USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 13
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About seventy of the enemy were killed and died of their wounds, and seventy-five were taken prisoners, including the wounded who could be carried off the ground. The American loss was nine killed, and twenty-three wounded, two mor. tally. The prisoners that Boyd had taken at the skirmish on Savannah river, were in charge of a
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guard in advance, which consisted of thirty-three men, including officers, with orders, in case of disaster, to move toward Augusta. When the guard heard the result of the engagement, they voluntarily surrendered themselves prisoners to those whom they had in captivity, upon a pro- mise of their influence for pardon and permission to return home. This promise was complied with, upon condition that they would take the oath of allegiance to the American government.
After the action was ended, colonel Pickens went to colonel Boyd and tendered him any ser- vices which his present situation would authorize, and observed, that as his wounds appeared to be mortal, he would recommend those preparations which approaching death required : Boyd thank- ed him for his civilities, and enquired, what had been the result of the battle ? upon being inform- ed that victory was with the Americans ; he ob- served, that it would have been otherwise if he had not fallen. He said, that he had marched from his rendezvous with eight hundred men; one hundred of that number was killed and wounded, or deserted at Savannah river ; and that on the morning of the action, he had seven hundred men under his command. . He had the promise of colonel Campbell, that M'Girth with five hundred ·more, should join him on Little river, about six miles from the field of battle, on that evening or the ensuing morning ; he concluded by saying, that he had but a few hours to live, and requested
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that colonel Pickens would leave two men with him to furnish him with water, and bury his bo- dy after he died ; and that colonel Pickens would write a letter to Mrs. Boyd to inform her of his fate, and therewith send to her a few articles which he had about his person : he expired early in the night, and his requests of colonel Pickens were faithfully complied with.
Dispirited by the loss of their leader, and sore under the lashes of the Americans, the enemy fled from the scene of action; their army exploded, and some of the fragments fled to Florida, some to the Creek nation, some found their way to the Cherokees, some returned to their homes and submitted to the mercy of the American govern- ment, and the remnant under the command of colonel Moore, fled to Augusta, where they ex- pected some repose from fatigue and defeat ; about two hundred of the insurgents reached Au- gusta, who had little claim to merit or the respect of the British army, and were neglected and treat- ed accordingly.
The parties of Boyd and M'Girth would have formed a junction in a few hours, if the Ameri- cans had not over-hauled the former : hearing of the fate of their friends, M'Girth and his party made a precipitate retreat to Augusta and re- joined the British troops under Campbell.
The insurgents taken at Kettle creek, were conveyed to South Carolina and tried by laws of the state ; found guilty of treason, and sentenced
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to suffer death : the sentence was executed on five of the most atrocious offenders, and the others were pardoned.
The Americans returned from the field of ac- tion, and encamped for the night near the place where the town of Washington now stands, and re-crossed the Savannah river on the 15th, near fort Charlotte.
In the several engagements at Carr's fort and Kettle creek, the Americans took as booty, about six hundred horses and their equipments, with a quantity of arms, accoutrements, and clothing.
Colonel Campbell had secured the submission of the eastern and many of the western inhabit- ants of Georgia, by the lures of peace and security of persons and property, with ut being compell- ed to take up arms : this illusion was but of short duration.
Shortly after the action of Kettle creek, gene- ral Andrew Williamson, with a part of the militia of his brigade, and some of the Georgia militia, tock a position near Augusta, on the Carolina side of the river. Colonel Leonard Marbury, with fifty dragoons of his regiment and some mi- litia, took post near Brownsborough, in Richmond county. Colonel Twiggs, and lieutenant-colonel John M'Intosh, assembled some of the militia of Richmond county, and passing downward in the rear of the British, at Augusta, surprised one of their out-posts at Herbert's, consisting of seventy
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men ; killed and wounded several of the British reuglars and militia, and compelled the remainder to surrender.
