USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia, Volume II > Part 48
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
Pickens, upon retaking the field, being the senior colonel, was in command of the Georgia troops on duty in that district. At Grindal's ford he effected a junction with General Morgan who, from his camp on Pacolet River, on the 4th of January, 1781, published the following address to the refugees from Geor- gia : -
" GENTLEMEN, - Having heard of your sufferings, your at- tachment to the cause of freedom, and your gallantry and address in action, I had formed to myself the pleasing idea of receiving in you a great and valuable acquisition to my force. Judge then of my disappointment when I find you scattered about in par- ties, subjected to no orders, nor joining in any general plan to pro- mote the public service. The recollection of your past achieve- ments and the prospect of future laurels should prevent your act- ing in such a manner for a moment. You have gained a charac- . ter, and why should you risk the loss of it for the most trifling gratifications? You must know that in your present situation you can neither provide for your safety nor assist me in annoy- ing the enemy. Let me then entreat you by the regard you have for your fame, and by your love to your country, to repair to my camp and subject yourselves to order and discipline. I will ask you to encounter no dangers or difficulties but what I shall par- ticipate in.
469
BATTLE OF THE COWPENS.
"Should it be thought advisable to form detachments you may rely on being employed on that business if it is more agreeable to your wishes : but it is absolutely necessary that your situation and movements should be known to me, so that I may be enabled to direct them in such a manner that they may tend to the advantage of the whole.
" I am, Gentlemen, with every sentiment of regard,
Your obedient servant,
DANIEL MORGAN."1
This timely address was not barren of results. The reflection which it contained upon the irregular military service of Geor- gians in Carolina, and their lack of organization, was pertinent. Many recognized the potency of the appeal and hastened to place themselves under the leadership of one who soon afterwards tri- umphed so signally over the flower of the British army led by the vainglorious but daring and ubiquitous Tarleton.
Lieutenant-Colonel McCall was directed to select forty-five men who, when equipped as dragoons, were to form a part of Colonel William Washington's regiment. Among them were several Georgians. The other Georgians who reported at Gen- eral Morgan's camp were organized under the command of Major Jolin Cunningham.2
Then followed the glorious battle of the Cowpens in which the Georgians, officered by Major Cunningham and Captains Samuel Hammond, George Walton, and Joshua Inman, were placed in the first line and behaved with conspicuous gallantry. Captain Inman was " peculiarly serviceable " in advising General Morgan of the enemy's approach and in skirmishing with his advance. Major James Jackson acted as brigade-major to all the militia present, and enjoyed the honor of capturing with his own hands Major McArthur, commanding the British infantry. At the im- minent risk of his life he attempted to seize and bring off the colors of the 71st regiment when it was endeavoring to form after having been broken. For this daring feat he was publicly thanked by General Morgan upon the field.3 Sixteen years sub- sequently, when in the heat of political discussion it was falsely suggested that the military services of this gallant officer had been exaggerated by his friends, the following communication 4
1 See Charlton's Life of Jackson, p. 24. gan, dated " Senate Room, United States, Augusta. 1809.
2 Sco McCall's History of Georgia, vol.
ii. p. 354. Savannah, 1816.
8 Sce Letter of Jackson to General Mor-
Philadelphia, January 20, 1795."
4 Charlton's Life of Juckson, Part I. p. 25. Augusta. 1809.
IT
laroc o ll ol
"
4
1
470
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
was penned by his immediate commander in that memorable battle: -
" LONG CANE, February 6th, 1797.
" DEAR SIR, - Understanding that some attacks have been made on your military reputation by some of your enemies in Georgia, it is with sincere pleasure and satisfaction that I have it in my power to send you the enclosed certificate, having been witness to what is there declared.
" Accept my sincere wishes for your happiness and welfare, and am with much respect, dear Sir,
" Yours, ANDREW PICKENS.
"TO GENERAL JAMES JACKSON."
" I hereby certify and declare that Major, now General Jack- son, and a party of Georgia Militia were under my command at the battle of the Cowpens in South Carolina on the 17th Janu- ary, 1781, and that the said Militia acquitted themselves equally well with the other forces on that memorable day. Major Jack- son acted as my Brigade Major, and by his example and firm, active conduct greatly contributed to ANIMATE THE TROOPS AND ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE DAY.
