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Still desirous of compassing a surrender withont resorting to an assault, General Pickens and Colonel Lee, on the 3d of June, repeated their summons in the following language : -
1 Lee's Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States, vol. ii. pp. 105-107. Philadelphia. 1812.
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COLONEL BROWN REFUSES TO CAPITULATE.
" SIR, - It is not our disposition to press the unfortunate. To prevent the effusion of blood, which must follow perseverance in your fruitless resistance, we inform you we are willing, though in the grasp of victory, to grant such terms as a comparative view of our respective situations can warrant.
" Your determination will be considered as conclusive, and will regulate our conduct."
Still unyielding, and with characteristic boldness courting the chances of the future, Brown responded: -
" FORT CORNWALLIS, June 3, 1781.
"GENTLEMEN, -I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your summons of this day, and to assure you that, as it is my duty, it is likewise my inclination, to defend this post to the last extremity."
The fire of the six-pounder gun was mainly directed against the parapet of the fort fronting on the river. Toward that quarter it was proposed that the main attack should be launched. Orders were issued for a general assault at nine o'clock on the morning of the 4th. During the night of the 3d the best marks- men from Pickens' militia were sent to the house nearest the fort. The officer in command was instructed to arrange his men in the upper story so as to ascertain how many of them could be used to advantage, and then to withdraw and report to the command- ing general. It was intended that this structure should be oc- cupied by the same officer with such a force of riflemen as he should declare to be sufficient. To Handy's Marylanders and the infantry of the legion was the main assault from the river quarter entrusted. Due preparation having been made, the troops remained in their stations, " pleased that the time was near which would close with success their severe toils."
" About three in the morning of the 4th of June," says Colo- nel Lee,1 "we were aroused by a violent explosion which was soon discovered to have shattered the very house intended to be occupied by the rifle party before daybreak. It was severed and thrown into the air thirty or forty feet high; its fragments fall- ing all over the field. This explained at once not only the cause of Brown's omitting its destruction, but also communicated the object of the constant digging which had, until lately, employed the besieged.
" Brown pushed a sap to this house which he presumed would
1 Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States, vol. ii. p. 109. Philadelphia. 1812.
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THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
be certainly possessed by the besieger when ready to strike his last blow: and he concluded, from the evident maturity of our works and from the noise made by the militia when sent to the house in the first part of the night for the purpose of ascertaining the number competent to its capacity, that the approaching morning was fixed for the general assault. Not doubting but the house was occupied with the body destined to hold it, lie determined to deprive his adversary of every aid from this quarter: hoping too, by the consternation which the manner of destruction could not fail to excite, to damp the ardor of the troops charged with storming."
It was indeed a narrow escape. Even in his extremity Brown * was fruitful in resources. His resolution never forsook him, and his blows were vigorous to the last.
As the army was waiting the signal for the assault, the Amer- ican commanders, moved by the perilous situation of the captives, who had long been held in confinement within the fort, made this appeal to its commanding officer : -
" HEADQUARTERS, June 4, 1781.
"SIR, - We beg leave to propose that the prisoners in your possession may be sent out of the fort, and that they may be considered yours or ours as the siege may terminate.
"Confident that you cannot refuse this dictate of humanity and custom of war, we have only to say that any request from you of a similar nature will meet with our assent."
It was urged in vain, as the following response testifies : -
" GENTLEMEN, - Though motives of humanity, and a feeling for the distresses of individuals, inclino me to accede to what you have proposed concerning the prisoners with us, yet many rea- sons to which you cannot be strangers forbid my complying with this requisition.
"Such attention as I can show, consistently with good policy and my duty, shall be shown to thiem."
Before an advance was ordered, an officer with a flag was seen approaching from Fort Cornwallis. He bore this message from Colonel Brown to General Pickens and Colonel Lee : -
" GENTLEMEN, - In your summons of the 3d instant, no par- ticular conditions were specified : I postponed the consideration of it to this day.
" From a desire to lessen the distresses of war to individuals, I am inclined to propose to you my acceptance of the inclosed terms, which, being pretty similar to those granted to the com-
491
ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION.
manding officers of the American troops and garrison in Charles- town, I imagine will be honourable to both parties."
It being now manifest that a surrender would be compassed without a final appeal to arms, operations were suspended for the day, and the commanding officers turned their attention to nego- tiations which culminated on the following morning in the pro- posal and acceptance of these articles of capitulation : -
" ARTICLE I. That all acts of hostilities and works shall cease between the besiegers and besieged until the articles of capitula- tion shall be agreed on, signed, and executed, or collectively re- jected.
