USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 18
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likely to grow out of this controversy, had in- duced the members of congress from this state, to request general Washington to order general M'Intosh to the head-quarters of the grand army, at Valley Forge, where he remained about six months. Application had been made by congress, to the commander-in-chief, for a general officer to take the command of the army, north of the Allegany mountains. In addition to the qualifi- cations necessary to constitute the general, a knowledge of the Indian character was to be com- bined, in the officer selected for this command. Though the party divisions and other difficulties, which had occasioned the removal of general M'Intosh from Georgia, had not yet subsided, he was not lessened in the estimation of the com- mander-in-chief, and was named as the most pro- per officer for that service. The following is an extract of a letter, written by general Washington to the secretary of war, dated 12th of May, 1778. " After much consideration upon the subject, I
- have appointed general M'Intosh to command at fort Pitt and in the western country, for which he will set out as soon as he can arrange his af- fairs. I part with this gentleman with much re- luctance, as I esteem him an officer of great worth and merit, and as I know his services have, and will be materially wanted. His firm disposition and equal justice, his assiduity and good under- standing, added to his being a stranger to all parties in that quarter, pointed him out as a proper per-
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son ; and I trust extensive advantages will be de- rived from his command, which I could wish was more agreeable for his sake. He will wait upon congress for their instructions." While general M'Intosh was at Pittsburg, he received regular advices of the progress of affairs in Georgia, and after the defeat of general Howe, and the subse- quent disasters of the American arms in that quar- ter, he became assiduous in his solicitations for permission to return to his own state. . In April, 1779, the commander-in-chief ordered him to the head-quarters of the main army, at Middle- brook, and from thence to the seat of government for further orders. The following is an extract of a letter, written by the commander-in-chief to the secretary of war, dated May 11, 1779, " Bri- gadier-general M'Intosh will have the honour of delivering you this. The war in Georgia, being the state to which he belongs, makes him desir- ous of serving in the southern army. I know not whether the arrangements congress have in con- templation, may make it convenient to employ him there : but I take the liberty to recommend him as a gentleman whose knowledge of service and of the country, promises to make him useful. I beg leave to add, that general M'Intosh's con- duct, while he acted immediately under my ob- servation, was such as to acquire my esteem and confidence, and I have had no reason since to alter my good opinion of him." In a letter from the commander-in-chief to general M'Intosh, he says,
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" I am informed that great abuses are practised in the southern states, in the hospital departments : you will consider it a part of your duty to correct · this evil, as well as every other which may tend to the extravagant waste of public property." Genc. ral M'Intosh found in many instances, the sur- geons-mates indulging their palates with fine mut. ton and Madeira wine, while the poor sick soldiers were languishing in want.
The intestine divisions in the state of Geor- gia, increased rather than diminished after genera! M'Intosh left it, and no doubt they had a great share in its fall. In a letter of colonel Walton's to general M'Intosh, he says, " The Dæmon Dis- cord yet presides in this country, and God only knows when his reign will be at an end. . I have strove so hard to do good, with so poor a return, that were the liberties of America secure, I would bid adieu to all public employment, to politics, and to strife ; for even virtue itself will meet with enmity." "A party in Savannah had formed them- selves into a society under the popular denomina- tion of the Liberty Club, and under its jurisdic- tion were several branches in the different coun- ties, pretending that their objects were to support the civil authority and prevent any infringements on it by the military. Under this plausible pre- text, the party became so numerous as to have the entire control over public appointments. It is worthy of remark, that governor Truitlen and the six members of the executive council, who voted
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for the measures of this party, against general M'Intosh, all took protection afterward under the British government, except John Lindsay.
General M'Intosh returned to South-Carolina in June, and in July general Lincoln ordered him to Augusta to take the command of the Georgia troops, and to hold himself in readiness to march at short notice, whenever the French fleet should be ready to form a junction at Savannah. M'in- tosh took an active share in the siege, and com- manded the left wing under general Lincoln, when the assault was made on the morning of the 9th of October. After the siege was raised, he retreated with general Lincoln into South- Carolina, and was afterward taken prisoner in Charleston when it fell into the hands of the British.
