A history of Georgia : from its first discovery by Europeans to the adoption of the present constitution in MDCCXCVIII / by William Bacon Stevens

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I

HISTORY OF GEOftGIA,
FROM ITS
FIRST DISCOVERY BY EUROPEANS
TO THE ADOPTION OF THE
PRESENT CONSTITUTION
IN
M D C C X C V I I I.
BY
REV. WILLIAM BACON STEVENS, M.D., D.D.,
FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF BELLES-LETTRES, HISTORY, ETC., IN THE UXIYERSITY OF GEORGIA, ATHENS.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO.
1859.

to rn-
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S59, BY WM. BACON STETENS,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
fit C. SHEEMAX & SOS, PRINTERS,
Corner Seventh and Cherrj Streets, PMladelpMa

CONTENT S.

BOOK THIRD.

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

CHAPTER IV. THE NEW GOVERNOR, JAMES WRIGHT, . . . . .

'

CHAPTER V.

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA, . . .

CHAPTER VI. LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES, ........

PAOI
.17
35

BOOK FOURTH.

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

CHAPTER I. D AWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES, ETC., .

CHAPTER II.

THE FIRST BA-TTLE IN GEORGIA, ......

100

CHAPTER III.

SOUTHERN EXPEDITIONS, . . . . . .

138

CHAPTER IV.

SOUTHERN INVASIONS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH, .

160

Xll

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V. BATTLES OF KETTLE CREEK AND BRIER CREEK,

CHAPTER VI. SIEGE OF SAVASNAH, .....

;

CHAPTER VII.

SIEGE OF AUGUSTA, ......

CHAPTER VIII. EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH, ....

:'?f,',t'>wf^-swFf
PAGE
181 200
240
268

BOOK FIFTH.

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

CHAPTER I. ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT, ...... 290

CHAPTER II.

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES AND LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS,

338

Sf

CHAPTER III.

i

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION--GENERAL CLARKE'S SETTLEMENT,

384

CHAPTER IV. SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, ....... 410

CHAPTER V.

ii

YAZOO SPECULATIONS, ......... 457

CHAPTER VI.

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1798, AND CONCLUSION, .

497

INDEX, ............ 507

PREFACE.

I"
A..

MORE than eleven years ago the first volume of thf

History of Georgia was given to the public.

f-

It was then expected that the second and concluding

volume would follow?within a year or two, arid most

of the copies of the first volume were kept back from

sale, with the hope that the work would be soon com t!

pleted, and both sent out together.

-



My removal from Georgia in 1848, at what I deemed

the emphatic bidding x)f God's providence, and the toil

and time required in the care of one of the largest

city

parishes,

rendered

it

almost

impossible

for

me

to} ' -.

find sufficient leisure to prosecute those researches

^r

which could be conducted only in Georgia; and hence,

delay succeeded delay until years had passed. While:

thus almost despairing of bringing the work to a;

conclusion, the Georgia Historical Society, through a

committee, of which Bishop Elliott was chairman,

urged me anew, and in the most generous manner, to;?'

resume my half-suspended labors, and to permit the]; '"

-'

'

"

- -'A'

work when done to be published at the expense of the';

Society. Cheered byfthis confidence, I addressed my4J

self with renewed diligence to the task,-and the result

fi- *
If
r?,
it-

sir

PREFACE.

is now laid before the public. But for the request of

the Georgia Historical Society, made to me through

an honorable Committee in 1841, I should never have

commenced the work; but for the material of books

and manuscripts which their archives and influence

opened to my research, I could not have Drosecuted

my labors; and but for its long-continued confidence

and its late resolutions of encouragement and regard, I

should not have been able to complete what I began

under such auspices.

The delay, however, has not been without its bene

fits. It has enabled me to bring to my pleasing task

greater historic materials, and a more matured judg

ment; and thus, perhaps, I have written with more

soberness, accuracy, and propriety than I should have

done had I finished the work ten years earlier.

j

As the volume has been written mostly from manu- ;

script materials, and as I have but rarely based my f

statements on the authority of published works, I have

deemed it unnecessary to specify every source from

which the body of the text is derived, especially as

they could not be referred to by the general reader.

In the preparation of this History I have had access to"

the Manuscripts and printed Journals of the Governors/

and Committees of the Council of Safety, the Provincial

Congress, the Executive Council, the two Houses of the

Assembly, the Conventions of the State, the Meetings

of Indian Commissioners, and other public bodies. |

I have consulted the private papers and letters of

PEEPACE.

:

many who took a prominent part in the affairs of GeorJ.

gia, together with the manuscript documents obtained "
by the Legislature from the State;Paper Office, th|

Board of Trade, and the British Museum, in London!

Manuscript notes of former historians, private joufj-

nals of eminent men, order-books of general officers!,

and the oral or written reminiscences of old soldiers

and settlers, have afforded me much light and aid. -j

The ground over which I have travelled has, in all

instances, been re-examined in theplight of original

authorities, and thus has been more thoroughly ex

plored than on any previous occasion.

4

Those who have attempted to write a history froifl

original manuscript material, will fully understand the

labor of poring over thousands of pages blurred and

faded by age and stains, and the difficulty of adjusting

the often discordant materials, and framing out of the

mass a true and readable history.



To those who have never attempted such a task, no

description will ever convey an adequate idea of the

toil and trial.

f

Having prescribed to myself at the beginning of my

work a definite historic period, I stop there, though it
c-
leaves the work in the midst of a most interesting

state of public affairs. It has been my aim to trace"

the great current of events from the settlement of

Georgia to the adoption of the Constitution of 1798^

and in order to keep the volume from swelling beyond

its proper dimensions I have been~ obliged to omit.

XVI

PREFACE.

many interesting personal and collateral events, which, however, would have led me aside from the main

channel of my History.

To the many friends who have, by the loan of papers,

and by kind suggestions and encouraging words, aided

me in this work, I tender my. special thanks. Espe

cially are such thanks due to I. K. Tefft, Esq., of

Savannah, in whose library the idea of writing this

History was conceived; in whose rich collection of

autographs and manuscripts I obtained the material

for many of my most interesting pages; in whose un

tiring zeal to serve me I have found an invaluable

helper; and to whom I here tender the gratitude of a

1

heart which, for more than a quarter of a century, has

ever found in him a true and generous friend.

, For the excellent Index to this volume, I am indebted

to the kindness of my nephew, the Rev. Wm. Stevens

Perry, M.A., for which I return my sincere thanks.

Grateful to God, who has enabled me to complete

this work, I commit it to the citizens of Georgia, con

scious indeed of its imperfections, yet happy in the

assurance that it is written with the single desire to

display the truth, free from all personal or political bias,

and in the hope that it will prove a reliable, and there

fore an enduring history of a colony,--the youngest

and the weakest of the old thirteen; of a State,--one

of the greatest and most influential of the confederated

sovereignties which make up the American Union.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 1,1859.

1:
f.

f'
I
1ISTORY Ofr GEORGIA

K"
lo O HI ED.
GEORGIA TINDER RPYAL GOVERNMENT
S--

ICHAPf ER IV.

THE NEW GOVERNR, JAMES WEIGHT.

the llth fOctober, 11760, Lieutenant-Governor

Jarries ,-;

Wright ^J

arrived '.

in

Georgia.

)

*--J

;

This gentleman, whose ^subsequent career forms so

interesting a portion of 6ur history, was descended

from the ancient family >bf Wright of Kilverstone,

whose possessions in the county of Norfolk, England,

date from Henry VIII. His grandfather, Sir (Robert

Wright, Knight, was Chief Justice of the Court ot

Kinds Bench, in the time of James II, and presided

in that capacity in the celebrated trial of the seven

Bishops, in 1688; His grandmother was the daughter

of JVJatthew Wren, Lord Bishop of Ely (nephew of

Sir Christopher Wren), f

TOL. II.

*L?i?)KiV.;
I' f.-

II
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fef ; *.?>; ..

18

GEORGIA UNDER ROYALfGOVERNMENT.

James Wright was born m S|uth Carolina, of which

province his father, the Hondratle Robert Wright, was

Chief Justice. At an earjy jage he was appointed

Attorney-General of his native]colony, an office which

he retained twenty-one yearj3| discharging its duties

with ability and diligence. J ;|

J

<--

-5; : ;^

-' \ '

In many respects he was;peculiarly qualified tor his

new position, as Lieutenant-Governor of Georgia: his

American birth, his long Jresjidence in Carolina, his

familiarity with colonial affairs, his business habits and

legal acquirements, pointeo^ K|m out as one who would

secure the confidence of thfe Georgians, and administer

the government with dignityland prudence.

O

^

;',',

,, $"

*

Governor Ellis left Savannah on the 2d November,

1760, and the commission ol Mr. Wright was imme

diately published, with th^e'ujsual formalities.

The General Assembly/ met the day following, and

in his opening speech he; cMled the attention of both

houses to the dangers to;- which the province was ex

posed, from the Creek ^Indians, who were rendered

insolent and threatening by;the partial successes of the

Cherokees in Carolina, and by the intrigues of the

French at Mobile and the; Alabama Fort. He also

spoke of the defenceless .state of Savannah, of the

necessity of finishing the fortifications already begun,

and of erecting such other as the exigencies of the

times required.

<./?

The entire military strength of the colony, at this

time, consisted 1 of twoj;trot>ps of Rangers, three small

s Regiments of militia, andf a detachment of fifty men

from South Carolina; the^whole number, from the sea-

1 MS. Documents"from Board of Trade, ix,

GOVERNOR JAMES WRIGHT;

19

board to Augusta, and from the Alatamaha to the Sa vannah, including, alarm-men and superannuated citi- : zens, did not exceed eleven hundred men. Of this ; force only one-half could be considered as effective troops; and those who might be relied upon were so badly provided with arms and ammunition that they icould give but slight protection in time of danger.
The removal of the seat of government to Hard- b wicke, which had received the favorable notice .o ?,
. .-^
former Governors, was discouraged by Mr. Wright,^ who argued, that if the object of a removal was to | obtain a more central position, Hardwicke was too :; near; while, on the other hand, a removal there would I be very disadvantageous to the present capital, which : was conveniently settled for intercourse with the In- ' dians and for trade with South Carolina. The project was therefore abandoned, and the attention of the As sembly was directed to enlarging and "strengthening the city which Oglethorpe had founded.
The death of George II occurred on the 25th October, 1760; the official intelligence of it did not reach Savannah until February, 1761, when, in conse quence, the Assembly was dissolved, and the Governor in Council ordered, as was customary on such occa sions, writs of election to issue for a new Assembly, to meet on the 24th March following. Funeral honors to the late sovereign were paid on the 9th February, and, on the day following, George III was proclaimed King in the most solemn manner, with the utmost civil \ and military pomp which the Province could display.,. !i It was the only time this ceremony of proclaiming a. ; King was witnessed in Georgia.
The first session of the third General Assembly met ,

f*v--
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tIif rt
jIi[
HH'iJl
iir f

20

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

in March, 1761, and the Governor, in his opening

speech, congratulated them on the happy accession of

the young King to the throne of his grandfather.

The speech called forth a loyal echo from both houses,

and they proceeded to business, resolving "to make it j

their study9 to promote his majesty's service, anjt pay

all due obedience to his loyal commands." C



But little business of historical importance was

transacted by this Assembly. The principal object of

desire was that the King should approve of the act >

passed on the 1st of May, 1760, for stamping, imprinting, !

issuing, and making current, the sum of 7410 in paper -

bills of credit, and for applying and sinking the same, f

To secure this purpose, both the Council and lower ;

House addressed the Governor, intreating him to use '

his good offices with the Lords Commissioners for

Trade and Plantations, that they would please to in

tercede with his majesty for his royal approbation and

allowance of the same. This act was essentially/

necessary to the trade and commerce of Savannah,

which greatly suffered for lack of more pecuniary

facilities than the limited supply of sterling money or

colonial currency permitted. Though Governors Rey-v

nolds and Ellis had, under legislative sanction, issued

paper bills of credit to a small extent, yet Mr. Wright

assured the Board of Trade3 that, at the time this last

act was passed, the entire currency for trade, Indian

affairs, and other purposes, amounted to only about

5500, which sum was being annually reduced, by

calling in and sinking a certain per cent., according to

the original intention of the acts. The Governor ac-

,.., 2 MS. Journal of Council in Assembly, 457.

3 MS. Documents, is, 97.

"

J

GOVERNOR JAMES WEIGHT.

21

cordinglf represented to the Board of Trade that, unless the new act and emission were allowed, " they should r'eally be involved in very great difficulties." The King's Solicitor, Sir Matthew Lamb, made no objection; to the bill, and the money was put in circu lation. I
The importance of fortifying the island of Cockspur early forced itself upon the attention of the Governor, "not only as being necessary in time, of war, for the protection of trade and of the province, but also useful in time of peace, for enforcing a due obedience to our laws." Accordingly, what Captain De Brahm, the en gineer, employed for the purpose, called a " redoubted caponiere," was erected on the south side of the island, while a small battery of three eighteen-pounders only was deemed sufficient to protect the channel on the northern side. About the same time, " to prevent all clandestine trade and his majesty's enemies from being supplied with provisions," the Governor, by the advice and consent of his Council, declared and established Sunbury |o be a port of entry, and appointed Thomas Carr collector, John Martin naval officer, and Francis Lee searcher; which officers were approved by the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs.
On the' 20th March, 1761, the King conferred upon Mr. Wright full executive powers, with the title of Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief. This promo tion was deserved, for the zeal which he had displayed in advancing every interest connected with Georgia, and for the distinguished ability which marked his intercourse with the Indians, during a period when the slightest imprudence would have involved the people in ? the horrors of a savage warfare. His com-

I
il-
1&; .r'
toiftX^-tl ' 1"

22

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

mission--such was then the slow transit between the two countries--did not reach Savannah until the 28th January, 1762, when it was published with \ the usual formalities. The regiment of militia, commanded by Colonel Noble Jones, was drawn up in Johnsbn Square, and, after the commission was read, fired three volleys, which were answered by the cannon from?Fort Hali fax, and by all the ships in the river. In the evening, the Governor gave a ball to the ladies, "at which there was the most numerous and brilliant appearance ever known in the town."4 Nearly every house was illu minated, and the chronicle of the day declares that "there never was an occasion on which the joy and satisfaction of the people were more apparent." But, while the Governor, by his approved abilities and un sullied integrity, was securing the confidence and affec tions of the people, there were sources of disquietude around him, which demanded wisdom, prudence, and unquailing firmness. The first sore trial to his pa tience, was the conduct of William Grover, the Chief Justice of Georgia. This person had been appointed to his distinguished station by the Earl of Halifax, during the administration of Governor Ellis; but, fail ing to agree with the Governor, he absented himself from the Council board, and began that peculiar course of conduct which gave such just offence to the Go vernor and the whole province. After waiting a suffi cient time to ascertain whether he would resume his seat in the Council, the Governor sent to require his attendance. This he refused to do, and shortly re signed his seat; and, declining all intercourse with

*" ' * South Carolina Gazette, February 20, 1762. -.,-

GOVERNOR JAMES WRIGHT.

23

the executive, he directed the whole force of his offi cial and personal character to thwart and derange the course and counsels of the government. The Go vernor, in a very temperate manner, laid the case before his Council, and, after a full investigation, they unanimously declared,5 " That Mr. Grover's conduct has been and is dishonorable,'partial, arbitrary, illegal, indecent, and not consistent with the character, duty, and dignity of his office," and recommended his suspen sion until the pleasure of the King was known. He was accordingly suspended, and a memorial was sent to the Board of Trade, setting forth that he had in trigued with the Assembly, :and hindered the course of legislation--that he was illegal, arbitrary, and op pressive in his judicial acts;--in short, that his con duct, in every respect, seemed exceptionable--deroga tory to his station and prejudicial to the honor and interest of both his majesty and the province in which he was the great law-officer of the crown. These complaints were amply substantiated, and, the Board of Trade concurring in the view of the Governor and Council, the King removed him from office in March, 1763.
The mal-conduct of Mr. Grover produced serious effects on the legal and legislative condition of the province. He was the first Chief Justice of Georgia, and his position as the law adviser of the executive and the supreme legal authority in the province, de manded of him a conduct consonant to the eminence of his rank and the dignity of his profession. In so small a community, the character of a Chief Justice

5 Documents Board of Trade, x, 8.

I:<$:'

24

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENTT.

_>..

;..

must have an important influence in moulding the

legal proceedings of the colony, and in shaping; in

deed, the moral character of the community, f Kwas

truly unfortunate that Georgia's first Governor (Rey

nolds) and first Chief Justice (Grover) Should |iave

II

been men so unworthy of their station, and so; defelict

to their high and responsible trusts. Tneir;cotiduct.

i

retarded, to a great extent, the advancement and

prosperity of the province.

I

:

Another source of anxiety to the Governor,: was the

fluctuating and uncertain state of the Iifdian ajfairs.

The French, before the declaration of warfon the 17th

i

May, 1756, and especially since, had spared noieffbrt to instigate the Creeks and Cherokees | against the

colonists, and thus harass, if not effectually extirpate,

the southern plantations. The aim oft the French

seemed to be to involve all the colonies |n a general

Indian war. By means of presents of warlike stores

and flattering speeches, they at last succeeded in effect

ing a rupture between the Cherokees and the English,

which resulted in a tedious and wasting war, which

was only finally quelled by Colonels Montgomery and

Grant, at a vast expense of treasure, suffering, and

blood. In this war South Carolina, North Carolina,

and Virginia were the chief sufferers, as Georgia,

through the unwearied assiduity of Governor Ellis,

ll

was saved from ruin--for he not only calmed the

Creeks and pacified the Cherokees, but dissuaded them

from their base designs, and engaged them to a strict

neutrality. 6

*r ;

Mr. Wright aimed to pursue towards the Indians

the same mild and judicious course; and had the wise

&.

. <s

6 Adair's History of American Indians, 256. :

GOVERNOR JAMES WEIGHT.

25

counsels of Governor Bull and himself been followed, a rupture might have been.avoided.
The emissaries of the French, however, were unre mitting in their efforts to detach all the southern In dians from the English interests; and it required all the talent, patience, and boldness of which Wright was master, to counteract their arts and bring them to act in concert as allies of the British crown. The Spaniards pursued a course similar to the French; encouraging the savages in their interest to .acts of massacre and deeds of incendiarism worthy of their cruel and relentless nature.
Dangers from both these powers menaced the colony several years; while to counteract them, and secure tranquillity to the weakest and most exposed of the thirteen colonies, Mr. Weight was compelled to rely for defence, not so much on arms and military strength, as upon the prudence of his measures, the wisdom of his counsels, and the firmness of his conduct. These did not fail him in the time of trial, and with them he was enabled to secure peace, and pave the way for those future benefits which resulted from his wellplanned administration.
By the Peace of Paris (February 10th, 1763) he was somewhat relieved from these vexing troubles, for though that treaty was stoutly opposed in England, as "premature and inconclusive," yet to the American colonies it proved an invaluable blessing. By the sixth article of this treaty, it was stipulated that the west ern boundary line between Great Britain and France should be the middle of the Mississippi River, and by the twentieth article his Catholic majesty of Spain ceded to England the Floridas, and all that Spain possessed

r

26

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

on the Continent, to the east or southeast of the Mis

sissippi, except the island of New Orleans. This re

moval of the Spanish rule from St. Augustine and

Pensacola, and of the French from the Alabama Fort

and Mobile, relieved the colony of some of its most

* t

grievous troubles, those which were fomented by the

rivalry and jealousy of these national enemies of our

I

religion and government. Another great advantage to Georgia incidental to

il

this cession of territory was, that Florida was divided into two provinces, and was erected into two separate

it

English governments, with a full colonial establish ment in each; thus leaving Georgia no longer the

southern and western frontier, but protected on her

lower boundaries by the new colonies of East and West

Florida. Not only had enemies been dislodged, but

friends had been introduced in their place; and it

now possessed security from its three potent enemies,

the French, the Spanish and the Indians, which it

had never obtained before. The effect was most salu

tary : inhabitants flocked in, lands we're taken up and

cleared, new settlements projected, trade was enlarged,

wealth increased, and a clay bright with many promises

of future aggrandizement dawned upon the long ha

rassed and afflicted colony. But though the formida

ble European enemies of the province were removed,

the Indians in their interest, who occupied lands ceded

to the crown, still remained. For the purpose of ap

prising them of the change, as well as to secure their

amity and confidence, the Earl of Egr'ernont, then

principal Secretary of State for the Southern Depart

ment, wrote, by command of his majesty, to the Go

vernors of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,

GOVERNOR JAMES WRIGHT.

27

arid Georgia, directing them, together with Captain

Stuart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, to, hold a

congress with the Creeks, Cherokees, Catawbas, Chick-

asttws and Choctaws. at Augusta, or elsewhere, as they

shfould deem expedient.

;

iln opposition to the views of the other Governors,

wiio wished to hold the congress in South Carolina,

Governor Wright suggested that it would evince the

confiding trust of the English in the tribes, as well as

secure a larger attendance of the chiefs and warriors

from their various towns, if they met at Augusta,

which, after some delay, they agreed to do, as most of

the Indians positively refused to go to South Carolina.

The necessary arrangements having been made, the

session of this-novel yet important congress opened at

Augusta, on Saturday morning, the 5th November,

1763. There were present on the part of the English

government, James Wright, Governor of Georgia;

Arthur Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina; Thomas

Boone, Governor of South Carolina; Francis Fauquier,

Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, and Captain John

Stuart, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the South

ern District. On the part of the Indians, there ap

peared twenty-seven chiefs of the Upper and Lower

Chickasaws, two of the Choctaws, nine of the Upper

and Lower Creeks, fifteen of the Cherokees, and one

of the Catawbas, accompanied by their squaws and

friends, making in all about seven hundred Indians.

