USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 9
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1777.
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The scarcity of provisions in the country, particularly of the bread kind, which had been occasioned by the constant employment of the militia, became alarming. To remedy the evil as much as possible, the governor prohibited by proclamation, the exportation of rice, corn, flour, and all other kinds of provisions, which might be required for the subsistence of the inhabitants, or of the army. Another proclamation was issued, inflicting fines and penalties upon those who should be found guilty of undervaluing the state bills of credit ; but as there was no fund for the ultimate redemption of the paper money, its value lessened every day. An act of assembly was pass- ed to enforce the authority of such provincial statutes of the British code, as were not at vari- ance with the new constitution, or repealed by a state law. A land office was opened to encour- age an increase of settlers from the other states, with offers of land upon advantageous terms.
Previous to the raising of the minute battali- ons, the protection of the western division of the state, had been confided to colonel Marbury's re- giment of dragoons. When he was relieved from this service, his regiment wasdistributed intorang- ing parties, south of Alatamaha river, to act against the incursions of M'Girth : but the extensive country he had to defend, intersperced with a vast number of swamps, thickly covered with shrub- bery, enabled his cunning and expert adversary, to accomplish his purposes, either by stratagem or force.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778. 135
Late in the year 1777, the command in the southern states, was confided to major-general Robert Howe, who removed his head-quarters from Charleston to Savannah, early in the suc- ceeding year. On the 8th of January, the assem- bly met in Savannah, and John Houstoun, was appointed to succeed Truitlen, in the government of Georgia. The project of reducing East. Flo- rida was still cherished ; and in order to make the necessary arrangements for its accomplish- ment, the governor suggested to general Howe, the probable force he would be able to bring into the field, and the gratification he should feel in co-operating with him on an expedition, which had so long engaged the attention of Georgia. Howe agreed to exercise his reflections upon the proposition, and finally agreed to its adoption.
About this time, a party of loyalists, princi- pally inhabitants of the interior of South Carolina, embodied near Ninety-six, and crossed Savannah river, forty miles below Augusta ; where they were joined by a party of the same description from Georgia, commanded by colonel Thomas. They took possession of some boats, on the way from Augusta to Savannah with corn and flour ; and after supplying themselves with as much as they wanted, the remainder was destroyed and the boats sunk. This body consisting of four hundred men, supplied their wants on their route to East-Florida, and added to the distress of the inhabitants, by the destruction of such provisions as they did not use.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
This augmentation to the enemy's force on the south heightened the zeal of its advocates; and gave a spur to the action of the expedition. In the mean time, the movements of the enemy at Pensacola, as well as the preparations at St. John's and St. Mary's rivers, gave strong indications of a formidable attack upon Georgia. The proba- bility was strengthened by reports, which were entitled to some credit, that a re-inforcement of British troops was expected at St. Augustine.
To counteract the operations of the enemy, ·: general Howe determined to embody his disposa- ble forces, and act offensively or defensively, as the condition of his army might justify. The weak state of Georgia, rendered it incapable of self defence ; consequently general Howe could calculate on very little aid from its militia. It was assailable on every side ; no where prepared for defence ; many of the people disaffected to the American cause; the militia but few in number, almost without arms or ammunition ; and the Creek Indians, with their much dreaded imple- ments of war, ready to join their British allies. Property was but of secondary consideration, when the aged, the helpless, and the infant, were so ill fated as to fall into such hands.
General Howe's regulars, who were in condi- tion to take the field, did not exceed five hundred and fifty, and the militia, who were called from the western division of Georgia, left that quarter almost defenceless. Howe ordered a re-inforce-
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778. 137
ment of two hundred and fifty continental infantry and thirty artillerists, with two field pieces, under the command of colonel C. C. Pinckney, to join him from Charleston ; and called on the governor of Georgia for three hundred and fifty militia. He also ordered colonel Bull's and col nel William- son's regiments of Carolina militia, to rendezvous at Purysburgh, fifteen miles above Savannah.