A reconnoitering party of twenty of the king's rangers, under the command of captain Whitley, and lieutenants M'Kenzie, and Hall, was sent to- ward Brownsborough to ascertain if there was any American force assembling in that quarter. 'Colonel Marbury's spies gave him intelligence of Whitley's position and force. Marbury detached captain Cooper, with twelve dragoons, to gain Whitley's rear, while he advanced on his front, giving sufficient time for Cooper to get to the po- sition assigned to him : Cooper gained the rear much sooner than was expected, and charged the enemy while at dinner ; Whitley and his party were surprised, and surrendered without resist- ance. Lieutenant Hall was a native of South- Carolina, and had formerly been in the American service, commanded in a small fort on the fron. tier of that state, which he treacherously surren. dered to the Cherokee Indians, by which the wo- men and children, as well as the men who gar- risoned the fort, fell a sacrifice under the knife and hatchet of the Indians. Hall was sent to the gaol at Ninety-six, and tried for treason, found guilty, and condemned to be hanged on the 17th of April. When at the gallows, he confessed his crime, and acknowledged the justice of his sentence.
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CHAPTER VIII.
GENERAL John Ash, with a body of North-Carolina militia was advancing to re-en- force general Samuel Elbert, and about to form a junction. Colonel Campbell finding his position" was unsafe, suddenly abandoned it and retreated to Hudson's ferry, about fifty miles from Savan- nah, where lieutenant-colonel Provost had con- : structed a fortified camp, and mounted some light artillery : he evacuated Augusta so precipitately, that he did not take time to destroy a considera- ble quantity of provisions which he had collected at that place.
General Ash passed the river at Augusta on the 28th of February, and pursued Campbell as far as Brier creck, where he halted and encamped. General Lincoln with three thousand men, was encamped at Purysburgh : general Rutherford, from North-Carolina, with seven hundred men, was encamped at Black swamp : general Wil- liamson, with twelve hundred men, was encamped at Augusta : and general Ash, with seventeen hundred men, was encamped at Brier creek ; in-a position the most completely calculated for the de- struction of his army, of any which he could have selected, if the enemy should attack and defeat him ; with a deep impassable creek on his left, the.
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Savannah river on his rear, a lagune, deep and wide, on his right, and an open uninterrupted en- trance for his enemy on his front.
General Lincoln believed himself sufficiently strong to commence active operations against the enemy ; to which end he required general Ash to meet him and general Moultrie, at general Ruth- erford's quarters, at Black swamp, on the first of March, to concert measures for future operations. In the council it was agreed to concentre their forces, attack the enemy, and endeavour to re- cover Georgia : general Lincoln was to march with a large portion of the troops at Purysburgh, and general Rutherford from Black swamp, to proceed up the Savannah river, about eighty miles and cross over into Georgia ; form a junc- tion with general Williamson ; thence march down the river and unite his force with general Ash. It was inquired of Ash, if his position was secure, and such that his troops could act with the best advantage ? general Ash expressed himself confidently, as to the safety of his command, against any force, in the power of the enemy to bring against it : he observed that the enemy ap- peared to be afraid of him, believing his numbers to be greater than they were ; he only asked for a detachment of artillery with two field pi ces, which general Lincoln ordered to his assistance, commanded by major Grimkie.
Aware of the gathered strength of the Ameri- cans, and believing that the first movement of
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general Lincoln would be to concentre his forces, Lieutenant colonel Campbell determined to strike at Ash, whose position was just such as he could have wished it to be. He advanced a battalion of the seventy-first regiment and one hundred and fifty Carolina loyalists to Buck creek, three miles south of Brier creek bridge, to amuse the Ame- rican general, and mask his real design. Lieute- nant- colonel Provost with eight hundred and fifty of the regular infantry, two hundred dragoons, two hundred Florida rangers, mounted, four hun- dred and fifty loyal militia, and a detachment of artillerists with five field pieces, was ordered to march by a circuitous route of about forty miles, to gain the rear of general Ash, and to surprise and attack him in his camp. In the evening of the 1st of March, Provost marched up on the south side of Brier creek : early in the morning of the 2d he reached the crossing place, but the Americans had destroyed the bridge : a tempora- ry one was constructed, but by the want of suita. ble cordage and grapnels, it could not be fixed to withstand the current, and a ponton was substi- tuted, which occasioned considerable delay : the light infantry and cavalry were passed over on the evening of the 2d, and ordered to advance and cut off all information, and to separate the detach- · ments of observation from the American camp. The main body of the troops and artillery, had passed before day-light on the morning of the Sd, and continued their march.