" Answer. Hostilities shall cease for one hour ; other opera- tions to continue.
" ARTICLE II. That the fort shall be surrendered to the com- manding officer of the American troops such as it now stands. That the King's troops, three days after signing the articles of capitulation, shall be conducted to Savannah with their baggage, where they will remain prisoners of war until they are ex- changed : that proper conveyances shall be provided by the com- manding officer of the American troops for that purpose, together with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome provisions till their arrival in Savannah.
" Answer. Inadmissible. The prisoners to surrender field prisoners of war. The officers to be indulged with their paroles : the soldiers to be conducted to such place as the commander-in- chief shall direct.
" ARTICLE III. The militia now in garrison shall be permitted to return to their respective homes, and be secured in their per- sons and properties.
" Answer. Answered by the second article, the militia making part of the garrison.
" ARTICLE IV. The sick and wounded shall be under the care of their own surgeons, and be supplied with such medicines and necessaries as are allowed in the British hospitals.
" Answer. Agreed.
" ARTICLE V. The officers of the garrison, and citizens who have borne arms during the siege, shall keep their side arms, pistols, and baggage which shall not be searched, and retain their servants.
" Answer. The officers and citizens who have borne arms dur- ing the siege shall be permitted their side arms, private baggage and servants ; their side arms not to be worn, and the baggage to be searched by a person appointed for that purpose.
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THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
" ARTICLE VI. The garrison at an hour appointed shall march out, with shouldered arms and drums beating, to a place to be agreed on where they will pile their arms.
" Answer. Agreed. The judicious and gallant defence made by the garrison entitles them to every mark of military respect. The fort to be delivered up to Captain Rudolph at twelve o'clock, who will take possession with a detachment of the Legion in- fantry.
" ARTICLE VII. That the citizens shall be protected in their persons and properties.
" Answer. Inadmissible.
" ARTICLE VIII. That twelve months shall be allowed to all such as do not choose to reside in this country, to dispose of their effects, real and personal, in this Province, without any molestation whatever, or to remove to any part thereof as they may choose, as well themselves as families.
" Answer. Inadmissible.
" ARTICLE IX. That the Indian families now in garrison shall accompany the King's troops to Savannah, where they will re- main prisoners of war until exchanged for an equal number of prisoners in the Creek or Cherokee nations.
" Answer. Answered in the second article.
" ARTICLE X. That an express be permitted to go to Savan- nah with the commanding officer's dispatches, which are not to be opened.
" Answer. Agreed.
" ARTICLE XI. (Additional.) The particular attention of Colo- nel Brown is expected towards the just delivery of all public stores, moneys, &c., and that no loans be permitted to defeat the spirit of this article.
"Signed at Headquarters, Augusta, June 5th, 1781, by ANDREW PICKENS, B. G. Mil. HENRY LEE, Jun', Lieut. Col. com. THOMAS BROWN,
Lieut. Col. commanding King's troops at Augusta." 1
The postponement of the surrender until the 5th was very gratifying to Colonel Brown, as the 4th was the anniversary of the birthday of the king.
1 Sec Ramsay's History of the Revolution of South Carolina, vol. ii. p. 497. Trenton.
p. 493. London. MDCCLXXXVII. Lee's Memoirs of the War in the Southern MDCCLXXXV. Tarleton's History of Department of the United States, vol. ii. the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, etc., p. 115. Philadelphia. 1812.
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493
BROWN UPBRAIDED BY MRS. McKAY.
For some time prior to this capitulation, so destructive was the fire maintained by the Americans, especially from the six- pounder gun mounted in the " Mayham tower " which searched almost every part of the fort, that the besieged were compelled to dig holes in the earth for their protection. Any exposure of the person during the day involved almost certain death.1 At eight o'clock on the morning of the 5th the British garrison, some three hundred strong, marched out of Fort Cornwallis and Major Rudolph took possession of it. Captain Armstrong of the dragoons, with a safeguard, was detailed to protect Colonel Brown from the threatened violence of the militia who, justly incensed at his many bloody deeds and acts of tyranny, eagerly sought his life. Young Mckay, whose brother had been inhu- manly put to death by Brown at Wiggin's Hill, watched an op- portunity to shoot the British commander. He was conducted to Colonel Lee's quarters where he remained until the next day, when he and a few of his officers were paroled and sent down the river to Savannah under the charge of Captain Armstrong and a party of infantry instructed to guard him until he was beyond the reach of danger. At Silver Bluff he was recognized by Mrs. McKay who accosted him thus : " Colonel Brown, in the late day of your prosperity I visited your camp and on my knees supplicated for the life of my son, but you were deaf to my en- treaties. You hanged him, though a beardless youth, before my face. These eyes have seen him scalped by the savages under your immediate command, and for no better reason than that his name was Mckay. As you are now prisoner to the leaders of my country, for the present I lay aside all thoughts of revenge : but when you resume your sword I will go five hundred miles to demand satisfaction at the point of it for the murder of my son." 2
The loss sustained by the British was fifty-two killed and three hundred and thirty-four wounded and captured. Sixteen of the Americans were slain and thirty-five wounded.