James Mercer from St. Augustine, arrived at Savannah on the 21st of April, and was examined on oath before William Stephens, attorney-gene- ral. He stated that he sailed from St. Augustine on the 17th, under pretence of coming to St. John's; that a number of troops under the com- mand of general Provost, had marched, and were destined for Alatamaha ; three hundred loyalists had arrived at St. Mary's from the interior of Carolina and Georgia, and had placed themselves under the command of colonel Brown; and that seven hundred more were on their march, and soon expected; that an express had brought in- telligence from the Creek nation, that a body of Indians were on their march to join general Pro- vost, on the Alatamaha ; and that the object of this combined force, was to attack Georgia.
At this time colonel Elbert was posted at fort Howe. He had been informed that the brigantine Hinchenbrook, the sloop Rebecca, and a prize brig were lying at Frederica. He marched with three hundred men to Darien, where they were embarked on board of three gallies :- the Washı-
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
ington, captain Hardy ; the Lee, captain Brad. dock ; and the Bulloch, captain Hatcher ; and a detachment of artillery, under captain Young, on board of a flat. With this force he effected a landing at Pike's bluff, about a mile and an half from Frederica ; leaving colonel John White on board of the Lee; captain George Melvin on board of the Washington ; and lieutenant Pettey on board of the Bulloch; each with a detachment of troops, equal to offensive or defensive opera- tions. Immediately after landing, Elbert detach- ed major Roberts and lieutenant Rae with one hundred men, who marched up to the town and took three marines and three sailors of the Hin- chenbrook's crew: as it was then late in the night, the gallies did not engage until the next morning, for which purpose they drew up in order. The unexpected attack damped the spirits of the ene. my, and they took to their boats and escaped down the river. Captain Ellis of the Hinchenbrook was drowned, and nine of his crew taken prison- ers. Colonel White and captain Melvin took the prize brig without opposition : the crew follow- ed the example of their companions, took to their boats and escaped.
The success attending this enterprise, encour- aged colonel Elbert in making an attempt against the Galatea, anchored at the north end of Jekyl Island, for which purpose he manned the Hin- chenbrook and the sloop from the gallies ; but while he was making his preparations, the Galate?
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
hoisted sail and put to sea. When the success
of this enterprise was made known in Georgia, it had a good effect upon the dispirited militia, and general Howe considered it a favourable mo- ment to carry on the expedition against Florida.
On board of the Hinchenbrook, three hun- dred suits of uniform clothing were found, be- longing to colonel Pinckney's regiment, taken in the Hatter, which had been freighted with clothing for the continental troops in the southern depart-
teer off Charleston. The prisoners informed co- ment, and had been captured by a British priva.
lonel Elbert, that general Provost was on his march to attack Georgia, that the vessels taken by him were destined to Sunbury, where they were to join general Provost, who calculated that the weak state of the garrison at that place, would enable him to gain possession of it with little or no
Hinchenbrook was to be distributed among the opposition. The clothing found on board of the
lovalists, who were marching from Augustine, and other insurgents who were expected to join them after their arrival. Brown's regiment of rangers was to be completed and put in uniform. Preceding events compared with this narrative, gave it a claim to credit ; though it appeared a little extraordinary that a commanding-officer should make such a public disclosure of his in- tentions, unnecessarily, to his own disadvantage.
General Howe gave orders to colonel Pinck- gey, to join him with all expedition, and marched
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1773.
with all his force to fort Howe. Before he reached his destination, colonel M'Girth with a party of refugees had penetrated the Midway settlement, where he was opposed by superior force and com- pelled to retreat to St. Mary's. When general Provost was informed of general Howe's move- ments, his attention was directed to the repairs of his points of defence on St. Mary's and St. John's rivers, and in making such other arrangements as were best calculated for the defence of the pro- , vince. Fort Tonyn was put in the best state that its situation would admit, and cannon mounted for its defence. This fort was on the St. Mary's river, and some distance in advance of his other works. The ground was not well calculated for defence ; nor could the garrison be withdrawn, in the event of a siege.
