USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 14
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With the greatest appearance of confidence, the functions of the royal government in the east- ern division of the state, continued in operation. The security of private property was promised, and the vents to wealth were laid open to those who had returned to the king's standard. On the 15th of March, John Penman, Martin Jollic, James Robertson, William Telfair, and Roger Kelsal, were appointed commissioners of claims, by lieutenant-colonel Campbell. The duties as- signed to this board, were to take possession of all the negroes, and other effects belonging to those who had taken an active part against the king's government. They opened an office in Savannah, and required all those who had possession of ne- groes or other effects, such as are above described, to make a return of them without delay ; other- wise prosecutions were to be commenced by the attorney-general against defaulters,
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The purport of Campbell's instructions to the commissioners, was to appoint such overseers and managers as they might deem necessary, not only for the care and employment of the negroes, stocks, and effects, on the confiscated plantations of the American adherents, but also for the im. provement and cultivation of them. They were also directed to require of these overseers and managers, monthly reports, specifying the num- bers of negroes and stock, and the progress of cul- tivation made on the several plantations entrusted to their care. Regular accounts were required of the disbursements necessary in cultivation, for the transportation of the proceeds to market, for the use of the king's troops, and other purposes, connected with the prosecution of the war. After paying the contingent expenses, the residue was to be appropriated as above mentioned, under the direction of the governor and his council. Through the medium of these arrangements, the deluded inhabitants, who had yielded and taken. the king's protection, vainly hoped for freedom from future taxation.
The defeat of general Ash at Brier creek, was canvassed by the American army with great free- dom : the public voice charged him with coward- ice and a deficiency of military talents. Finding that he was viewed by all grades in the army, with contempt and disrespect, he demanded of general Lincoln, a court of enquiry, which was granted, The court was convened on the 9th of March,
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with instructions to inquire into the causes which had occasioned the disastrous defeat of the Ame- rican army, on the 3rd of that month, under the command of general John Ash, and to report the opinion of the court, relative to the military con- duct of that officer. Brigadier-general Moultrie, was appointed president ; brigadier-general Ruth- erford, colo els Armstrong, Pinckney and Locke, members ; and Edward Hvrne, deputy-adjutant- general, recorder. General Ash was asked by the president, if ne wished to make any observations to the court, before the witnesses were examin- ed ? he answered in the affirmative. He proceed- ed to describe the situation of the camp between Brier creek and Savannah river, and the country around it. He alleged that the creek was forda. ble above and below the camp, and that it was so narrow in many places, that by felling a tree across it, infantry could pass over without ditli- culty. The other observations made by the gen- eral, were similar to those in his narrative of the action and defeat. He added that he had no in- trenching tools; the time he had been upon the ground, was too short to admit of his making himself acquainted with its advantages or disad- vantages; the militia under his command were without pouches or cartouch boxes, nor was it in his power to prevent a useless waste of ammuni- tion, if they had been supplied before the action. He acknowledged that he had galloped off the field of battle, while the Georgians under Elbert
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and M'Intosh were engaged, and without giving them any order to retreat; but his intention was to gain the front of the retreating militia, with a view of rallying them. With this intention he proceeded about three quarters of a mile, and finding the militia could not be stopped, and that death or captivity must be his own fate, if he persisted, he had entered the swamp to make his escape. Ash said that his own number was re- duced by detachments and furloughs, to six hun- dred men, and he imagined he was opposed by three thousand.
Several of the witnesses testified, that a large proportion of the army had been detailed for fa- tigue, distant guards, and scouting parties ; that the whole army was much fatigued from hard marches, and had been badly provisioned. The general was among the first who fled ; whether to rally his men or to make his escape, was variously conjectured ; the latter opinion, however, prevail- ed. General Bryant testified, that he disapprov- ed of the ground on which the encampment was formed, and that he expressed this opinion to general Ash ; but the quarter-master laid out the encampment, and assigned the officers their dif- ferent stations, agreeably to the orders of general Ash ; that the enemy's spies had been on the lines all the night of the 2nd, and that he had advis- ed the general of his apprehensions of danger ; that on the day of battle, general Elbert and him- self, advised the plan of marching out to meet the
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enemy, in preference to that of receiving the at- tack in the camp ; that he saw general Ash retire from the field, and as he supposed, to rally the mi- litia ; that he did not discover any thing like sur- prise or cowardice, in the general's conduct; and he believed every thing was done to prevent the defeat, which existing circumstances admitted.