During the session of the assembly at Augus- ta, which has been noticed, a letter was forged and transmitted to the president of congress, dated November 30, 1779, and signed " William Glas- cock, speaker." An extract of this letter was transmitted to general M'Intosh, and by him to Mr. Glascock, requiring an explanation of its contents : to which the following answer was writ- ten to the president of congress, and a certified copy of it enclosed to M'Intosh, dated at Augusta, 12th of May, 1780.
" SIR-I am now to do myself the honour of addressing your excellency, on a subject of con- siderable importance to myself and to a gentle- man, whose character, both as a citizen and an
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officer, I esteem and honour. Indeed I take up the affair on a longer scale : I may say it is also of importance to this state and to the whole con- federal alliance, as it strikes at the very root of re. ciprocal confidence, and opens a road to misrepre- sentation, detraction, and malice, which cannot be guarded against but with the utmost circum- spection, and which, if not checked, might be pro- ductive of the most serious consequences to these states, either in a civil or military sense. Briga- dier-general M'Intosh informs me, that he lately received a letter from your excellency, enclosing the following extract of a letter to congress from me, as speaker of the assembly of the state of Georgia.
" It is to be wished that we could advise con- gress, that the return of brigadier-general M'In- tosh, gave satisfaction to either the militia or con- federates; but the common dissatisfaction is such, and that founded on weighty reasons. It is highly necessary that congress would, whilst that officer is in the service of the United-States, direct some distant field for the exercise of his abilities." -
"I am sorry sir, to be informed by this ex- tract, of the extreme malice and rancour of gene- ral M'Intosh's enemies ; but at the same time enjoy a peculiar happiness, in having it in my power to defeat their nefarious machinations and intentions. I do hereby most solemnly declare to congress, that the above extract is a flagrant forgery, of which I disclaim all knowledge what-
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ever, either directly or indirectly ; neither did I ever subscribe in a public or private capacity, any letter or paper that could convey to congress such an idea of that officer, with respect to his country, which he has in my opinion served with reputa- tion, and from which he ought to receive the grateful acknowledgements of public approbation, instead of the malicious insinuations of public slander, in which class I am under the necessity of ranking the forged letter, which is the subject of this. I am glad of the opportunity of inform- ing congress, that so far is that forgery from truth, that I believe there is not a respectable citizen or officer in Georgia, who would not be happy in serving under general M'Intosh, nor one in either class who would be otherwise, except a few who . are governed by design or self interest." This letter was signed by William Glascock, and cer- tified by major Peter Deveaux, who was one of the executive council.
The proceedings of the legislature of Georgia upon this subject, exhibit a strange inconsisten- cy. On the journals of the house of assembly, dated January 30, 1783, are the following resolu- tions: " Resolved, That they have examined such papers and persons as have been offered by the different parties, from which it appears that the resolves of council, dated at Augusta, December 12, 1779, and the letter from governor Walton, to the president of congress, dated December 15, 1779, respecting general M'Intosh, were unjust,
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illeberal, and a misrepresentation of facts : that the letter said to be from William Glascock, speaker of the assembly, dated November 30, 1779, ad- dressed to the president of congress, appears to be a forgery, in violation of law and truth, and highly injurious to the interest of the state, and danger- ous to the rights of its citizens ; and that the at- torney-general be ordered to make the necessary inquiries and enter such prosecutions as may be consistent with his duty and office.
" Resolved, That general M'Intosh be inform- · ed, that this house do entertain an abhorrence of all such injurious attempts made use of, as ap- pears by the papers laid before them, to injure the character of an officer and citizen of this state, who merits the attention of the legislature, for his early, decided and perserving efforts in the defence of America, of which virtues this house have the highest sense." The day preceding the one on which these resolutions were passed, George Walton, esquire, was appointed chief justice of the state of Georgia, by the same body who voted these censures upon him : therefore he was ap- pointed to preside over the only tribunal, compe- tent to his own trial.
