USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 12
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On the 11th of January another proclamation was issued, offering a reward of two guineas for every citizen who adhered to the American cause,
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and ten guineas for every committee or assembly man, who should be taken and delivered to the commanding-officer of any of the king's garrisons. Prices were affixed to all articles of merchandize, country produce, and market vegetables, and the violation of these rules was punished by the con- fiscation of the articles exposed to sale. Licenses to trade, were granted only to such as had taken the oath of allegiance, and a penalty of one hun- dred pounds sterling was inflicted on such mer- chants as dealt with any other than the king's subjects. The export of every kind of produce was prohibited, unless it was accompanied by a certificate from the superintendant of the port, that such articles were not wanted for the use of the king's troops.
The families of those who adhered to the cause of their country, either in the camp or on board of prison-ships, were stripped by the British of every article of property, or necessary for subsistence that could be found: they were obliged to sustain life, and cover their bodies with such articles as were providently secreted, or were received from the cold-handed charity of a lukewarm neighbour; and however humble or scanty their morsel, gladly would they have shared it with a father, a brother, or a husband, who was offering his blood for his country, or suffering in a loathsome prison on a small allowance of unwholesome food.
Upon a representation of the suffering of the Americans in captivity, to general Lincoln at Pu-
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rysburg, the general wrote to lieutenant-colonel Campbell, then on his march to Augusta, and pro- posed a conference with him at Zubley's ferry, for the exchange of prisoners, and the parole of the officers until exchanged. A negociation was con- sented to, and lieutenant-colonel James M. Pro- vost was nominated to confer with major Thomas Pinckney on the subject. They had an interview on the 31st of January, and terms were proposed.
Provost proposed that the regular troops taken in Georgia, the militia taken in arms, and the men taken on their farms, without regard to age, should be considered in the exchange as prisoners of war, and produced a list to shew the number. This list contained many of the names of those who had taken protection, and those who had taken the oath of allegiance, and joined the king's standard. In exchange, was required the Highlanders at Fredericksburg ; and the remain- der to be completed from the prisoners taken with . general Burgoyne.
Major Pinckney proposed that continental of- ficers and soldiers should be exchanged for British officers and soldiers of corresponding rank, and that the militia who were willing again to take up arms, should be exchanged in the same way, and that the aged, and those who chose to retire and live peaceably on their farms under the British government, should be paroled.
The unfairness, nay the absurdity of colonel Provost's propositions, contrasted with the just-
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ness of those made by major Pinckney, was too variant for them to come to a speedy conclusion. The negociation was prolonged for five days ; but Provost was inflexible, and finally observed, that he wished for a speedy answer. as the transports were ready to sail with the prisoners on board, either to New- York or the West- Indies, as might be most convenient to Sir Hyde Parker. This determination, left with major Pinckney an em- barrassing choice of evils : to leave the wretched prisoners to continue under their sufferings, or to establish a precedent, unjust in principle, and ruinous in its consequences to the cause of his country. He adhered to his propositions, and the negociation terminated in a disagreement.
The failure of the negociation for the exchange of prisoners on the British propositions, which would have been so favourable to them, and so injurious to the Americans, determined Sir Hyde Parker to add to the punishment of the Ameri- can prisoners who refused to enlist in the British service, by sending them to New- York. Nine of these unfortunate people had already died in one day, and seven had been the daily average of deaths for a week. Their refusal to enlist into the ranks of their enemy, and fight against their coun- trymen, occasioned the loss of one third of their lives.
The British chiefs had their emissaries busily employed in the back settlements of South-Caro- lina and Georgia. In the former, a man by the
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name of Boyd, with others of inferior rank ; and in the latter, a man by the name of Thomas, and others who were subordinate to him. Boyd was an Irishman by birth, and had been several years an inhabitant of South-Carolina : he was bold, enterprising, and famed for acts of dishonesty : he had some time previously been at New-York, where he was invited to an interview with Sir Hen- ry Clinton. During their conferences, the scheme of insurrection in the back country of South- Carolina was planned, and to be executed so soon as the British troops should gain possession of Savannah ; and on receiving information of that event, Boyd was to assemble his troops and repair to the roval standard in Georgia. Boyd was early apprised by Campbell, of the success of the British arms in Savannah, and commenced the execution of his part of the plan, which had been concerted.
