USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 8
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on the way, and died soon after. M'Intosh ar- rived at the seat of government on the 9th of Oc- tober, where he presented his memorial and the depositions for and against himself ; and prayed congress to examine and decide upon his case. Congress accordingly took up the matter, upon which order was taken as follows : -
" In Congress, October 9th, 1777. Upon con- sidering the papers received from the president of the state of Georgia, respecting George M'Intosh, taken into custody, in consequence of information transmitted, and a request made by congress to the government of the said state, and the memo- rial of the said George M'Intosh, praying con- gress to take his case into consideration. Resolv- ed, that a committee of three be appointed to ex- amine into the said papers and memorial, and re- port their opinion, whether there is sufficient cause before congress for the detention of the said George M'Intosh, in order that if such cause ap- pears, he may be sent a prisoner to the state of Georgia, of which he is a citizen, for trial; or otherwise may be discharged." The members chosen to constitute this committee, were Messrs. J. Adams, Duane, and Williams.
" In Congress, October 10th, 1777. The committee to whom were referred the papers, re- ceived from the president of the state of Georgia, respecting George M'Intosh, taken into custody, in consequence of information transmitted, and a request made by congress to the government of
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the state of Georgia, and the memorial of the said George M'Intosh, praying congress to take his case into consideration ; report, that they have ex- amined into the said papers and memorial, and are of opinion, that there is not sufficient cause before congress for the detention of the said George M'Intosh : Whereupon resolved, That the said George M'Intosh be discharged." If Mr. M'Intosh was friendly to the royal cause, he did not give those evidences of it afterward, which were given by many of his prosecutors ; by sur- rendering voluntarily, and taking protection under the British government.
During the revolutionary war, general Wash- ington was frequently embarrased in his military operations, by the interference of the civil depart- ments of the states, as well as of the general gov- ernment. Under the administration of president Gwinnett, in Georgia, similar causes produced the same effects. His first plan for the reduction of East-Florida, having failed ; he contemplated. a second, under the command of colonel Elbert, with the continental troops, and colonel Baker, with the militia. The plan of operation, appears to have been concerted by president Gwinnett and his council, under the denomination of a coun- cil of war. Colonel Baker was ordered to pro- ceed by land with the militia ; and colonel Elbert, with the continental troops by water, in small ves. sels and boats, by the inland passage. Four hun- dred continental troops embarked in three gallies,
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and several small boats, constituted Elbert's com- mand. Sawpit bluff, twelve miles from the mouth of St. John's river, was agreed upon as the place of rendezvous, on the 12th of May. In conformi- ty with these arrangements, colonel Elbert em- barked, after the necessary preparations were made, allowing himself sufficient time to reach the place of rendezvous, at the time appointed.
Colonel Baker appears to have embarked with sanguine expectation of the success of this expe- dition, but the exercise of his best efforts, brought to his standard only one hundred and nine volun- teers, including officers ; which was far short of the requisite number to accomplish the plans which had been projected. With this force he marched to fort Howe, where he was again disappointed in his expectations of being joined by colonel Sumpter with the South-Carolina troops. Sump- ter had received orders from general Howe, to march the next morning to Savannah, and thence to Carolina. The Alatamaha river was so high as not only to fill its banks, but to cover the low grounds from one hill to the other. With great difficulty, Baker's command effected a passage over it in two days. On the morning of the 4th of May, he was attacked by a party of Indians, who rushed into his camp at the dawn of day : lieutenants Robeson, and Frazer were wounded, and one Indian killed. The stirmish lasted but a few minutes, when the Indians fled. Baker pursued them with forty men, to Finholloway
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creek, about twelve miles from his camp, but not being able to come up with them, he returned. The next morning he marched for his destination, where he arrived on the 12th, without the occur. rence of any difficulties, except from the delay, necessarily occasioned in crossing Sattilla and St. Mary's rivers, which he effected on rafts, and by swimming his horses. Finding that colonel Elbert had not yet arrived, major William Baker was de- tached with forty men to reconnoitre the country . as far as Cowford, on St. John's river. In recon- noitring he fell in with one Barefield, an inhabitant of the province, who informed him that he had been surrounded by fifteen Indians, and taken prisoner, the preceding morning ; but when they were informed that he was a Floridian, they per- mitted him to proceed upon his business. He also observed to Baker that he had seen two spies on their way to St. Augustine, by whom he was informed that there was a large body of Ameri- can troops on their march toward that province, and that St. Augustine was supposed to be their destination.