The Georgians, whose property had been taken into possession by the commissioners of- sequestration for the use of the crown, exercised their ingenuity to devise the means for the re- covery of it, and to remove it into places of security. Small parties made frequent incur-
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sions, and in some instances they were successful, and in others they lost their lives. Parties of loy- alists were laid in wait at the different passes, to intercept the Americans in their attempts to recov- er their own property, and were frequently suc- cessful in cutting them off. Private armed vessels were also employed for similar purposes : those of Georgia, commanded by commodore Oliver Bowen, captains Spencer, John Howell, William Maxwell, Job Pray, Hardy, John Lawson, Joseph Stiles, and many others who had small vessels in North-Carolina, made frequent voyages along the coast, with various success ; and it is not matter of wonder, that both land and water parties made occasional reprisals on the enemy, when they were unsuccessful in the recovery of their own proper- ty. By the activity of the privateers, the parties of the enemy who were collecting provisions and forage for the troops at Savannah, were frequently captured as they were passing along the inland navigation : the crews of the vessels, and guards which were taken on board, were generally parol- ed as prisoners of war ; but when captures were made of such as had been guilty of murder, house- burning or robbery, on the friends of freedom, they were executed for their crimes : instances of this nature seldom happened, except by way of retaliation for murders committed by the British, for what they called treason and rebellion.
The privateers made frequent and successful voyages to the West-Indies, from whence they
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brought supplies of gun powder, salt, and other articles, necessary for the supply of the American troops and the citizens.
Colonels Twiggs, Dooley, Clarke, Few, and Jones, were actively employed on the frontier against the Indians, and in the partizan warfare into that part of the state, possessed by the British troops. In one of Dooley's skirmishes in Burke county, two men were killed, by the names of Corker, and Webb. The next day, colonel Twiggs attacked a party of M'Girth's men, who had plundered and burned several houses : he re- took the property, killed three of the enemy, and took five of them prisoners. About the 20th of March, colonel Pickens, with a part of his regi- ment, from South Carolina, formed a junction with colonel Twiggs, and captain Inman's troop of horse. With this force, which consisted of about three hundred men, they marched down the Ogechee river, with the expectation of surprising M'Girth, whose marauders had been employed . in distressing those who were in the American interest, in the south-eastern division of the state. They proceeded to Liberty county, got sight of M'Girth, and gave chase to him ; but the know- ledge he had of the country, and the fleetness of his horse, enabled him to escape. Some of his party were killed, and three or four taken prison- ers. About sixty of the Americans returned to governor Wright's plantation, which had been fixed on as the place of rendezvous,
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The British general in Savannah received in- formation of passing events to the south, and or- dered a force, which he deemed competent to the object, to proceed to Ogechee and disperse the Americans collected in that quarter. This de- tachment was commanded by captain Conklin of the first battalion of Dulaney's corps, consist- ing of two subalterns and sixty-four men. Conk. . lin marched from Savannah, at three o'clock, on the morning of the 4th of April, and reached Oge- chee ferry about ten. He met with some negroes, who informed him of the number and position of the party he was directed to disperse. He was suffered to pass over the river without interrup- tion. He ordered ensign Supple with fifteen men, to file off and gain the right flank of his adversary. Pickens and Twiggs discovered the enemy as they were passing over the river, watched their motions, and were aware of the design of this ma- nœuvre, and accordingly ordered the main body to be concealed from the view of the enemy, and take an advantageous position to cut off their right flank, and to encourage the advance of the enemy, by exhibiting only twenty militia dra- goons, under the command of captain Inman. This plan was well calculated to draw the enemy into close action, and cut off the probability of a retreat. Pickens and Twiggs having taken their positions on the flanks, waited the approach of the enemy, who advanced with apparent confidence. Captain Inman was too precipitate in the attack,
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which compelled the flanks to engage before the enemy had got off the causeway. In the first part of the skirmish, Conklin received a mortal wound. Lieutenant Roney finding his situation critical, resorted to the bayonet, with which he made a desperate charge, and was also wounded. Ensign Supple's detachment was pressed closely by cap- tain Inman's dragoons, and compelled to retreat through the swamp in a rice field, where he knew the dragoons could not carry the pursuit. He re-joined his party, and ordered the wounded to be carried to the boats: He kept up a retreating fire until he reached the river, which he re-cross- ed. Of the enemy, two privates were killed and seven wounded, among the latter were the first and second officers in the command. . Captain Conklin died the next morning. Governor Wright's barn, containing three hundred and fifty barrels of rice, was burned to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy, who were then employed in collecting supplies at Savannah. On the 27th of the preceding month, one of the American detachments fell in with a party of the 'enemy in Liberty county, consisting of white men and Indians ; four of the former, and six of the latter, were killed, without sustaining any loss on the American side, except one man slightly wounded.