After seven persons had been sworn in as interpre

ters, Governor Wright opened the session, by observ

ing, "that the day was fair, and hoped that the talks

would not prove otherwise; that the several Governors

:had pitched upon Captain Stuart, to deliver their sen-

28

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERML^T.

timents; that they were agreed upon tie declarations

to beipiade to the Indians; and desired them to pay

attention to what Captain Stuart utterec. as they were' *

the words of all the Governors." Accordingly, Captain;

Stuart;began his talk to them as friend* Aad brothers,

assuriiig them, that " no conference was ever intended

to before general, none more friendly f for now,'"at

a time when he has nothing to apprehend from any

of his- enemies, the Kins of England opens his arms

7

O

O



to receive his red children," doing it "the rather at

this juncture, as he knows the insinuations and false

hoods which have been formerly circulated among you

by the perfidious and cruel French." He then pro

ceeded to tell them that, having defeated and humbled

1

that nation, as also the Spaniards, "the King had now

given peace to both nations; and to prevent the revival

of such disturbances, by repetition of such dangerous

proceedings, and for this purpose only, he insisted in

the treaty of peace that the French and Spanish should

be removed beyond the river Mississippi, that the In

dians and white people may hereafter live in peace

and brotherly friendship. It will be your faults if this

does not happen, for we are authorized by the great

King to give you the most substantial proofs of our

good intention and desire to live like brothers with

fc

you." He also assured them that .-.11 past offences

should be buried in oblivion; that they should be

plentifully supplied with goods; that justice should be

done them on all occasions, and that the forts ceded to

the English by the French and Spanish should be em

ployed for their protection, assistance, and convenience.

To this exposition of English views the Indians re

plied on the following Monday and Tuesday, and, after

GOVERNOR JAMES WRIGHT.

29

mutual explanations and promises, a treaty for the preservation and continuance of a fair and perfect peace and friendship between his most sacred majesty George III and the several kings, head men, and war riors-of the Chickasaws, Upper and Lower Creeks, ChoctawsJ; Cherokees, and Catawbas, was concluded oil the 10th November, and the congress adjourned, under a salute from the guns of Fort Augusta,7
The results of this treaty were beneficial both to the Indians and to the colonists. It insured protection to the former, and tranquillity to the latter; and, by the further acquisition of territory, so enlarged the bound aries of Georgia, as to afford ample tracts of land to the new settlers, who were now daily flocking to the
colony. -, Among the applicants for lands within the newly
acquired territory, were Denys Holies and the Earl of Eglintoun. The former gentleman was the brother of Lord Rolles, Baron of Stevenstone, one of the most distinguished families in Devonshire, and who sat in
Parliament for the county of Devon. In the beginning of 1764, this gentleman, in com
pany with William Eeynolds, an Elder Brother of the Trinity House, Colonel George Buch, Captain John Buch, and Dr. Robert Willan, petitioned the Board of Trade for a tract of land, "from the Georgia line on the north to another line southward, to be drawn parallel to the equator, from two miles below the forks of the Apalachicola River to the Alatamaha, to be bounded

7 Journal of the Proceedings of the Southern Congress, at Augusta, in 1763. Printed at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1764:-, only fifty copies
printed.

!
H
tr\semm.tf.e.';-:,
-j^-i. *' f^-*"--;;^:!
I-fe^'
*VS:^#W
li

30

GEORGlI UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

m

tlie west by fhe first, and on the east by the last of thes rvers."8

m-

Tey propose!

town

:

the3|.latamaha,f nd a larger onejjclesigned for the capi

-fei

m tal, Iwas to beferected on thefApalachicola. Their

objects were tof cultivate silk, indigo, and cotton; to

collect ship tiniber, and especially knees of live-oak,

and^naval store$ ; to open a more easy communication

wit| the Oeek| than by way c-f Augusta, and a freer

access to the (|ulf of Mexico than by the dangerous

route round thl keys of Florida^ Mr. Holies purposed

to go over himself to superintend the first embarkation

and planting of" this new colotiy, and solicited that a

regular government, with proper courts of justice,

might be appointed ; at first, lo be supported by the

crown, vesting&he proper powers in the petitioners as

proprietors, infthe same way as was formerly done in

Pennsylvania and Maryland. %'/

This plan not meeting the approbation of the Board

of . Trade, the petitioners made|;a request to the EarTof

Hillsborough, lind the other lOords Commissioners for

Trade and Plantations, for thie grant of Cumberland

Island, on the coast of Georgia, " for the purpose of

raising cotton) silk, oil and wine, and such other com

modities as may be hoped for in a warm climate."

This also was; denied; and the failure of such plans in

their inception prevented thejstill deeper reverses and

miscarriages, :Jthat must have ;;attended the putting in

operation schemes so ideal in their design, and so ex

pensive in their construction.:

>Not six months after the application of Mr. Holies,

iV

.V*'

v;.-\

.';

4

8 Board of Trade, x, 68.

GOVERNOR JAMES WRIGHT.

31

Alexander Montgomerie, the tenth Earl of Eglintoun,

with (fthers, presented a petition to the King in coun

cil, setting forth/ that "your petitioners, Alexander,

Earl of|Eglintoun, and others, are willing to introduce

into tHese provinces *100,000 settlers, viz.: 16,000 the

'f- i

'

first fiye years, and 18,000 every five years after, till

the whole is completed, at their own expense, for the

property of the soil only, the crown reserving the

entire fjurisdiction, with power to order and direct the

proprietors to give what grants your majesty shall be

pleased: to signify to them by your Secretary of State

or the.pj.ords of Trade and Plantations.

~f.- -

'

'"'

" Is^ We most humbly beg that one of the royal

family; will be graciously pleased to be at the head of

this great and expensive undertaking.

" 2cj.{ We are willing to oblige ourselves to comply

with the terms of your majestys late proclamation for

encouraging the settlement of .that country.

" 3d;v We desire our legal grants of lands already

made.jin these countries may be confirmed, and that

the proprietors may be restrained from making grants

to any one person exceeding five hundred acres

(except to such as have greater allowance by your

majestys proclamation), which grants to contain in

dispensable terms and conditions of cultivation, and

to subject the new settlers to no higher quit-rents than

what is at present paid in those provinces.

"4th. We will give full and sufficient security to

pay into your majestys exchequer, free of all charges

and deductions, one shilling per annum for every one

hundred acres that is already and may be hereafter

9 Board of Trade, x, 1ST.

32

GEORGIA iUNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.





granted awayfj provided, 'such quit-rents be not ex

acted or Apay*/ abW-.&li,.e t- ill fifteen *y/ ears from the date of the respective grajfts^

"And all tfijbse conditions we will be obliged to per

form, upon a jjenalty of the resumption of the grants,

and the lossf|f whatever we may have laid out pre

vious to the fclieiture, together with any other security

that may be ljudged necessary for the performance of

this task, parfjcularly against a monopoly of the lands,

by being subject to such directions respecting grants

as your majesty shall from time to time signify to us

by your Secretary of State and Lords of Trade and

Plantations, ^hereby we shall be as much under the

control of yolr majesty's Government as the present

Governors aritl Councils of those provinces, or any

other part offthe Continent of America, who are now

vested with la power of granting lands under your

majesty's commissions and instructions; and we are

also ready to submit to any other measures for the

true and reasonable interest of the colony and mother

countrv,/ ,~ which can be contrived so as to make the one

grow and flourish under the protection and superin-

tendency of the other."

This strange petition succeeded no better than those

of Mr. Holies. Had the request been granted, the

scheme could never have been carried out, as it em

braced conditions which it was next to impossible to

fulfil. The tragical death of the Earl shortly after put

a sudden termination to a plan as Utopian as it was

impracticable.

The extension of boundaries by the recent treaties

made it necessary to revoke the former letters patent

to Mr. Wright as Captain-General and Governor-in-

GOVERNOR-JAMES WEIGHT.

33

Chief of/Georgia, and accordingly a new commission

to him received the great'seal at Westminster, on the

20th January, 1764, extending his authority over the

new territory included within the extended limits of

the colony.

If" / i

'.._:

Relieved now from th| maraudings of the French

and the Spaniards; in peace and"amity with most of

the adjacent Indian tribes'; its boundaries enlarged on

the one side to the Mississippi, and on the other to the

St. Mary's, and protectedlfon the south by two new

English colonies, Georgiafoccupied a position which it

had never before attained. Its-population, though

small, was substantial and^industrious; its agricultural

resources were rapidly increasing;-its commerce called

into requisition several thousand tons of shipping; its

Indian trade was large arid productive, and it was pre

sided over by a Governor/who knw its best interests

and who .closely studied to advance its welfare. The

province rose in importance day by day, and was fast

becoming what its founder;intended it should be, noble,

vigorous, and flourishing.

But just as Georgia had attained this longed for

position, and was beginning to realize the benefits for

which its wise Governor had so diligently striven; just

as the clouds which had hung round its morning hours

broke away, and the sun of peace and prosperity shone

out with its gladdening light; another and a darker

cloud rose in the opposite ^horizon, small indeed at the

first, as that which the prophet saw from the top of

Carmel, but one which was destined to cover the colo

nial firmament with blackness, and pour forth the

storms of revolution and civil war.

Fortunate was it for Georgia that it had thus been

VOL. II.

34

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

consolidated and strengthened by these flanking colo nies, and by I this Indian treaty: but-, for these, it must necessarily have been swept away in the first irruption of the invader; for there was no subsequent period, prior to the Revolution, when the colony could. have thus girded up its strength, because dissension in council, opposition in politics, uneasiness among the people, and rebellion to government, soon absorbed the public mind vand engaged the energies of the people. It was a fortunate thing, also, for all the colonies, that before they were called upon to enter into contest with the mother country, the other enemies on their fron tiers had been silenced and removed; and, furthermore, that in thejvery treaties which removed them, were contained germs of dissatisfaction with Great Britain, which, when the war of the Revolution did come, caused the Indians to rank themselves as our friends and allies, against the power which had stripped them to such an extent of their American possessions.

l !!

f
"
CHAPTEE'V.
THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.
THE colony of Georgia presents itself to the~ his-lf torian under two aspects: one|as it respects its owrrjl internal affairs, and the other;, in its relation to the Jf other colonies and to the parent state. Up to this f: time, we have considered Georgia as a province by | itself, and have confined ourselves to its history alone; i; we must now look at its other Jispect, and examine its | historical connections with its f sister colonies and the | mother country. Hitherto, the only ties which bound jit to the provinces which skirted the Atlantic coast ,| were those of continental interest, and the derivation | of governmental powers through the same common, f; source, the King and Parliament of Great Britain. ;fc But other links were soon forged, which were to t bring into yet closer union the leading colonies of; North America, and to exhibit; these it is necessary to $ merge, for a time, the narrative of Georgia in the f common history of our American confederacy. The| liberty which we now enjoy was not the sudden disen-ff thralment of a nation from monarchical rule, effected!! in the heat of political excitement, by men acting f under the impulses of fevered^ passion. The seeds off that liberty had been brought by the colonists fromf

36

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

their fatherland--they had been scattered broadcast

from the Kennfbec to the Alatamaha--they had taken

root arid sprung up, and' the Revolution was the fruit

of their long but effective germination.

It would noil come within the province of this his

tory to trace the progress of free principles in America,

yet a''brief-review of their development is necessary

to a full understanding of the revolutionary history of

I *:.

Georgia. |

It is not spying too much to declare, that the fun

ii

damental doctrines of civil and religious freedom were

better understood in the American colonies than in

vv '

___

any other portion of the globe. Their several charters

conferred upon them rights and immunities which they

cherished with peculiar tenacity, and which strength

ened them in^ that spirit of liberty which manifested

itself so often during their colonial existence. From

the time that the Virginians, under the wise adminis

tration of Sir George Yeardly, in 1619, gave the New

World the first example of representative legislation,

onward to the eventful epoch of American independ

ence, the leading principles of political liberty were

boldly proclaimed and firmly supported. Of these

principles, that which recognized resistance to taxation

without representation, was the first developed, and

the soonest tested.

When Virginia capitulated to the commonwealth of

Cromwell, in 1652, it was expressly stated in the deed

of surrender, that no taxes or customs should be levied,

except by their own representatives.

Whein the " West India Company" attempted to tax

the inhabitants of New Netherlands (now New York),

the province drew up .a remonstrance, which declared,

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

37

*

.

t.

" We, who have transformed the wilderness into/fruitful

farms, demand that no new laws shall be enacted, but

with consent of the peoplej" and they refused to pay

them.

f

When the tyrannical Lovelace insisted upon taxing

the people of New York, evenj fbrlthe ostensive pur

pose of defence, seven villages ^entered their protest to

an act which took from them the rights and privileges

of Englishmen; and, though the votes of these towns

against this arbitrary decree off the; Governor were, by

his order, publicly burned in the streets of New York,

yet the spirit which cast them remained unchecked.

The efforts of Sir Edmund^Andros, in 1688-9, to

levy a tax at the pleasure of himself and council,

though seconded by imprisonment and fines, resulted

in a revolution which overthrew his government, and

reinstated on its ruins their old and equitable charter

rights.

f'

Not only did the attempt to :.tax the colonists with

out representation provoke resistance, but legislative

enactments were passed, declaring, with all the em

phasis which charters and laws cetfld give, that taxa

tion without representation was- contrary to the rights

and privileges of Englishmen, and subversive of the

liberties of the people.

!

The frequent agitation of these measures implanted

in the minds of the colonists the. clearest ideas of their

rights as subjects and as men, and prepared the way

for resisting, on a broader arena,Hhe.flagitious schemes

of Parliament in 1765.

One of the results of the English Revolution of 1688,

was the recognition of that principle "which Magna

Charta, signed at Runnymede ? nearly five hundred

$?.,
l^l-m pllrf

33

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

'i

-

.-r,

'

years before, had dimly shadowed forth, that property

could not be taxedj bilt with the consent of its proper

representatives; and the royal Assembly of New York,

catching the spirit^ of? this fundamental principle, re

solved, three years after, that no tax whatever shall

be levied on his majesty's subjects in the'province, or

on jheir estates, on any pretence whatever, but by the

actvand consent ofJthe. representatives of the people in

General Assembly convened. The act, indeed, was

rejected by King William, and severe taskmasters were

sent over to discipline them into obedience, but the

very efforts to eradicate or coerce this spirit, only

caused it to take deeper root and acquire greater

strength.

\f

In 1696, a pamphlet appeared in England, asserting

the power of Parliament to tax the colonies, and re

commending the.: 'pln; but it was immediately an

swered from this syide of t' he Atlantic by several replies, which denied the right and reprobated the

design. It is injdeeH remarkable, when the tendency

of the Americans to- self-government was so early dis

covered, that a different course was not pursued, rather

than those oppressive subjugating measures, which the

common experience; of humanity should have taught

the Cabinet could only result in resistance and aliena

tion.

?

As far back as 1701, the Lords of Trade publicly

declared, that " the; independency the colonies thirst

after is now notorious;" and in 1705, it was openly

published in England, that " the colonists will, in pro

cess of time, cast Jpff their allegiance, and set up a

government of their own ;" and yet that same year a

!k direct tax on the colonists, was

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

39

transmitted by i royalist to the Lords of Trade; but both the; Board (kid the Ministry wisely suffered it to pass unnoticed, f In 1728, Sir William Keith sug gested tb the King to extend the duties of stamps upon parchment^and paper, already existing in Engr land, toine plantations in America; but the plan of the ex-Grbvernor,f as also a similar suggestion made to Walpole in 1739, received no serious consideration from the high Officers of state. Mr. Pitt, indeed, meditated a planffbr the raising of" a revenue from the Americans, and towards the close of 1759 wrote to Governor Fauquier, of Virginia, announcing his design; but, on receiving, the reply of the Governor, which represented the disturbance it would occasion, he was induced to relinquish his scheme.
At the ratification of peace, in 1763, the American colonies were all loyal provinces, reposing in peace and prosperity, under; the guarantee of chartered rights and the flighted; faith of the English government; but their quietude was of short duration.
The late war, Tyhich Great Britain had engaged in principally at the; solicitation of the colonies, and for their defence, had cost the nation over three hundred millions of dollars:; which, added to its already over grown debt, madejthe condition of its finances despe rate. How to reduce this debt, and at the same time so to reduce it as not by new and large taxation to create alarm among the. people, already laden with most onerous imposts, called for all the skill and ingenuity of the fiscal minister. Under the pressure of these circumstances, it w;as resolved to carry into effect what had so long remained a mere speculative-scheme. The way for this had been already prepared, by the resolu-

K'Kf,
fl'^pMj* !! ;,.. .v....^ t\.SW iffej ,-1;'

4o

GEORGIA UNDER ROYA.L GOVERNMENT.

jtion of the House of Commons, in March, 1764, by Jwhich the members determined, almost unanimously, fbhat they had the right to tax America. The declara tion of their right was soon followed by a vote deiclaring that it was expedient, and the resolve of expeydiency was in a few days succeeded by an act carrying tout the asserted right, commonly known as "The *; Sugar or Molasses Act." -I ' The spirited remonstrances which this act and de| claration drew forth from the colonists did not deter ? the ministers from enlarging their plans for gathering | a revenue from America; and accordingly, on the 22d ^ March, 1765, George Grenville's bill, entitled "An Act for granting and applying stamp duties and other duties in the British Colonies and Plantations of Ame rica,." etc., received the assent of the King.
This plan was suggested to Mr. Grenville, it is said, by Mr. Huske, a native of New Hampshire, but who then represented the town of Maiden in Essex, in the House of Commons, and who proposed by this means tt to raise 500,000 per annum from the colonies. This man, a nephew of the distinguished General Huske, is represented as ' a flashy, superficial fellow, who, by stock-jobbing and servility to the Townshend family, raised himself from poverty and obscurity to a seat in Parliament;" and the first use which he made of his position was to injure the country which gave him birth. But the idea is not altogether his own; for it has been asserted, by one1 who possessed great know ledge of state secrets, that Grenville " adopted from Lord Bute a plan of taxation formed by Jenkinson,"

1 Walpole's George III, ii, 28.

*-Si lv

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

41

the first Lord Liverpool, The plan, by whomsoever

Revised, was adopted |>y the Ministry, an<l George

Grenvilles bill, intituled"An Act for granjing and

applying stamp duties and other duties in t% British

Colonies and Plantations in America," etc., elbabracing

fifty-five resolutions, received, on the 22d Maijch, 1765, c

the assent of the King;

;f

The Assembly of Virginia, the only provincial legist

lature in session when the news of the pass|ge of the

; act arrived, immediately passed resolves, denying the

right of Parliament totax the colonies. Nearly every

^2

.

-!2z *^ . *^

province echoed the sentiment of the Old Dominion, v

The Assembly of Massachusetts, foreseeing the im

portance of union among the aggrieved colonies, ad

dressed a circular to each of the Assemblies^ soliciting

the formation of a general congress, to melt in New

York, on the first Tuesday in October, 176.

As soon as Mr. Wylly, the Speaker of the Commons

House of Assembly, received the letter, he|dispatched

expresses to the members, and sixteen members

nearly two-thirds of the entire number responded to

his call, by convening in Savannah, on the |2d Septem

ber, 1765. This body replied to the Massachusetts

resolutions, by a letter intimating their hearty co-ope

ration in every measure for the support of their com

mon rights; but, through the influence of Governor

Wright, they were prevented from sendhig delegates

to the proposed congress. How far he had succeeded

in calming the excitement which began to; appear con

cerning the Stamp Act, may be inferred -from his as

sertion to the Earl of Halifax, under date September

20, 1765, "that everything in the province is well

and doing well at present."

f

mm

42

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

The Assembly met on the 22d October, and on the

28th, an' order was made, requiring their Committee

of Correspondence to lay before the house tjaecommu-.

nications between their agent, William Knox, and

themselves; and the result was, that the lower house"

" resolve'd to give instruction* to their Committee of

Correspondence to acquaint William KnoxJ agent for

this province, that the province has no further occasion

for his services." Not that they found aughj objection

able in his correspondence, but they believed that he

could not act independently for them, whett he was at

the same time Crown Agent fbjr East Florida^; and they

took especial objection to his pamphlet, entitled " The

Claims of the Colonies to an Exemption from Internal

Taxes imposed by authority of Parliament examined;"

in which he defended the proceedings of Parliament,

and supported its most obnoxious measures. Had

Mr. Knox considered what was due to the colony he

represented, he certainly would not thus have ob

truded himself in a controversy, which, on the side he

advocated, compromised the Very privileges and liber

ties of Englishmen. But, lil^e others in that day, he

wrote for advancement, and: his promotion, not long

after, as " Uncler-Secretarv of State," was doubtless

'

**

"

'

the reward of his devotion to ministerial designs.

John Campbell, Esq., the Crown Agent for Georgia,

also published an octavo tract of over a hundred pages,

on the " Regulations lately made concerning the Colo

nies, and the Taxes imposed upon them." From him

m

nothing better was expected; it was quite natural that

he should kiss the hand that fed him; but that Mr.

Knox^who had resided in Savannah,, and held high

offices in Georgia, and who was supposed to be devoted

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

to the interests of the colonies, should take the part

he did, was not only unlocked for, but was regarded

first with amazement, and jthen with indignation.

As the time drew nearj;when this act .was to take

effect, the spirit of/ the people became more' excited,

and occasions were not long wanting, in which it was

fully manifested.

'|

On the 26th of October^ the anniversary of his ma

jesty's accession, the Governor ordered a general

muster in Savannah, wl)ich drew together a large

concourse of people, and in the evening there was a 'i;>
great tumult, occasioned f; by burning the effigies of

several obnoxious persons) having first paraded them

through the streets with insulting mockery. The

Governor, by proclamation, condemned such proceed

ings; and this, having, no effect, was in a few days fol

lowed by another, " agairist riots and tumultuous and

unlawful assemblies." This also was unheeded; and

the Governor himself declared, that "from that time

the spirit of faction and sedition increased."

