONMENT OF THE EXPEDITION.
reluctance, and from no other motive than to make those provis- ions at proper places necessary to its accommodation. He em- braces this opportunity to testify how highly he approves the conduct both of officers and men whom he had the honor to com- mand.
" The readiness with which the officers received orders and the punctuality with which they executed them gave pleasure to the General and did honor to themselves. The cheerfulness with which the men supported a long and fatiguing march under a variety of unavoidable yet distressing circumstances gives them an undoubted claim to the character of good soldiers, and is a happy presage of the service they will in future render to the · glorious cause in which they are engaged. Commanders of bri- gades will take care that this order be made known both to offi- cers and men." 1
With the well men of the continental forces, numbering some three hundred and fifty, under the command of Colonel Elbert, General Howe returned to Savannah. The sick and convalescent were placed on board the galleys and such vessels and large boats as could be accumulated, and, under the direction of Colonel C. C. Pinckney, were transported by the inland passage to Sun- bury. Writing from this town on the 23d of July that officer says : 2 -
" It is with the greatest pleasure I embrace this opportunity of informing you that the sea air has already had a surprising effect on the men with me. The weak and convalescents are getting strong daily, and the sick recovering fast. We have hitherto been very much crowded in our vessels, but as the Georgia troops will be landed here, we shall soon have more room. I shall be able to procure the galleys of Georgia, by General Howe's and Commodore Bowen's orders, to carry us to Port Royal ferry. From thence ( without I receive orders to the contrary, as the Georgia galleys will go no further with us), I shall march the men to Charlestown. The sick and ailing I shall send round by water, together with our baggage, and that the men may be bet- ter accommodated on their short march I shall send them off in detachments of 40's and 50's so that they will be able to sleep under cover in gentlemen's barns at night."
Left to themselves by the withdrawal of the continental forces, Governor Houstoun and Colonel Williamson, with the Georgia
! Sou MS. order book of General El- bort.
a Letter to Conoral Moultrie.
M
P
r
302
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
and South Carolina militia, at first contemplated an advance as far as the St. John River. This purpose, however, conceived in a spirit of pride and vainglory, was speedily given over, and the men under their command were led back by land and dispersed to their respective homes.
The most that can be said in favor of this campaign, with its lamentable lack of preparation, want of management, disagree- ment between commanders, surprising mistakes, inexplicable de- lays, vexatious disappointments, and fruitless expenditures of men and munitions, is that it prevented for a season the advance of the enemy from Florida. Whether even this will atone for the expenditure of time and life and treasure involved may fairly be questioned. Crippled in no wise, the expectant enemy, biding his time, prepared for another invasion. Meanwhile, ma- rauding parties crossed the St. Mary, and with sword and torch desolated Georgia plantations.
Encouraged by the commotion and emboldened by the retreat of the American forces, the Creek Indians, although inaugurat- ing no general war, committed sundry thefts and murders along the frontier. Within the State the loyalists took heart, and the period was fraught with apprehension, insecurity, and turmoil.
Commenting upon the failure of the enterprise Captain McCall 1 quaintly observes : "Though this expedition cost the States of South Carolina and Georgia many lives and much treasure, yet perhaps the experience which was purchased at such a dear rate may have had its advantages in the final success of the American cause. It had the effect of teaching the government as well as the commanders of the armies that it was as practicable for one human body to act consistently under the capricious whims of two heads as for one army to act advantageously under many commanders. The number of troops in the first instance was not more than equal to one complete brigade, at the head of which was a heterogeneous association consisting of a State Gov- ernor, a Major General, an illiterate Colonel of Militia, and a Commodore of three or four gallies, with troops unaccustomed to a sickly climate at the hottest season of the year. It is astonish- ing that they effected a retreat without being defeated or cut off."
Although St. Augustine still remained in the possession of the English, all hope of its capture was not abandoned by the Amer- icans. Its reduction was regarded as essential to the peace and safety of Georgia, and the conquest of East Florida was still a
1 History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 153. Savannah. 1816.
معادلة للرسالة عاواء
الكت الكوووعة
L
303
PURPOSED CONQUEST OF EAST FLORIDA.
cherished expectation. In the fall of the year it was thought the whole affair might be successfully managed, and on this wise. Suitable boats for the conveyance of the troops, artillery, and baggage by the inland route to the St. John's River were to be prepared. These, when engaged in the transportation, were to be accompanied and guarded by the galleys and other armed vessels. Cattle for the subsistence of the army were to be driven overland, under a strong guard of cavalry and light infantry, to a point within thirty miles of St. Augustine where all the forces were to rendezvous and prepare for a short march upon the town. Three thousand men, with some field artillery, and a train of battering cannon with which to reduce the castle, were deemed sufficient for the adventure, and the month of November was thought most favorable for the undertaking.1
Subsequent events, however, entirely changed the aspect of affairs and incapacitated the Georgians and Carolinians from embarking in this enterprise.
Upon the return of the Georgia continental troops from Fort Tonyn, Colonel John McIntosh, with one hundred and twenty- seven men, was posted at Sunbury. The regiments of Colonels Elbert and White were sent to Savannah. General Howe re- paired to Charlestown that he might give his personal attention to military affairs in that quarter. This season of comparative rest and recuperation was of short duration.