Several of the witnesses testified, that the am- munition was not all distributed when the militia were ordered to form for action, that they heard complaints among the men near them, that the cartridges were too large for the calibres of their guns, and that it was useless for them to stand and be shot at, when it was not in their power to ren- der any assistance. Others said it was time for them to shift for themselves, when their general had run away. Colonel Brevard testified that he heard general Ash say, it was too late to attempt to rally the men, before he left the field, and he saw him retreat immediately after, and it was his belief, that the general had not many men in front of him. Captain Fall testified, that the advanced piquets were completely surprised, and that many of them retreated without discharging their guns.
After the evidence was closed, general Ash denied the assertions of general Bryant, and de- clared he had given that officer verbal orders, for a removal from the place of encampment, before he crossed the river to the conference in Carolina with general Moultrie and general Rutherford, that he did not return until about noon, on the day
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preceding the battle, and that he was then surpris. ed to find the troops upon the old encampment.
" The court having maturely considered the matter before them, are of opinion, that general. Ash did not take all the necessary precautions, which he ought to have done, to secure his camp and obtain timely intelligence of the movements and approach of the enemy."
General Lincoln did not order the trial of ge- neral Ash by a court- martial ; but it was believ- ed, was governed by milder measures, which he conjectured were for the good of his country. Ash was popular as a man, which was the chief requisite with the militia in the choice of an offi- cer-his military requisites, were not so much considered : the militia were brought into camp by persuasion, and kept there by soft and sooth- ing treatment, and if not permitted to disobey orders, that were disagreeable to them, with im- punity, they would desert ; and by the mildness of the militia laws of the several states, there was no adequate punishment for the offence. Some mi- litia corps selected their officers, because they had testimonials of their circumspection and courage ; to such, these observations are not meant to apply.
While general Lincoln was encamped at Pu- rysburgh, there was frequent skirmishing between small parties of his troops, with the enemy toward Savannah. On the night of the 20th of March, the Congress and Lee gallies, commanded by captains Campbell and Milligan, were ordered to
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attempt to surprise two British gallies, the Comet and Hornet, commanded by lieutenants Stone and M'Kenzie, which were at anchor near Yamusee bluff, between Purysburgh and Savannah. To aid in the enterprise, forty militia were ordered to pass down by land, and take possession of a house opposite the enemy, in order to commence the attack at day-light the next morning. The mili- tia got possession of the house in due time, but the gallies got aground, and could not take their stations until nine o'clock, A. M. when the firing was opened on the British gallies, by land and water : the Thunderer British galley, commanded by lieutenant Terrill, advanced to the assistance of the other two, dislodged the militia and com- pelled them to retreat. After an hour's conflict, the enemy manned their boats with the intention to board : the Americans knowing what would be the result, from the enemy's superior force, took to their boats, and as many as could be accom- modated, escaped. Captain Campbell and three Americans were killed, six wounded, and ten were made prisoners. The British lost one killed, and one wounded. The Congress galley had a crew of seventy men, and the Lee galley thirty-four.
General Lincoln was deserted by numbers of the militia; nearly one hundred had gone off in a few days, mostly to the enemy.
By arrivals from New- York, the British force in Georgia was increased to five thousand men, exclusive of re-enforcements from St. Augustine;
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parties of loyalists and Indian allies. The term of service for which the North- Carolina militia had been drafted, was on the eve of expiring, without any immediate prospect of those arriving who were to replace them.
Several of the inhabitants of Georgia, who had left their families, represented to general Lincoln, that all their property had been plundered and de- stroyed by the enemy, and desired him to point out to them any possible mean, by which their families could be secured against the want of sub- sistence. They expressed their willingness to yield to the loss of property and every other pri- vation, if their wives and families could be secur- ed in the necessaries of life ; but that they should be left to suffer by the want of food, and under the continued insolence of their enemy, was rather more than their feelings could be expected to en- dure. The general consented that such men as had families, should return to their homes, take protection, and remain quiet until some change should take place.
