USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 17
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" To quell the consequences, which were likely to result from this impolitic union in arms, required the shedding of much of their blood. Policy forbids a narrative of the circumstances
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
of Sunbury, a young attorney of promising talents, and lieutenant Bailie, were among the slain. Ma. jors Pierce Butler, and John Jones, were the aids of brigadier-general M'Intosh. Butler had been a major in the British army, of considerable pro- mise and talents, but in the first part of the con- test, resigned his commission and became a zeal- ous advocate for the American cause. Major Jones was killed by a four pound shot, near the Spring-hill battery. Among the wounded was lieutenant Edward Lloyd, whose arm had been carried away by a cannon ball. While a surgeon was employed in dressing the remaining stump of this promising young officer's arm ; major James Jackson observed to him, that his prospect was unpromising, from the heavy burden which hard fate had imposed upon him, as a young man who was just entering into life. Lloyd observed in reply, that unpromising as it was, he would not willingly exchange it for the feelings of lieutenant Stedman, who had fled at the commencement of the assault.
The conduct of sergeant Jasper, merits parti- cular notice in the history of Georgia, and his name is entitled to a page in the history of fame, while many others, high in rank, might justly be forgotten. He was a man of strong mind, but as it had not been cultivated by education, he mo- destly declined the acceptance of a commission, which was offered to him. At the commence- ment of the war, he enlisted in the second South.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
Carolina regiment of infantry, commanded by colonel Moultrie. He distinguished himself in a particular manner, at the attack which was made upon fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's island, on the 28th of June 1776. In the warmest part of that contest, the flag-staff was severed by a cannon ball, and the flag fell to the bottom of the ditch on the outside of the works. This accident was considered by the anxious inhabitants in Charles- ton, as putting an end to the contest by striking the American flag to the enemy. The moment Jasper made the discovery that the flag had fallen, he jumped from one of the embrasures, and mounted the colours which he tied to a spunge staff, and re-planted them on the parapet, where he supported them until another flag staff was pro- cured. The subsequent activity and enterprise of this patriot, induced colonel Moultrie to give him a sort of roving commission, to go and come at pleasure, confident that he was always usefully employed. He was privileged to select such men from the regiment as he should choose to accom- pany him in his enterprises. His parties consist- ed generally of five or six, and he often returned with prisoners before Moultrie was apprised of his absence. Jasper was distinguished for his hu- mane treatment, when an enemy fell into his power. His ambition appears to have been limit- ed to the characteristics of bravery, humanity, and usefulness to the cause in which he was en- gaged. When it was in his power to kill, but no:
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. HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1772
to capture, it was his practice to permit a single enemy to escape. By his cunning and enterprise, he often succeeded in the capture of those who were lying in ambush for him. He entered the British lines, and remained several days in Savan- nah, in disguise, and after informing himself of their strength and intentions, returned to the American camp with useful information to his commanding. officer. In one of these excur- sions, an instance of the bravery and humanity is recorded by the biographer of general Marion, which would stagger credulity if it was not well attested. While he was examining the British camp at Ebenezer, all the sympathy of his heart was awakened by the distresses of a Mrs. Jones, whose husband, an American by birth, who had taken the king's protection, and was confined in irons for deserting the royal cause, after he had taken the oath of allegiance. Her well founded belief, was, that nothing short of the life of her husband would atone for the offence with which he was charged. Anticipating the awful scene of a beloved husband expiring upon the gibbet, had excited inexpressible emotions of grief and distraction.