General Howe arrived at the Alatamaha on the 20th of May, where he waited for his re-inforce- ments. He drew a favourable conclusion from the division of the enemy's force, in fortifying the out posts imagining that they would fall by detail, and that thereby his conquest would be easy and certain. The British works on St. John's river, were formidable. A battery waserected on each side, mounted with cannon, covering some armed vessels in the harbour.
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The favourable prospect held out by general Howe, for reducing this asylum for robbery ; un- der the control of the American government ; was soon spread over Georgia and Carolina, and Howe
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
could not have conceived a project which would luve been more popular, among all ranks of the community who were attached to the cause of freedom, than the one which he now contem- plated. Every plan which had been adopted by the American government to keep the Creek . Indians quiet, and prevent them from taking an active share in the war, had failed. The claims which had been always successful, in the form of presents, to the warriors and chiefs, were irre- sistable, when accompanied by assurances that regular supplies should be furnished for the use of the nation at large. To comply with these pro- mises, was completely in the power of Great-Bri- tain, through the medium of her merchants in East and West- Florida.
The American government could offer no in- ducements, by which Indian friendship is usually acquired. Presents of such kind as would be ac- ceptable, could not be procured. Ammunition was too important to their own defence, and its scarcity was so severely felt, that her troops often fled from the field of battle for want of it. There is no difficulty in deciding upon the part which would be taken by the Indians, where such pow- erful allurements were held out upon one side, and nothing but the justice of a national cause, held out upon the other. Add to this, an open door to the pillage of a country, which afforded neither the means of offensive nor defensive ope- rations.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
General Howe's army was badly supplied with munitions of war ; which ultimately tended to the destruction of his plans. On the 25th of May, he crossed the Alatamaha river and encamp- ed at Reid's bluff. The distressing effects, which must always arise from placing an army under more than one head, already began to appear. 'The governor of Georgia had taken the field at the head of her militia, and in opposition to the wishes of general Howe, had ordered the gallies to proceed up the river to Beard's bluff, fifty miles · above the influence of the tide. The shallows in the river, and the force of the current, rendered obedience to this order impracticable. On this occasion Howe made some ill natured comments, reflecting on the governor's generalship, at which the latter took offence. To this misunderstand- ing and the want of munitions of war ; was attrib- uted, the final failure of the expedition. Though governor Houstoun was a man of great political talents, his military skill had never been tested by experiment ; and when the militia of his own state were called into service, the constitution gave him a right to the supreme command. Gen- eral Howe was aware of this, and did not assume the power of hastening his movements, but in his private. letters, complained that they were very tardy.
On the 5th of June, the continental troops, under the command of colonel Elbert, marched for Sattilla river, with orders to take possession of
Tas-
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
the ferry, collect such boats as he could find, and throw up some works on each side to facilitate the advance, or cover the retreat of the army, as cir- cumstances might require. Howe complained that the tardy movements of the militia under governor Houstoun and colonel Williamson, had . given time to the enemy to put Florida in such a state of defence, as to counteract his plans. He had agreed to form a junction with commodore Bowen, at St. Mary's, on the 12th of June; there- fore he was obliged to march from Reid's bluff before the militia arrived. He proceeded without interruption, except from small parties of the ene- my, to St. Mary's river, where he found fort To. ayn had been evacuated and demolished. A de- tuchment of the enemy had halted at Alligator «reek, fourteen miles south of fort Tonyn, but prepared to retreat with security, should they be pressed by the Americans. Information was re- ceived, that twelve hundred men had marched from St. Augustine toward St. John's, and that two gallies, laden with twenty-four pounders and other heavy cannon, were sent round to the en- trance of St. John's river, to dispute the passage of the Americans, or to aid in a general engage- ment, if prudence would justify the risk.
An intelligent deserter from the enemy, gave the following account of the British force in Fast- Florida. Eight hundred regular troops, one hun- dred Florida rangers, one hundred and fifty pro- vincial militia, three hundred and fifty loyalists,
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
from the Carolinas and Georgia, and two hundred Indians ; making a total of fifteen hundred and fifty. . In this stage of the campaign, a letter from general Howe, dated July 5th, at the ruins of fort , Tonyn, will give the best impressions of his feel- ings.