As the appearance of things at this period strongly indicated the subjugation of South- Caro- tina to the British crown, every exertion was made
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by the republican refugees from Georgia, to re- move their property northwardly to places which promised safety. The principal object contem -- plated by the expedition of Pickens and Twiggs, was to favour this design. While the owners were collecting their property, the scouting par. ties of the enemy were driven within the limits of the strong hold at Savannah. Among the American parties thus employed, one under the command of captain John Bilbo, was fired upon from a house near Cherokee hill. Bilbo received a mortal wound, and was carried off by his men to another house in the neighbourhood, from whence he was removed the next day by the ene- my to Savannah in a cart, where he died on the 8th of May. The vehicle in which he was con- veyed, and the roughness of the road over which he had to pass, at least hastened if it did not oc- casion his death.
The small pox had not been in the country for thirty years, and the distresses of the people were greatly increased by its having been gene- rally spread over the southern states by the ene- my. Every effort to keep it out of the American camp had failed. This disease, more destructive to the human species than the sword of the ene- my, was justly dreaded by the militia, when con- fined to camp in a warm climate. Superstition prevailed for a considerable time, against its in- troduction into the human body by inoculation. Experiments at last, overcame these fanciful
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whims, and the disease was introduced into tic camp and country, and passed through both with very inconsiderable loss. It was afterward di- vested of its terrors, and placed upon a level with common diseases.
Finding that the impressions made upon the northern states were but transitory, the British generals turned more of their attention to those in the southern district. The late repulse of the al. lied armies before Savannah, gave encouragement to these views, and in December 1779, an army . embarked at New-York, under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, escorted by a fleet, command- ed by admiral Arbuthnot. They had a tedious and boisterous passage, which prevented their ar- rival in Savannah until the 11th of February, where they remained but a few days to digest the plan of operations against South-Carolina. A strong detachment of the British army was order- ed to pass over the Savannah river, at Purysburg, and march along the sea-board through the eas- tern part of the state, while the main body of the army and the fleet, commanded by Sir Henry Clinton in person, passed round to Stono inlet, and dis-embarked on John's and James' islands. General Patterson marched through the country with but little interruption, formed a junction with Clinton on the south side of Ashley river, and ad- vanced to Charleston on the Ist of April. Charles- ton was invested, and saps of regular approaches were opened on the land side ; while it was closely
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blockaded by sea. As the detail of the siege and subsequent reduction of Charleston, more proper- ly belongs to the history of South Carolina, and has been given in detail by the venerable Doctor Ramsay ; it is only noticed here to connect sub- sequent events in Georgia. The siege and the . defence were conducted with military skill and enterprise, until the 12th of May, when the works were considered no longer tenable, and it was surrendered by general Lincoln to the British army and navy. By the fall of Charleston, gene- ral M'Intosh with the remnant of the Georgia brigade, all the other continental troops in the southern department, several thousands of the militia, and the residue of the ordnance and mili- tary stores, in the southern states, fell into the hands of the enemy.