The act was to take effect from the 1st November,

1765, yet, as neither the papers nor distributing officer

had arrived, the Governor, by advice of his Council,

on the 31st October, stopped the issue of all warrants

and grants for land, and gave <l let-passes" to the ves

sels, certifying the non-arrival of any stamped papers

or officer in the province, while at the same time he

wrote to the Board of Trade :--

" I am, my lords, under great difficulty with respect

to the Stamp Act, not having received the act of Par

liament, or one scrape of the pen about it; nor is any

stampt paper or officer yet arrived here. I fear, my

lords, there has been an.; omission somewhere, relative

44 I GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

to th1is matte rjIlwh' ich embarrasses me greatly. The

moment I recfive the act, it shall be punctually ob-

sen|d, to the Itmost of my power; but am very sorry

to ||quaint ypjar lordships that too much of the rebel-

liaiff spirit in|he northern colonies has already shown

itseff here; inlleed, for many months past, stimulated

byjfetters, papers, etc., sent them from the northward

to'follow theiiiexample."

iSSfL1'

'?*"

, f|n the 5th|bf December, his majesty's ship Speed

'* .*
:>

well, Captain|Faushawe, with the stamps, arrived in

thef river, ana the papers were secretly transferred to

Fort Halifax.! and placed 'under the care of the com-

mijsary; for |the " Liberty Boys," as they were then

f.r

terined, had entered into an association to prevent the

distribution of the papers, and to compel the officer to

,|r-
m if t:.;;

resign as soon as he arrived. To oppose these mea sures, Governor Wright summoned all his energies,

and labored day and night, in public and in private,

and, by his commanding influence, ably seconded by

his Council, \^as partially successful. Secret meetings,

f \\ :

holwever, were often held, all business was stopped, and

the province 1 remained in a state of anxious agitation.

Burdensome; as the Stamp Act was felt to be by all

the colonies.- it was peculiarly oppressive to Georgia.-

"ftThe annual tax raised here," says the excellent

J-ames Habe;rsham (President of his majesty's Council,

aHrue loyalist, but a true patriot), "'for the support of

Ojiir internal policy, is full as much as the inhabitants

Ojtn bear; and suppose the stamps produce only one-

eighth of wjiat they would in South Carolina, it would

^mount tolas much in one year as our tax laws will

liaise in three; and perhaps we have not five thousand

""kJ:->

pounds, in gold and silver, come into the province in

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

45

five years, though the act requires it|in one. If this

is really the case, as I really believe it is, how must

every inhabitant shudder at the thdught of the act

taking place, which, according to nry present appre-

hension,tmust inevitably ruin them."! It was .not epos-" 1

sible, therefore, for the Georgians to) remain passive

under such exactions; for not only was the tax oner

ous in itself, but the act which levied it involved a

question,; on the issue of which=depended the liberty

or the slavery of America. It is a just remark of the

profound Locke, " Men can never b secure from ty

ranny, if there be no means to escape it, till they are

perfectly under it; and therefore it is, that they have

not only a right to get out of it, but to prevent it;"

and to prevent it the colonists were determined, or to

perish in the attempt.

t

On the 2d of January, 1766, about 3 P. M%, Cap

tains Milledge and Powell informed the Governor that

nearly two hundred "Liberty Boys'? had assembled

together^ threatening to break open the fort and de

stroy the papers. The Governor immediately ordered

the two^ companies of rangers, numbering fifty-four

men, to attend him, and marched to the fort, took out

the stamps, placed them in a cart, and; escorted by the

military,' conveyed them to the guard-house. The

people looked on in sullen silence; but it was a silence

which gave the Governor so much alarm, that for

many days he kept a guard of forty men over his

house, and during four nights was in such anxiety and

fear, that he did not remove his clothes.

The next day, about ten o'clock, the Governor, by

preconcerted signals, was made acquainted with the

arrival of Mr. Agnus, the stamp distributer, at Tybee,

46

GEORGIA UNDER R05TAL GOVERNMENT.

and, fearing the rage of the citizens, immediately de

spatched an armed scout-boat, with two or -three of

his particular friends, who, with much secreeyVand a

charge to allow him to speak to no one, brought him

tq; the Governor's house, on the 4th, where lie took the

required oath. But a few days' residence here, even with

a guard mounted night and day, convinced Mr. Agnus

of his insecurity, and in a fortnight he left the town.

Nor were these feelings confined to Savannah. The

whole province was aroused; parties of armed men

assembled in various places; society was convulsed,

and its tumultuous heavings threatened general ruin

and desolation. Then was exhibited in an eminent

degree the zeal and energy of the Governor; and such

was his resolution and weight of character, that for a

time all rebellious proceedings ceased; so much so,

that he wrote, on the 15th January, 1766, "Every

thing, at present, is easy and quiet, and I hope peace

and confidence will be restored in general." A few

days served to dissipate this hope. About the 20th,

..

menacing letters were sent to Governor Wright. Pre

sident Habersham was waylaid at night, his new and

well-stored house was threatened with destruction, and

he was'oblised to take refuse in the garrisoned mansion

<--i

<--'

>^

of the Governor. Towards the close of January, a

body of six hundred men assembled within a few miles

of the town, and intimated to the Governor that, unless

the papers were removed, they would march to Savan

nah, attack his house and fort, and destroy the stamps.

Immediately he sent the papers down to Fort George,

t Cockspur Island, and placed them in charge of the

rangers. But even this was not deemed sufficient

security, and on the 3d of February, they were once

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

47

more removed, afid deposited on board the man-of-war Speedwell, which had brought them to the colony.
The next day: the town was again alarmed, by theappearance on tl|e common of between two and three f hundred men, with arms and colors, clamorous for the > redress of their grievances. The company of rangers I was ordered upjfrom Cockspur, and all the regulars and volunteers, together with a party of marines and seamen from the; Speedwell, were marshalled for thfe defence of the tcfwn. For several hours the state ofaffairs was critical, and suspense added its harrowing ; influences to the trepidation of alarm. By evening,; however, nearly; all the provincials had dispersed,though a few at night burned an effigy of the Go vernor, holding an his hand the offensive circular of Secretary Conway, of the 24th October, 1765.
The situation; of Mr. Wright was one of singular trial and difficulty. The province was on the verge of civil war, and one act of indiscretion would have plunged it into fits ensanguined horrors. The whole, military force of the colony consisted of two troops of rangers, of sixty men each, and thirty of the Royal* American Regiment in all one hundred and fifty men, ; officers and privates; who were distributed in five forts widely separated, and totally inadequate to sus tain the executive authority. With this handful of soldiers, the Governor had to contend with faction and disloyalty, and so inefficient did he deem them, that he was on the point of writing to General Gage and Lord Colville for support.
On the arrival of the stamps there were between sixty and seventy sail in port waiting for clearance, and the necessities of the case seemed so urgent, that, .

^f,<*i ; 'u!'i (if

48

GEORGIA UNDERfROYAL GOVERNMENT.

though the people refused to use stamps for any other

purpose, they consented 1 to employ them to clear-out

their ships, hy which ineans the port was opened,

-though the courts remained closed, and every species

of judicial business wa$ suspended. Such a course

gave great umbrage to} the other colonies, and |par-

ticularly to South Carolina. Governor Wright>was

termed by the Carolinians "a parricide," and Georgia

?Mar J>ensioned government," which had "sold her birth

right for a mess of pottage, and whose inhabitants

should be treated as slaves without ceremony." f Nor

did they stop at invectives; they resolved " that no

provision should be shipped to that infamous colony,"

Georgia; "that every vessel trading there should be

burnt;" and that "whosoever should traffic with them

should be put to death;" and these were not idle

threats; for two vessels, about sailing for Savannah,

were captured before they had cleared Charleston bar,

were taken back to the city, condemned, and, with

their cargoes, destroyed;

.-.*.'

But the injustice of these measures towards Georgia

will be evident, when it is remembered, that through

the irresolution of Governor Bull, the port of Charleston

itself was open,, under pretence that no stamped papers

could be had, when in fact they were lodged, by his au

thority, in Fort Johnson, whence, overawed by the popu

lace, he dared not remove, nor did he dare to use them.

Charleston, also, was a city of many thousand inhabi

tants, and its Governor hesitating or timorous; while

Savannah had hardly as many hundreds, controlled

by a chief magistrate whose energy and decision could

neither be wearied by importunity, nor daunted by

danger. Georgia, therefore, did not deserve the re-

THE STAMP ACT INiQEORGIA.

49

proach which Carolina cast upon her; for everything

which a province similarly situated could do, was done;

and she rested not from her efforts until the repeal of

the act, and a change of ministry brought with them

temporary quiet and repose. ;

The course of Governor Wright, during these diffi

culties, was approved by the King; and though it

was reported at one time that his conduct had given

offence to his majesty, who had resolved to send over

a Lieutenant-Governor to supersede him, yet the Earl

of Shelburne assured him thattthis was untrue, " the

King having no thought of recalling or superseding

him."

^

The displacement of the obnoxious ministry in June,

1765; and the repeal of the Stamp Act, February

22d, 1766; removed, for a time, some of the causes of colonial discontent; and order and approval took

the place of anarchy and opposition. The official an

nouncement of this repeal was received by the Governor

on the 6th of July; and he immediately by proclama

tion convened the General Assembly, which met in

Savannah on the 16th of the same month.

Addressing the Assembly, the Governor said: "I think myself happy that I have it in nry power to

congratulate you on this province having no injuries

or damages, either of a public or private nature, with

respect to property to compensate, and that you, Gen tlemen of the Assembly, have no votes or resolutions

injurious to the honor of His Majesty's Government,

or tending to destroy the legal or constitutional depen dency of the Colonies on the Imperial Crown and Par

liament of Great Britain, to reconsider; I say, Gentle-
VOL. it.

-rt
"

50

GEORGIAiiTNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

men, these are ppnts that give mje, and I dare say must give you, the greatest satisfaction.
" When you corfsider the papers I sliall now lay before you, I am persuaded your hearts |nust be filled with the highest veneration and filial gratitude, with a most ardent zeal to declare and express (your grateful feel ings and acknowledgments, and to make a dutiful and proper, return, aijid show a cheerful obedience to the laws and legislative authority of Great Britain." ^ To this the Ccfmmons' House of|Assembly returned the following an|wer: " We. His Majesty's most duti ful and, loyal suBjects, beg leave to;-return your Excel lency our sincere thanks for your \ affectionate speech. Hopeful as we'fwere that no occasion would have offered of calling, us together till the usual season of our meeting, yef it is with the highest pleasure and satisfaction, and with hearts overflowing with filial affection and gratitude to our mosf gracious Sovereign, that we embrace the opportunity;now presented to us of expressing oiir most dutiful acknowledgments to the best of kings for his paternal arid princely attention and regard manifested to his faithful subjects in these remote parts of his dominions, in graciously conde scending to lend his royal ear to their supplications, and removing |from them those evils they lamented. Nor can we sufficiently venerate and admire the mag nanimity and justice of the British Parliament in so speedily redressing the grievances by them complained

Of."

|

.

:



"We cannot, indeed, but felicitate ourselves in that

we have no injuries or damages, either of a public or

a private nature, nor any votes-or resolutions deroga

tory to the honor of his Majesty's government, or tend-

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

51

inn- to destroy the true constitutional dependency of the Colonies on the Imperial; Crown and Parliament of Great Britain to reconsider.'? ': " We will immediately proceed to take into our most [serious consideration the pa'pers laid before us by your Excellency, and we shall upon all occasions be ready to testify our loyalty to out ;king and firm attachment to our mother country." 3:1
Both Houses also united in the .following loyal address to the king, couched in terms of almost abject servility, yet not exceeding^he usual character of such papers at that period : "'.; " To the King's most excellent Majesty, the humble
address of both Houses of Assembly of the Province
of Georgia. Most Gracious Sovereign :
" We, your Majesty's loyal subjects, the Council and Commons of your Majesty's Province of Georgia, in General Assembly met, beg leave to approach your royal person with hearts full of the most dutiful affec tion and gratitude. Influenced by principle and ani mated by your Majesty's exemplary justice and pater nal care in redressing the grievances of your faithful subjects in these remote parts of your wide-extended empire, with the deepest sense of your Majesty's royal clemency and goodness, we humbly offer to your most sacred Majesty our sincere thanks for the repeal of the late Act of the British Parliament, commonly called the American Stamp Act. Nor can we sufficiently admire the magnanimity and justice displayed by the British Parliament on this occasion. Permit us, dread sire, while we endeavor to express our gratitude to the best of kings for affording us so speedy and necessary relief, to assure your Majesty that we shall upon all occa-

it".
j-s jj

52

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

sions strive to evince our loyalty and firm attachment | to your Majesty's sacred person and Government, being truly sensible of the advantage derived to us from the protection of our mother country; and that it is, and '. ever will be, our honor, happiness, and true interest to : remain connected with and dependent on the Imperial I Crown and Parliament of Great Britain upon the solid basis of the British Constitution. That your Majesty's Illustrious House may continue to reign over a free, .loyal, and grateful people, to the latest posterity, is, most gracious sovereign, our constant prayer, unfeigned wish, and our most sanguine hope."
Order once more prevailed, and the various avoca tions and pursuits of industry were resumed with dili gence and success, as will fully appear from a compa-, rison, in a few points, with the condition of things some years back.
During the first quarter of a century of the colonial existence of Georgia, there was not even a wharf at Savannah. The few vessels which traded there were landed alongside of the bluff, and their cargoes dis charged upon the sandy bank of the river.
The first wharf built in Savannah was constructed in 1759, by Thomas Eaton, under the direction of John G. Wm. De Brahm, Surveyor-General of the Southern Provinces of North America, and an engineer of distinguished attainments. De Brahm says, in his report upon the Province of Georgia, that he advised the builder " to drive two rows of piles as far asunder as he desired his wharf to be wide, and as far toward the river as low-water mark, secure their tops with plates, and to trunnel planks within on the piles. This
k . then to brace the insides with dry walls of stones

|f f

STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA.

53

intermixed with willow twigs.. In the same manner

to shut up thf ends of the two rows with a like front

alons the stream, to build inside what cellars he had

occasion


for, pien


to fill; up

the

'
remainder

\
,with

the

sand nearest at hand, out of the bluff or high shore of

the stream udder the bay,"

"This plati," he says, writing many years later,

"has been followed ever,since to this day." 1

The next Jear, 1760, the number of vessels which

entered at fne custom house, was forty-one, but in

'



1766, there tffere one hundred and seventy-one.

-* *,

The popul|tibn in IpO was 6100 whites and 3600

blacks; but in 1766, notwithstanding the ravages of

the small pox, two years before, there were 10,000

whites and 8000 blacks. "Ss There were no manufactures in the colony, for they

were rigorously disallowed in all the provinces; but

commerce and agriculture were carried on with much

zeal, and with the reward usually attendant upon all

well-directed ^industry. Governor Wright, who had

travelled extensively through the province, speaks en

thusiastically of it, as "the most flourishing colony on

the continent;" and in a letter to the Earl of Hillsbo-

rough, he assured him, that "it was certain, beyond a

doubt, that this province has, must, and will, make a

rapid progress, and in a few years will make as con

siderable a figure as most on the continent." Address

ing the Earl'of Shelburne, he thus forcibly states the

advancing condition of Georgia :

"On Governor Ellis's departure from hence, on the

2d of November, 1760, I took upon me the govern-

i

-

1 De Brajim's Province of Georgia, p. 45, Wormsloe, 1849.

54 GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

'?!;'

-

'

$

.TS

ment oftthis province; and at that time, my lord, fj

from thjf returns of the militia officers and the|best

information I could get, the whole number of white. J

'-

*

o'

^|>;

*?^

people. v|hroughout the province, men, \yomeny |and

childrenj amounted only to 6000 (and I had 4fter

wards reason to think there were not so many|^ of |

which 4uinber there was about sixty men belonging

to his n|ajesty's independent companies, and two troops |3

of rang|rs, consisting of five officers and sevent|;pri- j|

vate mejn each, and the fbot :militia amounted to Jf{)25;,,J|

and now, my lord, by a very careful inquiry from |very |

part of jthe province, the white people amount to J);900, |:

or say ^10,000, of which 1800 are effective militia."

We have still the two troops of rangers; but thelinde-?

pendents are broke, and we have only thirty Boyal (

Americans.

<

?'

" When I came, the return made me of negroes in

the province amounted to, 3578, but which I soon

found greatly exceeded the real number then iri the

province; and now, my lord, we have at least 7SOO. -

' In 1760, they exported, as appears by the cftstom-

house ..books, only 3400 Ibs. of rice, and in!; 1765,

though a short "crop, 10,235 Ibs. In the year 1761,

we loaded only 42 sail of sea-vessels; and the last

year jcve loaded 153, and, on an average, of much

greater burden,

2.

" Our crop of rice this year will be short 'jfor the

quantity planted, owing j to the excessive rains and

inundations that we had in the spring and fore^part of

the year.

;

/

|

" ^he Royal Americans and rangers here, rhy lord, II

garrison and do duty at; seven difierent places, viz.:

on ^f IV,P Roval Americans at Fort Augusta?, about

f

THE STAMP ACT IN GEORGIA?

-'

f

*'lf'

55
V
"*"

150 ihiles by land up this river; al|p, 30 of the i

rangers in the town -of Augusta. The other 10 Royal f

Americans are at Frederica, about 80 miles south of *

the town. 25 rangers at Fort Barringfi>n, on the'AU|

tamalia River, about 65 miles from henc!e; 15 at Fortff

Argyle, on Ogeechee River, 20 miles frpm town; l$f

at Fort George, near the entrance of this river; and f

the rest here at Savannah. * So that your lordship sees f

how they are scattered about; but I conceive it to be '{

the most useful manner in which suchlm handful off

men can be employed here. 'f;

' *t.

" We have no manufactures of thi least conse-1

quence: a trifling quantity of coarse homespun cloth,!

woollen and cotton mixed; amongst the^poorer sort of |

people, for their own use, a few cotton and yarn stock^ ;

ings;! shoes for our negroes; and some occasional

blacksmith's work. But all our supplies of silks,

linens, woollens, shoes, stockings, nails," locks, hinges,

and tools of every sort, etc., etc., etc., are all imported.-,

from and through Great Britain. We iiave no kind $

of illicit trade carried on here, and our whole strength f

and attention is employed in planting rice, indigo, corn,'

and peas, and a small quantity of wheat a-nd rye. and : ,

in making pitch, tar, turpentine, shingles, and staves,

and sawing lumber and scantling and boards of every

kind, and in raising stocks of cattle, mules, horses,

and hogs; and next year I hope some .essays will be

made towards planting and making hemp. And every

thing here, my lord, is going on extremely well, and j

the people in general well disposed, except some few re-|

publican spirits, who endeavor to inculcate independ-1

ency and keep up jealousy and ill blood, a small spe-,

cimen of which your lordship will pefcreive by the

56

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

inclosed paper. I think it is my indispensable duty

to-give your lordship every information that may tend

tojfiis majesty's service, or that his ministers ought to

know. Your lordship may be dssured I shall perse

vere in my utmost endeavors for] his majesty's service,

arid that I shall, in every respect, discharge my duty

as;r l think a faithful servant and an honest ;inan ought

to'do.



:4

i

-?
I" The spirit that prevailed here, and pur transac

tions with respect to the Stamp Act, your lordship

may see by my letters to Mr. Secretary Con way.

Amazing to think, what a propensity to faction, sedi

*

tion, and almost rebellion, there appeared, even in this

infant colony; although I must do them the justice to

say, they did not think of it till spirited on by our

northern neighbors, who never? let them rest or gave

1I'

them time to cool."

-.#

CHAPTER VI.

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

.V
THE restoration of order by the repeal ojfcthe Stamp

Act, was, fs Gdvernor Wright well expressed it, " but

a temporary calm." On the 6th of January, 1767,

Captain Philips, commanding the Royal Americans in

South Carolina and Georgia, wrote to the Governor,

r>

j

stating the barrack necessaries he required, and desir

ing to know where he could procure them. The Gov

ernor sentCthe letter with a message to the Assembly,

on the 20th, but the House replied " they humbly

conceive their complying with the requisition .would

be a violation \ of the trust reposed in them by their

constituents, and founding a precedent they by no

means think themselves justifiable in introducing,"

and the Governor finding them inflexible, and that

compliance; with the terms of the "Mutiny Act" was

to be expected, had the mortification to transmit their

proceedings to His Majesty's ministers.

This Act of Parliament for quartering troops upon

the Americans, and making them answerable for the

means of their subsistence and transportation, was but

another phase of the plan of taxation, and under what

ever form -such a principle was avowed, it could nqver

be countenanced or sustained by Americans.

58

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

The Br"i*' tVi'!sh Constitution solemnly guara5' nteed to every manfthe property which he had honestly ac

quired ; arid left the disposal of it to his own choice,

'* $"""'-

K'

with whicbtliieither corporations nor government could

interfere without his consent, expressed by firaself^ or ' JK-iMr'iV*-," ^ *iS,''SWA
his accredited representative. If the Americans could

be taxed without their agreement by any laws, of what

ever name;- or if soldiers could be quartered in their

houses without their consent, it was a palpdble viola tion of the indefeasible birthright of a British subject; and justified the language of the Massachusetts As

I,*^,Ijf'-'i':l-f4sffl"^l"
f^tl

sembly to their agent, that, "if they were taxed with

out representation, they were slaves." It was in truth

making the Americans "tenants at will of liberty,"

a tenure from which they were liable to be ejected at

any moment, and which reduced them from the condi

tion of free subjects to a state of ignominious vassalage.

Nor would the condition of things have been much

altered, had the King and Cabinet been of a lenient

temper; it was the principle which the colonists con

tended for; and they justly reasoned, with Cicero, that

though the sovereign did not oppress and .tyrannize,

tii

the condition of his subjects was still miserable; that

he had the power if he but exercised his will.

This repudiation of the Mutiny Act was followed by

a refusal to comply with a clause appended, at the sug

gestion of the Governor and Council, to two bills grant

ing ferries, and providing for the free carriage of post

men according to the Statute 9th Ann. .ch. 10, sec. 29,

because they would not seem to adopt or submit to an

Act of Parliament.



>.

When lithe Assembly displaced Mr. Knox as agent

of the colony, the Governor desired the House to

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

50

appoint Mr. Cumberland; but-they refused, and gave the place to Mr. Samuel Grath, agent for the Province of South Carolina; but the Governor and Council de clined to recognize him, arid used their influence to prevent his being accredited as agent by any of the Boards in London. In this; they were right, and the lower House of Assembly wrong; for certainly it was impossible that the same agent for contiguous pro vinces, between which, causes of altercation sometimes arose (and in the present instance were actually pend ing), could be impartial to either without meeting opposition from both. But; such was the zeal of the Commons for the upholding of their prerogative, that no consideration weighed when a compromise of that was required. Having thus thwarted the Governor, and in a variety of ways evinced their contempt of the authority of Parliament, they presented a peti tion to the Governor desiring " that he would dissolve them," thereby hoping that by the new election which would ensue, a still larger majority of liberal delegates would be returned, the political strength of the existing House being seven " Royalists" and eighteen " Liberty Boys."
These proceedings were immediately represented to the King; and in reply, the Earl of Shelburne, his majesty's principal Secretary of State for the Southern Colonies, wrote to Governor Wright: " It is scarce pos sible to conceive to what motives to attribute a conduct so infatuated, in a province lately erected, which has been so singularly favored and protected by the mother country." " And I have it," says the Earl, " in com mand from his majesty, to inform you that he expects and requires the Commons House of "Assembly of

i
M:
K.5
a;.i^
I
!i I

60

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

Georgia will render an exact and complete obedience,

in all respects whatever, to the terms of the Muting

Act." To punish the Assembly fortheir conduct^!