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" I have been waiting for the gallies first, and after their arrival, a tedious time for the mili- tia of this state, and for the long expected coming of colonel Williamson and our countrymen with him. In short, if I am ever again to depend up- on operations I have no right to guide, an ? men I have no right to command ; I shall deem it then, as I now do, one of the most unfortunate incidents of my life. Had we been able to move at once, and those I expected would have been foremost, had only been as ready as we were, a blow might have been given to our enemies, which would have put it out of their power to have disturbed us, at least not hastily ; and perhaps have been attended with consequences more important than the most sanguine could have expected ; but de- layed beyond all possible supposition, embarass- ed, disappointed, perplexed, and distressed beyond expression ; the utmost we could now achieve, will be a poor compensation for the trouble and fatigue we have undergone, excepting we may be allowed to suppose (what I truly think has been effected) that the movements we have made, have drove back the enemy and prevented an impend- ing invasion of the state of Georgia, which would
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
otherwise inevitably have overwhelmed it, and also a dangerous defection of both states. This good I am persuaded has resulted from it, and this is our consolation. . The enemy were two of three days since at Alligator creek, fourteen miles from this place ; their forces by all accounts, are at least equal to either the governor's troops or mine, and we are on contrary sides of the river, and not within eight miles of each other. Ask me not how this happened, but rest assured that it has not been my fault. I believe however, that the governor will 'encamp near me to-night, and if the enemy are still where they were, which I hope to know to-night or to-morrow morning, we shall probably beat up their quarters."
It is to be inferred from the foregoing letter, and other circumstances connected with the sub- ject, that general Howe wished to draw the militia into Florida, where the constitutional powers of governor Houstoun, to command, would cease. Whether any other purpose could have been an- swered by it, except the personal gratification of general Howe, is doubted. His talents were not above mediocrity, and his generalship while he served in Georgia, was condemned by the officers who served under him, as well as by the people at large.
From fort Tenyn, he ordered three hundred Georgia militia to pursue the enemy to Alligator creek, to reconnoitre their position, and to attack them if they were not reinforced or strongly for-
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146 HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
tified. An entrenchment had been opened round the camp, fronted by logs and brush, as a substi- tute for abbatis : at first view the-camp was con- 1 sidered assailable, and a detachment of mounted militia, under the command of colonel Elijah Clarke, was ordered to penetrate the camp on the weakest flank, and if practicable to throw the ene- my into confusion, of which the main body was to take advantage by advancing quickly on the front. Clarke's detachment acted with great spirit, but their utmost efforts to pass the works were vain and unsuccessful ; the horses were en- tangled among the logs and brush, and with much difficulty got through : when they reached the ditch, it was found too wide to leap over. Here they were met by the fire and huzzas of the ene- my, to which the horses had not been accustom- ed, and they could not be forced to meet it. Co- lonel Clarke was shot through the thigh, and with difficulty escaped falling into the hands of the ene- my. A retreat was ordered, and the American loss was three killed and nine wounded. As the execution of this part of the plan of attack had failed, the main body did not attempt to perform that part of the operations, which had been assign- ed to it. Finding that nothing could be achieved, and that re-inforcements to the enemy were at hand, the Americans retreated and re-joined the army.
At an early stage of the expedition, the warmth! of the climate and change of water began to showy
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778. 147
their influence on the health of the soldiery. Ma- ny of the diseased were left at fort Howe, at the commencement of the campaign. Governor Houstoun arrived at St. Mary's on the 4th of July, and colonel Williamson on the 11th. The scar- city of forage had reduced the horses to thirty- . five below the necessary number to drag the ar- tillery, ammunition, provisions, and baggage. Under such circumstances, an advance was im- practicable, and a retreat could only be accom- plished by means of the water communication along the coast inland. The hospital returns con- tained one half of the army, and after the militia had joined in the expedition, it was found that there were as many independent commanders, as corps. Governor Houstoun declared that he would not be commanded by general flowe ; co- Ionel Williamson said that his men were volun- teers and would not yield to be commanded by a continental officer ; or in fact, any other, except himself ; and commodore Bowen insisted that the naval department was distinct and independent, of officers in command in the land service. With such disunion, the prospect of rendering essential service was unpromising and will always be at. tended with fatality.