On the night of the 15th, some Indians were discovered near the camp, and fired on by a sen- tinel, and the next morning about forty horses were missing. Colonel Baker pursued on. the track about four miles, and discovered the horses, hobbled, along the margin of a thick swamp, which gave strong indications of an ambuscade being formed by the enemy. To avoid falling
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into it, and bring off the horses, required courage and caution; as the number of the enemy was not known to him. A few men were ordered to dismount and pass round as secretly as possible, and cut the horses loose; while the remainder presented themselves on open ground at a dis- tance, to divert the attention of the Indians ; and so soon as the horses were cut loose from their fastenings, another party of the horsemen were to charge in between the horses and the swamp, and drive them off. This was effected with the loss of two men wounded, and four or five horses killed. The Indians pursued them about a mile, and though there were but fifteen of them, Baker could not prevail upon his men to give them bat- tle. He retreated to his camp, paraded all his force and returned ; but the Indians had fled and set fire to the woods to prevent a pursuit upon. their trail, leaving one Indian on the ground, who had been killed.
Four days elapsed after the time appointed to form a junction with colonel Elbert, and no intel- ligence had been received from him. Baker knew that the enemy at St. Augustine were apprized of his situation and knew his force, which excited alarm for the safety of his command; but until he heard from Elbert, he was unwilling to aban- don the expedition. On the morning of the 17th he determined to change his encampment, and take a position more favourable, in the event of his being overpowered and compelled to retreat.
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He had marched but a short distance, when some mounted militia and Indians, under the command of colonel M'Girth, appeared in his front and fired a gun, which he supposed to be a signal for the main body of the enemy in the rear. Colonel Baker ordered his men to dismount and prepare for action. Twenty or thirty fled into a swamp, without firing a gun. The remainder dismount- ed and a brisk skirmish ensued for about five minutes, when the Americans began to retreat. The main body of the enemy, commanded by colonel Brown, had been formed into three divi- sions of one hundred in each; the reserve com- manded by captain Wolf, covered the retreat of those engaged, while the right and left attempted to turn Baker's flanks unperceived and surround him. In this manœuvre, the enemy so well suc- ceeded, that Baker was obliged to retreat into the swamp through a galling fire. Baker narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the enemy, in consequence of one of his men having mounted his horse and rode him off.
The American loss in this defeat was eight killed, of whom five were murdered by the In- dians after they were taken prisoners, nine wound- ed, and thirty one including part of the wounded, were taken prisoners. Among the killed, werc lieutenants Frazer and M'Gowen, lieutenant Robeson, wounded, and captains Few and Wil- liams, prisoners. Thomas Coleman was drown- ed crossing Sattilla river. Colonel Baker and the
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remains of his command, fled in small parties and in great confusion from the scene of action, which was near Nassau river. Some of them joined colonel Elbert, and the remainder reached the settlements in Georgia, in small parties.
Head winds, boisterous weather, and the want of pilots who were acquainted with the southern inland navigation ; rendered colonel Elbert's share in the expedition, as useless as colonel Ba- ker's, though not so fatal. He did not reach St. Mary's until six days after the time the junction was to have been formed with Baker at Sawpit bluff. In attempting to pass through Amelia river, one of the gallies grounded, and two days were ex- hausted in vain efforts to pass through the narrows.