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On the morning of the 3d, general Ash or. dered major Ross, of South-Carolina, with three hundred horsemen to pass Brier creek, and recon- noitre the enemy at Hudson's ferry ; with an in- tention of attacking that post so soon as he was re-enforced by general Rutherford, if major Ross should report that the measure was feasible. Ross discovered the trail of a part of the enemy advancing, but did not deem it of sufficient im- portance to be communicated to the genera !. Colonel Leonard Marbury with his dragoons, had been detached to watch the upper passes of Brier creek, and exchanged a few shot with the van of the enemy as they passed it, at Paris' mill ; of which he sent an express to apprise the gene- ral, but the express fell into the hands of the enc- my. General Elbert, who was attached to Ash's command, had obtained intelligence of Marbury's rencontre, of which he informed Ash carly in the day.
General Andrew Williamson was advancing from Augusta to join general Ash ; and although at a considerable distance, had detached parties to reconnoitre the enemy. It was from an express sent from one of these parties by Williamson, that Ash obtained the first intelligence, that the enemy was advancing on him, which was just communi- cated, when the general received a message from colonel Smith, in confirmation. Smith command- ed the baggage guard, about eight miles up the river from the encampment.
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Ash had reduced his present force, to eight hundred men, by detachments. About a mile in advance of his camp, and a short distance above the main road, and bridge of Brier creek, he had posted a piquet guard of one hundred men, which was sub-divided into several parts, with a chain of centries along the front ; and in their rear, the light infantry was posted with a four pounder.
General Ash ordered the beat to arms ! and strange as it may appear, at that late hour, car- tridges were to be distributed to the militia, some of whom had rifles, some shot guns, a few had muskets, and some were without arms.
Thus equipped, without any pre-concerted plan, general Ash ordered his troops into the line of battle in three divisions; the right, under the command of colonel Young ; the centre, under the command of general Bryant; the left was committed to the care of general Elbert, and lieutenant-colonel John M'Intosh ; and consisted of about sixty continental troops and one hundred and fifty Georgia militia, to which a light field piece was attached.
At three o'clock, P. M. the enemy's advance- guard attacked and drove back the American piquets, and took some prisoners, who gave in- formation that the Americans were unsuspicious of an enemy in force, being near. Provost made his disposition for action : the light infantry, with two field pieces, was formed on the right, with orders to penetrate by a road leading toward the
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American camp : the centre was composed of the second battalion of the seventy-first regiment, with some rangers and Carolina loyalists on its left, and with a howitzer and two field pieces in front ; the left consisted of one hundred and fifty dragoons, with orders to turn the American right: the reserve was formed four hundred yards in the rear, composed of three companies of grenadiers, . and a troop of dragoons ; and fifty rifle-men were placed in ambuscade at a pass, by which it was supposed the Americans might turn their left and attack their rear. At four, p. M. the British moved forward and commenced the attack.
When general Ash had formed his line, he advanced about a quarter of a mile in front of his encampment, with his left at the creek, and his right extending within a half mile of the river swamp. The British advancing in three columns of six in front displayed, and opened their fire at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards from their cannon. The American centre, which was in advance, began to retreat in about five minutes, and the right broke and ran the instant they were attacked. Colonel Young, who com- manded the right, said that it was not his inten- tion to retreat ; but perceiving that the enemy intended to turn his right, he wished to file off to the right to prevent it, but his troops construed his intentions into an order to retreat. The centre and right fled in the utmost contusion. General Elbert with the left, maintained his ground with
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so much gallantry, that the British reserve was ordered to support their right ; and notwithstand. ing the great superiority of the enemy, Elbert supported the conflict, until every avenue of a re- treat was cut off. Finding that further resistance would be temerity, he ordered his gallant little band to ground their arms and surrender. Near- ly the whole of his command was killed, wounded. . or made prisoners.
The Americans who fled, entered the river swamp, of two or three miles in extent, to escape . from the enemy ; such of them as could swim passed the river, and many who made the attempt were drowned.