The position which general Lincoln had taken at Purysburg, was well calculated to observe the movements of general Provost, and wait for re- enforcements : the freshets in Savannah river, at that season of the year, overflowed the swamps to the extent of two to four miles in breadth, and up- wards of one hundred miles in length from the sea, so that neither general could assail the other with any prospect of advantage. By a field re- turn on the 1st of February, general Lincoln had three thousand six hundred and thirty-nine men, composed of about six hundred continental troops, five hundred new levies, and one thousand three
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hundred effective militia : the residue were in- valids, and without arms. If the American troops bad been all effective and veteran, general Lincoln would have been about equal to his an- tagonist ; but his numbers were principally made up by militia, on whom no dependance could be placed, when opposed to a veteran army. From the equality of the militia with their officers, and independence at home, they were unwilling to submit to the requisite discipline of a camp : they must know where they were to go, what they were going to do, and how long they were to be absent, before they would move; and if not satisfied on these points, and permitted to do as they pleased, they would be off, knowing that their punishment for desertion would be but a . trifling pecuniary mulct.
'The duties assigned to general Lincoln were difficult and embarrassing ; but such difficulties and embarrassments were not assigned to him alone ; they were in common with every general officer in the American army. If it should be enquired, how such a state of things originated ? It might be answered, that it had its source in the unreasonable jealousy, that a majority of the mem- bers of congress entertained of a regular army, which could have been easily enlisted for and during the war. If the army had been engaged for the war at an early period, the wisdom of the measure would have been apparent, the œconomy great, the duration short, and the issuc
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certain ; but by the mistaken policy of short en- listments and reliance on militia ; thousands of lives were sacrificed, millions of dollars worth of property destroyed and expended, the war pro- longed, the liberties of America jeopardised, and the well appointed armies of Great Britain, under experienced generals, were to be driven away by shadows like the birds and beasts of prey from the farmer's field, by the twirling of his rattle.
Early in February, a party of the enemy, com- manded by major Gardiner, embarked in boats at Savannah, and proceeded by the inland passage, to take possession of Beaufort, on Port-Royal island, and establish a post ; they effected a land- ing, but were soon after attacked and defeated by general Moultrie with an equal force, nearly all militia of Charleston. In this engagement, which lasted about one hour, forty of the enemy were killed and wounded. The victory would have been more complete, if the scarcity of ammunition had not arrested the fire from the field pieces, and the infantry generally, at the time of the enemy's retreat ; they fled to their boats, and returned to Savannah.
When lieutenant-colonel Campbell was ad- vancing on Augusta, he detached colonels Brown and M'Girth, with four hundred mounted mi- litia, to make a forced march to the jail in Burke county, where he had ordered colonel Thomas to meet them with a party of loyalists. Colo- nels Benjamin and William Few, assembled
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some militia and joined colonel John Twiggs, who had assembled a small force, making in the whole about two hundred and fifty. Colonel Brown advanced and attacked them, and was de- feated with the loss of five men killed, several others wounded, and nine were made prisoners by the Americans. Twiggs and Few retreated the ensuing day, expecting that Brown would be re-enforced by Campbell. £ Brown's troops were rallied in the night, and were re-enforced by two majors and a party of refugees from South- Carolina, and a detachment under major Sharp. 'Thus re-enforced, Brown determined to renew the attack. Twiggs and Few met him, and de- feated him with greater loss than he had sustained before, and himself was among the wounded. In this skirmish, captain Joshua Inman of the Ame- ricans commanded a troop of horse, and at the first onset, killed three of the enemy with his own hand.