Lieutenant Robert Ward, of the second regi- ment, was ordered by Elbert to land with a party of men and march to the southern extremity of the island; and on his way, to secure all the inhabit- ants, to prevent the enemy from gaining intelli- gence of Elbert's approach. A detachment of the enemy had been landed on the south end of the island, to watch the motions of Elbert ; and the landing of Ward's party was communicated to the enemy by a spy. A small boat was immedi- ately despatched to give the alarm to an armed vessel, at anchor to the southward of the island. Alarm guns were fired, and answered at the en- trance of St. John's river.
About eleven o'clock on the morning of the 20th of May, Ward's party was attacked by an
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equal number of the enemy, who had marched up the island to meet him. The contest was pretty equal for ten minutes. The enemy retreated to- ward a low ground, covered with thick low woods, favourable to cover a retreat. Ward advanced in front of his men, with a precipi- tancy, bordering on imprudence and received a mortal wound, of which he died an hour after, and two of his men were wounded. The loss sustained by the enemy, if any, was not known. The pursuit was not carried beyond the margin of the thicket, where lieutenant Ward fell.
On the 19th, thirteen of colonel Baker's men joined colonel Elbert, and gave him an account of the disaster at Nassau river : but as they were among the first who fled, could give no detail of the particulars. On the 21st, three others joined and informed him, that the number opposed to Baker, was about three hundred and fifty, com- posed of British regulars, Florida rangers, Indians, and a few Florida militia. These three men, with five others, were taken prisoners by M'Girth, and put under the care of an Indian guard. The Indians fell upon them unexpectedly, killed the other five with knives and hatchets, and in the confusion, with great difficulty, they effected their escape. They conjectured that about one half of Baker's men were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners, and supposed that their commander was among that number.
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The enemy acknowledged that Baker, and about fifty of his men, acted with great courage and resolution, and that if the remainder had fol- lowed the example, a retreat might have been ef- fected with an inconsiderable loss. The enemy had been apprized that Baker was on his march, and that Elbert was approaching by water. Cor- rect information had also been received of the number which constituted the two American de- tachments. The commanding-officer at St. Au- gustine ordered a detachment of artillery to de- Send a battery which had been erected at Hester's bluff. A schooner mounting ten guns, and an armed sloop were ordered to defend the inland passage, between Amelia island and the main land, against small boats ; well knowing that the depth of water would not admit the American gallies to pass through.
Elbert's party of observation from the south end of the island, informed him that two vessels, one of fourteen and the other of sixteen guns, were standing off and on over the bar, evidently with the intention to intercept the gallies, if any attempt was made to pass them round on the out- side of the island. Elbert had laid up an ample stock of flour, but his other provisions, calculat- ing on supplies in Florida, were nearly exhausted, The tedious time which had been spent in con- tending against head winds and shoal water; constantly exposed to the heat of the sun, and crouded in small vessels ; created despondency
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and disease. These circumstances, combined with the defeat of colonel Baker, caused him to relinquish all prospects of success, and compelled him to abandon the expedition. He accordingly reported his condition and determination to gene- ral M'Intosh, and to president Gwinnett, by ex- press. He retreated to Frederica, and from thence was ordered to Sunbury. Such was the issue of president Gwinnett's wild expedition, from which he vainly calculated on annexing another pro- vince to the United States.
The command of the southern army had been confided to general Robert Howe, about the close of the year 1776, who had fixed his head quar- ters in Charleston. When it was known to Howe, that colonel Fuser had reduced fort M'Intosh, it was also conjectured that he would invade Geor- gia with such a formidable force, as the troops in that state would not be competent to resist. The commanding-general ordered lieutenant-co- lonel Marion, of South-Carolina, to embark six hundred men in boats and small vessels, with four field pieces, a quantity of ammunition, camp equipage, intrenching tools, and provisions, to proceed immediately, by the inland passage to Savannah. Colonel Thompson's regiment march- ed to Purysburgh on Savannah river. Before these troops arrived, which was about the 15th of March, Fuser had retreated to Florida.
The term for which the North- Carolina mi- litia were called into service, had expired, and
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they insisted upon being discharged. This re- duction of Howe's force, compelled him to with- draw all the Carolina troops from Georgia, to de- fend the sea-coast of their own state. The con- tinental troops in Georgia, consisted of M'Intosh's brigade, which had never been completed, and numbers of the recruits, unaccustomed to a southern climate, were carried off by disease.