1 See Letter of General Moultrie to the Congress, dated Charlestown, July 26, Honorable Henry Laurens, President of 1778.
·
-
CHAPTER XVI.
THE THEATRE OF WAR TRANSFERRED TO THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES. - GEORGIA INVADED BY COLONELS FUSER AND PREVOST. - AFFAIR NEAR MIDWAY CHURCH. - GENERAL SCREVEN KILLED. - PREVOST'S RAVAGES. - FUSER DEMANDS THE SURRENDER OF FORT MORRIS AT SUNBURY. - GALLANT RESPONSE OF COLONEL MCINTOSHI. - ANECDOTE OF RORY Mc- INTOSHI. - FUSER RAISES THE SIEGE AND RETURNS TO FLORIDA. - CONDITION OF THE MIDWAY DISTRICT. - GENERAL HOWE'S COMMUNICA- TION TO GENERAL MOULTRIE. - ARRIVAL OF BRITISH FORCES UNDER COLONEL CAMPBELL AND COMMODORE PARKER. - LANDING AT GIRAR- DEAU'S PLANTATION. - ADVANCE UPON SAVANNAHI. - GENERAL HOWE'S ORDER OF BATTLE. - HOWE'S FATAL ERROR. - HIS DISPOSITIONS. - GENERAL MOULTRIE'S CRITICISMS. - CAPTURE OF SAVANNAII. - LOSSES SUSTAINED. - FLIGHT OF THE AMERICAN ARMY. - GEORGIA ABANDONED. - DISTRESSES OF THE PRISONERS. - PRISON-SHIPS. - HOWE'S CONDUCT THE SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION. - MAJOR ANDRE'S PARODY UPON THE DUEL BETWEEN GENERALS HOWE AND GADSDEN.
THE commissioners 1 appointed by the Crown " to treat, con- sult, and agree upon the means of quieting the disorders now subsisting in certain of the Colonies, Plantations, and Provinces in North America " having failed in their efforts to bring about a pacification, resolved to conclude their sitting and to return to England. Their proclamation of the 3d of October, 1778, ad- dressed to the Continental Congress, to the assemblies of the respective colonies, and to the inhabitants generally, had been met by a counter manifesto, published by the congress of the Confederated States on the 30th of the same month, in which " the essential rights of man " were heroically, and with an abid- ing confidence in the favorable intervention of the Supreme Disposer of human events, submitted "to the decision of arms." 2 It was now evident that all attempts to recover the revolted colonies by lenient measures would prove utterly futile, and that force alone could again subject them to the dominion of the mother country.
During the approaching winter it was resolved to transfer the
1 The Earl of Carlisle, Sir Henry can War, vol. ii. pp. 58, 63. London. Clinton, and Mr. William Eden. 1794.
2 Seo Stedman's History of the Ameri-
A
-
305
GEORGIA INVADED.
theatre of active warfare from the Northern to the Southern provinces. Upon the conquest and permanent occupation of Georgia and South Carolina Lord George Germain fixed his hopes. The former was to be invaded by General Augustine Prevost issuing from East Florida, while a heavy force under the command of Colonel Archibald Campbell, sailing from New York, was to supplement this movement by a direct attack upon Sa- vannah. Caught thus between the upper and the nether mill- stone it was confidently believed that Georgia would speedily and surely be ground down into absolute submission to British rule.
As a diversion, and with a view to distracting the attention of General Howe and the continental forces concentrated for the protection of Savannah, General Prevost dispatched from St. Augustine two expeditions, - one by sea to operate directly against Sunbury, and the other by land to march through and devastate the lower portions of Georgia and, at that town, to form a junction with the former. Of the detachment moving by water, and consisting of infantry and light artillery, Lieutenant- Colonel Fuser was placed in command, while the conduct of the column penetrating by land was entrusted to Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Prevost.
The latter officer, setting out with one hundred British reg- ulars, was joined at Fort Howe by the notorious McGirth and three hundred refugees and Indians. On the 19th of November this force entered the Georgia settlements, taking captive all men found on their plantations, and plundering the inhabitants of every article of value capable of transportation. At the point where the Savannah and Darien road crosses Bulltown swamp Prevost was confronted by Colonel John Baker who had hastily collected some mounted militia to dispute his advance. After a short skirmish the Americans retreated. Colonel Baker, Cap- tain Cooper, and William Goulding were wounded. At North Newport Bridge (afterwards called Riceborough Bridge), further resistance was offered by the patriots, but it was too feeble to materially retard the progress of the invading force. Meanwhile, Colonel Jolin White,1 having concentrated about one hundred continentals and militia, with two pieces of light artillery, took
1 He had been for some time stationed ing to the southward. Captain Morris' at Sunbury, and commanded not only the artillery company constituted the perma- continental troops there concentrated, nent garrison of the fort. but also all detached companies operat-
VOL. II. 20
1
1
زم بطاطس
E
T
306
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
post at Midway Meeting-House and constructed a slight breast- work across the road at the head of the causeway over which the enemy must advance. His hope was that he might here keep Prevost in check until reinforcements could arrive from Savan- nah. An express was sent to Colonel Elbert to inform him of the hostile invasion, and Major William Baker, with a party of mounted militia, was detached to skirmish 1 with the enemy and, at every possible point, to interrupt his progress.