General Elbert who had been ordered by ge- neral Lincoln, to proceed to the upper part of Carolina ; crossed the river Savannah, and joined colonels T'wiggs and Few : they advanced to Brier creek and skirmished with Campbell's front, and aftreward, occasionally, to impede his progress toward Augusta ; expecting to be re-enforced by colonel Andrew Williamson, from Carolina, and colonel Elijah Clarke from Wilkes county ; but those officers with their troops, were too much engaged in a different quarter to afford relief. El- bert and Twiggs retired, and Campbell took pos-
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session of Augusta the last of January, where he established a post, and placed it under the orders of colonel Brown.
So soon as it was known in Wilkes county, that the British had taken possession of Augusta, such of the inhabitants as could remove with their families and property, passed over into South- Carolina and encamped. They took with them the remnants of their stocks of cattle, which yield. ed them a scanty supply of meat and milk, and the inhabitants of Carolina divided freely with them their bread kinds of food and other comforts, which they could spare. The inhabitants who could not remove by their own means, or by the assistance of their neighbours, remained in the forts or on their farms, accordingly as they were more or less exposed to ravages of the Indians.
About the Ist of February, lieutenant colonel Campbell spread his military posts over the most populous parts of Georgia, and all opposition to the British arms ceased for a few days : the oath of allegiance was administered to the inhabitants who remained, and the torch to the habitations of those who had fled into Carolina.
When the families from Georgia were placed in security, the men assembled under their leader, colonel John Dooley, and took a position on the Carolina shore of the Savannah river, about thirty miles above Augusta. M'Girth, with three hun- dred loyalists, had taken a position at Kioka creek; twenty-five miles above Augusta, on the Georgia
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side of the Savannah river, with orders to watch the ferries and passes, and to take possession of all the boats : colonel Dooley had parties similarly employed on the opposite shore. Dooley return- ed into Georgia, with a part of his troops, but was obliged to retire before one of M'Girth's de- tachments, commanded by major Hamilton, which pressed him closely and fired upon his rear as he re-crossed the Savannah, a short distance below the mouth of Broad river. Hamilton hav- ing driven the Americans from the western parts of the state, encamped at Waters' plantation, three miles below Petersburgh, with one hundred men. Dooley took a position opposite to him in Caroli- na, where he was joined by colonel Andrew Pick- ens with two hundred and fifty men of his regi- ment: their number thus united, was about three hundred and fifty. Though colonel Dooley was the senior officer, there appears to have been a private understanding between him and colonel Pickens, that the latter was to command. Doo- ley appears to have yielded to this measure, from the circumstance of three fourths of the command belonging to Pickens' regiment.
With this united force, it was determined to attack Hamilton's detachment. On the night of the 10th of February, they passed over at Cow- en's ferry, about three miles above Hamilton's encampment, and marched to attack him early in the ensuing morning, but Hamilton had march- ed, unapprehensive of danger, on an excursion
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through the country, to visit the forts and admin- ister the oath of allegiance to such inhabitants as fell in his way. The Americans pursued the enemy, and imagining that Carr's fort would be their first object. Captain A. Hamilton, of South- Carolina, was directed to take a guide, proceed to that fort and defend it with such men as might be found there, and that the main body would move up quickly and attack the enemy in the rear. Intelligence was given at the fort in due time for defence, but there were only seven or eight aged and infirm men in it, who dreaded the consequen- ces which would attend a failure of the attack, refused to comply with the order. The Ameri- cans were close in the enemy's rear when they reached the fort, and anxiously listened for the signal gun, but they had the mortification to ob- serve that the fort gate was opened, and the at- tack was then necessarily commenced, without any of the contemplated advantages. The enc- my left their horses and baggage, took possession of the fort and defended it. A brisk fire was sup- ported by both parties, but with little effect on either. The enemy's fire commanded the spring, and as a siege was determined on, to cut off the supply of water from the besieged, was no longer to be neglected by the assailants. The possession of a new log building near the fort would accom- plish this object, as it commanded the spring .. The building could be approached only through an open exposure to the enemy's fire ; which was