'The paper medium which had been necessa- rily put into circulation, to meet the expenses of the war, passed for a short time, at par, with the precious metals. The exertions of congress, were supported by the different state legislatures, in the infliction of penalties upon such individu- als as refused to receive it at par with gold and silver, in exchange for any commodities they might offer for sale. Those who attempted to lessen its value, were deemed enemies to the rause of freedom, and treated accordingly. Patri- otism had its influence for a time, but the think .. ing money maker, looked forward for the sources of its eventual redemption. The depreciation had thrown such a flood of it into circulation, that the hopes of reducing it by taxation were vision- ary. The sole purposes for which the war had been commenced, were at variance with every Ahtem which could be devised by congress, to re-conduct it to the public treasury, reduce the quantity, and support its credit. The revenue produced nothing, and the amount of taxes which could be imposed with safety, upon people who
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were fighting against the system of heavy taxu. tion, was found to be, but a drop in the bucket. The militia had already felt all the miseries of a camp life, which could be produced, by their dis. orderly conduct and ungovernable dispositions. The exaggerated form, in which their sufferings were represented to their neighbours when they returned home, produced the greatest reluctance to taking the field, when their services were re- quired. Large sums were offered by individu- als for substitutes in addition to the pay allowed by government.
The Georgia continental officers, who had been ordered on the recruiting service, made but little progress in filling their companies. The winty and pay which were allowed by the gene. vernment, for a whole year, were not equal ti. : sums which were offered by the militia for bstitutes to serve for only three months. 'l'hose wo were disposed to enter the service, preferred tort militia campaign, where they could do as why pleased ; to entering the regular service for three years, where they would be compelled to " .. . under those strict rules of discipline, neces- to the government of a camp, and to qualify for the field of battle.
. an early period of the war, general Wash- ngton had discovered the evils arising from short enlistments and a dependance on militia. As .it progressed, he urged with arguments, which ap- peared to have been almost irresistible, for the
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raising of regiments for the war ; but his experi- ence and sound reasoning, do not appear to have produced that conviction in the minds of the mem. bers of congress, which was proved by succeeding events. The time to apply those remedies, had in a great measure been suffered to pass, until the disease became almost incurable. The con- tinual exertions of the commander-in-chief, were at length yielded to, and the regiments were order. ed to be completed with men enlisted for three years, or during the war. The greatest exertions on the part of the officers in Georgia, as well as in the other states, produced but few recruits.
The exposed situation of the southern fron- tier made it necessary for the commanding oficer to order the recruits to the posts on the Alata- maha in small detachments, as they were enlisted. About twenty of these recruits, under the com- mand of lieutenants Brown and Anderson, werc ordered to fort Howe. Within two miles of their destination, they were way-laid by about one hundred and fifty loyalists and Indians, passing through a thick bay swamp. The surprise was complete ; fourteen men were killed, and the offi- cers who were mounted, and the other six nar- rowly escaped.
This disastrous event was communicated to colonel Scriven the next morning, who with the southern militia, and lieutenant-colonel John M'Intosh with the regulars from Darien, re. paired to the scene of action, and buried the
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dead; who had been scalped, and their bodies so much mangled, that only a few of them were known. : These allies of his Britannic majesty, were not satisfied with taking away the life : the bodies of the dead were ripped open with knives, and the intestines strewed about on the ground. The enemy had retreated across the river, at Reid's bluff, and taken the direction to St. Augustine. The proportion of loyalists, who accompanied the Indians on this incursion, could not be ascertained with any degree of accuracy, by those who escaped. The English language was heard distinctly pronounced, and many were seen in the usual dress of white men. The whole frontier continued to be harassed by small parties of loyalists and Indians, and the state was too weak to act otherwise, than on the defensive.