General Gage withdrew all the troopsrfrom the; pro|

vince, thus leaving the fort unmanned, and the Settle

ment without defence.

: >* J

This was a chastisement, as arbitrary as it wa

severe; but it was a two-edged sword; for while the |

people complained of it, as exposing them to the

of their slave population, and the attacks of the

dians, whose hostile intentions had already;; been|j|

strongly evinced, the Governor also lamented thep

measure, as cutting him off from the only ;means

whereby to enforce his majestys authority; and so the

matter, at the next session, was mutually and happily

adjusted.

While, however, Georgia, in common with other

colonies, suffered under the evil legislation of Parlia

ment, she had grievances peculiar to herself, which

greatly increased her opposition to the mother coun

try. To facilitate the operations of trade, provincial

paper, to the amount of 7410, had been issued by

act of Assembly, in 1761, which bills were current at

par, both in Georgia and Florida. The merchants and

traders, finding this sum insufficient for mercantile pur

poses, now petitioned both houses for relief "from the

want of a sufficient currency in a province where, by

the peculiar situation of its commerce and produce,

they are precluded from the advantage of receiving any

quantity of bullion, or retaining what little they may

receive." It was proposed, therefore, to recall the old

emission, and issue new paper to the amount of

20,000. But the Governor, though he thought the

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

61 I

present bills of credit too limited, also thought that J

the sum of 20,000 was too large, believing that |

12,000 would meet the emergency; as every hundred f

pounds more of paper currency than is really neces-1

sary for the daily or common occurrences, would prove |

injurious, by depreciating its value and increasing the|

rate of exchange, and would prevent the circulation of I

sterling money, and produce a fictitious wealth, which |

the intrinsic condition of the colony could not by any J

means support. His counsel, however, was unheeded; |

the question was made tributary to the absorbing one}

of parliamentary wrongs, and both the upper and lower j

house presented a petition to the King for the relieff

desired ; but his majesty: refused their prayer.

.|

On the 25th March, 1765, the Assembly passed an|

act " for the better ordering and governing of Negroes,"!

etc., and the following year, "An Act for encouraging^

Settlers to come into the Province." Both these|

laws were founded on strong necessity--the security!

of the province greatly depended on the former; and|

its prosperity and increase on the latter; but, whenj

sent over for royal approval, both were disallowed^

The Governor, as well as the Assembly, was astounded,

at this unlocked for result; and the Governor, who?

declared, that "without the negro law no man's life

or property would be safe a moment," was compelled

to disobey his instructions, and frame a new bill witlf

a different title, but with the same provisions.

|

Operating on minds already excited, these refusals-

of the King to sanction laws enacted for the extension;

of trade and commerce; and for the protection, pros|

perity and increase, of the colony; irritated the

people to an intense degree; so much so, that the Go?

62

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

vernor;- declared, " that though he had hitherto kept

the Assembly within tolerably decent bounds, yet that

he.had lately discovered more than ever A strong pro

pensity to be as considerable-and independent, as they f

term fit, of the British Parliament, or of the ; sove^

reignty of Great Britain, as any of the northern colo-^fj

HI

nies.

The-necessity of sending every law to England for

confirmation, before it could be made operative in the

province where it was enacted, was a serious hindrance

to legislative action in many of the colonies; and not

only in the cases just mentioned, but in many others,

was this requirement felt to be a sore grievance, and

a cause of great disquietude. When the Assembly

enacted a law, it must first receive the approbation of

the Governor; if vetoed by him, there it ended; if

approved, he sent it to England, to be examined by

the King's Attorney, who made his report to the

Lords of Trade ; if this Board approved it, it was sent

for confirmation to the King's Council; if it- passed

the ordeal of this body, it received the sign manual of

the King, and became a law. It was then returned

to the Board of Trade; thence sent to the Crown

Agent, who despatched it to the Governor; thus caus

ing sometimes a detention of two years, from the pas

sage of an act by the Assembly, before, having gone

this tedious circuit, and escaped the chances of five

negatives, it returned ratified by the King.

On the 11 th of April, 1768, Benjamin Franklin was

appointed Agent " to represent, solicit, and transact

the; affairs of this province in Great Britain;" and a

committee of both houses was appointed to correspond

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

63

him. This committee consisted, on ;he part of

the Council, of James Habersham^ Noble Jones, James

Edward' Powell, Lewis Johnstone, and Clement Mar

tin ; and, on the part of the lower house, of Alexander

Wylly, ;John Mulryne. John Smith, Noble" Wirnberjy

Jones, John Milledge, John Simpson, Archibald Bulloch, William Ewen, and Joseph Gibbons, f



The fame of Franklin had extended over Europe.

His dignified :'manners, his profound knowledge,' his

orand discoveries in physical science, and ihis uncom

promising support of colonial rights, conspired to render

him the best representative which GeorgiaJeould select

for that critical period. During five years he repre

sented :Georgia at the several offices in England, and

was her undaunted champion in every hour of danger

and of trial.

|

The onerous enactments of Parliament, by which

duties were laid on paper, glass, painters' colors, and

teas imported into the provinces; the establishing of a

general civil
*-"

list

throughout North

America: -

the

de-

manding that quarters and other barrack necessaries

should be furnished to troops; and the restraining the

New York Assembly from passing any act, because it

had failed to make this provision for the soldiers sta

tioned there, drew forth from nearly all the colonies

petitions, remonstrances, and addresses. :

On the llth of February, 1768, the Massachusetts

House of Representatives, through their Speaker, ad

dressed a circular letter to the several provincial As

semblies, stating the condition of American grievances,

and soliciting a union of petitions to the. two houses

of Parliament and to the King, having,- as they ex-

B
Ni5*1&*9Hf" t
fe*" ll^ Mi.-.J
.1 i!i 4-1;
tK?v*?-j':; ,.!t,e i!
- i^j ^jf,'
ff:'^4l-|ii|-{i

swgsp SUSf

i~fZ.i&jV *

*$*' 64

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

pressed; it in the; close of their letter, " firm confidence in 'She King, oar common head and father, that the"-> united and dutiful supplication of his distressed Ame rican subjects will meet with his royal and favorable
1. acceptance." I; When this circular reached Savannah, the Assem bly had adjourned; but Mr. Alexander Wylly, the Speaker, replied to it, " as a private person," and stated that " the Assembly had instructed Dr. Frank lin to join with the Agents in soliciting a repeal of those acts, and?in remonstrating against any of like nature in the future." The Assembly again met on the 17th November, and chose Noble Wimberly Jones Speaker, the late Speaker not being present. The Governor, in his opening speech, remarked: " I have observed, in your Gazette of the 31st of August, a letter from your late Speaker to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, acknow ledging the reception of a letter, dated llth February last, assuring him, that when the Assembly meets, he' will lay the same before the House. I am to acquaint you that his majesty considers that measure to be of a most dangerous tendency. I have it in charge to en deavor to prevail on you not to give any countenance to that letter; but, if I should find any disposition in you to give any countenance thereto, it will be my duty immediately to put an end to your sitting." For a time the ordinary business proceeded without interruption, and such laws were passed as the neces sities of the colonies required. But on Saturday, the 24th December, 1768, after all the bills of the session were prepared for the Governor's assent, prior to ad journment, Mr. Wylly laid before the House the letter

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

65

from Massachusetts, and also a letter from'Beyton Randolph, Speaker of the Commons House ofAs sembly, Virginia. Both of these were ordered to be entered on the journals, and they then adopted the following resolutions:
" Resolved, That from the inherent right of the sub ject to petition the throne for redress of grievances, a right allowed and confirmed by the Act of William and Mary, the said letters1 do not appear to the House of a dangerous or factious tendency, but on the eontraryy in the opinion of this House, only tend to a justifiable union of subjects aggrieved, in lawful and laudable endeavors to obtain redress by an application founded upon and expressive of duty and loyalty to the best of kings, a becoming respect for the Parliament of Great Britain, and an equitable and natural affection for our mother country, and arises from the tender and com mendable attention of those colonies to the natural rights and liberties of the British subjects in America, and to which they are undeniably entitled upon the happy principles of our constitution.
" Resolved, That copies of this resolution be, by the Speaker of the House, transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Province of Massa chusetts Bay, and to the Speaker of the House of Bur gesses in Virginia, and that they be acquainted by him that this House approves of the measures by them pursued to obtain redress of our common grievances, also of the method by them taken of communicating these measures to the other provinces of the continent.
" Ordered, that the several proceedings and resolu-
1 Letters from the Assemblies of Massachusetts and Virginia, VOL. n.

If
m
T
F
'mm

66

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

tions inspecting the said letters be published in the

Gazette of this province, and that the 'jclerk do furnish

the printer with a copy of the same.".*"

>

Governor, Wright had used every means to prevent

their countenancing " the Boston letter," expostulating

with the leading members, and according to his own

idea, had " clearly convinced them of the absurdity of

it." He was quite surprised, therefore, when informed

that similar resolves had been entered on their journal,

for so .quietly had .it been effected, that the Governor

said, " everything was prepared and , done before I

could .prevent it." He immediately repaired to the

council chamber, and summoning the Commons House

to attend, made them a long and earnest address, in

which he uttered the prediction, which time has not

verified, " that if America was to become independent,

from that day you may date the foundation of your

ruin and misery."2 He then, "by virtue of his

Majesty's authority and in his name, dissolved the

Assembly."

sm

Anticipating this dissolution, the Commons House

had previously drawn up the following address:

To the King's most Excellent Majesty.

The humble address of the Commons House of Assem bly of the Province of Georgia, 24th December, 1768.

Most Gracious Sovereicg_/ n:



Your dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons House

of Assembly of Georgia;, with the greatest humility beg

leave to represent to your sacred person the grievances

this province labors under by the late Acts of the Par

liament of Great Britain, for raising a revenue in

America.

,

* Board of Trade, xiii, 98.

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

67

Equally attache^ by interestrprinciple^an$|ii!ection

for our mother country, we readily acknowledge a con

stitutional subordination to its supreme Legislature, at

the same time, with inexpressible concerrifwe mucb

lament that by their imposition of internal t'axes we

are deprived of thfe privilege which withIhumble defe

rence we apprehend to be our indubitable bright, that

of granting away Ipur own property, and are thereby

prevented from a fready compliance with; airy requisi

tion your Majesty|may please to make, &nd 'which to

the utmost extent of our small abiliti%s|f^e have

hitherto always most cheerfully obeyed; '$ $.'**

From your Majesty's equity, wisdom, ^and truly

paternal regard fo> the rights and liberties -of your

subjects-, however femote, we flatter ourselves with and

firmly rely upon redress in this our unhappy situation,

and as we of this province experience your Majesty's

particular countenance and protection in our present

infant state, for which we are impressed with the

deepest sense of gratitude, so we most earnestly hope

we shall also experience in general with^our sister

colonies on this occasion fresh marks of your Majesty's

royal justice and attention to the supplications of your

distressed subjects.

I

We beg leave to assure your Majesty that none of

your numerous subjects can or do more ardently wish

and prny for a continuance of your most auspicious

reign, and that your latest posterity may happily rule

over a free, grateful, and loyal people, than your faith

ful Commons of Georgia.

i ?-

By orde'r of the House.

|
December 24th, 1768.

N. W. JONES, "~'~~'~T ::<i '"' Speaker!

tt
jI-
1 ii
I
i|! I

68

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

This address was sent by the Speaker to Benjamin Fra'nklin, who was requested to concur with the other "agents of the American colonies in endeavors to. obtain a repeal of those acts of Parliament so grievous; to^his Majesty's loyal subjects of the Continent, and; destructive of that harmony which ought, and they earnestly wish may, subsist between our mother coun
try and its colonies."3 3?his address Franklin presented to the King,
through the Earl of Hillsborough ;4 but his majesty objected to the transmission of it, through any other channel than that of his Governor, as irregular and disrespectful, and directed the Earl to signify to Go vernor Wright that, because "it does, both in the letter and spirit, deny and draw into question the authority of Parliament to enact laws binding upon the colonies, in all cases whatsoever, he disapproved of it, being firmly resolved to support the Constitution as by law established, and not to countenance any claims inconsistent with its true principles."
Governor Wright dissolved the Assembly: but this act being expected and prepared for, produced no excitement. The representatives of the people felt that they had done their part, in placing the letters of the Massachusetts and Virginia Assembly on their journals, and in passing resolves and addresses express ing their sympathy with the former, and their deter mination to support the true principles of English liberty. The affairs of the colony, thus temporarily disturbed, soon resumed their usual tranquil state, and

3 MS. copies of Letters of Franklin, furnished by Hon. Jared Sparks. 4 State Paper Office, iv, 12T.

if--

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

* f;69

the rapid progress of the province, in every resp-ejjt,

was quite observable.

'-:

.':& ^...

But the legislation of Parliament was still direcjed

/il .
towards sustaining, in their most extravagant extent,

the prerogatives of the crown, and pursued, for this

end, a course as impolitic for Great Britain as:|br

America: and thus the colonists, finding that their

respectful appeals to the throne and to Parliament

were unheeded, resolved to redress themselves. f

One of the primary measures adopted for this piiir-

pose, was a suspension of all commercial dealings w|th

Great Britain, except for such articles as were alteo-

lutely and unequivocally necessary. Such non-infer-

course could not fail of producing disastrous results

in the mother country, the prosperity of which *l|as

so intimately connected with the colonial trade. $Ir.

Grenville, first lord of the Treasury, asserted, that

"every inhabitant of the colonies employs four; at

home." "It was American trade," said the Earl-of

Chatham to the Peers, " which triumphantly carried

you through the last war;" and the eloquent Butke

declared in the House of Commons, "that wh'at-

ever England had been growing to, by a progressive

increase of improvements brought in by varieties^ of

people, by succession of civilizing conquests and civil

izing settlements in a series of seventeen hundred

years, you shall see as much added to her by America

in a single life." It was hoped, therefore, that the

withdrawal of such important resources, and the jmi-

sery consequent on such a procedure, might work that

change in the Ministry, which all the petitions End

remonstrances had failed to effect. This plan^as

suggested as early as April, 1768, by the Boston iner-

)I"
i
h?-.
m* 1 a I

YO

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

chants; but the Assembly of Virginia, id- June,

was the first legislative body which adopted resolves

of non-importation, which, ere long, were "sanctioned

by the other colonies.

/*

\

On the 16th of September, 1769, a meeting of

merchants and traders of Savannah was4ield at Jthe 3*."--*,
house of Mr. Alexander Creighton, at which theyf^-

solved, " that tany person or persons whatsoever, ipi-

porting any of the articles subject to parliamenta)^

duties, after having it in their power tp^ preyentf|,

ought not only to be treated with contempt, but a||p

as enemies of their country." Three days afterga

larger meeting was convened, with the Hon. Jonathan

Bryan, one of the Governors Council, in the chair^M

which the same subject was renewedly canvassed, and

resolves of non-importation, mostly similar to the other

colonies, unanimously passed. One of the resolves,

based on the sentiments of the Bostonians in 17:65,

was to abolish mourning at funerals, as the black stuffs

used for such purposes were of British manufacture,^.

For the part which Mr. Bryan took in this meeting,

he was, by command of the King, displaced fromrthe

Council, and thus became the first object of royal ven

geance in Georgia. Carrying out into detail the fun

damental principle, that there should be no taxation

where there was no representation, the Assembly, in

1769, inserted a clause in the annual tax-bill, exempt

ing the four southern parishes from taxation, because

they were allowed no members in the legislature^knd

this decisive stand produced, in due time, the required

writs of election for the vacant parishes. There-was

a constant struggle between the Governor and thesSAs-

sembly; the former, asserting that they arrogated to

LEGISLATIVE TROUBLES.

71

. _4hl
themselves the prerogatives of Parliament that they exerlised indecorous privileges, and usurped authority which the royal instructions never invested in that bodyj; and the latter| claiming to be the sole legislative Ijody, the only exponents of-constitutional rights,and |he only depositary of political power declared thatlthey would be ufider 110 executive dictation, and submit to no infringement of their rights. Twice had the {jrovernor dissolved the Assembly; but the time had "now arrived whcfn a new agent .of royal power was to be employed ;in humbling their pretensions to the supreme control of the colony.
At the opening of ijie Assembly in 1770, Dr. Noble Wimjberly Jones, one $f the morning stars of liberty in Georgia, was unanimously elected Speaker; but the Governor put a negative on his election, and sent the House back to make a^new choice/ This proscription, which was designed as a rebuke to Dr. Jones, was more honorable to him than the commission which authorized it; and ranked him at once with Otis, nega tived by Sir FrancisfBernard; and with Hancock, negatived by Hutchipson. To them, the intended stigma, though for the? moment- mortifying to personal ambition, was like the honorable wound of the soldier, the proud scar of a contest, which rescued almost a hemisphere from thraldom. The Assembly resented this insult to their elective franchise; and passed a reso lution complimentingDr. Jones, and declaring, "that the sense and approbation this House entertain of Jii-s conduct, can never be lessened by any slight cast upon him, in opposition to the unanimous voice of the Com mons House of Assembly in particular, and the pro vince in general." And they furthermore resolved:

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT. *' ;**?)'
"that 4Ms|rej(ection by the Governor of a .Speaker

unanimous!^ elected, was a high breach of the privi*

leges of thl House, and tended to subvert the most

^O "

'A;r

-..!. 1

7

^alyable: j||ht{|: and liberties of the people and their

r^presentajtiyes? This bold assertion was termed by

tjie Cpunciji a f most indecent and insolent denial of

his Majestf's |uthority;" and the Governor, on the

22d February,.a770> dissolved the Assembly.

At a melting of the Council, on the 2d July, 1771,

Governor yri^ht laid before the board a letter,from

the Earl of Hillsborough, stating that the King had

disapproved; oflthe conduct of the late legislature, and

approved the course of the Governor in dissolving that

body,. He|fur|her informed the Council, that he had. his Majesty's permission to visit England; and on the Wi

10th July,fhe |eft Savannah, on his voyage thither.

On the^|3t^t July, James Habersham, the President

of the Council! took the customary oaths of office, .and

entered upSpn |he gubernatorial duties which devolved

upon himMurjng the absence of Mr. Wright. Mr.

Habersham was a man whose thorough knowledge of

the colonyj whose long experience in public affairs,

whose pure and upright character, and whose great

firmness eminently fitted him for this responsible

station. But the part which he was called to act by

the royal Jmandate was exceedingly repugnant to his

generous nature. His orders, however, were impera

tive, and compliance was unavoidable. In consequence

of the resolutions of the last Assembly, which denied

the authority^of the Governor to negative their choice

of a speaker,jthe king commanded Mr. Habersham to

signify iii$ disapprobation of their conduct, and that he

should, fo5r the purpose of renewedly testing the ques-

LEGISLATIVE TEOUBLES.

73

tion, and to compel them to obedience,negative who

ever might be first chosen as their next- speaker. The

Assembly met on the 21st of April, 1772, and Doctor

Joues was elected, who, on being presented to President

Habersham, was, by virtue of his instructions, nega

tived. On a second ballot he was again elected, and

again rejected. At the third trial he was still their

choice, but declining to serve, Archibald Bullock was

chosen, whom the president accepted. In But when, on

examining the journal of the House the next day, he

ascertained the third election of Dr. Jones, of which

he was hitherto ignorant, he sent them word to sus

pend all business until that minute was erased; but as

the House resolutely refused to expunge it, he ordered

the Assembly to be dissolved. These- repeated inter

ruptions in colonial legislation produced serious and

alarming consequences. The treasury was overdrawn,

and no provision was made to replenish it; statutes of

importance had expired, and no new enactments sup

plied their places; the judiciary was deranged, and no

means were adopted to rectify it; and new necessities,

civil and legal, had arisen, requiring legislative action,

but the meetings of the Assembly had been rudely dis

solved, and the political existence of the colony was

vitally endangered. These oppressions increased the

adherents of the colonial cause. The flattering pro

mises of the ministry to redress their grievances, had

not been fulfilled; but new sources of distress had aug

mented those already existing, and cloud upon cloud,

each darker and more foreboding than the former, was

i

O

t

casting its gloom over their firmament. The passage

of the Boston Port Bill, March 31, 1774, by which

Parliament precluded all commerce with that city;

U

GEORGIA UNDER ROYAL GOVERNMENT.

;

followed by another which deprived Massachusettsdf

its chartered privileges ; together with a law'for send

ing state criminals to England'" to be butchered in the

King's Bench," hurried on the catastrophe|of|war.

'The zeal of Governor Wright in his Majesty's ser

vice, and the wisdom and prudence, as WjellClis capa

city, which marked his executive character, procured

him on his arrival in England a favorable!: audience of

the King; who, on the 8th December, 1772, created

him a Baronet of Great Britain. He sailfci on his

return to Georgia, from Falmouth, England^ towards

the close of December, 1772, in his Majesty's Packet-

boat Eagle, being accompanied by his two daughters. 5

He reached Charleston on the 4th February,'1773, and

Savannah about the middle of that month; As, on

his departure nineteen months before, affectionate ad

dresses had been presented to him by the Council, the

bench, the merchants, and the public officers, so now,

on his return, tokens of respect were freely tendered to

him, and he was received by the Georgians rwith great

Ift

friendliness and rejoicing. Despite the -differences of opinion which existed between Governor Wright

and some of the leading minds of the colony in refe

rence to the late measures of Parliament, there was a

universal feeling that he had honestly discharged his

duty to his king, and had exhibited qualities inspir

ing respect and commanding esteem.

8 Anne, subsequently married to Rear-Admiral Sir James Wallace; and

Mary, afterwards the wife of General Barron.