The embarrassments arising from two heads to the same army, were again to be experienced. On the 5th of April, the governor of South-Caro- lina ordered general Williamson with his brigade, to march into the western parts of Georgia, and take advantage of every favourable opportunity of harassing or annoring the enemy, and to dis- tress them to the utmost of his power ; to send parties to destroy all the cattle, horses, provisions
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and carriages they could meet with in that state. This was in direct opposition to the conditions entered into by general Lincoln, that they should remain quiet, until he was able to afford them protection, by marching an army into their coun- try. This procedure on the part of the governor, had like to have produced a wound in the breast of the general, which would have been difficult to heal. General Moultrie foresaw the necessity of an immediate interference; and with all that military wisdom and candour, for which he was so much esteemed, remonstrated to the governor against his interfering with the command of the army. Governor Rutledge was duly impressed with the propriety of the general's reasoning ; and on all future occasions, issued his orders to the militia, with caution and delicacy.
Some of the Georgia prisoners, who were ex- changed for a like number sent from Charleston, were so much emaciated when they arrived in camp, that they were obliged to be carried from the boats, in which they were brought from the prison-ships. They complained highly of the ill- treatment which they had experienced on board these filthy floating dungeons, of which their countenances and emaciated bodies exhibited condemning testimony. They asserted that they had been subsisted on condemned pork, which nauscated the stomach, and oat meal so rotten, that swine would not have fed on it ; that the staff officers, and the members of council from Savan-
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nah, shared in common with the soldiery ; even the venerable Bryan was obliged to partake such repasts, or die of hunger. The Jews of Savannah were generally favourable to the American cause, and among this persuasion, was Mordecai Shef- tall, commissary-general, and his son, who was his deputy : they were confined in common with the other prisoners, and by way of contempt to their offices and religion, condemned pork given them for the animal part of their subsistence. In con- sequence of such food, and other new devices of mal-treatment, five or six died daily ; whose bo- dies were conveyed from the prison-ships to the nearest marsh and trodden in the mud; from whence they were soon exposed by the washing of the tides, and at low water, the prisoners be- held the carrion-crows picking the bones of their departed companions.
General Lincoln's remonstrances to Sir Hyde Parker, against such inhuman conduct to prison- ers, were disregarded : the flinty heart of Sir Hyde, was not the abiding place of humane feel- ings, it was a laboratory where a savage might re- fine his cruelties, and free them from such dross.
About the end of March, it was ascertained that the British were supplying their shipping, in Savannah harbour, with provisions and water, and that general Provost was re-calling detachments from his advanced posts on the river ; by which it was conjectured, that they intended to evacuate. Savannah, and leave the coast of Georgia,
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General Lincoln removed his quarters to Black swamp, and having received the expected re-enforcement from North-Carolina, consisting of seven hundred men, commanded by general Sumner, determined to adopt some plan of active operations for the recovery of Georgia ; for which purpose, he called a council of his general officers on the 19th of April, 1779; consisting of briga- diers Moultrie, Huger, and Sumner. The gene- ral stated to the council, that the troops then at head-quarters, seven hundred from North-Caroli- na, five hundred at Orangeburgh, and those with general Williamson near Augusta, amounted to five thousand men; and desired their opinion on the following plan of operation : to leave one thousand men at Purysburgh and Black swamp, to watch the passes on the river ; assemble the remainder near Augusta, pass the Savannah river into Georgia, take some strong ground, and pre- vent if possible, the enemy receiving supplies from the back settlements ; narrow their limits, prevent the loyalists and savages from Georgia and South-Carolina from joining them. After mature deliberation, the council were unanimous- ly of opinion, that the measures proposed were advisable, and ought to be adopted.
One thousand men were placed under the or- ders of general Moultrie, for the defence of Pu- rysburgh and the passes over Savannah river ; and on the 20th of April, general Lincoln with two thousand men, continental infantry, cavalry,
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and militia, marched for Augusta, followed by his baggage and artillery.