The American loss was estimated at one hun- dred and fifty killed and drowned ; twenty-seven officers, and one hundred and sixty-two non- commissioned officers and privates, were taken prisoners ; seven pieces of field artillery, a quan- tity of ammunition, provisions, and baggage, and five hundred stand of arms, were lost or fell into the possession of the victors. The British loss was one commissioned officer and fifteen privates killed and wounded. Generals Ash and Bryant, with two or three hundred of the fugitives were stopped at Bee's creek bridge, twenty miles from the scene of action, in the evening of the same. day, by captain Peter Herry, who was marching with a detachment to join the camp ; some with, and some without arms,
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The loss of general Elbert and his command,
. of Neal's dragoons, and many of Pirkins' regi- ment of North-Carolina, was considered as- se- riously calamitous to Georgia; which had more than one thousand men, including nearly all the regular troops of the state, in captivity with the British.
The defeat of general Ash added something to the stock of American experience ; and al- though it was purchased at so high a price, it had some effect on the subsequent conduct of the mi- litia : their independence and ungovernable dispo- sitions were checked ; and a practical lesson was taught them of the necessity of more subordina- tion, and of guarding with greater precaution against surprise. On the evening after the defeat of general Ash, he made the following communi- cation to general Lincoln :
" Matthews' Bluff, March 3, 1779.
"SIR-I am sorry to inform you, that at three o'clock, P. M. the enemy came down upon us in force, what number I know not : the troops in my division, did not stand fire five minutes ; ma- ny fled without discharging their pieces. I went with the fugitives half a mile, and finding it im- possible to rally the troops, I made my escape into the river swamp, and made up in the evening to this place ; two officers and two soldiers came off with me. The rest of the troops, I am afraid, have fallen into the enemy's hands, as they had but little further where they could fly to : luckily
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major Grimkie had not got the artillery out of the boat, so that i shall keep them here with general Rutherford's brigade, to defend this pass, until I receive further orders from you. This instant general Bryant and colonel Pirkins arrived: Co. lonel Eaton was drowned crossing the river .* Since writing the above, a number of officers and soldiers have arrived : we have taken a man, who says he was taken by them, and would not take their oath, and was formerly under Lee to the northward. He informed there were seventeen hundred red-coats in the action, also a number of new levies from New York, Georgia militia, and Florida scouts : that fifteen hundred men had been marched up to Augusta to fortify that place ; that they are fortifying Hudson's ferry strongly ; that the day before they marched off, seven thous- and men had arrived from New- York. Generals Bryant and Rutherford are of opinion, that it is better to retreat to your quarters : therefore I am inclined to march to-night, when we get all our fugitives over. I am, &c.
JOHN ASH."
Majors Ross and Cooper, who had been de- tached to reconnoitre the enemy's camp at Hud- son's, succeeded in bringing off the piquet, con- sisting of forty men. They had entered the Bri- · tish camp before they were apprised of Ash's de- feat. They succeeded in making a retreat, but
· Colonel Eaton was not drowned, but the first who arrived at general Lincoln's camp, and gave an account of the defeat ..
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lost their prisoners. They marched up the river a few miles and fell in with Ash's ammunition waggons, which they escorted to Spirit creek, near Augusta.
The defeat of Ash disconcerted the plans of general Lincoln. If the army had been concen- tred, as was intended, the American forces, in- cluding the re-enforcements about to join them, would have amounted to seven thousand men; an army sufficient, as it was believed, to have driven the British troops out of Georgia. The wavering and disaffected would have joined the American standard, and South-Carolina would not have been invaded. The parties of militia, who were on their march to join the army, heard of the disaster, and returned home ; such as were previously undecided in their politics, joined the enemy.
In order to reconcile the inhabitants of this colony to Great-Britain, it was declared that no duty, tax, or assessment whatever, should be le- vied upon the colonists, except only such duties as it should be expedient to impose for the regu- lation of commerce ; the nett proceeds of such duties to be paid and applied only to the use of the colony.