*

BOOK FOURTH.
GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER I.
DAWNINGS OP LIBERTY INDIAN TROUBLES, <ifrc.
THE designs of George the Third were now un masked; and Lord North boldly declared that he would not listen to the complaints of America, until she was at his feet. The words, indeed, were those of the favorite minister, but the sentiment wfas the Kings; for his feelings had been so wrought!up by the resistance of his prerogative, not only :by sthe Americans, but also by the opposition which he expe rienced in Parliament, where " that trumpet of sedi tion," as he termed Lord Chatham, made the walls of St. Stephens ring with the defence of oppressed mil lions, that he said several times "if the people vjrill not stand by me, they shall have another king;" anil when Lord North, like a wise Palinurus, foreseeing tjie dan ger, desired to retire from the helm of state, it \fras the constraining importunity of the king which alone kept him at his post. The Machiavelian fiction, |which,

WJ
2SI
r!-%?f%; |I
S3,

GEORGIA IN THERREVOLUTION. s,
f;

making the ministers ameriable for political failures,

assert that " the king can fdo no wrong," turned, in

deed, the nation's wrath from the monarch! to his

officials, but it is nevertheless true, that the) severe

measures pursued toward 4-roerica, oftener originated

with the king, than with tie premier; and |hat the-

very effort to accomplish tKe absorbing idea of; George

the Third, " the preservation of the empire,"|resulted

through his obdurate rancfur in its irretrievable dis
union. Whatever might Have been the efiecf of con '; 'i^ -' i^W'W* ' r'ffif-";
ciliatory measures prior tc| the recent Acts of Parlia

ment, it was now too lat|. The favorable finoment;

had passed, and the thirteen colonies of America were

lost to him forever. Remonstrances, petitions, resolu

tions, had all failed in producing a change qf policy,

and in common with the qiher provinces, Georgia, the

last settled, and the last t^ renounce allegiarfce to the

crown, addressed herself to the sacrifice of everything

but liberty.

g

l;

" The spirit of indignation which wasC aroused

throughout the land by;4he closing of the port of

Boston, and divesting that town of commercial rights,

was participated in by matiy Georgians, and a^notice ac

cordingly appeared in thefGeorgia Gazette, of the 20th

July, 1774, stating that "the critical situation to which

the British Provinces in America are likely to be re

duced, from the alarming and arbitrary imposition of the

late act of the British Parliament, respecting the town

of Boston, as well as the a'cts that at present fexist tend

ing to the raising of a perpetual revenue, without the

consent of the people orVtheir representatives, is con

sidered as an object extremely important a| this criti

cal juncture, and particularly calculated to fleprive the

DAWNINGS OP LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES.

77

American subjects of their constitutional rights and liberties as parts of the British Empire." It concluded by requesting "that all persons within-the limits of this province do attend at the liberty pole at Tondee's Tavern, in Savannah, on Wednesday, the 27th inst., in order that the said matter may be taken under con sideration, and such other constitutional measures pursued as may then appear most eligible." This invitation, signed by Noble Wimberly Jones, Archi bald Bullock, John Houstoun, and George Walton, was promptly responded to; and a large number con vened at the watch-house at the time appointed. :fiut little business was done at this meeting, because it was objected, " that many of the out parishes might not have a sufficient notice of the intended meeting;" and, therefore, after reading letters from the various committees of Charleston, Wilmington, Williamsburg, Annapolis, Philadelphia, and Boston, it was " resolved that all further business be postponed till the 10th of August next, and that in the meantime, notice be given to the inhabitants of the several parishes, in order to afford them an opportunity of sending down deputies to deliver their sense upon this very impor tant occasion." This notice was sent by Mr. John Glen, the chairman of the Savannah Committee, to the different parishes, requesting that they would send a number " to join the committee agreeable to the number of representatives each parish sends .to the General Assembly."
Such proceedings could not pass unnoticed. The Governor was now fairly excited at the threatening aspect of affairs, and at the array of respectable names on this Savannah Committee of thirty-one persons.

78

! GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

Trufe to^is purpose of treading out the first sparks oT rebellion!he issued his proclamation, "notifying that all sucht summonses and calls by private persons, and all* assembling and meetings of the people, which may tend to raise fears and jealousies in the minds off his Majesty's subjects, under the pretence of consulting together for redress of public grievances or imaginary grievances, are unconstitutional, illegal, and punishable by law. And I do hereby require," says the; Governor, " all his Majesty's liege subjects
within this Province to pay due regard to this my Proclamation, as they will answer the contrary at their
peril." vj. - Undatmted by such warnings, the patriots of Geor
gia met^at the appointed place, on the 10th August, and unanimously passed the following resolutions :
" Resolved, nemine cantradicente, That his Majesty's subjects^in America owe the same allegiance, and are entitled to the same rights, privileges, and immunities with-their fellow-subjects in Great Britain.
" Resolved, nemine contradicente, That, as protection and allegiance are reciprocal, and under the British Constitution correlative terms, his Majesty's liege sub jects in America have a clear and indisputable right, as well from the general laws of mankind, as from the ancient and established customs of the land, so often recognized, to petition the throne upon every emer gency.
" Resolved, nemine contradicente, That an act of Parliament, lately passed, for blockading the port and harbor'pf Boston, is contrary to our idea of the British Constitution : First, for that it in effect deprives good and lawful men of the use of their property without

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES.

79

judgment of their peers; and, secondly, for that it is in nature of an ex post facto law, and indiscriminately
blends, as objects of punishment, the innocent with the o-uilty. Neither do we conceive the same justified upon a principle of necessity; for that numerous in stances evince that the laws and executive power of Boston have made sufficient provision for the punish ment of all offenders against .persons and property.
" Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the act for. abolishing the charter of Massachusetts Bay tends to
the subversion of American rights; for, besides thos0 general liberties the original settlers brought oveKwitli them as their birthright, particular immunitiesNwf$j4
granted by such charter, as an inducement and*itieji's of settling the province; and we apprehend th&igaid| charter cannot be dissolved, but by a voluntary sur^-. render of the people, representatively declared.
" Resolved, nemine contradicente. That we apprehend the Parliament of Great Britain hath not, nor ever had,,any right to tax his Majesty's American subjects; for. it is evident beyond contradiction, the Constitution admits of no taxation without representation; that they are coeval and inseparable; and every demand for the support of Government should be by requisi tion made to the several Houses of Representatives.
" Resolved, nemine contradicente, That it is contrary
to natural justice and the established law of the land, to transport any person to Great Britain, or elsewhere, to be tried under indictment for a crime committed in any of the colonies, as the party prosecuted would thereby be deprived of the privilege of trial by his peers from the vicinage; the injured perhaps prevented from legal reparation, and both lose the full benefit of their witnesses.

80

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

" Resolved, nemine contradicente, That we will con

cur with our sister colonies in every constitutional

measure to obtain redress of American grievances, and

$4H''i-by every lawful means in our power maintain;

those inestimable blessings for which we are indebted

to God'and the Constitution of our country--a Consti* j

tution founded upon reason and justice, and the indeli

ble rights of mankind.

- " Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the committee

appointed by the meeting of the inhabitants of this

province, on Wednesday the 27th of July .1 ast, toge

ther with the deputies who have appeared here on this :

day from the different parishes, be a general committee

to act; and that any eleven or more of them shall have full power to correspond with the committees of f^*,:,*

the several provinces upon the Continent;-and that

copies of these resolutions, as well as all other pro

ceedings, be transmitted without delay to the Com

mittees of Correspondence in the respective provinces.

"A committee was appointed to receive subscrip

tions for the suffering poor of Boston, consisting of

William Ewen, William Young, Joseph Clay, John

Houstoun, Noble Wimberly Jones, Edward Telfair,

John Smith, Samuel Farley, and Andrew Elton Wells,

Esquires."



The question was also discussed, whether six depu

ties should be sent to join with the deputies of the

other colonies at the General Congress; but, after

much debate, it was negatived, though it was as- '

serted that this negative was brought about by .the

suffrages of those who had no right to vote~in. the

matter.

The parish of St. John (now Liberty County) was

DAWNINGS OP LIBERTY-T-INDIAN TROUBLES.

81

unanimous and remarkably spirited in furnishing sup plies for the oppressed; and of the 579 barrels of rice contributed by the province for the suffering Bostonians, 200 barrels came from this parish. They were also exceedingly anxious to be united with the others in every constitutional measure for the removal of public grievances, and expressed their willingness, in this noble struggle, "to exert themselves to the utmost, to make every sacrifice that men impressed with the strongest sense of their rights and liberties, and warm with the most benevolent feelings for their oppressed brethren, can make, to stand firmly or fall gloriously in the common cause." Unwilling to abide by this decision of the meeting, not ;to send delegates to the General Congress, the parish of -St. John^qalled, a meeting on the 30th August, at which.|[eguties,jfrom St. George's and St. David's united with the" people of St. John's, who " Resolved, that if the majority of the parishes would join with them, they would send depu ties to join the General Congress, and faithfully and religiously abide by and conform to such determina tion as should be there entered into, and come from thence recommended."
The adherents of Government strove to cast odium on these meetings, by representing them as the mere gatherings of factious demagogues, self-appointed and unauthorized representatives, 1 forcing their measures by the low tricks of cunning, and palming off " as the voice of the province" resolutions, " unfairly and inso lently made by a junto of twenty-five or six."
With the assent of the Governor, petitions opposing the positions taken by the liberty party were prepared,

VOL. II.

1 State Paper Office, vi, 130-3. 6

'
t1:,

ipr

82

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

and freely circulated, by artful and interested men, who were to receive a certain sum for each name signed; consequently, the number of those, who by these peti tions protested against the liberty proceedings, exceeded in some instances the number of free white persons in the respective parishes; the names of several in fact were put upon the papers who had been dead several
'
years. 2 The meetings of the friends of liberty, and the grow
ing discontent of the people, under the harrowing le gislation of Parliament, justly alarmed the Governor, and he frankly told the Earl of Dartmouth that "it required the interposition of higher authority than the executive power, for however coercion or lenient mea sures might for a time smother the flame, it would only break out again at some future day with greater vio lence."3 He was anxious that things " should be brought to a point at once;" but the " point" to which he wished to have them brought,--" entire submission and obedience to the sovereignty of Great Britain,"-- was the very point at issue, and one to which Ameri cans could never again be brought.
A temporary lull in the political elements around him enabled the Governor to give attention to the pre carious and threatening condition of Indian affairs.
To manage the complicated relations of the Indian tribes with the government, with the traders, and with each other; to redress their grievances, and to claim redress when they were the aggressors; to preserve their friendship and secure peace; required great tact, unquailing firmness, indomitable energy, blended with patience and wisdom. Governor Wright understood

State Paper Office, vi, 147-59.

3 State Paper Office, vi, 122.

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES. 83

the Indian character, and dealing;wisely with them in

all his plans, secured their confidence, and often saved

the colony from their savage incursions.

In 1770, the Cherokees proposed to cede to the

traders certain portions of land to liquidate the claims

upon them, which, in consequence,;of a scarcity of game

they were unable to pay to their creditors. The

amount of their indebtedness to ihe traders was over

$200,000, arid the matter having-been brought before

the Governor by a memorial from the traders, he took

occasion, while in England, to represent the matter in

such a light to the Board of Trade and his Majesty's

Council, that they agreed to his proposals, and gave him

full powers to carry out his plan. .

On his return to Georgia, he united with Captain

Stuart, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, in send

ing a message to the Creeks and Cherokees to meet him

in congress at Augusta.

;

,:

They convened at the appointed place on the 1st

June, 1773, and having in a long preamble stated their

inability to pay the debts justly due from them to the

traders, and their desire to cancel these claims by

grants of territory, they, ceded to his Majesty over

2,100,000 acres, comprising most of the land now lying

in the counties of Wilkes, Lincoln, Taliaferro, Green,

Oglethorpe, and Elbert.

The Governor anticipated the most beneficial results

from this concession, and told the ministry4 that he

expected it would add 10,000 families to the present

population; give an increase of 15,000 effective men on

the militia muster roll; bring over $500,000 worth of

produce into the .market; add greater security to the

4 State Paper Office, v, 168.

84

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

present settlements; and remove still farther off the

Indians; who, with all their promises of peace, were

still troublesome and dangerous. A plan for the settle

ment of this fertile and healthy region was arranged

by the Governor, and Messrs. Bartlett, Maddox, Hol

land, and Young were vested with powers to carry out

this scheme. Two hundred acres were granted to

every head of a family, and fifty acres to each mem

ber, black and white; warrants for the survey being

granted when the entrance money, 5 per :one hundred

acres, was paid into the Land Courts at Augusta, or

Fort James (now Petersburg), at the confluence of the

Broad and Savannah Rivers.

A portion of these benefits would no doubt have ac

crued to Georgia, but for an unfortunate rupture between

the Creeks and frontier settlers, owing to which seven

teen white persons were murdered by them at SherrilFs

Fort, in the beginning of the year 1774. The Indians^

led on by Big Elk, secretly approached the fort in the

morning, and suddenly firing upon the people then at

i*

work, killed three persons, among whom was Sherrill,

I

at the first fire. They hoped to complete their work

of destruction by setting fire in several places to the

building into which the women and children had

retreated, but being suddenly attacked by a party of

men under Captain Bernard, they quickly retreated,

not, however, until they left several of their number

dead upon the field.

The attack on Sherrill's Eort

'- -t. .>"!.?'

was followed up by other skirmishes, in which many

lives were lost on both sides; though the great body

II

of the Creeks repudiated these maraudings of a por tion of their tribe. These events blasted for a time

the fair prospect which dawned on the newly ceded i

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN ^ROUBLES.

85

lands, as the inhabitants who ventured there and

opened plantations were driven off, bjjthe insecurity

of their position, so that the settlement of this noble

tract was fbr; some time delayed. Inconsequence of

these frequent ruptures, the Governor and Captain

Stuart solicited an interview with the Upper and Lower

Creeks at Savannah, and accordingly twenty chiefs

met them there on the 18th October^ 1774, when a

new treaty of peace and amity was m|de and signed,

giving the strongest assurances of mutual good will,

and of the pacific disposition of the flndians. It is

difficult for iis, hemmed in by no savage tribes and

exposed to rio merciless warfare withf infuriated In

dians, to appreciate the dangers to whijh Georgia was

then so constantly exposed. Their causes of anger

were so slight, their irruption into the settlements

was so sudden, their revenge so cruel, that the

bold pioneer/and the-hardy settler quailed before the

terrors of the wilderness, and few were sufficiently

daring to strike out new paths in the forest, and detach

themselves from the stronger settlements. The exer

tions of the IGovernor now gave to the population a

;.,

.

-.'

security they; had never before enjoyedjj and hi's nego

tiations with so many and conflicting tribes, reflected

the highest praise upon his sagacity and his fair and,

equitable dealings. Success was not always commen

surate with his hopes; but the failurefwas caused by

the disjointed times, rather than by any defect in his

well-matured schemes. He merited aiid received for f;
his zeal and labors in Indian affairs, Ithe thanks of

Georgia, the ministry, and the king, $



The autumn of 1774 passed without|any public de

monstrations in favor of liberty. Botfi parties were

m
PS*'

86

':'^'GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.'

now fairly arrayed, and each labored to secure ascen

dency ; and whatever could be effected by the allure

ments of office, by promises of favor, by the smiles of

the Governor, by political favoritism; was done, and

that most sedulously, to keep the province loyal to the

King, and free from the innovations of continental

reform.

During the second week in January, 1775, a district

Congress was held by the inhabitants of St. Andrew's

Parish (now Darien), at which a series of resolutions

were passed, embodying with great force and earnest

ness the views of the freeholders of that large and flourishing parish. These resolutions, six in number,

iift

expressed, first, their approbation of "the unparal

leled moderation, the decent, but firm and manly, con

duct of the loyal and brave people of Boston and

Massachusetts Bay, to preserve their liberty;" their

acquiescence "in all the resolutions of the Grand

American Congress," and their hearty and "cheerful

accession to the association entered into by them, as

the wisest and most moderate measure that could be adopted." The second resolution condemned the shut M.

ting of the land offices, to the great detriment of colo

nial growth, and to the injury of the industrious poor,

declaring "that all encouragement should be given to

the poor of every nation by every generous American,"

The third, animadverted upon the ministerial man

dates which prevented colonial Assemblies from pass

ing such laws as the several exigencies of the provinces

required, an especial grievance, as they declared, "in am this young colony, where our internal police is not yet ,-li.if^i

well settled." The fourth, reprobated the practice of

making qojmiial officers dependent for salaries on Great

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUftES. 87
Britain, "thus making them independent oftthe people, who should support them according to their usefulness and behavior." In the fifth resolution, the parish declare " our disapprobation and abhorrence of the unnatural practice of slavery in America," and their (purpose to urge " the manumission of our slaves in this colony, upon the most safe and equitable footing for the mas ters and themselves." And, lastly, they thereby choose delegates to represent the district in provincial con gress, and instruct them to urge the appointment of two delegates from this colony to the Continental Con gress, to be held in Philadelphia"in May. .
Appended to these resolutions were the following articles of agreement or association':
" Being persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depend, under Qod, on the firm union of the inhabitants in its vigorous prosecu tion of the measures necessary for its safety, and con vinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend the dissolution of the powers of government, we, the freemen, freeholders, and in habitants of the province of Georgia, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts Bay, do, in the . most solemn manner, resolve never to become slaves j and do associate, under all the ties of religion, honor, and love of country, to adopt and endeavor to carry into execution, whatever may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our ProviEF" cial Convention that shall be appointed, for the pur pose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppsi^|sive acts

88

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation be

tween Great Britain and America, on constitutional

principles, which we most ardently desire, can be ob

tained; and that we will in all things follow the advice

of our general committee, to be appointed, respecting

the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and

good order, and the safety of individuals and private

property.

(Signed)
LACHN. MC!NTQSH, GEO. THREADCRAFT, CHARLES MCDONALD, JOHN MclNTOse, RAYD. DEMERE, JILES MOORE, SAMUEL MCLELAND, PETER SALLENS, JUN., JAMES CLARK, JOHN WITHERSPOON, JUN., JOHN WITHERSPOON, JOHN FULTON, SAMUEL FULTON, ISAAC CUTHBERT, ISAAC HALL, JONES NEWSOM,

A. DANIEL CUTHBERT, JOHN HALL, JNO. MCCOLLUGH, SEN., JNO. MCCOLLUGH, JUN., WILLIAM MCCOLLUGH, KEU. SHUTTLEWORTH,
JOHN McCLELAND,
RICHARD COOPER, SETH McCuLLUGH, THOMAS KING, PAUL JUDTON, JOHN ROLAND, PR. SHUTTLEWORTH, JOSEPH STOBE, To. BIERRY.

On the 18th January, six days after the above asso ciation was signed, a Provincial Congress met in Sa vannah, upon invitation of a committee of the citizens of Christ Church Parish, and elected John Glen chair man. The General Assembly of the province met there, also, on the same day, and was opened by an earnest, affectionate, and argumentative speech from. Sir James Wright, in which he cautioned them not to be " led away by the voices and opinions of men of overheated ideas; consider coolly and sensibly of the

DAWNINGS |OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES.

89

terrible consequences which may attend adopting reso

lutions and measures expressly contrary to law, and

hostile to the mbther country;" and he hoped that

their "prudence sind regard for the welfare and happi

ness of the province, of themselves, and of their pos

terity, would defer them from entering into similar

resolutions." f '?

'

The reply of the Council, sitting as an upper house,

\vas loyal, and echoed the sentiments of the Governor;

but the address fof the Commons' house, though re

spectful, expressed their sense of the numerous griev

ances under whi|h they suffered, and their desire of

redress; as "it^is the enjoyment of constitutional

rights and liberty that softens every care of life, and

renders existence;itself supportable."

The upper house proposed a conference with the

lower house upon the subject of American grievances,

and, after several days' delay, the two bodies met in

the Council chamber; but they could not unite in

their views, and the Commons' house declined acceding

to the measures proposed by the other branch of the

Legislature. f O Unintimidated by the Governor and Council, the

lower house proceeded to take into consideration the

papers and letters received from the other colonies,

and they passed a series of resolves, laid before them

by the Provincial-Congress, then sitting, embracing

the substance, and generally the language, of the reso

lutions adopted on the 14th October, 1774, adding to

them three resolutions; one, presenting "their most

grateful acknowledgments to those truly noble, honor

able, and patriotic advocates of civil and religious

liberty, who have so generously and powerfully,

pit
w:.<-'-^:l<i jy,4t- >

.,, f



90

GEORGIA IN- THE REVOLUTION.

though /unsuccessfully, espoused and defended the

cause of America, both in and out of Parliament.,

The second, gave thanks " to the members of the late

Continental Congress, for their wise and able exertions

in the cause of American liberty;" and the last re

solved, that certain persons, not named, " be deputies

to represent this province in the intended American

Continental Congress, proposed to be held at the city

of Philadelphia, on the 10th May next."

An early day was appointed to take definite action

on this important paper; but before it arrived, the

Governor adjourned the Assembly, from the 10th

February to the 9th May, the day prior to the ap

pointed time for the Philadelphia Congress to as

semble.

.'

In the Provincial Congress, which had convened

simultaneously with the Assembly; it was found, that

out of twelve parishes invited, only five sent deputies,

and some of these had laid their delegates under in

struction as to the form of the proposed association.

Embarrassed by this inaction of the colony, brought

about by the most diligent efforts of the Governor; the

friends of liberty adopted the expedient of laying their

papers and articles of association before the Commons'

house; and it was these resolutions which the Governor

suppressed, by adjourning the Assembly. Thwarted

in this design, which, it must be confessed, was not a

correct mode of procedure, the Provincial Congress, if

such it "could be called, entered into articles of associa

tion, differing, however, in some important respects,

from the model proposed by the Continental Congress.

Thistcourse, forced upon the congress by prudential

reasons^ gave umbrage to the deputies from St. John's,

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES.

91

which parish had fully acceded to the resolutions and

association adopted in Philadelphia. On the first day

of-the session, the committee from St. John's sent a

message to their fellow-deputies, stating what the parish

had done, and expressing the hope that they would

adopt similar measures. This message remaining un

answered two days, a second one was sent, and a reply

at once disrespectful and evasive was returned. The

St. John's deputies immediately adopte'd resolutions de

claring " that the"committees of the several parishes

now sitting are not and cannot be called a Provincial

Congress," that they are not and will not be bound by

their proceedings, and reaffirming their adherence to

the Continental Association.