Shortly after the capitulation General Pickens and Colonel
. Lee, with the prisoners, crossed the Savannah River and joined General Greene, who was still conducting the investment of Ninety-Six. Heartily welcomed were these officers and their commands. To them was General Greene pleased to express in
1 Soo Ramsay's History of the Revolu- tion of South Carolina, vol. ii. p. 239. Trenton. MDCCLXXXV.
? Ramsay's History of the Revolution of South Carolina, vol. ii. p. 240. Trenton. MDCCLXXXV.
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TIIE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
general orders " the high sense he entertained of their merit and service." His thanks were also publicly rendered for the " zeal and vigor exhibited in the execution of the duty assigned to them."
To Major James Jackson, whose early exertions paved the way for the final reduction of the post, was the command of Augusta entrusted. Here he remained, with occasional absences on im- portant enterprises, until the assembling of the legislature in Au- gust, 1781, when Dr. Nathan Brownson was elected governor and Colonel John Twiggs, in consideration of his long and meri- torious services, was complimented with the commission of brig- adier-general.1 Meanwhile, acting under authority conferred by General Greene, he had raised a partisan legion in command of which he continued until the close of the war.
Among the stores in Fort Cornwallis, subject to distribution among the captors, was a quantity of Indian goods. It being found impracticable to divide them out without encumbering too much the troops still engaged in active service, that portion fall- ing to the lot of the Georgians was placed in the hands of John Burnet, with directions to transport these goods to some safe place in the western part of the State where they were to be kept until a suitable opportunity arose for their equitable distri- bution. Burnet always professed an ardent attachment to the American cause. Under pretense of harassing the loyalists in the low country, he had recently, with some followers, visited some of the wealthy settlements south of Savannalı and indis- criminately robbed friends and foes of their slaves and personal property. Ile then held in the vicinity of Augusta some sixty negroes whom he had thus captured. Professing that he had taken them from loyalists, and offering to throw them into hotch- pot with the goods so that a more generous dividend might be declared to Georgia soldiers who, during the war, had borne heavy burthens and sustained grievous losses, he so won the con- fidence of officers and men that the booty was delivered into his custody. Undertaking to remove it beyond all possible recap- tion by the enemy, he journeyed towards the mountains of Upper Georgia. Once fairly out of reach, he disclosed to his compan- ions his design of quitting the country and appropriating this spoil. Sympathizing in the rascally purpose, they assisted him in making his way to the Ohio River where, procuring boats, they passed down to Natchez and there divided the stolen prop-
1 See Charlton's Life of Jackson, Part I. p. 34. Augusta. 1809.
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495
GOVERNOR WRIGHIT IMPLORES AID
erty.1 Thus were the Georgia troops who participated in the reduction of Augusta defrauded out of their share of the booty.
The capture of Augusta, while it raised the spirits of the re- publicans to a high pitch of exultation and encouraged the faint- hearted to emerge from their hiding-places and stand up like men in the ranks of the Revolutionists, exerted a most depress- ing influence upon the minds and hopes of the king's servants. Governor Wright, at Savannah, called so lustily for aid that Lord Rawdon, weak as he was, was persuaded to part with the king's American regiment and send it from Charlestown, in small craft and without convoy, to the relief of that royal governor.2 In this wise did he give expression to his distresses and appre- hensions : " It gives me the greatest concern to acquaint you of the loss of Augusta by Colonel Brown being reduced to the ne- cessity of capitulating, and as you well know the consequences that must be attendant on this I need say little, but must ob- serve that if this Province is not recovered from the Rebels witli- out the least delay I conceive it may be too late to prevent the whole from being laid waste and totally destroyed and the peo- ple ruined. We are now in a most wretched situation. I shall not reflect on the causes, but the grand point is to recover back what we have lost, if it be possible, and to prevent further mis- fortunes and injury to his Majesty's service. . .