Proclamations were issued by the British gen- eral, offering peace and protection to the inhabi- tants who would yield obedience and submis- sion to the crown ; and vengeance was denounc- ed against those who continued to resist the royal government. Strong detachments of British troops were marched to the most populous towns, to establish military posts ; and the militia were required to meet by regiments, surrender their arms and ammunition, and take protection.
So soon as the surrender of Charleston was made known to the governor of Georgia, at Au- gusta, he retreated with part of his council, and a number of the civil officers, to North-Carolina,
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and narrowly escaped capture on the way. Cole. nel Stephen Heard, who was president of the council, and several of the members, retreated to Wilkes county, where the semblance of a govern- ment was still kept up.
Some time after the fall of Savannah, the pub- lic records of Georgia had been removed by cap- tain John Milton to Charleston, and deposited in one of the public offices. After performing this service, Milton had returned and joined general Lincoln, in whose suite he acted as an additional aid, and continued with him until a short time before the British took Charleston. Finding that the public records were again in danger, captain Milton applied to Mr. Joseph Clay and Doctor N. W. Jones, to have them removed to some other place which promised more safety. Appli- cation was accordingly made to general Lincoln, who ordered Milton to take charge of them and have them transported in waggons to Newbern, in North-Carolina, and delivered to governor Nash. After this service was performed, Milton was ordered to return to Charleston. When he arrived at Georgetown, and heard that Charleston was surrendered, he joined captain Ogier, and soon afterward he attached himself to the remains . of colonel William Washington's regiment of dragoons and with them retreated to Wilming- ton, and thence to Hillsborough, where he joined the barron De Kalb and returned to Carolina. After general Gates was defeated at Camden,
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Milton joined general Francis Marion and remain- ed with him ; he afterwards participated in the active and useful enterprises of that officer, and had a share in all the skirmishes in which he was engaged. When Marion was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, captain Milton was appointed his aid-de camp. When the British army passed through North-Carolina, the, Georgia records · were removed to Maryland, where they remained until the close of the war. These records, prin- cipally belonging to the office of the secretary of state, were almost the only public papers of Geor- gia, which were preserved. After the treaty be- tween the United-States and Great- Britain, these records were brought back to Georgia under the care of captain Nathaniel Pearre, of the Georgia continental brigade.
The executive reign of governor Howley, was of short duration. In this gentleman's cha- racter, there appears to have been a mixture of an uncommon portion of excentricity, with great talents. The same traits of character were com- bined in the person of his secretary of state ; but they very differently directed. While the gover- nor and his council were surrounded with dangers and difficulties on the retreat, the gloomy pros- pects of the party vanished, under the exercise of the wit and humour of these two gentlemen. The value of paper money was at that time so much reduced, that the governor dealt it out by the quire for a night's lodging of his party ; and if the
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fare was any thing extraordinary, the landlord 1. .. compensated with two quires ; for which the trea- surer required a draft made out in due form, and signed by the governor.
Brigadier-general Andrew Williamson en. camped near Augusta, with about three hundred men. The governor suspected that Williamson encouraged the delay of himself and his nume. rous train, that they might fall into the hands of the enemy. There were strong grounds to sus- pect that Williamson concealed his intelligence of the reduction of Charleston, several days after he was informed of that event. His aid, Malcomb Brown, had long given evidences of his attach !. ment to the royal government : Williamson could neither read nor write; and in fact, Brown was the general in every thing but in name. The editor of the Royal Gazette of Georgia, expressed some astonishment at the tardy movements of Williamson ; asserting that long ago he had the king's protection in his pocket ; and that he had agreed to accept of a colonels commission, while he commanded a brigade in the American service. However, this may have been, he gave every cu- couragement to the surrender of his brigade in Ninety-six district, accepted a colonels commis- sion in the king's service, and continued to be :: warm advocate for the re-establishment of the go- vernment of the crown, until the close of the war.
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