General Moultrie was ordered to hold possess- ion of the passes, particularly Purysburgh, as long as possible ; and if the enemy should attempt to force their way toward Charleston, he was to retreat before them, and use every possible mean to retard their march, to skirmish with their front, and destroy the boats and bridges on the way ; to advise general Lincoln of every occurrence, and to request the governor of South-Carolina, to put Charleston into the best state of defence, that time and circumstances would admit. Gene- ral Moultrie was informed, that if circumstances required it, general Lincoln would advance with the troops under his immediate command, on the rear of the enemy, at the first notice from Moultrie that such a movement was necessary.
General Lincoln appears to have contemplated some advantages over the enemy, by inducing general Provost to divide his force ; by advanc- ing a part of them against the American army, in Georgia, or by a diversion into Carolina : in the latter event, he expected that Moultrie would be re-enforced by such numbers, as to enable him to hold the enemy sufficiently in check, and render the efforts to be made in Georgia, more certain in their result.
On the 23d of April, a party of about forty Indians, and white men painted like Indians, pass -. ed over the river at Yamasee, four miles below
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Purysburgh, and attempted to surprise the guard : they were pursued, but escaped into the swamp. On the 25th, general Moultrie received intelli. gence that the enemy was in motion, and that some parties of them had passed over into South- Carolina, below the town of Savannah : he order. ed lieutenant-colonel Henderson to retreat with his command from Purysburgh to Coosawhatchic, and two days afterward, a party of the British passed over from Abercorn to Purysburgh, and attempted to surprise Moultrie at Blac !: swamp. Moultrie filed off toward Charleston for the pur- pose of keeping in the enemy's front, and sent an express to general Lincoln to apprise him of theis movements, and his intentions to harass and re- tard their progress, until he received re-enforce- ments. General Provost's army consisted of two thousand chosen troops, and seven hundred loya. lists and Indians ; and Moultrie to oppose him, had one thousand militia, and instead of his num- bers increasing, his troops wasted away by de- sertion, and when he had retreated to Ashley river ferry, he had only six hundred men.
Lincoln imagined that Provost only intended a feint on Charleston, to divert him from his pur. pose toward Savannah; continued his march on the south side of the Savannah river, and sent three hundred light troops and the legion of. Pu- laski, which had been stationed at the ridge, for- ty-five miles north-east from Augusta, to re- enforce Moultrie.
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Every advantageous pass was disputed witli the enemy ; and so effectually retarded their pro- gress, by frequent skirmishes, that they did not reach Charleston until the 11th of May.
When Provost appeared before Charleston, he made the apparent dispositions for a siege, and demanded a surrender. Calculating that Lincoln was in pursuit of the enemy, it was deemed im- portant to gain time. The re-enforcement sent by general Lincoln, and the legion of Pulaski, had arrived; and the greatest exertions were used to place the town in a state of defence. Twenty- four hours were spent in negociations, which ter- minated in bidding the enemy defiance. Having failed in his expectations, and fearing that general Lincoln would fall upon his rear ; general Provost retreated precipitately over Ashley ferry, and formed a fortified encampment on Stono river, within reach of some small armed vessels and transports, by which he could secure a retreat toward Savannah, if he should be pressed by a force with which he was unable to contend. He collected all the boats which fell in his way, to fa- cilitate the transportation of his troops from one island to another, or through the inland naviga- tion, as might be advisable. .
When Lincoln arrived at Ashley river, he was doubtful of the, issue of a general engagement with the enemy ; for although he was superior to his antagonist in numbers, he was far inferior in the quality of his troops and equipments, and was
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aware of the certain consequences of a defeat. It was therefore necessary for him to proceed with caution and not risk a battle, if the result appear- ed the least doubtful. He was apprehensive of the consequences of drawing his forces to one point, for a general attack, and leaving Charleston unprotected ; and to prevent the enemy from re- treating by land to Savannah, he was obliged to guard the passes by strong detachments. Thus situated, the two armies lay within thirty miles distance, for forty days, watching the motions of each other.