" I further declare that Gen. Morgan was highly satisfied with Major Jackson's conduct, and am certain that it must have been owing to accident or mistake that his name was not returned to Congress as one of the officers who particularly signalized them- selves at the Cowpens : the Major having in the face of the whole army run the utmost risk of his life in seizing the colors of the 71st British regiment, and afterwards introducing Major McArthur, commanding officer of the British infantry, as a pris- oner of war to Gen. Morgan.
"I further declare that Major Jackson's conduct during a se- vere tour of duty in North Carolina, in the face of Lord Corn- wallis' army whilst the brigade I had the command of was at- tached to the light troops of General Greene's army, was such as merited and gained not only my approbation but that of Major General Greene who determined from that period to give Major Jackson the command of a State Corps, which was soon after raised by direction of General Greene.
" At the siege of Augusta Major Jackson's exertions in the early period of the siege laid the groundwork for the reduction of that place. IIe led one of the advanced parties, as Capt. Ru- dolph did another, at the storming of Grierson's fort, and had the command of a moving battery at the time of the surrender
1
الـ
1
T
Danachion.
471
MAJOR JAMES JACKSON AT THE COWPENS.
of Fort George, in which he conducted with honor to himself and his country.
" Certified this 6th February, 1797.
ANDREW PICKENS, Brigadier General."
" I think it a duty to my children, as the history of my State is to be told, to have some insertion even of my conduct in that well-fought battle. You, Sir, were rendered immortal by the ac- tion. My ambition is to let my descendants and the citizens of Georgia know that I was present and contributed my mite to your glory." Such was the language of Major Jackson, then representing the State of Georgia in the Senate of the United States, as he applied, in 1795, to General Morgan for a state- ment of the services rendered by him in the battle of Cowpens that he might place it in the hands of Mr. Edward Langworthy, who was engaged in the preparation of a history of Georgia. Entirely inadvertent must have been the omission on the part of General Morgan to mention, in his official report of the battle, the distinguished gallantry of Major Jackson on this occasion. " Our success," wrote he in his modest report, "must be attrib- uted to the justice of our cause and the gallantry of our troops. My wishes would induce me to name every sentinel in the corps."
The fame of the victory at the Cowpens spread throughout the land, bringing joy and hope to every patriot heart. Greene an- nounced this triumph in general orders. Governor Rutledge rewarded Colonel Pickens with a commission as brigadier-gen- eral. To Morgan a horse and sword were voted by Virginia in testimony of the "highest esteem of his country for his military character and abilities so gloriously displayed." The United States Congress recorded the nation's " most lively sense of ap- probation of the conduct of Morgan and the men and officers under his command," voting to him a gold medal, to Howard and Washington medals of silver, and swords to Pickens and Triplet.1
Of the eleven Americans killed in this action, three were Geor- gians ; and, of the sixty-one wounded, five were from Georgia.
When Colonel Howard, in a conversation with Major McAr- thur, expressed surprise at the precipitate and desultory manner in which the British troops were led into this action, the reply of that captive officer was : "Nothing better could have been ex- pected when they were commanded by a rash, foolish boy."
1 Sco Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. x. p. 466. Boston. 1874.
.
1
472
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
Prior to the engagement Tarleton had promised Cornwallis to escort Morgan to dine with him at Turkey Creek. This was not the only occasion on which that officer failed to keep his engage- ments. So completely did he enjoy the confidence of Lord Corn- wallis that, in the teeth of this disaster, his lordship sent the following dispatch to his chief of cavalry: "You have forfeited no part of my esteem as an officer by the unfortunate event of the action of the 17th. The means you used to bring the enemy to action were able and masterly, and must ever do you honor. Your disposition was unexceptionable. The total misbehavior of the troops could alone have deprived you of the glory which was so justly your due."
While the earl was thus complimenting his subaltern and re- flecting upon the conduct of his men, one hundred and ten of the brave fellows were lying cold in death, two hundred were suffer- ing with wounds, and over five hundred were enduring confine- ment as prisoners of war. But for his fleet horse, Ban. Tarleton himself would have been numbered among the captives.
Continuing under the immediate command of General Pickens, Majors Jackson and Cunningham, with the Georgia troops, par- ticipated in various skirmishes and assisted, at Haw River, in the dispersion of a band of loyalists, who, assembled under Colonel Pyles, were endeavoring to form a junction with Corn- wallis.