Jasper secretly consulted with his companion, sergeant Newton, whose feelings for the distress- ed female and her child were equally excited with his own, upon the practicability of releasing Jones from his impending fate. Though they were unable to suggest a plan of operation, they were
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
determined to watch for the most favourable op- portunity and make the effort. The departure of Jones, and several others (all in irons,) to Sa- vannah, for trial, under a guard consisting of a sergeant, corporal, and eight men, was ordered upon the succeeding morning. Within two miles of Savannah, about thirty yards from the main road, is a spring of fine water, surrounded by a deep and thick underwood, where travellers often halt to refresh themselves with a cool draught from this pure fountain. Jasper and his compa- nion considered this spot as the most favourable for their enterprise. They accordingly passed the guard and concealed themselves near the spring. When the enemy came up they halted, and only two of the guard remained with the prisoners, while the others leaned their guns against trees in a careless manner and went to the spring. Jasper and Newton sprung from their place of conceal- ment, seized two of the muskets, and shot the sentinels. The possession of all the arms placed. the enemy in their power, and compelled them to surrender. The irons were taken off, and arms put into the hands of those who had been prison- ers, and the whole party arrived at Purysburgh the next morning and joined the American camp. There are but few instances upon record, where personal exertions, even for self preservation from certain prospects of death, would have induced resort to an act so desperate of execution ; how much more laudable was this, where the spring to
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
action was roused by the lamentations of a female unknown to the adventurers.
Subsequent to the gallant defence at Sulli- van's island, colonel Moultrie's regiment was pre- sented with a stand of colours by Mrs. Elliot, which she had richly embroidered with her own hands, and as a reward for Jasper's particular me- rits, governor Rutledge presented him with a very handsome sword. During the assault against Savannah, two officers had been killed, and one wounded, endeavouring to plant these colours upon the enemies parapet of the Spring-hill re- doubt. Just before the retreat was ordered, Jas- per attempted to replace them upon the works, and while he was in the act received a mortal wound and fell into the ditch. When a retreat was ordered, he recollected the honourable con- ditions upon which the donor presented the co- lours to his regiment, and among the last acts of his life succeeded in bringing them off. Major Horry called to see him, soon after the retreat, to whom it is said he made the following communi- cation : " I have got my furlough. That sword was presented to me by governor Rutledge, for my services in the defence of fort Moultrie, give it to my father and tell him I have worn it with honour. If he should weep, tell him his son died in the hope of a better life. Tell Mrs. Elliot, that I lost my life supporting the colours which she presented to our regiment. If you should ever see Jones, his wife, and son, tell them that Jasper
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
is gone, but that the remembrance of the battic which he fought for them, brought a secret joy to his heart when it was about to stop its motion forever." He expired a few minutes after closing this sentence. Commemorative of the gallant deeds of this brave man, his name has been given 1 to one of the counties composing this state.
Count Pulaski was a native of Poland, and of noble birth : he lived in the reign of the pusillani- nous prince Stanislaus, who had been raised to the throne by the influence of the empress of Rus. sia, whose incendiaries scattered corruption and discord among the nobles, to accomplish that pur. pose and to prepare the way for the destruction of the kingdom. Prussia and Austria were abet- tors in that work of iniquity. A number of patri- otic nobles, indignant of innovation on the elective franchise, subversive of the ancient order of the republic, disallowed the legality of the election of Stanislaus to the throne ; perceiving that the doctrines of the Russian ambassador were the rules of action of the king, whose measures por- tended the destruction of the government, they associated under the denomination of confede- rates, to rescue their country from foreign influ- ence, and the consequent evils, by force of arms. Pulaski was one of the confederates ; and for hie high rank and military enterprise, they elected him their general.
The force and resources of the confederates, were unequal to their objects. Pulaski applied
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
to France for assistance, and was secretly encour- aged and supplied with money. A number of French officers engaged as volunteers in his ser- vice ; who having introduced discipline among the confederate ranks, they acted with more vi- gour than formerly, and sometimes overthrew their adversaries ; but such successes were tran- sitory, and ruin followed.
The confederates determined to seize on the person of the king : a party selected for that pur- pose, attacked and wounded him in the streets of Warsaw, and bore him off; but the guard de- serted and suffered him to escape to his palace.
As Stanislaus was elected by the intrigues of Russia, troops of that power were stationed in Po- land to support his authority ; and as those were insufficient to check the power of the confede- rates, others were advanced to their assistance. Prussia and Austria sent troops into Poland for the same purpose, under the plausible pretext of aiding Stanislaus in the recovery of his rights ; but their object was in common with Russia, to partake in the division of the spoil. They strip- ped him of his territories, which he conceded as for services, until he had but a scanty fragment of country left for himself to govern.' The confede- rates sued for peace and pardon : Pulaski and others of the confederate chiefs fled to France.