The British army was encamped on John's island, near Stono ferry ; and to preserve a com- munication with the main land, they had con- structed some redoubts, and lines of communica- tion, on which some field artillery was advanta- geously placed, with an abatis in front, on the main land at the ferry, and placed a garrison of eight hundred men to defend it, under lieutenant- colonel Maitland. In the event of its being at- tacked, the main encampment was sufficiently near to afford re-enforcements.
At length, on the 20th of June, an attack was made on the redoubts at the ferry. General Moultrie, with a body of the Charleston militia, was to have made a feint on the British encamp- ment, from James's island ; but from the difficulty of procuring boats, he was unable to reach the place of destination in time to make the diversion required. When the Americans advanced to the .
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attack, two companies of the 71st regiment of Scots, sallied to support the piquets : lieutenant- colonel Henderson with the light infantry charged them, and only nine of their number returned within their intrenchments. All the men at the field pieces, between their redoubts, were killed or wounded. Major Handley, who commanded the remnant of the Georgia continental troops, was attached to colonel Malmady's command, and carried that part of the British works against which they acted. The failure of general Moul- trie, in the diversion assigned to him, enabled general Provost to re-enforce the redoubts, and made it necessary for general Lincoln to withdraw his troops ; a general sortie was made on the re- tiring Americans ; but the light infantry, com- manded by Malmady and Henderson, held the enemy in check, and enabled the Americans to remove their wounded, and retire in good order.
Soon after the action at Stono, the British commenced their retreat, and passed from island to island, until they arrived at Port-Royal, where Provost established a post with eight hundred men, under the orders of lieutenant-colonel Mait- land, and thence returned to Savannah.
While general Lincoln was employed against Provost, in South-Carolina ; colonels Dooley and . . Clarke were active in defending the frontiers of Georgia, against Indian incursions ; and colonels Twiggs, Few, and Jones, were watching the Bri- tish out-posts, to cut off supplies of provisions
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from the country. Private armed vessels, in the American service, were also employed along the sea-coast.
On the 4th of June, a party of British officers were engaged to dine with Mr. Thomas Young, at Belfast, on the river Medway, to celebrate the king's birth day : captain Spencer, who com- manded an American privateer, got intelligence of the intended feast, and prepared to surprise them. He proceeded up the river in the evening, and landed with twelve men, and between eight and nine o'clock at night Spencer entered the house, and made colonel Cruger and the party of officers, prisoners of war. As Spencer intended to carry off some negroes, he kept his prisoners under a guard until the morning, when he receiv- ed their paroles, and permitted them to return to Sunbury. Colonel Cruger was soon after ex- changed for colonel John M'Intosh, who had been taken prisoner at Brier creek.
Colonel Twiggs, with seventy men, marched down Ogechee river, on the south side, to the plantation of James Butler, called Hickory hill, where he halted. On the 28th of June, he was informed that a party of forty mounted grenadiers, and three militia guides, under the command of captain Muller, were advancing to attack him. Major Cooper, of Marbury's dragoons, and cap- tain Inman, with about thirty men, advanced to meet them, and formed across a rice dam on which Muller was advancing, and threw some
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brush-wood in their front, to serve as an abatis : the first fire was well directed, and several of the British fell from their horses ; captain Muller or. dered his men to dismount and form ; but under the circumstances o: a galling fire, they were una- ble to effect it. Though Muller was shot through the thigh, he supported himself on his sword, and persisted in vain efforts to form his men, until he received another ball, which passed through his arm into his body. The Americans took advan- tage of a rice dam, which covered them from the" fire of the enemy. Lieutenant Swanson, the sc- cond officer of the British detachment, was also wounded and fell. Twiggs observing the confu- sion occasioned in the ranks of the enemy, by the fall of their officers, ordered ten men to gain their rear and cut off their retreat, which was effected, and none of the detachment escaped, except the three militia guides, who ran away on the first fire. Of the British, seven were killed, ten wounded, and the remainder taken prisoners. Of the Ame- ricans, colonel Maybank, who was a volunteer, and captain Whitaker, were wounded.
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