To these impolitic resolutions, they were impelled

by the slow andlcautious policy of the Provincial Con

gress ; but surely it was a sad breach of the spirit of

unitvi/ thus to withdraw from, and stigtjmatize as unconstitutional, a body which they would have acknow

ledged as authoritative in every repect, had it but re

sponded favorably to their parochial views. Liberty

required union, and the eye of the Governor must have

gleamed with pleasure when he saw its few friends dis

agree, and break asunder, at a time when concord was

essential to success.

'

'

The Provincial Congress adjourned on the 23d Janu

ary, having elected Noble Wimberly Jones, Archibald

Bullock, and John Houstoun delegates to represent

Georgia in the Continental Congress, to assemble in

Philadelphia in May following.

As they failed to comply with all the requisitions of

the General Association, the Carolinians resolved to

hold no intercourse with Georgians, but " to consider

-.:
B I--if
If I

92

GEORGIA INTHE REVOLUTION.

them as unworthy of the rights of freemen, and as:

inimical to the liberties of their country."

,:

I The parish of St. Johns sought to be exempted from

Jfche operation of this barsh sentence; and sent a depu-

Itation, consisting of Jpseph Wood, Daniel Roberts, and!1

^Samuel Stevens, to solicit an alliance with them, onH|

the ground that they were detached from the colon

Tby their resolutions, jdistinct by local situation, and of ,^

^sufficient size to merit notice, especially as the Coni"

Rental Congress had|already noticed them by a part

tcular address ; but their petition was politely refused^

as they constituted a part of the Colony of Georgia^

which, as a province^ came under the law of the four^

teenth resolution of the General Association.

Painful as was this refusal, it did not deter them

from further efforts | and on the 21st of March, they

elected Lyman Hall to represent that parish in the

General Congress, binding themselves faithfully to ad

here to and abide f>y the determination of him and

other honorable members of the same. ;.

At this period the parish of St. Johns possessed

nearly one-third of the entire wealth of the province,

and its inhabitants were remarkable for their upright

and independent character. Of New England origin,

they sympathized ftnore strongly with northern dis

tresses than other parts of Georgia; and being removed

from the immediate supervision of the Governor and

Council, it pressed ^on more resolutely in the cause of

freedom, than the surrounding parishes. The time for

action had arrived, and irresolution and supineness

foimd no place iniits decisive councils. With great

unanimity the people renounced every fellowship thai

savored not of freedom; and refused to use any luxury

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY--INDIAN TROUBLES.

93

the tax on which contributed to swell the ministerial coffers; and while, as yet, the cause of American free dom was involved in gloom and uncertainty, they boldly cast in their lot with the fortunes of the country, to live with her rights, or die in their defence.
The hesitation on the part of the other parishes to adopt all the measures of Congress, was the theme of violent and unjustifiable denunciation; but a mo mentary glance at the condition of Georgia will re move these aspersions. According to the returns of the Governor to the Lords of Trade, the population in 1774 was but 17,000 whites and 15,000 blacks; and the militia between the ages of sixteen and sixty, only numbered 2S28, scattered from Augusta to St. Mary's. Within its borders, and along its frontiers, were the Creeks with 4000 gun-men; the Chickesas with 450 gun-men; the Cherokees with 3000 gun men ; and the Choctaws with 2500 gun-men; com prising all together over 40,000 Indians, 10,000 of whom were warriors, and all, by means of presents, and the influence of Captain Stuart and Mr. Cameron, were firm in their alliance with the royal party, and. could be brought in any numbers against the colony. On the south, lay the garrisoned Province of Florida, with a large military force under Governor Tonyn, and numerous tory bandits, waiding for the signal of the spoiler. On the east was a long line of seaboard, with many fine harbors, sheltered bays, large rivers, and well-stocked islands, inviting naval depredations.
Besides these motives which addressed themselves to the fears of the colonists, there were others of a moral character. Since its settlement, Georgia had received by grant of Parliament nearly a million of dollars in

(,;,-g;--te tit

94

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

addition to the bounties which had been lavished on the silk culture, indigo, and other agricultural pro* ducts. This consideration weighed with much force on many minds; and on such, the Governor took every'\% occasion to impress the baseness of ingratitude tc wards a Sovereign, whose paternal "care had been so;|| peculiarly exerted in their behalf. Each of the other colonies, also, had a charter, upon which to base some right or claim to redress; but Georgia had none. When the Trustees' patent expired^ in 1752, all its chartered privileges became extinct; and on its erection into a royal province, the commission of the Governor was its only constitution--living upon the will of the monarch) the mere creature of royal volition.' At the head of the government was Sir James Wright, Bart., who, during fourteen years, had presided over it with ability and acceptance. When he arrived, in* 1760, the colony was languishing under the accumu lated mismanagement of the former Trustees, and the more recent Governors; but his zeal and efforts soon changed its aspect to health and vigor. He guided it into the avenues of wealth, sought out the means of its advancement, prudently secured the amity of the Indians, and by his negotiations added millions of acres to its territory. Diligent in his official duties, firm in his resolves, loyal in his opinions, courteous in > his manners, and possessed of a vigorous and well-balanced mind, he was respected and loved by his people; and, though he differed from the majority of them as to the cause of their distresses, and the means of their re moval ; he never allowed himself to be betrayed into one act of violence, or into any course of outrage ..and revenge. The few years of his administration were

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY.

95

the only happy ones Georgia had enjoyed, a^pd to his energy and devotedness m|y be attributed fts civil and commercial prosperity* "With these Obstacles within and around her, is if a matter of wonder that Georgia hesitated and wavered ? that she feared to assume a course of action wffich threatened inevitable destruction ? Her little phalanx of patriots,fscarcely
outnumbering the band of Beonidas, were men indeed of Spartan hearts; but Spartan hearts, even at Ther mopylae, could not resist theihosts of the despot. And what had they to hope in their feeble state--the parishes divided^ the metropolis filled with placemen and officers, the sea-coast guarded by a fleet,fand the frontier of two hundred and|fifty miles gleaming with the tomahawks of the scalper and the fires of the Indian wigwam? Georgia Hid falter, but only for a moment; for, soon summoning her energies,fshe cast aside all fear, and commending her cause to the God of battles, joined in the sacred league which now united thirteen colonies. ?
When the 9th of May--the day named in the execu tive proclamation for the convening of the -General Assembly--arrived, there w6re not sufficient members in attendance to form a House. No more came on die 10th; and on the llth, the Hous,e adjourned to the 15th, to afford time for ;the country members to come in. But the Governor, understanding, or pro filing to understand, that! the Commons did not, intend to make a house, or .proceed to business, with the unanimous advice of the Executive Council, pro rogued the Assembly to the 7th of November, at which time, a quorum not being formed, it was still further prorogued; though,; when the time, for its

GEORGIA IN THE 'REVOLUTION.

meeting arrived, the province was in the hands of the republicans, and royal government, for a time at least,

had ceased in Georgia. ; | I The General Congress met iij Philadelphia on the JlOth. May; and on the 13th, Dr. Lyman Hall pre sented to that body his credentials as deputy from the parish of St. John's, accompanied by an address from his constituents, containing a brief summary of their /proceedings. Both were read .and approved, and he was permitted to take his seat,^subject to such regu lations as the Congress shall; determine relative to

Voting."

; ;* '

The delegates elected to. this General Congress by

the Provincial Congress in Savannah, did not attend;

but sent a letter to the President, dated April 8,1775,

stating at length the reasons which deterred them from

uniting with the other colonies. The letter illustrates

the spirit which then reigned in Georgia, and is too im

portant to be omitted in a history, which aims to give a

faithful delineation of those exciting times. It began

by stating, that " The unworthy part which the pro

vince of Georgia has acted in the great and general con

test leaves room to expectv little less than the censure,

or even indignation, of every virtuous man in America.

Although, on the one hand, we feel the justice of such

a consequence, with respect to the province in general,

yet, on the other, we claim an exemption from it, in

favor of, some individuals, who wished a better con-

-:

\

I

duct. Permit us, therefore, in behalf of ourselves, and many others, our fellow-citizens, warmly attached to

the cause, to lay before the respectable body over

which you preside, a few facts, which, we trust, will

not only acquit us of supineness, but also render our

DAWNINGS OF LIBEKPT.

97

conduct to be approved by all candidjfand dispassionate

men." After recapitulating the proceedings already-

detailed, they ask :--

|

.

What, 5 then, could the Congress |do? On the one

hand, truth forbid them to call theft proceedings the

voice of tne province, there being* but five out of

twelve parishes concerned ; and, on the other, they

wanted strength sufficient to enforce them, on' the

principle of necessity, to which all ought for a time to

submit. They found the inhabitants|of Savannah not

likely soon to give matters a favorable turn. The

importers were mostly against any jfinterruption, and

the consumers. very much divided. fThere were. some

of the latter virtuously for the measures; others stre

nuously against them; but more whofjalled themselves

neutrals than either.

;|

"Thus situated, there appeared rfpthing before us

but the alternative, of either immediately commencing

a civil war among ourselves, or else of patiently wait-

in 2 the measures to be recommended by the General

i^

/

-

Congress. Among a powerful people, provided with ,

men, money, and conveniences, and % whose conduct

others were to be regulated, the former would certainly

be the resolution that would. suggesf itself to every

man removed from the condition of a; coward; but in

a small community like that of Savannah (whose mem

bers are mostly in their first advance towards wealth and

independence, destitute of even the necessaries of life

within themselves, and from whose junction or silence

so little would be added or lost to thf general cause),

the latter presented itself as the motet eligible ..plan?

and was adopted by the people. Papty disputes^ anil-

animosities have occasionally ^prevailed, which? fsliow

TOU II.

98

GEORGIA IN THE DEVOLUTION.

that the spirit of freedom is riot extinguished, but only

restrained for a time, till an: opportunity should ofler

r

for calling it forth.

\

^.|;

" The Congress convenedlat SavEtnJiah did us the

honor of choosing us delegates to me^; your respecta

ble body at Philadelphia, otfthe tentb|bf next month.

We were sensible of the honor and weight'of the ap

pointment, and would gladly have rendered our coun

try any services our poor abilities woulfl have admitted

of; .but, alas! with what face could wle have appeared

for a province, whose inhabitants hadjrefused to sacri

fice the most trifling advantages to the public cause,

and in whose behalf we did not think we could safely

pledge ourselves for the execution oFJany one measure

A

O

.s,

~ ?f, " /

whatsoever.

I

-4

>? %
i* ll^

" We do not mean to insinuate th.av. t those who ap -

pointed us would prove 'apostates,! or desert their

opinion; but that the tide of opposition was great--

that all the strength and virtue of fhese our friends

might be insufficient for the purpose;; We very early

saw the difficulties that would occlir, knd therefore

repeatedly and constantly requested the people to pro

ceed to the choice of other delegates in our stead; but

this they refused to do. We beg, sir, you will view

our reasons for not attending in a liberal point of light.

Be pleased to make the most favorable representation

of them to the honorable the members of the Congress.

We believe we may take upon us toJsay, notwithstand

ing all that is past, there fire still rnen in Georgia who,

when an occasion shall require, will 4e ready to evince

a steady, religious, and m;anly attachment to the liber

ties of America. To the consolation of these, they

find .themselves in the neighborhood of a province,

DAWNINGS OF LIBERTY.!

99

"1
whose virtue and magnanimity musf, and will, do lasting honor to the cause, and in whose fate they seemed disposed freely to involve theirvown."
In connection with this matter, it j should be ob served, that the Earl of Dartmouth had particularly enjoined upon Governor Wright to check any provin^ cial associations, arid to thwart every measure designed to carry out the views of the Continental Congress. These directions, so consonant to the" loyalty of Sir James Wright, were rigidly enforced; and he-declared, in his letter to the Earl, that " he had gi^en them every kind of opposition, he could," and ha!, he believed, succeeded in his endeavors."3 The civil and judicial power of the colony was combined tofput down the rising spirit of liberty, and retain th<3 colony in its nllegiance to the Crown. The struggle was one be tween power and office, and the stern principles of human liberty; and it was arduous and severe. But i-nch attempt to crush them gave it new vigor, each new exercise of arbitrary power added to the votaries of freedom, until -the shedding of blood announced that a crisis had arrived, and that the hopes of Ame rica now rested on ah appeal to arms.

5 State Paper Office, vi, pt. 2, 108.

f:.
f
t

jp.
I
If n

f
-T'"
4T-

CHAPTER

it
ftiS

tv

>

-i

!^ FIRST BATTLE IN IcEQRftA.

THE ne\|s of tfietbattle of |L^:ingi)n reached Sa

vannah ofi thrfnfgtft of the iOtfi of fiay, 1775, and

y.

produ' "c' ed

^i*teri:^|ef*tex''Tci. tement

anipng. '*'

1JH'

""

s|ij Itl'l c1la' s' ses.

Un f\

the night % the |lth, Noble ^iflberlf Jones, Joseph

Habershani, E^wlird Telfair, tanli a few others, im

[8I

pressed wilh ^he! necessity of lecuTipg! all military

stores, andjpre&erving them for cbloMal? use, took from

2

the King's' j&magTazlri-e,'" in Savan^nah^ , a;^b- oIf*i'1t|' five hundred

4!

-H

V'1

'*.""

'

;"

] 'H; "

'

pounds off.powdeic. On its discovery^the next day,

r

the Council adf ised his excellency to. ofer a reward of

150 to any who would give*iifforhia1:ipn of the of

fenders; but, though the gentlepieri Imaged in this

act were well known, none infornaed, a\ad no proceed

ings wereJevet instituted agairfst ?them. Tradition

asserts, th4t part of this powderjwas Iseiit to Boston,

and used bv the militia at the battle of; Bunker Hill.

,/:_

-;,.'.,

This is re-nder-ed probable, by the fact that contribu

tions of other ^articles were forwarded ! to Massachu

setts, among which were sixty-three parrels rice and

122 in specife; " which," saysfthe chairman, in his

letter, dated 1st June, notifying |he'B0stonians of the

remittance, "we; desire you will please appropriate

towards Mie relief of those who have lately left the

'^if-

> v..

~ y:

.; :,/.

v

ji

town of Boston.":

" f ^ I?

\l

I
I

S CO'U' "NCIL

101

<' M'

' :"-

"i>"

>'

' *.

On fVIondayj |he th June, the first! liberty pole was

erected ill Georgia jSyet, sjach was] sfill the desire of

the people for |ecoQciliati(|n on cdnltitutional princi

ples, thaijit w;a| setpp on|bis Majestj|'s birthday, and

at thejdinner Mmed|ately4ifter, the Jrst: toast drank

wThase, "f'f'"Tl&0'' M':nKg,"'^~h'~e se^i*o~bnudr, o"f~A'{"hn''*ijje'prirei^niacni'paLl' ibf"reiretnyd.'"s

of libertjp held! a nfeetinjj and p1as1|ed a number of

very dfeciSed reiolutibns, one of which declared, "that

this

prowhcelobffht^ and -^it :-.

&.

' ^

'^V

|;':

i. : -g.-. - .;. O ,j^:;

y-

is



^

ho-pSr e;^v

will,7

forthwith

join the ojheripjrovijlces, irf every |usjt and legal mea

sure tdse1Bure : and restore Ihe liberties of >all America.

;;' |5; _ ^ -p.

|;<v '

||

^. -&''

>

'

and for healinsr the linhappy, dissensions now subsisting

^ _|?' .y w' _ jp^ rr>a':'

'J. ' f; . '.

'

between ipreat IBrif^iin acM her ciolpnies." Another

meetirfe, lor the^ purpose of choosing a committee to

' c $ ;. .'^- > J- S^

ij- . , '; ^ ''.

enforce tie Cdntinefital Association, was "held, on the

' '% ' -'i, ' f-.

?

i S: '

22d JiineEat woichfime a'Council of^ Safety was also

'..

*fy

i

";;.;

*;,-

7:

'^

' - */

appointeo|- consisting of |Villiam^ :Ewen, President;

Seth John Cuthber|5 Secretary; Joseph Habersham,

JEodswepahr;:d Ci^F\ieyl,faO irer,orWgle^ilWliaamltpI'=Ln,eJoChon.nte^.*\leBn,asSilamCuoewl rpEerl-,

bert, WilEam ^)ung^ Elishji Butler, (Jeorge Houstoun,

John Smith, Francis H. Harris, and liohn Morel.

;

!': '

(

^-

''.'

?"

The activity -6? the Liberty party,|and its rapid in

crease, especially since the attempted seizure by

General Gage of the military' stores;|at Concord and

Lexingtor^ gave Governor Wright|just cause for

alarm; arid he wrote to General Gage, expressing his

amazement " that these southern provinces should be

left in the situation they are, and th;e Governors and

.j ,

2

-'

J *'

' *

Kinof's: officers, and friends*of Government, naked and

C_/ -

"if~ -

/ \

_- -

--,1^

' v\,

/

exposed tb the reseritment^of an enraged people; the

Governor! had rnucKbetterJbe in En^and-than remain

I

i^i

102

THE REVOLUTION.?:

I!

in America, al|| have the mortification}to see theirlf

powers execute|||by committees and riiobll'

^

General dagffhad indeed directed Sir Ij&mes, in case'|j|

:0f necessity, tpjcall |pon Major Furlo|ig, then sta-f|

: tioned at St* 4f|istirite, fr a com Panj iine hundred||

men; but botliShe Governor and Councijfigreed, ^-***

' &u<ff-f~'

-\

','

''J&-' ."^.t- ^"^

; while this forc^riighi have sufficed to cjffsh

few monthsjt|efore.| its presence the^fffwould

tthenedpteoopilrer,itaan*t|lmp||ahnedre|ipnrfelamhee

still morelhe minds oft declined making the re-i|

quisition untilHie ibrc^e could be largely Increased. 1

*

Under

' '.?&$. - %;"' '
the^merdate

of

the

. *4-.
letter ftp

the

mander-in-chieillf allMiis Majesty's forceslin America,!!

%tV& ;jj;'

. -^

i/

*/

.-^ .

* i,%v '

the Governor iapp wroje to Admiral Grafts, the navalf

commander

onfithe ,-;->?i,:

North v.

American _

station,

^

7

stating I O ;-..

that the port wits blockaded by four or fifve boats from j

".' "fiSJiV.*.'

- .;

**

;.

i^f' _,-

South Carolina^and therefore prayed ^r immediate f

assistance, ass^ng tne admiral, howevfr, that "no-^

thing less thatr1% slo^p-of-war of sorne|fbrce" would |

answer for the defence" of the harbor. 2 11

I-

-.' ;-

--,-



"^ : i:

:'

The assistance so earnestly solicited in/these letters "

!

1* i ,.-

\-

t/

y-f '-. ^

:'

would have beeh promptly rendered, lltit that they I

, never reached ^heir Destination. The f^pmmittee of r

Safety at Charleston withdrew them from their enve-

m

lopes, as they passed through the port, and substituted !

others, stating ithat Qeorgia was quiet, |nd there ex- i

isted no need either of troops or vessels. | ;These being -V

transmitted in'/ftlie original envelopes, completely de-:

ceived the several commanders; and it was not until [

Sir James me^-|jreneral Gage in Londoji, some time ,f

. Iff!' ' i

.| f

v

tTft^'

-i-

' "'iv^

' j'

1 MS. Miniitgs of Governors Council.

^V .^'
'o.' "-
|?

2 Draytoa'sfMemoirs'of the American Revolution, i, 346.

J ^^m:-'. .?.'.



& '

~".;

-

' -'
*'
%-

t-'

CAPTURE OF THE

103

I
lifter, and inquired the cause of jpis fiot selhdinl; troops

|o Georgia, tftat the forgery was|disco^ereB. < - J f

j The statement of Sir Jamesjthaf fthe| pbr|f-^f Sa

vannah was blockaded by four otffive'boats from South

f.

4

\

'' *'

'!'

~-

g V"

Carolina, wa| an exaggeration of. the (Joyernor| | The

real facts of Ihe case were these.? The secret darolina

-:

$



' .5-

? '' ": -. ' 'I? v

Committee, having been notifi0|l oft the fsailiilg; of a

-'"'''

j^

"~ h^';

^' V{)

'^'.

" \3; -^

ghip for Georgia, having on board ^felarge; supply of

powder, designed by the Governor ah'd Gaptain-John

i

7

tp

*/

, - -^,_

$,- -*,'

?ij X - vrj ;:

Stuart for the Indians, and the :s^rvice|of|he;rdyalists,

Determined to capture it. Accordingly, GaptainJJohn

Barnwell aiiH Captain Joyner, |)f Beaufort, Were di-

i-f-t ected

to

use?|: all

means

i. n

thei. r

pbwei'lb "f 1'

5-'>S

seize *'. ' '

the; -^ i*'mill-

;''

f

;f*

;?";'"'.0i- 'X * .Sv f,-1

iary stores on board the expected; shipV| They; therefore

|mbarked fbi'ty men, well armea, iri^tiwolbar^is^ and,

proceeding toward the mouth o| the-;Sav|nnal^ River,

encamped on Bloody Point, in fjall yiqw ^f thl Tybee

light-house. |-The Georgia Provincial Gongress|offered

-t

'.* '

~.'

"'. '# ___''' '* '~-

every kind pf assistance to Captains Barnwell and

Joyner, and^told them, that if fthey fdesired Jit, they

would assist |hem in taking the Britishlarmed schooner

\vhich was stationed in the river.^ Arr|ingemeri;ts were

tlierefore mide for the junction? of ;the :Georgia and

Carolina forces, and a schooner was commissioned bv

.:

;'

;:

. ,;

j.

*

the Georgia Congress, and placed under the command

of Captain iBowen and Joseph Habersham^ = The

British armed schooner put to sea, on the approach

of the Georgia schooner, which latter, vessel had

taken post beyond the bar but a, few" days, when, on

the 10th July, Captain Maitland's iship, w^th the

powder, was! descried in the offing. : fMaitlanH |for a

while sailedf boldly in, but suspecting the ^design of

the schooneiy tacked and stood to" seaflCaptaialBowen

t

*'

\

''.'- '.i

/*

" ~^r? '* "

-'..'