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suddenly accomplished by captain William Free. man, with about forty.men of his company. Early in the evening, the enemy's horses, accoutre, ments, and baggage were brought off, and all the avenues for their escape, secured. In the after. noon the enemy had been summoned to surren- der, which was refused. A request succeeded, that the women and children might be permitted to leave the fort, which was also refused .- The possession of the new building, which gave the assailants the command of the water ; also gave them the command of the tops of the huts within the fort, from whence the most injurious fire pro- ceeded. The enemy was without food and water. and it was confidently believed that they could not hold out twenty-four hours. The sanguine expectation of a surrender, and thereby recover- ing the western district of Georgia, was marked with pleasure in the enlivened countenance's of the besiegers ; but disappointment awaited them. About ten o'clock at night, colonel Pickens re- ceived a letter by captain Ottery from his bro- ther, captain Joseph Pickens, by which he was informed, that colonel Boyd was passing through Ninety-six district with eight hundred loyalists, toward Georgia; spreading destruction of proper- ty and of lives, by fire and the sword, wherever he passed. A proposition was made by some- volunteers to set fire to the fort at different places, at the same time, which would compel an imme- diate surrender ; but the distress of the unfortu-
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nate families within the fort, consequent on such a measure, induced colonels Pickens and Dooley to decline the proposal. The siege was raised, the wounded carried off, and major Hamilton left in quiet possession of the fort, dismounted and with- out baggage. Hamilton retreated to Wrights- borough, where he tenanted a small stockade fort for a few days, and thence marched to Augusta, and joined lieutenant-colonel Campbell. In Ham- ilton's report, he states his loss at nine killed and three wounded ; and the American loss at five killed and seven wounded.
The Americans retired from Carr's fort, re- crossed Savannah river, near fort Charlotte, and advanced toward Long-Cane settlement, where re-enforcements were expected, and to meet the enemy under the command of colonel Boyd. Captain Robert Anderson, of Pickens' regiment, hearing of the advance of Boyd, through the set- tlement, directed captains Joseph Pickens, Wil- liam Baskin, and John Miller, to join him without loss of time with such force as could speedily be collected. Anderson crossed the Savannah with eighty men, intending to annoy Boyd on his pas. sage over the river, where he was joined by a few Georgians under captain James Little. Boyd changed . his route and took a direction to the. . Cherokee ford, in order to avoid Pickens and Dooley. At that ford a block house had been erected on the north-east side, upon a command- ing hill, in which there were two swivels mount.
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ed, commanded by a lieutenant with eight men. Boyd demanded a passage, which being spiritedly refused, he turned up the river about five miles, passed it with his men and baggage on rafts, and swam his horses. Boyd's troops landed at dif- ferent places : by the small comparative force under captain Anderson, and the thick canc- brakes on the low grounds, he was unable to observe and attack the enemy at the different landings : his attention was arrested by what he conceived to be the main body. As the enemy approached the landing, Anderson commenced his fire and opposed them with great resolution ; but finding himself unexpectedly attacked in the rear, he ordered a retreat.
The American loss in this skirmish, was six- teen killed and wounded, and sixteen taken pris- oners : among the latter, were captains Baskin and Miller.
Colonel Boyd acknowledged a loss of one hundred in killed, wounded, and missing ; many of this number deserted him and returned to their homes.
Captain Anderson secured as many of his wounded as his situation would enable him, re- treated and joined Pickens and Dooley in pur- suit of the enemy.
