USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 12
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This arrangement was very generally approved, but Colonel Jones, joined by some thirty-five men, determined to force their way across the
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PARTISAN SKIRMISHES.
state into North Carolina, and join the American army wherever it was to be found.
On the 14th, Jones surprised, by stratagem, a party of loyalists, killed one and wounded three, and took twenty-eight prisoners. The next day he joined Colonel McDonald at Earls' Ford, on Packolet River. The united forces numbered over four hundred men.
Ignorant of the approach of McDowell, Colo nel Innis, commander of the British garrison at Prince's Fort, despatched Captain Dunlop with seventy dragoons, in pursuit of Jones. Dunlop pressed forward with rapidity, attacked the Ame- rican encampment during the night, killed and wounded thirty-eight men, and retreated with the loss of but one man wounded.
A pursuit was immediately ordered, and after a march of fifteen miles in two hours, Dunlop was himself defeated in turn, with the loss of eight men killed at the first fire, and many others killed and wounded before he was enabled to reach the fort.
Clarke, having in the mean time, re-assembled his regiment, was joined soon after by Colonel Jones, near the line which separates North from South Carolina. His presence forming a great annoyance to Colonel Innis and his garrison, the latter determined to bring on a general action ; but after a short but indecisive skirmish at Waf- ford's Iron-works, in which Major Burwell Smith was killed, both parties retired from the field
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
The loss of Major Smith was greatly regretted by Colonel Clarke, who considered him as one of his best partisan officers.
The continued success of the American foraging parties determined Colonel Innis to increase his force, renew the attack upon Clarke's camp, and, if possible, drive him out of the country. On the night of the 17th of August, the approach of Innis-whose command consisted of three hun- dred and fifty men-was communicated to Colonel Clarke. Fortunately, the latter had previously been joined by Colonels Williams, Branham, and Shelby, whose forces had raised Clarke's num- bers to an equality with those of the enemy. It was, therefore, determined to give battle the next morning.
About four miles from Musgrove's Mill there was a plantation, through which was a lane, and Clarke considered that the north end of it afforded him a favourable position for an attack.
He advanced with one hundred men, himself on the right, and Major McCall on the left ; form- ing in the edge of the thick wood across the road, and extending his flanks near the fence. Wil- liams and Branham were ordered to form close in the rear of the flanks, and Shelby to cover the centre as a reserved corps, and to throw his force wherever circumstances might require. The advance-guard of the enemy were within fifty paces before they were aware of danger. When
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THE BRITISH DEFEATED.
Clarke commenced the attack, Innis ordered his dragoons and mounted militia to charge upon the Americans, and force them from the ground they occupied, that he might have room to form his regulars. Clarke was aware that the issue of the battle depended on his holding his ground, so as to force the British regulars to form in the open field, while his own men would be covered by the fence and the woods. Williams and Branham advanced and formed upon the right and left, and Shelby to the support of the centre, when the contest became close and sanguinary. Observ- ing this additional force, the dragoons and royal militia retreated into the lane among the British regulars, thus increasing the confusion, and flying from the field in the utmost disorder .. The regu- lars had not room to form, and if they had done so in the open field, it would have been to great disadvantage. In this confused state. exposed to a galling fire from the American riflemen, they remained but a few minutes before seven British officers out of nine were either killed or wounded ; and the men tumbled down in heaps, without the power of resistance. Among the wounded was the British commander. Captain Ker, second in command, finding that resistance would then be vain, and without hope of success, ordered a re- treat ; which was effected in close order for four miles, resorting to the bayonet in flank and rear. The pursuit was continued by the victors, until
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
the enemy took refuge in Musgrove's Mill. The British loss was sixty-three killed, and one hun- dred and sixty wounded and prisoners. The American loss was four killed and nine wounded. Among the former was Captain Inman, and among the latter were Colonel Clarke and Captain John Clarke. The colonel received two wounds with a sabre on the back of his neck and head. His stock-buckle saved his life. He was for a few minutes a prisoner with the enemy, in charge of two men; but taking advantage of his strength and activity, he knocked one of them down, and the other fled.
Colonel Clarke, after burying his dead, returned to his former encampment near the iron-works.