":

-

?

' 'If

'!

.-. T\.-_ ': .

m

104

ldll IX THE REVOLUTION.

'If ?n

f

soon overhauledj|i|^and brought her to,}arid, with the

assistance of fthffQa^olina party, boarded Jier^and se

cured their pmf| itthis was the first provincial vessel

commissioneCibfn%al warfare in the Reyolutkm; and

the first caplurJI frStde by order of anj| Congress in

America wasfm|^f |>y this Georgia schojmer, in June,

1775. Of tile ifbwtler taken in this ship' nine thou

sand pounds fejjfe^the share of Georgm^and, at the

urgent soliciJa|Mllpf the Continental| Congress at

Philadelphia|"fi^|l|ousand pounds werejsentcthither;

and it was by ^4I4rrival there of thisj powder, that

the American $rmt! were enabled to penetrate into

Canada, andfthf| J^ashington drove thejBritish army

out of Boston. ||f--ll

t;

On the 4th;'Jp^:1775, the Provincial|Congress met

at Tondees's3Jong^oom, Savannah. Evjry parish and

district was ^represented. After organizing by the

choice of Afchi-lald Bulloch as Presiden-t, and George

Walton as SecrQlary, they proceeded inla body to the

meeting-house qjf the Rev. Dr. Zubly, one of their asso

ciates, and he arid from him a sermon oil the alarming

state of Ameridan 'affairs, based on thet words of St.

V : i"

*

'"-. '

James, ii, 12 : ^|So ;;speak ye, and so dfr as they that

shall be judged^by the law of liberty." f

The following' is a list of the members of this Con

gress:-

From the To;wn. and District of Savannah : Archi

bald Bulloch, N^oble Wimberly Jones, Joseph Haber-

sham, Jonathan Bryan, Ambrose Wright, William

Young, John Glen,. Samuel Elbert, John Houstoun,

Joseph Reynolds, John Smith, Oliver-IBowen, John

McClure, Edward Telfair, Thomas Lee^ George Hous

toun,

William *~

Ipwefy >' '- '.-

John

Martin,

Dr.

Zubly> '

William

fA t-

I
fa-ts PR*-bVIN(|*f&A' L CONGEES&^

Bryan,

Joseph dlay, hntCuth||rt.

'

>

"^- ?' ^

i^\ %

Distridt of ^rnoliburspi :

Joseph

v^';

- 5v**ii;' $

Biltleri ASitiew



*& -'

**

?-? -

*

? ';

?? ^TW- ~ V

ton Wellp, M^thew Roagh, Jr. v--r-v 1 -i^

*" ''-"'* '"i-t

"'!; ~T~*

^r7f

-f-

f; ,,W

| If| - f: s,ft

'-"" 3K-7>i'

-S'

.^*t

Distridt
f'

of Jseton:

' P^

>

Dafed
.f:

Zubly,
J'

B&il o\^iir, tWil->

' *

'' *.,

l&'f A

,.^

Sea Islandisiiict : 0)ol. Deveaiix. ol. {eleffall. > Jame s K;fullo-'c"'^^*' Jo-?j'j"n JV2%^rel, JohniB'"'$&hunI'" (^5-p11p*'rd<e?au, '*)'

John Bafnardfcollert GUson. ?-| |- lif. | ;

:

5'

'-%^>. '.'?'.

i^1-'

v. p' * Ip.1^" f

-i'

Districl ofolittle: Oge||iee : Francis HlnrlSHarris. I/

/;-

- >Y;2.

'''

i4/;'

ri<..

:>;- *V.JM*-?> -" -

' ..'/'

Treutlen|Geoi^e W|ltonEdward Jolfs, J
i __ _;1 T>i5'i' l~is_ 'i'i " T__ SL \7'_...^ -. T^l:i_-' f

f-

i'-

mer.'

< ?

Parish jof StfPhifip : C|. Butler, WpHam IjjDohte,

William Maxwell, JamesJMaxwell, jSjephfn J^iyton,

Adam Fo|vler JBrisBain, Illike Mann," Hugh Br^an.5

Parish |of St| George : fienry Jone% Jdhn : preene,

Thomas Hurtor|"WiJliam Bord, David Eewii, Bejija^iin

Lewis, Jalnes j|ingh|JohnfFulton, -f |, |Jt. f;

Parish if StfAn(Jrew :|Jonathan Coehrin, f|^illi:am

*

-""

^

v1'

j

''"' ^'-^* 1'1

Jones, Peter TJarliny Laclpan Mclntosh, Wni.|fV[cIn-

tosh, George Theadcraft, John Wesent,tRodericl|rMoIn-

tosh, Johr> Witberspoon, George Mclniosh/ All|ii Stu

art, John jMcIrftosh/Raymond Demerd, J "'jf >

Parish of StJ'Datid : Seth John Cuthbert, ^Vfllliam

Williams, jSr. t ^ J

Parish of St.lMary: Daniel Ryan.

& '

%i

fe''v

*"

Parish of St.^Thomas: IJohn Roberts.

Andrew Burney, L^onar|t Marburg

:! I.'
IS: itLi'

I

I

106

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

Parish of St^Joh'fi: James Screven^fNaftjan Browm

;'>

iff . . *o

son|Daniel Roberts^ John Baker, Sr., |ohn|Bacon, Sr.,

James Maxwell, Edward Ball; Will|ini^Baker, Sr.,

William Bacon, Jr.; John Stevens, Join |tinn, Sr.

Only Joseph Bugler, James Koberi|t>n^|and Joseph

Haddock declined taking their seats, jb j|;

J

fhe first business transacted the n|xt||ay was the

nominating oft a committee to waitfupln Governor

o.

-

:

|f' . T&'-.

Wright, and request him "to appoint|a d|y of fasting

and prayer to:Se observed throughout tftis province,

that a happy reconciliation may soon tajse place be^

tween America and the parent State.| :\ Tjjie Governor

acceded to the request, fand designated fthe 19th, the

day prior to the one set -apart by the Continental Con

gress for the same ^purpose.

I i^-

Having first sought Divine aid an|j erilightenment,

Congress proceeded with great promptness and vigor to

the work before them, a- s the followi^ngO e- x- tracts from

their proceedings will show :--

|?

''The president being informed by.the messenger

that John Jamison and John Simpson, Esq'rs, were in

waiting, and desired to be admitted, which; being agreed

to, they were desired to walk in; thy then produced

and delivered in to the president a|paper containing

several resolutions entered into by a number of per

sons inhabitants of the town of Savannah, which was

ordered to be read, and is as fbllows,|viz.>^-

" At a meeting of several of the inhabitants of the town of .Savannah, at Mrs. Cuyler's, o;ri Friday the 13th June, 1775,'present John Mullryne, psq.> in the chair, Joseph Clay, Janies Mossman, Rev.^Mry'J.. J. Zubly, John Simpson, Noble Wimberly Jon|s, John Jamison, William Moss, John Glen, Josiah T^tnall, John Gray-

PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

107

ham, Lewis Johnson, William Yonge, Richard

Andrew McLean, Basil Cowper, Philip Mpj)re,

Houstoun, Joseph Butler, James Read, Thjraas Beaid,

William Paxton, James Edward Powell, Tfilliam Su-

thers, Alexander McGowen, John C. Lucena, Thomas

Sherman, J. N. Faming, Levi Sheftall, Chajles Hamil

ton, George Spencer, William Brown, Jr., F|ancis pour-

voizie, James Anderson. ?

4' i f J

" Whereas public confusion and grievance's are much

increased by private dissensions and animosities, '/ T

: " Resolved, therefore, nem. con,,

. | i : %

"" That we will use our utmost endeavors||o preserve

the peace and good order of this province, %nd thttt^no

person, behaving himself peaceably and inbffensively,

shall be molested in his person or property^or evferf iii

his private sentiments, while he expresses|them iwith

decency, and without any illiberal reflections upon

others.

:f

;

"Whereas the acts for raising a perpetual revenue

in America, and all the measures used to enforce these

acts, are not partial, but general grievances, and it is

more likely that redress be obtained by the. joint eri-

deavors of all who may think these acts unconstitu

tional or oppressive, than by any measure that might

be taken singly by individuals,

" Therefore, Resolved,

"That it is the opinion of this meeting (as a proper

measure to be pursued, because the General Assembly

is not now sitting, from whom an application to the

throne must be very proper, and as no time should be

lost), that a humble, dutiful, and decent petition -fee

addressed to his Majesty, expressive of the:}sense:-and

feelings of all such as may choose to subscribe 6uch

m
f- !i P vat*

I?if;.-

1

108

THE REVOLU'TION;

petition,fwhich it^isffioped will be done |y|ev<fry man

in the province ; ^ahfet is, therefore, thliwishfof this

''''-" ;'

' ;" .' a $?'.

meeting|t|at such f|raeasure

*

j;' 7: ^

mayfbe afopteSby the

Provincial ICongre^lntended to be. help Ofh Huesday

next, thl 4th of JTul^

t -'11

"Resdlvjed, Tha.tf|he interest of this |rovii|ce is in

separable^ from thefcother countryiandiajl the sister

-O1- -i> -

,. .".' ^-_. !.

;

;^' -:'\_ *v<^

*

colonie^and that t<|%eparate theuiselve|irom|the lat

ter would pnly be f^rowing difficulties fn|tb| way of

its own Relief; andt||t of the other colomesj a|d justly

incurring the resentment of all those to wbos|; distress

-P '

; : v;<i&>'-

_

^J (: ?i' -

our disunion might||ause an addition. M | ^

" Resolved, Thajftfiis province ought,||in3 iMs hoped

will forthwith join|ihe other provinceslir^ etery just

and legal "measure,!^) secure and restore $he\liberties

of all America, an jjfor healing the^unhlippy ilivisions

now subsistin nes.

bet"w;>een Great Britain arid ber colo

-

-

" Resolved, Tha|;|he proceedings of tfnf-m'^eting be

laid before the Provincial Congress on| Tuesday, the

4th day of July next, and that Mr. Ja^iison; and Mr.

.

-' *

.

'$:. . :;

Simpson do wait, upon them with the s|inie, as recom

mended to them by^his meeting. j > ;?

<(pBy order of the rneejing.

|v

" JOHN SMpLLRYNE."

i. .

Ih "

'V --

'":'- "

:

"A motion was fmade and seconded, Jfchat the paper

above mentioned cf lie upon the table for the perusal

of the members, which being carried,fthe same was

ordered

to

lie

upoalhe * '. -, -

table

accordingly. O ,iV . '

f
- ;;

"A ^notion waslinade and seconded^ that ^this Con

gress dip put this rjrovince upon the same -footing with

. ;;' - - .

. . -if-' ''"',

'

.-&: '



PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.!

If09

our sister colonies; which being put,?it was ordeijed

that it be takea into consideration to-morrow mornilg.

"Thursday,}July 6|. If 75. The older of the djy

being read, theisame was taken into consideration, arfp,

after some deliberation^ iiwas unanimously

" 1st.

<;
Resolfed,

V- ,.-.

-

'

That :this province|will adopt

t
'>'
and

.carry into execution, &11 and singular, the measures

and recommendations of the late Continental Congre|s.

" 2d. Resolved, in particular, Thaiijyve, in behalffof

ourselves and ^constituents, do adopt land approve fpf

the American Declaration or Bill of Rights, published

by the late Continental jflongress, iti fconsequeiice|f>f

several infractions thereof

|

tm

"3d. That we willfnot receive in|o the province

any goods, wares, or merchandise, shipped fromiGreJt Britain or Ireland, or from any other fplace, any su|h

goods, wares, or merchandise, as shallfhave been ex

ported from Great Britain or Ireland fafter this day;

nor will we import any East India tea" from any part

of the world ; nor any molasses, syrups, panelfs,

coffee, or pimento; nor wines from Madeira or tfie

Western

-'
Islands,

nor

.-
foreign

indigo,

V-
i

fy s
L|

" 4th. That we will ^neither import or purchase ar|y

slave imported from Africa, or elsewhere, after this

day.

(

-

J.

I

" 5th. As a non-consumption agreement, strictly &$-

hered to, will give an effectual security'for the obserya-

tion of non-importation, we, as above,^solemnly agree

and

associate,'

-:that

from v

this

davy

we

will

not

pL u-ly-r, -

chase or use any tea imported on accoiint of the Ealt

India Company^ or any on which a duty hath or. shMl

be paid; and we will ;not purchase or use any;Ea|t India tea whatever; nor will we, nor shall any persqh

rc ~ d -J
If,
:f

I;

f'

iffto

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

v



- .'

Qr under us, purchase any of those gpods, wares,

ortnlrchandise, we have agreed not :to injppfl^vv^ch

fy.*; $ *'.'.

*

"

"4; = .-"'

we! shall know, or have cause to susped^were im-

ported %

''

''''

after

this

day.

|4| W * *

;

f ?th. The earnest desire ( we have not t|injure our

Jelfow-subiects in Great Britain and Irelaifc and :the

W&si y$ - ": Ind' i**es, induces us "to suspend 'non-iCm"^ '":p/'-?'orta"t; ion

'^T 4- .-

'

,

"^'- i- t?r. ,

\

untif the'10th (3ay of September, 1775, atwl|ich time,

if the acts and parts of acts of the British JOPajrliament,

* l'-l



^

, i.* '!"";-

hereinafter mentioned, are not repealed, |rie|will Jnot,

Directly or indirectly, export any merchandise or com

modity whatsoever to Great Britain, Irelatix^ orj the

WestTndies, except rice, to Europe. | ;; ^

I ^'7th. Such as are merchants and usefthe British

and Irish trade, will give orders to their factors, agents,

.knd correspondents, as soon as possible, in (treat Britain

;and Ireland, not to ship any goods to tHeni, on any

pretence whatever, as they cannot be received in this

province; and if any merchant, residing "in Great

pritain or Ireland, shall, directly or indirectly, ship

|iny goods, wares, or merchandise, to limerica, in

Iprder to break the said non-importation agreement, or

i,V'

X.'

In any manner contravene the same, on su^h unworthy

Conduct being well attested, it ought to be inaBe public;

|ind, on the same being done so, we will not, from

thenceforth, have any commercial connections with

I

^. "

|such merchant.

J

f " 8th. That such as are owners of vessels will give

Ipositive orders to their captains or matters, not to

ireceive on board tlieir vessels any goods prohibited by

^the-isaid non-importation agreement, on pain of imme

diate dismission from their service.

I if

:r'- -',..

.

,-

-f. "" ,'-

| :" ;9th., We will use our utmost endeavors^ib improve

fl"

T.

PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

111

the

;...; -
breed of

sheep,

and;':in.c'r%e,ase

the

r

VJ-.
numbers

ft-ft-
i|Uhe

greatest extent; and to;that4nd, we ; will kil^tii|a as

sparingly as may be, especially those ^of the mpsffpro-

fitable'-kind; nor will we export any to the West Iifdies

t; ,

;f i*'

;

";- ^3

or elsewhere; and those; of u|Jwho are or may'become

overstocked with, or carfcpnvjnientlylspare an^-sjfeep,

will dfapose of them to bur nf|ghbors| especial!j || the

poo rep: sort, on moderate terml. : I ' v: fl'

Jr

i; :

'

j

Jjw;.' v;

-..

-~ \4'S:-

"10th. That we will, an |bur several stations^ en

courage frugality, economy, a|jd industry, and promote

affricujture. arts, and Ihe Manufactures of ^British

O

fft-'

'

J

^

-%5?^' '



-;~ -

.''""* *t-"'^

America, especially thatj pf "v^V; and will disgolmte-

nance|;and discourage every|fejpecies ^pf extrai\|a||nce

and dissipation, especially horgjeXracing^ and eve-|y||'ind

of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibiting of shows^jftays,

and ofher expensive_ diversions and ^entertainm|nts;

and, On the death of any rejation or friend, nonje of

us, or|any of our families, tvill go int^ any farther

mourriing dress than a hlack^crape or ribbon onfthe

arm c|r hat for gentlemen, and a black ribbontfind

necklace for ladies; and^we will discontinue the giving

of gloves and scarfs at funerals.



': f;|

"llth. That such as;are venders of goods or-:iher-

chandise will not take :; ad vantage of the scarcify of

goods that may be occasioned ]by this Association,fbut

will sell the same at the rates we have been respect

ively accustomed to do for twelve months last past;

and if any vender of goods or" merchandise shall,tsell

any such goods or merchandise on higher terms! or

shall in any manner, or by^any device whatsoever,

violate or depart from this agreement, no personjought,

nor will any of us, deal withjfany such person|$pj|his

fev.'asK

I
I"

112

G|OBGl| IN THE ElffoHUTION.

or her factor or ageft, at any time j thereafter, for a||f

commodity whatever.

^- f A\ -; .. |

j|p..'

??12th. In ease sjjny merchan| trader^ or cither p|||

sons, shall attempt fo import any]goods or frnercha^?,

dise into this province, after thl? day, the /same sh||||

be>&>rthwith-sent bffek; again, wj^hout breaking anyfj||

^

=i -.

; the packages thereof .

"'''-** -'"
f 5

TM '>** .')
*'f'r.

" 13th. Thrft a cobimittee be^hosen in evlry

;i

-4

-;. '.

.

:' "

district, and parish ftithin this province,; by those

pay towards the general tax, w%ose businesjs it

be attentivelyi;to o|serve the ctmtluct of all pe

touching this Association; andf^hen it shall be ] C

*;-.'

*""

-'*';'*'

''

' ' '*'-

-

CJ

,^i '

f'ty '' '

'**

' "V&J

-

J,

.. '

to appear, to tie sa^sfaction of^majority ofjany

m*

committee, that anj| person, wi^iiri. the limits of

appointment, has violated thisjl&s^ociation, |hat

:;.&

majority do forthwith rcause the truth of the caseltb

V

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. "v.

-"#i

\ '''"'

'".

'

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be published In the Gazette, tb|the ^nd;that all sue|i;

foes to the rights ofjBritish Araferiea may be publieiy

O.t

m f

'

',;

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f.

* \fif-.

known, and universally contemnfed as the; enemieis

of American liberty; and thenceforth we will break

vf i

"s-

"

-^--f ;

off all connection w|th him or Her.?: . {.

|f;

"14th. That the^ Committee|o Correspondenceliiri

this province do frequently inspect the entries of the

custom-house,"^ and ^inform the|; committees of oth^r

colonies which have acceded to-the Continental Ass%-

ciation, from time to time, of the true state there;cjiFj

and of every--'otherC: material circumstance that niary

occur relative^to this association; /

:-

^;;

_.

_

" *>, -.

"15th. That all;; manufactures of this province ||e

sold at reasonable prices, so that no undue advantage

be taken of a?futurfe scarcity offgoods. - I.

^"16th. And we |lo further .agree and resolve, th|tt

we will havefno tfade, commence, dealings, or in^-;

PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

113

course whatsoever, with any colony "or province in

Noj*th America, whicht shall not accede fSf or which

shall hereafter violate,fthis Association; biat will hold

them as unworthy oflthe rights of freemen, and as

-i

'.

y.

'

inimical to the liberties of their country, j

"lAnd we do solemnly bind ourselves and our con

stituents, under the ties of virtue, honor, and love to

;.,'.'

~.

7

f.

7 ;;_.

ouricountry, to adhereMo this Association|until such

parts of the several acts of Parliament, passed since

the <blose of the last war, as impose or continue duties

upon tea, , wines, molasses, syrups, panties, coffee,

sugar, pimento, indigo, foreign paper, jglass, and

f.

painters' colors, imported into America, dtnd extend

the jpowers of the Admiralty Courts beyond their

ancient limits; deprive American subjects fpf trial by

juryj; authorize to Judges certificate to indemnify the

prosecutor from damages, that he might otherwise be

liabl^ to from a trial by his peers; require*oppressive

security from claimants^ of ships or goods seized, before

he is allowed to defend his, property, are repealed;

and until that part of the act of the 12th peorge III,

ch. 24, entitled 'An Act for'the better securing his

Majesty's Dock-yards, Magazines, Ships, Ammunition,

and Stores,' by which any person charged ;with com

mitting any of the offences therein described, in Ame

rica, may be tried within any shire or county within

the realm, is repealed; <and until the four acts passed

in the last session of Parliament, viz., that for stop

ping the port and blocking up the harbor of Boston;

that for altering the charter and government of the

Massachusetts Bay; ancl that which is entitled, 'An

Act for the better Administration/ etc.; and that for

extending the limits, of Quebec, etc., aref repealed;

TOL. II.

8

''

M

114

GEORGIA IN'THE REVOLUTION.

ana1 until the two acts passed in the present session

:j '

i' :

'-^-, ',

off Parliament, the one "entitled, 'A Bill to restrain

.

thl f rale and Commerces ibf the Colonies^ of NW ||J

Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South fl

Clrolinaf to Great Britaift,'Ireland, and the British

Islands In the West Indies, under certain Conditions

ar|l ILinfitations;' and ;lthe{ other/an act commonly

called tile ' Fishery Bill.''!;

t 'f

fOn Friday, the 7th of/Ally, the Provincial Congress ^?

I?.

elected |ohn Houstoun/ Archibald Bulloch/Rev-|[)r. ||.;

Zubly, Noble Wimberl^ |fdnes, and Dr. Lyman Jjall Jjf ; |

delegate! to the Continental Congress, then sitting in

J

I

Philadelphia, and ordered|";that any three of thenf be

}

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a quoruhi."

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.

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-:The Congress also passed the following strong pre- | ;

amble aid resolutions:4f | ;

.;' -f ||'--: ;

" Whereas, by the unrelenting fury of a despotic .*|

ministry^ and with a vieyy to enforce the most oppres- s |

sive acts of a venal aiul corrupt^ Parliament^ an |f

army of mercenaries under an unfeeling commander f |

has actually begun a civil war in America: And |f

whereas} the apparent iniquity and cruelty of these ob- f |

structive measures have^ however, had this good efiect, ^ i

to unite^ men of all ranks in the common cause: And If

u'

' "

*

i'

whereas^ to consult on means of safety, and the method I. f

of obtaining redress, thejgood people of this province f if

of Georgia have thought proper to appoint a Provincial ;!