Liberty and independence, the favourite genii of Pulaski, were banished from his native coun- try and had winged their way to the western
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779:
shores of the atlantic ocean; where he learned men were conflicting with tyranny, determined to be free : there was no counterpoise in the ba- lance; having been unsuccessful in his efforts to re-establish the independence of Poland, he re- solved to lend his aid to the people of the United- States, who were engaged in his favourite pursuit; a war for self government.
The pursuits and fortunes of Pulaski were made known to the American ministers, then at Paris, by the French court ; by the influence of which, the ministers gave him a recommendation to congress, who appointed him a brigadier. gene- ral of cavalry in their service. The remainder of Pulaski's life was devoted to the service of the United States ; and it may be truly said, that on all occasions where he had an opportunity to act, " he sought the post of danger as the post of ho- nour ;" apparently regardless of danger, he sought every opportunity of being engaged with the ene- my, and was always foremost in the day of battle.
After receiving the wound, in the attack on Savannah, the vessel in which he was intended to be conveyed to Charleston having a long passage, he died at sea and his body was launched and sunk beneath the waves : the funeral rites were performed in Charleston with military honours. The death of that gallant officer was greatly la- mented by all the Americans and French, who had witnessed his valour or knew how to appre- ciate his merits.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779
On the 25th of October, lieutenant-colonel Maitland of the 71st British regiment of Scots, and member of the house of commons, died at Savannah. He had long been in the habit of in- dulging himself freely with his glass ; but during the siege he found it necessary to restrain a pro- pensity which had become constitutionally neces- sary for the preservation of his health. After the siege was raised, and the combined forces retired, he returned to his former habits and gratified them to such an extent as to produce convulsions, of which he died suddenly.
The following is believed to be a correct list of the French fleet, and detachments of different corps of land troops, which they had at Savannah :
Ships.
Guns.
Ships.
Guns.
Languedock,
90
Recole,
64
Tonant,
80
Reflechi, 64
Robuste,
:4
Sphinx, 64
Cesar,
74
Fantasque,
64
Magnifique,
74
Provence, Fiere,
50
Marseilles,
74
Sagittaire,
50
Annible,
74
Amazon,
36
Fendante,
74
Fortune,
36
Dauphine Royale, 74
Iphegenie,
36
Zele,
74
Bondeuse,
32
Vengeur,
74
Blanche,
32
Hector,
74
Ellis,
26
Arlisian,
64
Chimere,
26
Vaillant,
64
Lively,
20
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64
Triumphe,
74.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
Ships. Guns. Ships. Guns.
Ceres, 18 Alert, 12
Fleur de la Mer, . 16
Barrington, 8
Four other small schooners, names unknown.
The land troops were drafted from the regi- ments of Armagnac, Champagne, Auxerrois, Agenois, Gatinois, Cambresses, Haynault, Foix, Dillon, Walsh, Le Cap, La Guadaloupe, La Mar- tinique, and Port-au-Prince, royal artillery, in- fantry, marines, volunteers of Volbille and Cape Francois, and part of a mulatto regiment from St. Domingo.
British vessels captured by the French fleet, while they lay off Savannah.
Ship Experiment of 50 guns, with generat Garth and thirty thousand pounds sterling in spe- cie on board ; ship Aeriel of 20 guns ; Myrtle, victualler ; Champion, store-ship; ship Fame ; and ship Victory, with a valuable cargo ; several small sloops and schooners, coasting vessels, la- den with rice and flour. Two privateer sloops of 10 guns each, and three schooners, were taken by colonel White in Ogechee river.