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PLEDGES VIOLATED.
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CHAPTER XIX.
Cornwallis violates his pledges of protection-Indignation of the people-Clarke returns to Georgia-Siege of Augusta- Brown's desperate defence-Cruger advances to reinforce Brown-Retreat of Clarke-Cruelty of Brown toward his prisoners-Savage treatment of Mr. Alexander by Colonel Grierson-Ferguson ordered to intercept-Is pursued himself -Battle of King's Mountain-Skirmishes-Clarke wounded.
LORD Cornwallis, having, as he supposed, en- tirely subjugated the states of Georgia and South Carolina, now shamefully determined to violate those pledges of protection which many of the inhabitants had been compelled previously to accept.
The impression first made upon the public mind was, that persons and property were to be secured against outrage and molestation by the British troops and loyalists ; and that peaceable citizens were not to take up arms against the crown of Great Britain so long as these conditions were duly regarded.
So soon, however, as Cornwallis had succeeded in restoring the government of the crown, he wrote secret orders to the commanders of his outposts, directing them to punish with the utmost rigour all who had taken part in the revolt, to imprison all who refused to take up arms on the
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
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side of the British, and to confiscate or destroy their property. The most positive instructions were also given to hang every militia-man who, after having once borne arms for the crown, had subsequently joined the patriots.
Orders of so sanguinary a character could not remain long unknown to the people. Indignant at this gross violation of the compact entered into between themselves and their brutal rulers, many immediately flew to arms ; while others of a cooler temperament smothered their resentment for a time, but were not the less resolved to shake off, at the first favourable opportunity, their allegiance to a government as treacherous as it was blood- thirsty. Among the most confident of those who entertained hopes that the authorized cruelties, which ensued soon afterward, would rouse a large proportion of the population into open rebellion, were Colonel Elijah Clarke and Lieutenant-colonel McCall.
About the 1st of September, 1780, the first returned to Wilkes county in Georgia ; while the other went into the western part of Ninety-Six district, with the expectation of raising a joint force of at least one thousand men. To such an army it was supposed that Augusta would sub- mit with little or no resistance, and that Ninety- Six might soon afterward be menaced, and would probably be evacuated by the enemy. The suc- cess of this scheme would have given the Ameri-
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AUGUSTA ATTACKED.
cans the whole of the western divisions of Georgia and South Carolina.
Instead of five hundred men, which McCall had confidently calculated on from Carolina, his persuasions could only induce eighty to accom- pany him upon the expedition. Clarke had been more successful. His numbers amounted to three hundred and fifty.
With this small band he determined to precipi- tate himself suddenly upon Augusta ; and as soon as he was joined by McCall, he commenced his march.
The garrison of Augusta consisted, at the time of Clarke's approach, of five hundred and fifty rangers and Indians, under the command of the renegade Colonel Brown.
On the morning of the 14th of September, the Americans halted, unobserved, near the town, and separated their forces into three divisions. One of these divisions, under Major Taylor, while advancing to the attack, fell in with an Indian camp near to Hawk's Creek, and drove the savages back upon their allies. Taylor press- ed'on to get possession of McKay's trading- house, denominated the white house, one mile and a half west of the town. At this house the Indians joined a company of the king's rangers, commanded by Captain Johnston. The attack upon the camp gave the first intimation to Brown of the Americans' approach. He ordered Grier-
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
, son to reinforce Johnston, and advanced to the scene of action in person, with the main body. The centre and right divisions completely sur- prised the garrisons of the forts, and took pos- session without resistance. Seventy prisoners, and all the Indians present, were put under charge of a guard, and Clarke marched with the residue to the assistance of Major Taylor. Brown and Grierson had joined Johnston and the In- dians, and upon Clarke's approach, took shelter in the white house, and defended it. Several attempts were made to dislodge the enemy, by taking possession of some small out-houses to the eastward; but they failed, from the houses being too small and flanked by the Indians. Finding that these houses furnished little or no defence, they were abandoned. A desultory fire was con- tinued from eleven o'clock until night, but it was found that the enemy could not be dislodged without artillery.