Ordered to return to the vicinity of Ninety-Six and to restrain the depredations of the British force stationed at that fortified camp, General Pickens turned his face homewards, and, on the march, was joined by Colonel Clarke just recovered from his severe wound. Learning that Major Dunlap with a detachment of seventy-five dragoons was guarding a large foraging party, General Pickens detached Colonels Clarke and McCall, with a suitable force, to attack him. They overtook him on the 21st of March, 1781, at Beattie's Mill on Little River. Taking possession of a bridge in his rear so as effectually to occlude his retreat, Clarke with his main body made a vigorous and unexpected charge upon Dunlap, who quickly retired with his men into the mill and some adjacent houses. Here for several hours he main- tained a stout resistance. At length, thirty-four of the detach- ment having been killed and wounded and Major Dunlap himself lying almost dead with a mortal hurt, a white flag was displayed and an unconditional surrender ensued.
The battle of Guilford virtually terminated British dominion
·
n
473
EFFECT OF THE BATTLE OF GUILFORD.
in North Carolina and pointed the way to the reclamation of South Carolina and Georgia. For the British it drew after it all the consequences of a defeat, and may well be numbered as one of the decisive engagements of the Revolution. The com- mentary of Fox in the House of Commons was eminently wise. "From the report of Cornwallis," said he, "there is the most conclusive evidence that the war is at once impracticable in its object and ruinous in its progress. In the disproportion between the two armies a victory was highly to the honor of our troops, but had our army been vanquished what course could they have taken ? Certainly they would have abandoned the field of ac- tion and flown for refuge to the seaside, - precisely the measures the victorious army was obliged to adopt." His motion was to recommend the ministry to employ every possible measure for concluding peace.
Without waiting for the approval of Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis, no longer anxious to measure swords with General Greene, resolved that the Chesapeake should become the theatre of war. Late in April, moving onward into Virginia he unwit- tingly entered upon a campaign which, within less than six months, terminated in the disastrous surrender at Yorktown.
Ilis enemy being thus beyond pursuit, General Greene bent his energies toward carrying the war immediately into South Caro- lina. Aware of this intention on the part of the commanding general, and anxious both to refresh his men and to recruit his command, Colonel Clarke obtained permission to return to Georgia. He had no sooner crossed the Savannah River than he was attacked with the small-pox and forced to turn over the command to Lieutenant-Colonel Micajah Williamson. Major Jackson, who, with Colonel Baker, had planned an expedition into Upper Georgia, was ordered with Major Samuel Hammond to enter South Carolina and assemble the militia on the left bank of the Savannah. In the execution of these instructions two hundred and fifty men were by them collected and organized. The command was entrusted to Colonel Le Roy Hammond.1
" When the Georgians returned into their country," writes Captain McCall,2 " they dispersed into parties of ten and twelve men each, so as to spread themselves over the settlements, and appointed Dennis' Mill, on Little River, for the place of rendez- vous. When these small parties entered the settlements where
1 Sco Charlton's Life of Jackson, p. 30. 2 History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 362. Savannah. 1816.
Augusta. 1809,
-
٢ العداء المو السر ور
-1
1
1
474
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
they had formerly resided, general devastation was presented to their view ; their aged fathers and youthful brothers had been hanged and murdered ; their decrepit grandfathers were incarcer- ated in prisons, where most of them had been suffered to perish in filth, famine, or disease ; and their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and young children had been robbed, insulted, and abused, and were found by them in temporary huts, more resem- bling a savage camp than a civilized habitation. The indignant sigh burst from the heart of the war-worn veteran, and the manly tear trickled down his cheek as he embraced his suffering rela- tives. There is damning proof of the truth of this unvarnished tale ; and the reader may imagine the feelings of the Georgian of that day, and the measure of his resentment. Mercy to a loyalist who had been active in outrage became inadmissible, and retalia- tive carnage ensued."
We may not deem this picture of the desolations of Upper Georgia as too highly colored. Brown and Grierson were the demons who set on foot and enforced the hellish work. Captain McCall with his own eyes had beheld some of the heart-rending scenes, the sad memory of which he thus perpetuates.