On the morning of the 24th Colonel White was joined by Gen- eral Screven with twenty militiamen. It was resolved to aban- don the present and occupy a new position a mile and a half south of Midway Meeting-House, where the road was skirted by a thick wood in which it was thought an ambuscade might be advantageously laid. McGirth being well acquainted with the country, and knowing the ground held by Colonel White, sug- gested to Prevost the expediency of placing a party in ambush at the very point selected by the Americans for a similar pur- pose. It was further proposed, by an attack and feigned retreat, to draw Colonel White out of his works and into the snare. The contending parties arrived upon the ground almost simultane- ously, and firing immediately commenced. Early in the action the gallant General Screven, renowned for his patriotism and be- loved for his virtues, received a severe wound, fell into the hands of the enemy, and was by them killed while a prisoner and suf- fering from a mortal hurt.2
1 In one of these skirmishos Charlos Carter was killed.
2 The accounts of the death of Gen- eral Sereven vary in their details. Dr. Ramsay ( History of the Revolution of South Carolina, vol. ii. p. 2, Trenton, MDCCLXXXV.) thus alludes to the tragie event : " Hlo received a wonnd from a musket ball, in consequence of which he fell from his horse. After he fell, several of the British came up, and, upbraiding him with the manner in which Captain Moore of Brown's rangers had been killed, discharged their pieces at him. Few men were more esteemed or beloved for their virtues in private life : few officers had done more for their country than this gallant citizen who lost his life in consequence of the wounds ro- ceived on this occasion."
Judgo T. U. P. Charlton ( Life of Ma-
jor- General James Jackson, p. 11, Au- gusta, 1809), after referring to Dr. Ram- say's statement, says : " My Notes and Memoirs afford me an account somewhat different. They inform me that the Gen- cral was on foot reconnoitering in a thicket on the left flank of the enemy's post on Spencer's Hill. Ou this spot an amibuscade had been formed, and he fell in the midst of it. Captain Thomas Glas- cock (afterwards a Brigadier-General of the Georgia Militia), a gallant young offi- cer, was at his side and very narrowly escaped."
Captain McCall ( History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 159, Savannah, 1816) informs us that Colonel Elbert sent a flag to Colonel Prevost, by Major John Haber- sham, requesting permission to furnish General Serovon with such medical aid as his situation might require. Doctors
80
A
307
AFFAIR NEAR MIDWAY MEETING-HOUSE.
A shot from one of the field-pieces passed through the neck of Prevost's horse, and both animal and rider fell. Major Roman DeLisle, commanding the artillery,1 supposing that the British commander had been killed, quickly advanced his two field-pieces.' to take advantage of the confusion which ensued, and Major James Jackson, thinking the enemy was retreating, shouted vic- tory. Prevost, however, soon appeared remounted, and advanced in force. Finding himself overborne by numbers, Colonel White retreated upon Midway Meeting-House, breaking down the bridges across the swamp as he retired, and keeping out small parties to annoy the enemy's flanks. Compelled to withdraw still further, and desiring by stratagem to retard the advance of the enemy, Colonel White "prepared a letter as though it had been written to himself by Colonel Elbert, directing him to re- treat in order to draw the British as far as possible, and inform- ing him that a large body of cavalry had crossed over Ogechee river with orders to gain the rear of the enemy, by which their whole force would be captured." This letter was so dropped as to find its way into the hands of Colonel Prevost, who seems to have considered it genuine. It is believed that it exerted much influence in retarding his advance, which was pushed in the direction of Savannah not more than six or seven miles beyond Midway Meeting-House. Meanwhile, McGirth, with a strong party, reconnoitring in the direction of Sunbury, ascertained that the expedition under Lieutenant-Colonel Fuser had not ar- rived. This circumstance, in connection with the concentration of the forces of Colonels Elbert and White at Ogeechee ferry where a breastwork 2 was thrown up and preparations were made
Braidie and Alexander were permitted to attend upon General Screven ; but, upon reaching him, they found his wounds mortal, that he had only a few hours to live, and that any exertions they might make would ouly cause needless pain.
That General Sereven, while in a des- perately wounded condition, was shot by one of Prevost's rangers is admitted by Colonel Prevost in his letter to Colonel White, dated November 22, 1778. It would appear, by the same letter, that Captain Mittne and eight men had been detailed to bear the wounded general to the American camp.
That there was foul play on the part of the cuptors of this bravo and wounded officer may not be doubted.
Captain Joseph Jones, the grandfather of the writer, stated upon information communicated by participants in this af- fair that General Sereven, while wounded and a prisoner, was shot by his captors.
Congress ordered a monument to be erected to his memory. It has never been reared. The obligation is ns bind- ing now as when first solemnly recog- nized.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.