At the close of the day the firing ceased, and strong guards were posted to keep the enemy in check. Under cover of the night, Brown strengthened his position by throwing up some works around the house, and by filling the inter- stices between the weather-boarding with earth.
The next morning Clarke brought up two pieces of artillery from Grierson's Fort, which were placed in a position to bear upon the house ; but owing to unskilful management, and the
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SIEGE OF AUGUSTA RAISED.
fall of his only artillerist, they`proved of little use.
On the morning of the 16th, the Americans succeeded in driving the Indians from their shel- ter, and cut off the supply of water, by which the enemy, particularly the wounded, suffered greatly. Early in the engagement, Brown was shot through both thighs and suffered among the wounded, who were often heard calling for water and medical aid.
The sufferings of the wounded, the nauseous smell of animal putrefaction from the dead bodies of men and horses lying around, and the want of water, it was supposed, would induce the enemy to surrender.
Accordingly, on the 17th, Clarke sent Colonel Brown a summons, but the proposition was re- jected. In the afternoon the summons was re- peated; the reply of Brown expressed his deter- mination to defend himself to the last extremity.
The only hope of the latter rested upon the messengers he had sent off early in the contest to Colonel Cruger at Ninety-Six, asking immediate reinforcements. Nor were these hopes fallacious. On the night of the 17th, Clarke's spies informed him of the approach of Cruger by forced marches, with five hundred British regulars and militia ; and at ten o'clock on the morning of the 18th, the Americans raised the siege, after having held the enemy for three days almost within their
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
grasp. The retreat itself was a bitter mortifica- tion, but the consequences which immediately followed it were horrible.
When Clarke felt himself compelled to retire before a vastly superior force of the enemy, he humanely paroled his prisoners, to the number of fifty-four officers and men, hoping that this considerate policy would operate favourably in regard to such of his own wounded as were not in a condition to be removed from the town. He had fearfully mistaken the character of his enemy. The prisoners he had released immediately vio- lated their parole, and took up arms against him.
Captain Asby, an officer noted for his bravery and humanity, with twenty-eight others, including the wounded, fell into the hands of the enemy, and were disposed of, under the sanguinary order of Lord Cornwallis, in the following manner : Captain Asby and twelve of the wounded prison- ers were hanged on the staircase of the White- house, where Brown was lying wounded, so that he might have the satisfaction of seeing the victims of his vengeance expire. Their bodies were delivered up to the Indians, who scalped and otherwise mangled them and threw them in the river. Henry Duke, John Burgamy, Scott Redden, Jordan Ricketson, - Darling, and two youths, brothers, of seventeen and fifteen years of age, named Glass, were all hanged : the former of these youths was shot through the
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ATROCIOUS CRUELTIES.
thigh, and could not be carried off when the re- treat was ordered, and the younger brother could not be prevailed on to leave him ; his tenderness and affection cost him his life. A horse was the fatal scaffold on which they were mounted, and from the gibbet they entered together on the long journey of eternity.
All this was merciful, when compared with the fate which awaited the other prisoners. They were delivered to the Indians to glut their ven- geance for the loss they had sustained in the action and siege. The Indians formed a circle and placed the prisoners in the centre, and their eagerness to shed blood spared the victims from tedious torture : some were scalped before they sunk under the Indian weapons of war; others were thrown into fires and roasted to death.
Thus mournfully ended an expedition which, had it been successful, would have been lauded as highly as it was subsequently censured. 1
After the siege was raised the country was searched, and those whose relations were engaged in the American cause were arrested and crowded into prisons : others who were suspected of hav- ing intercourse with any of Clarke's command were hanged without the forms of trial. The venerable grandfathers of the American patriots, whose hoary heads were bending toward the grave, were crowded into filthy places of confine- ment for no other crimes than those of receiving
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
visits from their descendants, after a long ab- sence. Among the number was the father of Captains Samuel and James Alexander, in the seventy-eighth year of his age : he was arrested by a party commanded by Colonel Grierson, and by his order was ignominiously chained to a cart, and dragged like a criminal forty miles in two days; and when he attempted to rest his feeble frame by leaning upon the cart, the driver was ordered to scourge him with his whip. These old
men were kept in close confinement, as hostages for the neutrality of the country ; but by the in- clemency of the season, the small-pox, and inhu- man treatment, very few of them survived to greet their friends in freedom, upon the re-con- quest of it by the American troops.