General Lincoln urged, that count D'Estaing would agree to continue the siege of Savannah ; but the reasons which the count gave for propos- ing the assault, still obtained : it was further urg. ed, that the troops of France were reduced by tik consequences of the siege, in killed, wounded. and disease, which was increasing ; to less than fifteen hundred men fit for duty, on the 18th of
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1772
October ; and that the American troops under ge- neral Lincoln, did not exceed twelve hundred ef- fectives. In addition, there were good reasons for a belief, that the British feet at New- York, with an army on board, was preparing for a southern expedition ; and in the present sickly condition of the crews of the fleet, and the reduced force of the combined troops, who were not more than ยท equal to the besieged, it would be highly impru- dent to remain and risk the consequences. The count notified to general Lincoln, his determina- tion to raise the siege.
The removal of the heavy ordnance being ac- complished, both armies moved from their ground on the 18th of October, in the evening. The French troops marched only two miles, and en- camped for the ensuing day, in order to deter the garrison from pursuing Lincoln until he had time to reach Zubley's ferry ; which being ac- complished, the French troops embarked at Caus- ton's bluff, and repaired on board of their ships at Tybee, on the 20th. The wind was adverse until the Ist of November, when the frigates passed the bar : on the 2nd, the fleet sailed from the coast of Georgia, and immediately thereafter they encountered a violent gale of wind, which dispersed the fleet; and though the count bad ordered seven ships of the line to repair to Hamp- ton roads, in Virginia, the marquis De Vaudre- ville was the only officer who was able to execute the order.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779;
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In general Lincoln's letter to congress, he says " Count D'Estaing has undoubtedly the interest of America much at heart. This he has evi- denced by coming over to our assistance ; by his constant attention during the siege ; his under- taking to reduce the enemy by assault, when he despaired of effecting it otherwise ; and by bravely putting himself at the head of his troops and lead- ing them to the attack. In our service he has freely bled. I feel much for him ; for while he is suffering the distresses of painful wounds on a boisterous ocean, he has to combat chagrin. I
hope he will be consoled by an assurance, that al- though he has not succeeded according to his wishes, and those of America; we regard with high approbation his intentions to serve us, and that his want of success will not lessen our ideas of his merit."*
General Lincoln retreated to Ebenezer, and on the 19th of October he left the army for Charleston, with orders to march to that place.
There was great dissatisfaction expressed by the citizens of Georgia, at the determination of
. After the war was ended ; the state of Georgia, in general assembly, passed the following law : " And whereas, the general assembly of this state, resolved that grants of twenty thousand acres of land should issue to the vice-admiral, the count D'E .. . taing, in testimony of their respect for his meritorious services Be it therefore enacted, That the vice-admiral, the count D'Es. taing be, and he is hereby empowered and qualified, to receive and hold the grants of land aforesaid, and he is hereby admitted to all the privileges, liberties, and immunities of a free citizes of this state, agreeably to the constitution."
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779 285
D'Estaing to raise the siege : many of them had been under British protection, and having resum- ed their arms in opposition to the royal govern- ment, they were apprehensive of the consequences if they again fell into their hands. Notwithstand- ing these murmurs, general Lincoln ty prudent management, suppressed the expressions of dis- content, and the allied forces separated with mu- tual expressions of esteem and affection,
CHAPTER X.
AFTER the allied armies had retired from Georgia, the sufferings of the families of those who adhered to the American cause, were ex- treme : they had been accustomed to ease and comfort, and many of them to affluence. This regards the families of those who had been under British protection : the families of such as had steadily adhered to the cause of their country, were already stripped of their property by their plundering enemies and generally removed for the want of subsistence. Before they could be removed to a place' of security, plundering ban- ditti, under the denomination of loyalists, were let loose to pillage them of all that was moveable ; such as negroes, stock, and furniture of every description ; even clothing about their persons,
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
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their ear and finger rings, and breast pins, were deemed good prizes, and taken off by these free- booters : children were beaten with severity, to extort from them a discovery of the secret depo- sits of valuable property. The condition of the people of Georgia, was abundantly worse after the unsuccessful enterprise against Savannah, than it was before the French landed. The militia who had been under protection of the British, not allowing themselves to doubt of the success of the allied forces, cheerfully participated in a mca- sure which promised the recovery of the state to the union. Future protection was not to be ex- pected, and nothing remained for them but the halter and confiscation from the British, or exile for themselves, and poverty and ill-treatment, by an insolent enemy, for their wives and children W . o were ordered forthwith to depart the country without the means for travelling, or any other means, but a reliance on charity for subsistence on their way.