On the night of the 31st of July, a party of Indians crossed Ogechee river, near Morgan's fort, knocked in the door, and rushed into the house of Samuel Delk, who was not at home. His wife and four of his children were killed and scalped, and his eldest daughter, about fourteen years of age, was carried off in captivity. The fate of this hapless innocent girl, was never ascer- tained. The Indians were pursued by a detach- ment under the command of lieutenants Little, and Alexander, about forty miles, where the In- dians had parted in order to hunt. The only dis- covery which was made, relative to the unfortun- ate fate of the female prisoner, was some hair that
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was found near the Oconee river, which appeared to have been cut off her head : this induced her father, to hope, that she had shared the fate of the rest of his family. I say hope, because it is well known for what purpose a female's life is spared, and she carried into captivity, by a savage foe. Many damning proofs of this fact, could be re- corded in this volume. Such was the warfare, and such were the allies of Great-Britain, against the United- States.
On the 10th of August, a British armed ves-' sel anchored in St. Andrew's sound, between Cumberland and Jekyl Islands. Some boats were manned from the crew and proceeded to St. Si- mon's Island. Captain Arthur Carney, and five others were taken prisoners : several negroes and as much household furniture as the boats could contain, were carried off and the vessel proceeded to St. Augustine. Carney joined the enemy, and became an active partizan in the royal cause. His name was stricken from the rolls of the American army as a traitor and deserter ; his property con- fiscated and his person banished forever.
Men who have rendered themselves conspicu- ous by acts of treason, have a just claim to parti- cular notice in the history of their country. Cap- tain Arthur Carney who had been appointed to the command of the fourth company of infantry in the first continental battalion in Georgia, igno- miniously abandoned the cause of his country and joined the enemy in St. Augustine; his mind
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does not appear to have been sufficiently stored with information, to qualify him for the practice of great villanies ; but to acts of a petty kind, his exertions compensated for the deficiency of his talents : his residence was favourable to his purposes, and under cover of his commission, they were practised for a considerable time with- out suspicion. He resided between the Alata- maha and St. Mary's rivers, where himself and many others owned large herds of cattle. After his own stock had been exhausted, in secret sales to the enemy, he aided them in the collection of others which belonged to the Americans. Sus. picion at length alarmed him and he threw him- self in the way of the enemy, under pretence of being carried off a prisoner; and afterward himself and his son, took an active share in the royal cause.
Many of the inhabitants of Georgia and South-Carolina, encouraged by the rapid increase of horned cattle, without the trouble of furnishing winter food, or any other expense, except for the employment of a few herdsmen ; had purchased large droves, and placed them between the Alata- maha and St. Mary's rivers, where the country furnished a plentiful supply of pasturage, during the whole year. Colonel Daniel M'Girth and many of his associates, were well acquainted with the country and made frequent incursions to drive off cattle for the supplies of the enemy at St. Au- gustine. It is said that the number driven off for this purpose, is moderately estimated at ten thou. sand.
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CHAPTER VI.
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AT the meeting of the assembly in Savannah, on the 8th of May, Noble W. Jones, was appoint. ed speaker of the house of representatives ; John Adam Truitlen, governor; Jonathan Bryan, John Houstoun, Thomas Chisolm, William Holzen- dorf, John Fulton, John Jones, John Walton, William Few, Arthur Fort, John Coleman, Ben- jamin Andrews, and William Peacock, Esquires, members of the executive council ; and Samuel Stirk, secretary. On the 3d of June, the assem- bly passed a resolution to raise two battalions, un- der the denomination of minute men, for the per- manent defence of the frontier, to be enlisted for two years. Large bounties and premiums were offered to the officers and men. The platoon of- ficers were not to be commissioned until they had completed their quotas of men, none of whom were to be enlisted in the state. To encourage exertions in the recruiting service, the rank of the platoon officers, was to be governed by the num- ber of men, each officer recruited. The greatest exertions were excited, by this extraordinary rule for promotion, though its defects, in many in- stances, were destructive to military discipline. There are many men who are well calculated for recruiting sergeants, who would not be at all qualified to command a company.
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