So soon as Lord Cornwallis heard of the retreat of Clarke from Augusta, he directed Major Fer- guson, a partisan officer of distinguished merit, to march to the frontiers of South Carolina and intercept Clarke.
The hardy mountaineers of Virginia and North Carolina, collecting at this time from various quarters, constituted a formidable force, and ad- vanced by a rapid movement toward Ferguson.
At the same time, Colonel Williams, from the neighbourhood of Ninety-Six, and Colonels Tracy and Banan, also of South Carolina, con- ducted parties of men toward the same points. Ferguson, having notice of their approach, com-
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BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN.
menced his march for Charlottesville. The several corps of militia, amounting to near three thou- sand men, met at Gilbert-town, lately occupied by Ferguson. About one thousand six hundred riflemen were immediately selected, and mounted on their fleetest horses, for the purpose of follow- ing the retreating army. They came up with the enemy at King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780, where Ferguson, on finding he should be over- taken, had chosen his ground, and waited for an attack.
The Americans formed themselves into three divisions, led by Colonels Campbell, Shelby, and Cleaveland, and began to ascend the mountain in three different and opposite directions. Cleave- land, with his division, was the first to gain sight of the enemy's picket, and halting his men, he addressed them in the following simple, affecting, and animating terms :- "My brave fellows, we have beat the tories, and we can beat them ; they are all cowards. If they had the spirit of men, they would join their fellow-citizens in supporting the independence of their country. When en- gaged, you are not to wait for the word of com- mand from me. I will show you how to fight by my example. I can undertake no more. Every man must consider himself as an officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can. When you can do no better, get behind trees or retreat, but I beg you not to run quite
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
off. If we are repulsed, let us make a point to return and renew the fight; perhaps we may have better luck in the second attempt than in the first. If any of you are afraid, such have leave to retire, and they are requested imme- diately to take themselves off."
This address, which would have done honour to the hero of Agincourt, being ended, the men rushed upon the enemy's pickets, and forced them to retire ; but returning again to the charge with the bayonet, Cleaveland's men gave way in their turn. In the mean time, Colonel Shelby advanced with his division, and was in like manner driven back by the bayonets of the enemy; but there was yet another body of assailants to be received : , Colonel Campbell moved up at the moment of Shelby's repulse, but was equally unable to 'stand against the British bayonets, and Ferguson still kept possession of his mountain. The whole of the division being separately baffled, determined to make an other effort in co-operation, and the conflict became terrible.
Ferguson still depended upon the bayonet ; but this brave and undaunted officer, after gallantly sustaining the attack for nearly an hour, was killed by a musket-ball, and his troops soon after surrendered at discretion. The whole army of the enemy, consisting of over eleven hundred men, with but few exceptions, were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners ; and all their arms,
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-THE AMERICANS VICTORIOUS.
ammunition, camp equipage, horses, and baggage of every description fell into the hands of the victorious Americans. The loss of the latter did not exceed twenty in killed, though the number of their wounded was very considerable.
After disposing of their families among the hospitable inhabitants of Kentucky, Clarke col- lected the remains of his regiment, recrossed the mountains, and formed a junction with General Sumpter, on the borders of South Carolina. While they remained in the latter state, the Georgians took an active and an honourable part in the battles of Fishdam Ford, Blackstocks, and Longcane, and subsequently, under Morgan, shared in the more important victory at the Cow- pens. Colonel Clarke, however, was unable to take any part personally in the latter battle, owing to his having received a dangerous wound during the action at Longcane.
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
CHAPTER XX.
Skirmish at Beattie's Mill-Sickness of Clarke-Death of McCall-Georgians harass the British-Skirmish at Wig- gins's Hill-Death of Rannal Mckay and others-Augusta invested by Williamson-Clarke assumes command-Is re- inforced by Pickens and Lee-Fort Grierson abandoned- Colonel Grierson shot-Surrender of Brown-Mrs. McKay's interview with him-Fort Ninety-Six abandoned by Cruger -Wayne advances toward Savannah-Defeats three hun- dred Creek Indians-Pickens marches against the Cherokees -Closing of the war-Savannah evacuated-Treaty of peace concluded at Paris.