" Our distresses are many, and how to furnish the militia on actual duty with rations I can't tell, for there is not a single bar- rel of beef or pork to be purchased here, even if I had the money to buy it. I trust therefore, Sir, that circumstanced as we are you will think it for his Majesty's service and really necessary to order some of the King's provisions here for the support of the militia on actual service, the number of which, I think, will be at least what is mentioned in the Minute of Council, besides those in and about town which, I suppose, amount to 300." 3
1 See McCall's History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 380. Savannah. 1816.
8 Letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour, dated Savannah, 11th of June, 1781.
2 Tarleton's Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, P. R. O., Am. & W. Ind., vol. cexcviii. etc., p. 486. London. MDCCLXXVII.
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CHAPTER XXVI.
GENERAL TWIGGS ORDERS AN ADVANCE FOR THE REPOSSESSION OF THE MID- DLE AND SOUTHIERN DIVISIONS OF GEORGIA. - NEFARIOUS PLOT IN JACK- SON'S LEGION. - DAVIS COMPLIMENTED BY THE LEGISLATURE. - NAVAL EXPLOITS ON THE GEORGIA COAST. - CAPTAINS HOWELL, MCCLEUR, AN- TONY, AND BRADDOCK. - JACKSON'S OPERATIONS NEAR GREAT OGEECHEE FERRY. - SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS. - GENERAL TWIGGS REPULSES THE INDIANS. - MURDER OF MYRICK DAVIES. - TWIGGS THREATENS SAVAN- NAH. - PICKENS INVADES THE CHEROKEE TERRITORY. - STATE CERTIFI- CATES ISSUED UPON THE FAITH OF CONFISCATED PROPERTY. -- EFFECT OF CORNWALLIS' SURRENDER. - GENERAL GREENE PREPARES FOR THE RELIEF OF GEORGIA. - HIS LETTER OF ADVICE TO GOVERNOR MARTIN. - GENERAL WAYNE DETAILED TO RECOVER GEORGIA. - PROCLAMATIONS OF GOVER- NOR MARTIN. - BRITISH FORCES IN SAVANNAII. - THE TOWN NARROWLY WATCHED. - WAYNE'S ACTIVITY IIIGIILY COMMENDED. - SEAT OF GOV- ERNMENT ADVANCED TO EBENEZER. - CONDUCT OF COLONEL JAMES JACK- SON. - FEROCITY OF THE ENEMY. - MAJOR JOIN HABERSHAM'S MISSION. - POVERTY OF GEORGIA. - AFFAIR BETWEEN JACKSON AND CAPTAINS IN- GRAM AND CORKER. - WAYNE ADVANCES TO SUPPORT JACKSON. - BROWN ESCAPES. - GURISTERSIGO DEFEATED BY WAYNE.
THE upper portion of Georgia being now under the control of the republicans, General Twiggs directed his attention to the re- possession of the middle and southern divisions. To this end he ordered Lieutenant-Colonel James Jackson to move with his Georgia legion, consisting of three companies of cavalry and two of infantry, in the direction of Savannah, and to occupy posi- tions as near the enemy as becoming caution would suggest. His general instructions were to annoy the outposts and detachments of his antagonist as fully as the means at command would allow, and to retreat or advance as the circumstances of the case might justify.
Jackson's legion was composed in part of British deserters and loyalists, who, professing a change of political sentiments, had quitted the service of the king. Dangerous and untrustworthy was this element, requiring for its efficient control strict disci- pline and tireless vigilance. Not long prior to the receipt of these orders, and while Colonel Jackson was still in command at Au- gusta, a nefarious plot was discovered which had been formed
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497
NEFARIOUS PLOT IN JACKSON'S LEGION.