Captains Johnston and Mckay, with a small body of energetic militiamen, established a post in the Savannah River swamp below Augusta where they frequently intercepted boats plying. between that place and Savannah. Commerce between the two towns was chiefly conducted by means of the river, and it was often the good fortune of those officers to secure provisions and stores of considerable value. To dislodge them became absolutely necessary, and so Colonel Brown sent an officer, with twenty-five regular troops and twenty militiamen, to accomplish this deside- ratum. Near Matthew's Bluff Mckay fell upon them, killed the officer in command and fifteen of his followers, and compelled the rest to retreat precipitately to Augusta.
Upon the return of the Georgians, apprehending that an effort would be made to retake Augusta, Colonel Brown summoned all his provincials for its defense. Not a few of them, mindful of the many enormities, which they had committed and fearing to be cooped up within lines which might be carried, disobeyed the order and, repairing to the Indian country, united with the sav- ages in harassing the frontiers.
Colonel Harden had been for some time organizing the militia in the southern portion of Carolina, and was developing consider- able strength in the neighborhood of Coosawhatchie. A detach-
للم الزاب
1
د الله
475
AFFAIR AT WIGGIN'S HILL.
ment under Captain Wylly was sent to acquire information of his force and intentions. Wylly quickly reported to Colonel Brown that the Americans were advancing on Augusta. While moving upward, Harden was reinforced by Johnston and Mckay. Has- tily summoning such regulars, militia, and Indians as could be . spared without endangering the safety of Augusta, Colonel Brown went to meet the republicans. IIe encamped for the night in a field at Wiggin's Hill. Here he was attacked by Harden. The conflict lasted half an hour, when the assailants were forced to retreat with a loss of seven killed and eleven wounded. Among the latter was Captain Johnston. Among the prisoners captured by the enemy was Wylly, who had acted in the capacity of a guide in conducting to Matthew's Bluff the detachment sent out to surprise the party commanded by Captains Johnston and Mc- Kay. He was accused of having misled that detachment, and was charged with treachery to the king. Upon this suspicion Colonel Brown turned him over to the Indians, who, in his pres- ence, ripped open his belly with their knives and tortured him to death.
Another captive was Rannal Mckay, a youth only seventeen years old and the son of a widow who, with her family, had fled from Darien into South Carolina for refuge. Informed that her son was a prisoner, Mrs. McKay, taking with her some refresh- ments which she thought would prove acceptable to the British commander and commend her to his favor, repaired to Brown's camp and craved the liberation of her boy. The monster ac- cepted her present but, refusing her request and denying her an interview with her son, caused the sentries to force her be- yond the limits of the encampment. The next morning Mckay, Britton Williams, George Smith, George Reed, and a French- man whose name is not remembered, prisoners all, were taken from the rail pen in which they had been confined, were by Brown's order hung upon a gallows until they were almost choked to death, and were then cut down and delivered over to the Indians who scalped, mutilated, and finally murdered them in the most savage manner.1
Of all the inhuman characters developed during this abnormal period so replete with murder, arson, theft, brutality, and crimes too foul for utterance, none can be named more notorious than Thomas Brown, loyalist and colonel in his majesty's service. His acts incarnadine and encumber with barbarities the Revo-
1 Sce McCall's History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 366. Savannah. 1816.
عيد على الرجاء الثورات فى داد
476
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
lutionary pages in Georgia history. And yet this tyrant, this persecutor of defenseless women and children, this butcher of captives, this relentless, merciless persecutor of patriots, in a long letter penned from Nassau on the 25th of December, 1786, calls Dr. Ramsay to account for the strictures in which he justly indulges when reviewing his conduct, and enters upon a lengthy justification of some of the transactions which have rendered his reputation well-nigh infamous.
Bravery was his only redeeming trait, and that he possessed and exhibited in a wonderful degree. Loyalty to the king was the cloak which covered every excess. Revenge was the passion sweeter than all others. To his ears the dying groans of a republican were more enjoyable than strains of purest melody. Convicted in the city of London in 1812 of a grand forgery upon the government which he served, he ended his days in disgrace and ignominy.
The shadows which had so long enshrouded the hopes of the Revolutionists in Georgia were now lifting. The absent were returning and assembling in force for the salvation of their homes. Firm in the confidence and secure in the affection of the Southern Department, General Greene was hailed as the great and good genius of the hour. Brave men were projecting plans of deliverance, and among them was a scheme for the repossession of Augusta and the capture of the lawless men who had so grievously afflicted the region.
-
CHAPTER XXV.