As soon as Clarke had sufficiently recovered of his wound, he joined General Pickens in Ninety-Six district, and took part in the skir- mish at Beattie's Mill on Little River. In this spirited affair, Major Dunlop, with seventy-five British dragoons, were signally defeated ; Dun- lop himself killed, nearly half of his entire force either killed or wounded, and the remainder made prisoners of war.
When it became known that General Greene intended to advance into South Carolina, Clarke proceeded into Georgia with his troops, accompa- nied by McCall and a part of his regiment from South Carolina.
About the middle of April, 1781, both these officers were seized with the small-pox. Clarke
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SKIRMISHES.
eventually recovered, but McCall returned into Carolina and died of the disease.
When the Georgians returned into their own state, they dispersed into parties of ten and twelve men each, so as to spread themselves over the settlements and harass the enemy as much as possible.
Information having been received by Colonel Brown, that Colonel Harden with a body of American militia was in the neighbourhood of Coosawhatchie, he ordered his provincials to join him at Augusta and defend it; but they shrunk from the dangerous task, and fled into the Indian country.
Brown now determined to attack Harden in person. They met at Wiggins's Hill; where, after a sharp contest, the Americans were de- feated, with the loss of seven killed and eleven wounded. Several prisoners were captured after the skirmish by detached parties of the enemy. Among these was Rannal Mckay, a youth of seventeen years of age. Mrs. McKay, who was a widow, hearing of the captivity of her son, re- paired to Brown's camp, carrying with her some refreshments which she intended to present to him, as a means of obtaining more ready access to his person.
Brown received the refreshments, but turned a deaf ear to her entreaties, and would not per- mit her to have an interview with her son, whose
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HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
fate she already foresaw : she was forced without the sentries. Colonel Rannal Mckinnon, a Scots officer, who was a soldier of honour, and unused to murderous warfare, remonstrated with Brown against hanging the youth, and gave Mrs. McKay some assurances that her son would be safe. Brown returned that night and encamped at Wiggins's Hill, and caused a pen to be made of fence rails, about three feet high, in which he placed his prisoners, and covered it over with the same materials. Mrs. McKay had followed to the camp, but was not permitted to enter it; and Captain Mckinnon, the advocate of hu- manity, was ordered on command.
On the ensuing morning, the prisoners, Rannal McKay, Britton Williams, George Smith, George Reed, and a Frenchman, whose name is not known, were ordered forth to the gallows; and after hanging until they were nearly dead, they were cut down and delivered to the Indians, who scalped them and otherwise abused their bodies in their accustomed savage manner.
The fate of young McKay inspired his brother, a youth of fifteen, to join his countrymen and add his strength in avenging the murder of his brother.
But the period was fast approaching when Georgia, bleeding and desolated, was to be re- lieved of the presence of her sanguinary oppres- sors.
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AUGUSTA BLOCKADED.
On the 16th of April, Lieutenant-colonel Wil- liamson, on whom the command of the Georgian militia was devolved during the illness of Colonel Clarke, assembled his detachment at the ap- pointed rendezvous on Little River, where he was shortly afterward joined by other detach- ments of Georgians and Carolinians. With this force, but little superior in numbers to his adver- sary, he marched at once upon Augusta.
Williamson took up a position within twelve hundred yards of the town, and fortifying his camp kept Brown in a state of blockade until the 15th of May. On that day, Colonel Clarke ar- rived with a reinforcement of one hundred men, and assumed the command.
Clarke was unfurnished with cannon, but had picked up an old four-pounder in the field, which had been thrown away by the British : believing it might be converted to use, he had it mounted, and employed a blacksmith to form pieces of iron into the shape of balls; and commenced his approaches by constructing a battery at four hundred yards distance from Grierson's Fort, and placed his gun upon it. Powder was so scarce, that orders were given not to use it when the sword could be substituted. He sent an express to General Pickens, stating his situation and re- questing assistance.
At the time the messenger reached him, Pick- ens had so weakened his force by detachments
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