The eastern division of Georgia, having at this time fallen into the possession of the enemy, the English laws which had been in force to the close of the year 1775, re-commenced their ope- ration. At the same time, president Heard, and
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the executive council had retreated to Wilkes county ; so that there was a royal government in the eastern, and a republican government in the western parts of the state at the same time. .
The different corps which composed the Bri- tish army in Georgia, were the first, second, and third battalions of the seventy-first regiment of royal Scots light infantry ; part of the sixteenth and sixtieth regiments ; two battalions of Hes- sians ; Dulaney's corps from New-York ; Jersey volunteers ; King's rangers, and Carolina loya- lists : making a total of more than four thousand men, and general Vaughn, with five thousand, were daily expected from New-York. After these arrived, the capital of South-Carolina was intended as the object of future operations. Pre- viously to the embarkation of lieutenant-colonel Campbell, he had refused to take command of the southern British army, until he received assur- ances that the expedition against South-Carolina would be supported with adequate re-enforce- ments. He appears to have been dissatisfied with general Provost's having taken the chief com- mand and government of Georgia, after he had . made the conquest.
Colonel Campbell was an officer at all points ; circumspect, quick, brave, and profound in mili- tary finesse ; courteous, humane, polished in his manners, and perfect in his knowledge of man- kind. The departure of such an officer from the southern states, and from America, excited joy-
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ful sensation among the friends of freedom and independence. He sailed soon after for England.
In addition to the British force already stated, five hundred Indians were assembled on the Alat- amaha river, and a proffer of all the aid of the Creek and Cherokee Indians, under the influence of Stuart and Cameron, to engage in any enter- prise, which might be required of them.
Hudson's ferry and Paris' mill, were well for- tified ; cannon mounted at each, and strongly garrisoned. Ebenezer and Sister's ferries, were put into a state of defence, and all the passes of Savannah river secured by the British. 'The light troops were held prepared to move to any point, on short notice.
After the defeat of colonel Boyd, at Kettle creek, and the subsequent retreat of the British troops from Augusta ; the Georgians who had fled to South-Carolina for safety, returned with their families and property to Wilkes county. They had scarcely occupied the forts and settle- ments, before they were alarmed by the approach of a body of Creek Indians, under the command of Tate and M'Gilvery, two Indian agents in the British interest. The approach and destination of this party were ascertained from an intercepted letter written by colonel John Thomas, who had been directed to supply them with provisions so soon as they arrived at Ogechec.
Colonel Pickens marched from South- Caroli- na to the assistance of Georgia, with two hundred
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men of his regiment, and joined colonel Dooley, in Wilkes, with about one hundred. Colonel Clarke remained on the frontier to guard the forts. At that period, every man of sixteen years of age and upward, was required to bear arms. Dooley's and Pickens' regiments were joined at Wrightsborcugh, by parts of colonel Few's regi- ment, colonel Leroy Hammond's, from Caro- lina, and major Ross, with two troops of horse. Lieutenants Alexander and Williams, were or- dered to search for the Indian camp and ascertain
their number and position. They proceeded te the encampment near Fulsom's fort : they re- turned and reported to the commanding-officer, that they had made a near approach to the camp, under cover of the night, and counted the num- bers of the Indians at several fires; from which they judged that there were about eight hundred. The Americans marched all night, with a hope of reaching and surprising the Indians, before day light, but some of the disaffected inhabitants, ap- prised Tate and M'Gilvery, that the American army was approaching. Unwilling to meet in a general engagement, the Indians fled in small par- ties and in various directions. Detachments were ordered in the pursuit, and in three instan- ces, the Indians were overtaken. Majors Ross and Cooper came up with the party which they followed, killed three and dispersed the remain- der; but unfortunately, major Ross received a mortal wound, of which he died two days after.
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The activity and courage of this officer, who pos. sessed a mind quick in expedients, in taking ad- vantage of an enemy, and fertile in invention, in escaping from embarrassments ; rendered his loss important to the cause in which he was engaged. Captain Newsom, lieutenants Bentley and Alex- ander, with five others, fell into an ambuscade ; the two former, and a man by the name of Tho- mas, were killed ; the other five escaped with the loss of their horses and caparisons. Major Burwell Smith overtook the Indians which he pursued ; killed one, and had one of his own men wounded.
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