by a portion of his legion. The scheme was to assassinate the commanding officer in an unguarded moment, and, seizing the governor and as many members of the executive council as were present in the town, to carry them off to the British authorities in Savannah. This plan was quietly communicated to General Alured Clarke, commanding at Savannah. He cordially sym- pathized in it, and, as a substantial proof of his approval, ordered Captain Brantley, with forty-five men, to proceed cautiously to the outskirts of Augusta, join the conspirators under cover of night, and cooperate with them in the execution of the nefarious project. Liberal rewards were also offered by him as a stimulus ~ to the perpetration of the crime. The manner in which this iniquitous design was frustrated is thus told by Captain Mc- Call : 1 " A faithful soldier, named David Davis, who was the Colonel's waiter, discovered that there was something in agitation of an extraordinary nature in the camp, and in order to obtain a knowledge of the secret affected an extreme dislike to the Colo- nel and united with the conspirators in the use of the most un- qualified language of abuse and disrespect for him. Supposing that Davis' situation would enable him to be of great service to the party, they lent a favourable ear to his observations. This stratagem had the desired effect and drew from the traitors a disclosure of the diabolical purposes in contemplation which he immediately communicated to his Colonel, and informed him that no time was to be lost in checking its progress, as it was ripe for execution. The dragoons who did not appear to have been engaged in the conspiracy were ordered to mount their horses and repair to Colonel Jackson's quarters, prepared for action. The infantry were ordered to parade without arms, under pre- tence of searching for some clothing which had been stolen the preceding night. The dragoons were ordered in front with drawn swords, and the ring leaders were seized and confined. A gen- eral court martial was ordered to convene, and the culprits were brought up for trial. John Goodgame, William Simmons, and one Honeyeut were ascertained to be the projectors and leaders in the conspiracy. The court found them guilty of treason and sentenced them to suffer death by being hanged, and they were executed accordingly. The remaining seventeen turned State's evidence, confessed their guilt, and were pardoned in consequence of their apparent penitence."
Thus narrowly did a gallant officer escape assassination. Thus, 1 History of Georgia, vol. ii. p. 384. Savannah, 1816.
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THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
almost as by accident, was preserved the life of a patriot who had already rendered signal service in the army of the Revolution, and who, in after years, as soldier, citizen, advocate, senator, and chief magistrate of Georgia, illustrated in a conspicuous degree all the virtues which appertain to the civilian, the hero, and the states- man.
By the legislature of Georgia was Davis complimented for his fidelity to his commander and his attachment to the cause of liberty. In token of the general approval of his conduct. he was presented with five hundred acres of valuable land, and with a handsome horse, saddle, and bridle.
Captain Brantley had reached Spirit Creek in the execution of his mission when he learned that the plot had been discovered. Thereupon he hastily returned to Savannah.
In equipping his legion Colonel Jackson depended upon the skill and industry of his own men. Upon the back of a letter addressed to him by Thomas Hamilton, one of his infantry offi- cers, appears this statement in the handwriting of the colonel : " I made all my own accoutrements, even to swords for my dra- goons, caps, leather jackets, boots, and spurs, and in short every article." 1 What proof more convincing can be offered of the limited resources of this war-worn land, or of the necessities and the ingenuity of its resolute defenders ?
Before following General Twiggs and Colonel Jackson in their demonstration against the British soldiers and loyalists in South- ern Georgia, let us refer to some naval affairs which transpired on the Georgia coast, comparatively insignificant, and yet not unim- portant in that day of small things, as they have been handed down to us chiefly by Captain McCall to whom, more than all others, we stand indebted for the Revolutionary memories of the State.
The extreme scarcity of clothing, munitions of war, sugar, salt, and of other necessary articles, has already been alluded to. Upon the operations of privateers and small government ves- sels did the community largely depend for the procurement of these commodities. Uncertain and irregular as that supply 2 was, the function of these vessels in promoting the general comfort and encouraging the common defense cannot be too highly commended.
I. p. 37. Augusta. 1809.
2 There were times when common salt readily commanded two dollars per bush-
1 Sco Charlton's Life of Jackson, Part el, and when, by reason of its absence, the inhabitants, in curing their meats, were forced to rely upon wood-ashes and red-pepper.
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NAVAL EXPLOITS.
They were also a thorn in the side of British commerce and a terror to loyalists cultivating the islands and headlands adjacent to the sea.
Learning that the English ship Britannia lay at anchor in the mouth of Great Ogeechee River, Captains John Howell and John McCleur, on the night of the 14th of April, 1781, with muffled oars towed their privateers alongside and grappled with her. Springing upon deck, they demanded and received quick surren- der. Captain Wade and a boat's crew had gone ashore to spend the night, and thus escaped capture. The Britannia had a cargo of rice on board, was bound to the West Indies, and was waiting ~ for a fair wind to put to sea. On the 24th, while off Doboy Sound with this prize, the ship Cormorant, Captain McEvoy, hove in sight and gave chase. Finding that she could not escape, the Britannia struck her colors and came to anchor. While the boats from the Cormorant were in the act of taking possession of her, Captain Howell ran down, fired upon, and compelled them to retire. Then, slipping the cable of the Britannia, he ran that vessel close in shore until he reached the south end of Blackbeard Island where he defended her until the afternoon. Fearing attack during the night by a superior force, he abandoned and burnt the ship, paroling his prisoners and landing them on the island.
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