On the 12th of February, the Americans passed over Savannah river, into Georgia, at the Cedar shoal, and advanced to Fish dam ford on Broad river. Captain Neal, with a party of ob-
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servation, was ordered to gain the enemy's rear, and occasionally send a man back with the result of his discoveries, so as to keep the main body well informed of the enemy's movements. To avoid danger, Boyd at first shaped his course to the westward, and on the morning of the 13th, crossed Broad river near the fork, at a place now called Webb's ferry, and thence turned toward Augusta, expecting to form a junction with M'Girth at a place appointed on Little river. The corps of observation, under captain Neal, hung close upon the enemy's rear, and made fre- quent communications to Pickens and Dooley. The Americans crossed Broad river, and encamp- ed for the night on Clarke's creek, within four miles of the enemy. Early on the morning of the 14th, the Americans resumed their march with a quickened pace, and soon approached the enemy's rear, but with such caution as to remain undiscovered. The line of march was the order of battle, wherever the face of the country admitted of it : colonel Dooley commanded the right wing and lieutenant-colonel Clarke the left, each con- sisting of one hundred men; and the centre by colonel Pickens, consisting of two hundred, and an advance guard, one hundred and fifty yards in front. Under three leaders, whose courage and military talents had been often tested ; this in- ferior number, of four against seven, looked for- ward to a victory with great confidence. Early in the morning, they passed the ground where the enemy encamped the preceding night.
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Colonel Boyd was unapprehensive of danger, and halted at a farm on the north side of Kettle creek ;· his horses were turned out to forage among the reeds in the swamp, and some bullocks were killed, and corn parched to refresh his troops, who had been on short allowance for three days. The encampment was formed on the edge of the farm next to the creek, on an open piece of ground, flanked on two sides by the cane swamp. The second officer in command, was lieutenant colonel Moore, of North- Carolina, who it is said, possess- ed neither courage nor military skill : the third in command, major Spurgen, is said to have acted with bravery, and gave some evidence of military talents.
After the Americans had marched three or four miles, the enemy's drums were heard to beat. They halted for a few minutes, and were ordered to examine their guns and prime them afresh. Captain M'Call had been ordered in front to ex- amine the enemy's situation and condition, and to report it ; he reported the situation of the encamp- ment, the nature of the adjacent ground, and that the enemy were, apparently, unsuspicious of dan- ger ; having passed the flank within musket shot, and in full view. Satisfied upon these points, the Americans advanced to the attack. As the camp was approached, the enemy's piquets fired and retreated. Boyd ordered the line to be form- ed in the rear of his camp, and advanced at the head of one hundred men, who were sheltered by
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a fence and some fallen timber. The American centre filed off a little to the right, to gain the ad- vantage of higher ground. Boyd contended for the fence with bravery, but was overpowered and compelled to order a retreat to the main body. On his retreat he fell under two wounds through the body and one through the thigh, which proved mortal. The other two divisions were embarrass- ed in passing through the cane, but by this time had reached their points of destination, and the battle became warm, close and general, and some of the enemy who had not formed, fled into the cane and passed over the creek, leaving behind them their horses, baggage, and some of their arms. Colonel Clarke observed a rising ground on the opposite side of the creek, in the rear of the enemy's right, on which he believed they would attempt to form. After a warm contest, which lasted an hour, the enemy retreated through · the swamp over the creek. Clarke ordered his division to follow him across the creek, and at the same moment his horse was shot, and fell under him ; he was quickly re-mounted, and fortunate- ly fell into a path which led to a fording place on the creek, and gained the side of the hill. His division had not heard, or had not understood the order, in consequence of which not more than one . fourth of it, followed him. While major Spurgen was forming the enemy upon one side of the hill, colonel Clarke attacked him upon the other side ; which gave intimation to the remainder of his di-
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vision, by which he was soon joined. Colonels Pickens and Dooley pressed through the swamp with the main body in pursuit, and when they emerged from the cane, the battle was again re- newed with great vigour. For a considerable time the contest was obstinate and bloody, and the issue doubtful. The Americans finally gained the summit of the hill ; the enemy began to re- treat in some confusion, and fled from the field of battle.
This engagement is said to have lasted one hour and forty-five minutes, and for the last half hour was close and general. Great credit is giv- en to colonel Clarke for his foresight, in speedily occupying the rising ground on the west side of the creek, upon which the victory appears to have been balanced. Considering the equality of the troops in point of military experience and equip- ment ; and that the numbers in the ranks of the enemy were seven to four ; the result o this en- gagement reflects great honor and credit on the American officers and soldiers who were engag- ed in it, and it was justly considered a brilliant victory.
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