COLONEL WILLIAMSON INVESTS AUGUSTA. - ARRIVAL OF COLONEL CLARKE. -MAJOR DILL DEFEATED AT WALKER'S BRIDGE. - SHELBY AND CARR DEFEAT BROWN'S DETACHMENT AT MRS. BUGG'S PLANTATION. - HAYES AND HIS COMMAND MURDERED. - GENERAL PICKENS AND LIEUTENANT- COLONEL HENRY LEE ORDERED TO ASSIST IN THE REDUCTION OF AU- GUSTA. - LEE CAPTURES FORT GALPHIN AT SILVER BLUFF. - THE SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF AUGUSTA. - COLONEL BROWN AND MRS. MCKAY. - PICKENS AND LEE REJOIN GENERAL GREENE. - MAJOR JACKSON LEFT IN COMMAND OF AUGUSTA. - RASCALITY OF JOHN BURNET. - GOVERNOR WRIGHT CALLS LUSTILY FOR AID.
STILL suffering from the effects of the small-pox, Colonel Clarke was too feeble to take the saddle at the time appointed for the reassembling of his men at Dennis' Mill on Little River. Consequently, Lieutenant-Colonel Micajah Williamson assumed the command and, on the 16th of April, 1781, moved with the detachment to the vicinity of Augusta. There he was reinforced by Colonel Baker with as many militia as he had been able to collect in Southern Georgia, and by Captains Dunn and Irwin who brought with them some men from Burke County. Soon after, Colonel Hammond and Major Jackson arrived with such of the Carolina militia as they had been successful in recruiting in the neighborhood of Augusta.
With this force, which was numerically a little superior to that possessed by the enemy but far inferior in discipline and equip- ment, Colonel Williamson occupied a position twelve hundred yards distant from the British works and there fortified his camp. It is believed that the exaggerated accounts of the Amer- ican strength conveyed to Colonel Brown deterred him from making an attack which would probably have eventuated in success.
For nearly four weeks had the republicans been sitting down before Augusta, guarding all approaches to the town, confining its garrison within their defenses, and eagerly expecting rein- forcements from General Greene's army preparatory to a general assault upon the British works. Wearied with the service, and despairing of the anticipated aid, the militia were on the eve of
الصد
478
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
withdrawing when Major Jackson - as eloquent of speech as he was daring in war- by a patriotic address inflamed their ardor and changed their purpose. The arrival of Colonel Clarke and one hundred men on the 15th of May restored confidence and confirmed the resolution to prosecute the enterprise to a success- ful issue.
Major Dill had collected a band of loyalists with the intention of reinforcing Brown and compelling the Americans to raise the siege. Without waiting for his approach, Colonel Clarke dis- patched Captains Shelby and Carr, with a strong party, who fell upon him at Walker's bridge on Brier Creek, killing and wound- ing a number of his men and dispersing the rest.
Entertaining no apprehension of an attack from the enemy, Colonel Clarke sent his cavalry horses under a guard of six men, to Beech Island that they might be plentifully supplied with forage. Learning this fact, Colonel Brown detailed a force of regulars, militia, and Indians to proceed down the Savannah River in canoes to cut off the guard and capture the animals. In this mission they succeeded. Every man of the guard was slain. While returning with the horses, they were attacked by Captains Shelby and Carr, near Mrs. Bugg's plantation, and entirely routed. Not one of the enemy falling into the hands of the Americans was permitted to live. Nearly half the detachment was killed. All the horses were recovered.1
Unfurnished with artillery Colonel Clarke picked up an old four-pounder which had been abandoned by the British, mounted it, and employed a blacksmith to forge projectiles for it. This little piece was placed in battery about four hundred yards from Fort Grierson. So limited was the supply of ammunition that it was fired only on occasions the most favorable.
General Pickens with four hundred men was operating be- tween Augusta and Ninety-Six to cut off all communication be- tween those posts. Eastward of Ninety-Six Colonels Branham and Hayes were recruiting their commands and intercepting sup- plies intended for the relief of that station. While thus engaged Colonel Hayes, who then had with him forty-five men, was sud- denly attacked by Major Cunningham. Taking refuge in a house Hayes defended himself until further resistance appeared useless. He then surrendered upon condition that his men should be recognized and treated as prisoners of war. No sooner had they laid down their arms than they were assaulted and mur- 1 See McCall's History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 368. Savannah. 1816.
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.