The obscene language which was used, and personal insults which were offered to the tender sex, soon rendered a residence in the country insupportable. Having neither funds nor means of conveyance for themselves and children, they were obliged to abandon the country, under the most deplorable circumstances, and seek a depen- dent residence in the adjoining states, at the most inclement season of the year. Numbers, whose former condition enabled them to make their
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
285
neighbouring visits in carriages, were obliged to travel on foot; many of them without shoes, through muddy roads and deep swamps. If some charitable person furnished a lean pony, they would probably travel but a few miles before it was taken from them. The families of general M'Intosh, colonel John Twiggs, and colonel Eli- jah Clarke, with many others of respectability, experienced distresses of which this is but a faint representation. Though colonel Twiggs' family was removed under the protection of a flag, they were fired upon by the enemy, and a young man who accompanied them was killed; the colonel, himself, narrowly escaped by flight. General M'Intosh's family was reduced from affluence to extreme poverty. Such were the necessities of his lady, when she reached Virginia with her children, that she was obliged to apply to govern- or Jefferson to relieve her from want. He fur- nished her with ten thousand dollars, which sounds like a large sum ; but so great was the de- preciation, and so much had clothing risen above their former prices, that it required seven hun- dred dollars to purchase a pair of shoes. Colonel Clarke's house was pillaged and burned, and his family ordered to leave the state. Mrs. Clarke and her two daughters set out for the north, without any other means of conveyance than a pony of little value. They had proceeded but a short distance before the horse was taken from them, and they were left in the road to travel
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779
through an enemy's country, thinly inhabited. without any means of conveyance or subsistence. Among the ordinary incidents of human life, but few occurrences justify the killing of a fellow. creature ; but when the delicacy of the tender sex is assailed, and barbarity practised toward them, the mind of the most humane is filled with a spe- cies of revenge, which is not easily resisted. Those who had practised such cruelties, were not spared when the fortune of war threw them into the hands of their adversaries. Retaliation on both sides, became the order of the day ; and the war for freedom and independence, became a war of extermination. For the honour of the civilized world, the author would willingly throw a veil over these transactions ; but a disclosure of facts, is a duty particularly imposed upon a historian.
After the metropolis of the state had fallen in. to the hands of the enemy, the legislature had dispersed without appointing a governor for the succeeding year. John Werreat, esquire, presi- dent of the executive council, continued the ope- ration of the functions of government ; and on the 4th of November issued a proclamation at Au- gusta, representing that several attempts to con- vene the legislature had failed, owing to the dis- tracted state of the country ; and required that a general election should be held .on the second 'Tuesday in the same month, in conformity with the powers vested in him by the constitution, and that the members so elected, should convence a!
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1779.
Augusta without delay. After the siege of Sa- vannah was raised, a number of the leading cha- racters from the south-eastern division of the state, who persisted in adherence to the cause of inde- pendence ; retreated to Augusta, and with others from the western division, formed themselves into a body, under the denomination of the general assembly. It is believed that all the members that constituted this body, were elected in the county of Richmond. This unconstitutional mea- sure was probably resorted to, under the appre- hension that the British would march in force to Augusta and take possession of it, before the time of meeting authorized by the constitution. The house of assembly being formed, William Glas- cock, esquire, was chosen speaker ; and George Walton, esquire, governor of the state.
The assembly continued in session until the 4th of January 1780, when Richard Howley was appointed governor. Edward Telfair, George Walton, Benjamin Andrew, Lyman Hall, and William Few, esquires, were appointed members of congress ; William Stephens, chief justice ; John Milledge, attorney-general ; colonel John Stirk and captain Hardy, treasurers; Edward Jones, secretary of state ; and Joseph Clay, pay- master-general.
It has been remarked, at an early period of the war, that discord and jealousy had been excited and fostered between the civil and military de. partments of Georgia. The distressing effects
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