The mortality occasioned by disease, increas. cd to an alarming degree. . A great number of militia had volunteered their services from the interior, where they had enjoyed the blessings of a healthy climate, breathed pure air, and drank
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
clear water. The apprehensions of such, sur- rounded with swamps at that season of the year, induced many to desert the camp and return to their homes. Under the influence of such unpro- pitious prospects, there were strong grounds for the belief that a general action would have been fatal to the American army.
The rapid progress of disease and other em- barrassments which have been noticed, induced general Howe to call a council of war on the 11th of July, to consult on the propriety of retreating while it was in his power. The council was com- posed of colonels Samuel Elbert, C. C. Pinckney, John White, - Tarling, - Eveleigh, Ro-
bert Rae, and Kirk ; and lieutenant-colonels
Daniel Roberts,
Scott,
Henderson,
and John M'Intosh ; and majors
- Wise, John Habersham, Thomas Pinckney, - - Ģrimkie,
- Brown, Roman De Lisle, Joseph Lane, and Philip Lowe.
General Howe opened the business upon which the council of war was summoned, by stat- ing to it, the motives of the enemy from East- Florida. " The posts they occupied and were en- deavouring to occupy, the stations their armed vessels had taken possession of, the number of insurgents rising in arms and forming a junction with them, the information received from desert- ers and persons entitled to credit, who had escap- ed trom St. Augustine, and from his spies sent out to make discoveries; all united to establish the
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 1778.
fact, that an immediate invasion against Geor zia, in all probability, too formidable to be repelled by the force he had at command, had induced him to call to the assistance of Georgia the con- tinental troops of South-Carolina; and that that state, with a conduct conformable to her usual spirit and generosity, had sent with the utmost readiness, even more than of right could have been demanded ; who in concert with the militia and continental troops of Georgia, had chased the enemy out of the country, obliged them to evacu- ate fort Tonyn, from whence continual inroads had been made into Georgia, dangerous to the persons and property of its inhabitants ; by which the army had, in the general's opinion, answered every purpose for which they had been called. But willing to have with him, the opinion of the field officers on every occasion, where they ought to be consulted, and ready to relinquish his own, should they offer any reasons which could autho- rise his doing so ; he wished to propose to them several questions. But previous to this, he thought it necessary to give them the following additional information : that driving the enemy out of Georgia and dislodging them from fort 'T'o- nyn, were the principal ends at which he had aim. cd ; yet had the'enemy in defence of that post, or any other, thought proper to oppose him, and he had been happy enough to meet them in detail, he should have been ready to have availed himself of every advantage which might have resulted
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA, 177S.
from it. By the information received from cap. tains Moore, Heyrn, and Taylor, the roads through Florida were naturally: bad; had been rendered worse by the enemy's having broken up and destroyed the bridges and throwing other im. pediments in the way, so that neither artillery nor an munition waggons could pass without great labour and loss of time ; and that from all appear- ances, the enemy had abandoned the idea of oppo. sition on the north side of St. John's river : that the deputy quarter-master-general had reported, that the long march and hard service had destroy- ed many horses, and rendered so many others unfit for use, that there was a deficiency of at least forty for the absolute necessities of the service : that the surgeon general and all the surgeons of the army had reported, that at least one half of the troops were sick, many of them dangerously ill, and that by the encreasing inclemency of the climate, the greater part of the army then fit for duty, would either by continuing there or advanc- ing, most probably be destroyed : that by the information received from commodore Bowen, the gallies could not get into St. John's river, without consuming much time and labour in cut- ting a passage through Amelia narrows; and that if such a passage could be effected, the accounts he had received, all concur in making it probable that the enemy were ready to oppose his opera- tions, when in the river, with a superior force."
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