Congress, the delegates met. at the said Congress 5now; 1

assembled from every part of the province, besides \ ^

adopting the resolution of the late Continental Con-^f:

gjress, find it prudent to^ enter into such other resolu-f |

tions asv may best expressjtheir own sense and the sense U I

of their constituents on the present unhappy situation! | i

PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

115

of things, and therefore thought" fit and necessary to

resolve as follows:--

;.

|

" Resolved, That we are born free, have all the feel

ings of men, and are entitled to [all the natural right|

of mankind.



*

" Resolved, That by birth or ^incorporation, we are

all Britons, and whatever Britons may claim as their

birthrights, is also ours.

\

*y

" Resolved, That in the British Empire, to which

we belong, the constitution is superior to every man, ;

or set of men whatever, and that it is a crime of the y

deepest dye In any instance to irftpair or take it away, ?;

or deprive the meanest subject of its benefits.

:l !

"Resolved, That part of the" American Continent

which we inhabit was originally granted by the Cr&wn,

and the charter expressly from" Charles the Second,

makes its constitutional dependence on the Crown only.

" Resolved, That those who liow would subject all

America, or this province, to dependency on the Crown

and Parliament, are guilty of a very dangerous innova

tion, which in time will appear as injurious to the

Crown as it is inconsistent with the liberty of the

American subject.

^

" Resolved, That, by the law of nature and the

British constitution, no man can legally be deprived

of his property without his consent, given by himself

or his representatives.

" Resolved, That the acts of the Blkish Parliament i

for raising a perpetual revenue on the Americans, by

laying a tax on them without their consent, and con- I

trary to their protestations, are diametrically opposite

to every idea of property, to theispirit of the constitu

tion, and at one stroke deprived-this vast continent of

116

GEORGIA lIN THE REVOLUTION.

all liberty and property, and, as such, inust f& detested

by every well-wisher^of Greatl3ritaiir and America.

"Resolved, That the subse<fuent laws m%de with a

view to enforce these acts, namely, 'the Boston Port I.
Bill, the alteration of their cfiarter, ihe aej^to carry J* beyond sea for trial, &nd wha|;refines upon! every spe 4'

cies of cruelty, the Fishery Bill, are- of ^fch a com

plexion, that we can say nothing about thefh; for want

of words to express our abhorrence and detestation.

"Resolved, That the loyal ^patience, arid prudence

of the inhabitants of New England, underItheir unpa

ralleled passions, having bee rf5 cons trued into timidity

and a dread of regular troops; a civil war^in support;

of acts extremely oppressive i;h : themselves^, hath actu

ally been begun, and that there is t6o^mu<|h. reason to

believe that plans have beerv in agitatioii, big with

everything horrible'to other ^provinces, plans as rash,:

barbarous, and destructive, as/the cause they were in

tended to serve. ;

I Ir

" Resolved, Thatlin these times of extreme danger,

our Assembly not being permitted to/ sit, wjie must have

Hi-

either been a people without'all thought or counsel, or

have assembled, as we nowarfe,in Provincial Congress,

to consult upon measures, which," under God, may

prove the means of a perpetual union with the mother

country, and tend to the honor, freedom, and safety of

both.

;

"f

"Resolved, That this province bears all true alle

giance to our own rightful sovereign, King George the-

Third, and always will, and ought to bear/it, agreeably

to the constitution of Great Britain, by virtue of whicH

only the king is now our sovereign, and which equally;

binds majesty and -subjects. #

I

**

PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

" Resolved, That we are truly, sensible

our safety and happiness depend on a constitutional

connection with Great Britain, and that nothifJH but

the being deprived of the privileges and natural-fights

of Britons, would ever make the thought of a slpara-

tion otherwise than intolerable.

^

" Resolved, That in case his Majesty, or hif| suc

cessors, shall, at any time hereafter, make any rejuisi-

tion to the good people of this province, by his repre

sentatives, it will be just and right that suclfjsums

should be granted as the nature ^of the servic<|ma<y

require,fand the ability and situation of this pr^yince

will admit of.

%

';:l3*gr '

" Resolved, That this province joins with all the

provinces in America, now met by delegates ici|Con-

tinental Congress; and that John Houstouijyl and

Archibald Bulloch, Esq'rs, the Rev. Dr. Zubly, Lj|man

Hall, and Noble Wimberly Jones, Esq'rs, be thefdele-

gates from this province for that purpose.

If'

" Resolved, That a committee be appointed, ^hose

duty it shall be to see to it, that the resolutions;oj the

Continental and Provincial Congress be duly observed;

and that every person who shall act in opposition

thereto have his name transmitted to the Continental

Congress, and his misdeeds, published in every Ameri

can paper.

.-^

" Resolved, That with all such persons, except; the

indispensable duties that we owe all mankind i(bad

men and enemies not excepted), we will have no ideal-

ings nor connection; and we extend this, our r6solu-

tion. , also to all such persons or corporations in^v G' * reat

Britain, who have shown themselves enemies to

America.

.J-, t*r.*"';..'

118

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

" Resolved, That we will do what in us lies to pre serve and promote the peace and good order of this province; and, should any person become an innocent sufferer on account of these grievances, we will do whatever we justly may for his relief and assistance.
"Resolved, That, in such calamitous times as the present, every possible indulgence ought to be given to honest debtors; that it would be ungenerous (unless there appears intention of fraud) in any gentleman of the law to sue without previous notice, and any per son so sued may apply to the Committee, and, should it appear to them that the creditor is in no danger of losing his money, or can be properly secured, they shall interpose their friendly offices to persuade him to drop the prosecution; and every prosecutor that shall appear to take advantage of the confusion of the times, to distress his debtor, ought to be publicly pointed out and held in abhorrence.
" Resolved, That, notwithstanding in a late bill for restraining the trade in the several provinces in America, this province is excepted, we declare that we look upon this exception rather as an insult than a favor, as being meant to break the union of pro vinces, and as being grounded on the supposition that the inhabitants of such excepted province can be base enough to turn the oppression of America into a mean advantage.
" By order of the Congress.
" A true copy from the minutes.
" GEORGE WALTON,
"Secretary."
Of the five delegates elected to the Continental

DEFECTION OF ZUBLY.

110
_ ?*

f*1l

Congress, Messrs. Bulloch, Houstoun, and Zubly at-

' '*
tended its sessions at Philadelphia, and took part in

its important -proceedings,

-|

When, however, the discussions in Congress deve

loped the views of .some of the patriots for a riepubli-

can and independent government, and when thesje ideas

began to take legitimate shape, and call for definite

action, Dr. Zubly became alarmed at the aspect of

affairs, and^ opposed the growing desires for indepen

dence.

|

In the beginning of the contest with the Parliament,

Dr. Zubly took a bold and prominent part in the,pro

ceedings at Savannah. Occupying the position of

minister of the Presbyterian congregation, and fitted

by his learning and abilities to exercise a large influ

ence on the public mind, his opinions carried .with

them great weight, and he proved a most able|auxili-

ary to the American cause.

|

In his sermon before the Provincial Congress at

Savannah; in his correspondence with Dr. uN". W.

Jones; and especially in his letter to the Earl of Dart

mouth ; he showed,a zeal, an industry, and a patriotism

that justly won for him the esteem of the friends of

liberty, and the honorable place of a Delegate from

Georgia, to the Continental Congress.

His letter to th*e Earl of Dartmouth, dated 3d Sep

i",', 3

tember, 1775, which was published in Ithe London

';f$fK%ee$rfl"$s

Magazine, for January, 1775, at the request, as we have reason to believe, of General Oglethorpe, was one of the

?(?*

f'x,'~

best state papers of that period, written with clearness,

force, calmness, and a full knowledge of the position of

American affairs,' and a full vindication of A"Sm>'- erican

rights. Alluding to the suggestions made in ; England,

120

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

to arm the llaves.of the southern colonies in order to

reduce their I masters to British! obedience, he says,

*r /.

.

.t

-"

" Proposalsfptublicly made by ministerial writers rela-

tive to American domestics, laid the southern pro

vinces und|r7the necessity of arming themselves. ' A

f :

proposal to ptit it in the power offdomestics to cut the

m

throats of their masters, can only serve to cover the proposers and abettors with everlasting infamy. . The

Americans fiave been called 'a rope of sand,' but blood

and sand will make a firm cementation; and enough

m

American blood has been already shed to cement

them together into'ii threefold cord, not easily to be

broken." When, however, he fqund himself pressed

with the question of sundering the ties which bound

this country to the English crown, and substituting a

republican for a monarchical government, Dr. Zubly,

like many others, hesitated to embrace what seemed

to him a fearful issue; and in a moment of undue zeal

for the established order of things, he wrote to Sir

James Wright from Philadelphia, giving him an ac

count of the purposes arid plans of; the Continental Con

gress, and thus forewarning him of the coming rupture.

His conduct and language having aroused suspicion

as to his fidelity to the cause of America, he was closely

watched, and his treasonable correspondence discovered.

Judge Chase, of Maryland, hinted: on the floor of Con

gress, that his letter had been seized and its contents

were known; which so alarmed the Doctor, that the next

day he left for home, leaving on his table, in his room,

a letter for Messrs. Houstoun and Bulloch, stating, " I

am off for Georgia, greatly indisposed."

On his return to Savannah, he openly took sides

against the Kberty party, and became of course very

DEFECTION OF ;ZUBLY.

121

obnoxious to the people; so much so, that in 1777, he

was banished from Savannah,; and half of his estate

taken from him. He wrote and published an earnest

remonstrance against this summary proceeding,' ad

dressing it to the Grand Jury of the County of Chat

ham, but it did not avail, and he removed'to South

Carolina. There he remainedfuntil the royal govern

ment was -re-established in Georgia, ;when he returned

to his ministerial charge, and -remained there during

the subsequent siege of the town. , -

He died on the 23d July, 17$1, at the age of fifty-six,

broken.in heart, and brokeiuin fortune, yet nobly

struggling against misfortune, laiming to be faithful in

the discharge of his ministerial duties, and earnestly

laboring: to enter himself into that rest which remains

for the people of God. His political defection, while it

did no harm to Georgia or the colonies, brought misery

upon himself and family, and tarnished a name which

shone among the earlier patriots of Georgia with pecu

liar brightness. Savannah still bears the record of

this learned man in the names of two of, its streets,

"Joachim" and " Zubly," andjone of the hamlets of

the city is called St. Gall, in honor of his birthplace

in Switzerland.



In addition to directing a petition to the King, and

addresses to the Governor and people of Georgia, Con

gress appointed a Committee of Intelligence, consisting

of nine persons, resolved to raise 10,000, conferred

upon the Council of Safety "full power upon every

emergency during the recess of Congress," and having

" strongly recommended to the friends of America in

this province, that they use their utmost endeavors to

preserve peace and good order, and to cultivate har-


f
6

122

GEORGIA. IN THE REVOLUTION.

If:

mony with oneffanother, they adjou|ned,von|th| 17|h

July, to the 19|r| August.

f

I| f

Thus the whibfe province of Georgia was fulljj cofh-

mitted to the Irfeasures of the Continental f)ongrels,

and embarked |fier fortunes with tftose.of l|er|sis^r

colonies in the struggle for freedom |nd indej|en|len|e.

The resolves;o| non-importation pissed tyf the Pro

vincial Congres:s|>n the 6th July, l|75,;wer<f t<? tajke

effect on the fjth of September, %nd: by |he>e all

ass

trade with Great; Britain, the WestJEndies, afidfeve/y

colony which haM not agreed to the f ules iof the*Corlti-

V

.

, , /.if-'

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'



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nental Association, ceased. By nolcircumstjance w;as

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the firmness o0eorgia more tested than by> si|ppqrt-

*'-'%;'

. '"'

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-*' '':

^

ing this association. ^Nearly halflof its population

were slaves,7 gr.-o';-u pr ed in various numy? bers' oni>;s ca>;tterjed plantations, dependent on their misters, whose sup

plies were thus cut off, without a possibility of present

reliefl Vessels^; indeed, frequently^arrivedjwith the

necessaries required; but the Continental articles were

*

,v

'*'

'

\

'

'

rigidly enforcedj and they departed without opening

their cargo or coining up to town. >The self-denial:of

the Georgians was the more conspicuous,.in Ihat they

had none of the internal resources possessed by the

northern colonies. Their staple products Were rice,

lumber, indigo, $kins, etc., which found their market

in the West Indies or Great Britain, and were there

exchanged for commodities needed at home; but this

traffic was now closed. Of bullion they -had been

nearly drained jby northern traders, who would take

only specie in payment, and their paper currency was

daily depreciating. They had no Imanufectures, and

the precarious;Jtrade upon which they depended ibr

supplies was npt at all adequate |o their jdemands;

PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

123

for, in addition to the usual dangers of the sea, their proximity to the naval rendezvous at Bermuda, the refugee province of Florida, and the fleet-covered Ar chipelago of the West Indies, enhanced to such a degree the hazards of- commercial intercourse, even with ports which were open, that twenty per cent, was often demanded for in suringo vesse ls bound,, to the southern provinces, and soon no policy, at any pre mium, could be obtained for a vessel bound to Savan nah. The ships, with their cargoes, lay idly in our waters, or, attempting to run out, were seized by the enemy. The whole industrial machinery of the pro vince was suddenly arrested, and distress was every where apparent; but patriotism hushed every murmur, and Georgians counted not their own lives dear unto them, if they might but successfully maintain the cause of freedom.
On the 20th July, the Continental Congress received official notice that Georgia had acceded to the general Association and appointed delegates to attend at Phila delphia. Thenceforward ehe was regarded as one of the United Colonies, and her name was stricken from the resolution of the 17th May, which placed her, with the exception of the parish of St. John, under the ban of colonial intercourse.
On the 8th August, 1775, the Council of Safety ad dressed a letter to Governor Wright, bearing the sig natures of George Walton, William Le Conte, Francis H. Harris, William Yonge, George Houstoun, William Ewen, John Glen, Samuel Elbert,' Basil Cowper, and Joseph Clay, urging him to permit the several compa nies of militia to elect their own officers, as "many.of the commissioned officers in the militia are disagree-

124

GEORGIA. IN THE REVOLUTION.

"r-

able to the people over whom they command."AThis

request the Governor regarded '-'as of a very extraor

dinary nature, and ;to have a dangerous tendency, as

calculated to wrest the power and command f the

I militia from the Crown, and out of his handsf ? He
however laid the letter before the Coancil>at th|same

time denying its statements, arguing against itsjprinci-

ples, and denouncing ; the men and tJi^^Association

which produced it. To this letter, the Council feplied

through the clerk, "that for rnanv very substantial

C

f

*

**

.' ^

reasons, the Governor could not comply-with; their

request." . ?, '

// . _|fJ.s -

That,?

however, which *

the

Governor

and

(<jj o' uneil

denied, the people themselves accomplished. l; :

On the 28th July, the 1st company of the 1st ^regi

ment, of foot militia was summoned to the parade-

ground, by beat of drum, by order of Captain Quintin

Pooler. As John Charles Lucena and John B. Ran-

dall had not signed the Articles of Association, they

'

were accordingly rejected by the regiment, and Wil

liam Jones and Peter Lavein were elected officers in

their places. On the same day, the 4th company,

under Captain Stirk, paraded; and as-William Ste

:

phens, first lieutenant, and William Johnson, had not

subscribed, others were chosen into their several'offices.

In the Sth company, Dr. David Brydie and Seth John

Cuthbert were elected respectively first and second

lieutenants, vice James Robertson and James Ross.

These were but instances of that influence, which

was at work, purging out the loyal element from

the commissioned officers of the militia, and pre

paring the soldiery to act with obedience and valor,

:s n 1 not John /I1 n clh_y- is'"'' /aloft-J

-%i-.-\

M

*.

ROYAL GOVERNMENT AT AN^END.

under men chosen of their own free-^ill, and pledged

fk> sustain the liberty of their countrjR

I

f At the opening of the Continental Congressman

the 13th September, 1775, ZublyJ Hall, Bullo|h,

and Houstoun presented their credentials as dele

gates from Georgia, and took their seats. Noble

IVimberly Jones, also a delegate, and; one of the efir-

.

Kest, firmest, and most intelligent supporters of the

fS-t.'

^ause of liberty, did not appear, in Reference to the

earnest entreaties of his aged fathefy who had bejeri

for many years a crown officer, and ofie of the councjil-

tors under the royal government. Thfs session was ojie

of great importance. Out of the civil disorganization consequent on the overturning of the royal govern

S,

ment, Congress was required to frairie new and pecu

liar institutions; to create an army and navy; ito

gather the various resources demanded by the war,

and disburse them so as best to meei the exigencies

of the times; to raise immense sunis of money; Ho

iaarmonize discordant interests; to concentrate provin

cial efforts, and to guide the movements and delibera

tions of a great people struggling for constitutional

liberty.

-

r

"

" The power of the royal government in Georgia was

now at an end. With no means of enforcing obe

dience, and with a strong Liberty party working

against him, Governor Wrisht could do nothing but

O

'

*--'

's-'

take affidavits of the various transactions as they Oc

curred, and transmit them, with his observations,;; to

the foreign Secretaries. In one of^these letters |he

solicited a recall, "thinking that alKing's Governor

lias little or ho business here." In truth, his position

-was one peculiarly annoying. His conduct had been

126

GEORGIA IN THlf; BE VOLUTION.

'V

'

severely commented on, in ft formal address from the

Provincial Congress, wherein they had charged him

with preventing the meeting of the Legislature, and

misrepresenting the condition of things in the pro

vince; and being destitute of troops, without 4

government, with the courts of law plosed, his call

for an Assembly disregarded^ the church: even shut lip

j!'

because of the contumacioulfconduct ofdts loyal rectdij

j

the Rev. Mr. Smith; exposed to daily insults, which

he could not resent, and compelled to fitness proceed

ings which he totally condemned; he might well be

pardoned for asking to befreleased from a condition

fraught with many trials, land attended with nofc4i

single benefit.

|

?

';

*--*

7- ,

'''.

Georgia was now in the hands of the Provincial

Congress, who vested allfexecutive ^and legislative

power in "The Council of Safety." "On the 1st of

December, Congress took funder its supervision all

courts of law, and appointed a committee of fifteen to

sit quarterly in Savannah,fas a Court of Appeal, " to

hear and determine between the parties, and sanction

or prohibit processes, according to the circumstances

of the case." To counteract, however, the license

which many might take,? in times of such judicial

laxity, Congress required ;all persons, who designed

leaving their parochial districts or the province, to

give such notice of their ^intention as would enable

creditors to secure their just demands.

The Council of Safety, consisting of George Walton,

William Ewen, Stephen JDrayton, Noble Wimberly

Jones, Basil Cowper, EdWard Telfair, John Bohun

Girardeau, John Smith, |Jonathan Bryan, William

Gibbons, John Martin, | Oliver Bowen. Ambrose

BATTALION OFFICERS ^APPOINTED.

12.7

Wright, Samuel Elbert, Joseph Habersham; and

Francis Henry Harris, was organized on fhe llth

December, 1775, by the election of George Walton |s

President, and Edward Langworthy as Secretar|.

The Council resolved to meet at Tondee's Lotig Rooina

1, *-*

B'.j-

every Monday at 10 A. M., and at such otherltimes a

the emergency of affairs might require. At their firlt

meeting, they commissioned Andrew Maybanlf, Joseph

Woodruffe, Hezekiah Wade, and John Doolyj as cap

tains; James Cochran, John; Morrison, Jeremiali

Beale, and Thomas Dooly, as first lieutenants;;- James

Galoche, Moses Way, Jacob Blunt, Zephaniah Bealil,

and William Bugg, second lieutenants; andfThomai

Dowly, George Philips, and Joshua Smith, tKird lieu

tenants, of the battalion of troops which the Conti

nental Congress, on the 4th November, had oMered to

be raised, at the Continental expense, for thfe protec

tion of Georgia, and towards which they appropriated

five thousand dollars. 3 On the 7th January following,

this battalion was fully organized, by the appointment

of the following field-officers: Lachlan Mclntosh,

colonel; Samuel Elbert, lieutenant-colonel; iand Jo

seph Habersham, major.

I vs

In consequence of the arrival at Tybee, on ithe 12th

January, of two men-of-war and a transport, from

Boston, with a detachment of King's troops, under

Majors Maitland and Grant, the Council of Safety

resolved, on the 18th, "that the persons of his Excel

lency Sir James Wright, Bart., and of John Mullryne,

Josiah Tatnall, and Anthony Stokes, Esqs., be forth'-

with arrested and secured, and that all non-aCssociate's

* MS. Journal of the Council of Safety.

Sh;-..
I

|28

IGEOEGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

be forthwith disarmed, except ^those who will give|

ffteir parole| assuring that they will not aid, assist, orff

|mnfbrt anj of the persons on? board his Majesty'sfl

lihips-of-war; or take up arms against America in the I

V- X

I.

JL

*~>

*gi,f.

fresent unhappy dispute.'V To Jsecure the person offl

fhe Governor was of course the first object, and Major||

Joseph Hatfersham undertook to perform the difficult!

"W"

^

-j-

-: "

-':'

.'

V0

Jluty. Proceeding that very evening to the house of|

&e Governor, who had assembled the Council to con-|

s-A

!:



. ' y^

|ider what was proper to be done, he passed the sen-

|inel at th4 door, entered; the ball, then marched tof

|he head of; the table, and>laying his hand upon thet

Ihoulder ofijthe Governor,^said,|" Sir James, you aref

my prisoner." The party/c astonished at his boldness, |

J3ind supposing, from his firm manner, that a large I

ft>rce was surrounding thejn, fled in the utmost pre- %

qipitation, through doors and windows. This was one I

of the most signal instances of deliberate and sue-? ,. - *:
|essful daring in the history x>f the war. For a ^; li& > '.

youth of twenty-four, unarmedi and unsupported,? to f

|nter the mansion of the chief magistrate, and at |.

Mis own table, amidst a "circle-of councillors, place \

liim under arrest, is an act of heroism ranking with }

ihe most brilliant exploits in American history. The .;

governor gave his solemn parole not to go out of

fown, or hold any correspondence with any officers or

ipthers on board the ships at Tybee, and was suffered >

|o remain in his house, under guard. But his confine- ,

ment proving irksome and painful, as well from the :

insults to which he was subjected, as from the danger?

|o which he was exposed, from bullets wantonly fired-

Into his house by the guard, he contrived, on the night;

M the llth February, to escape, went in haste to|

-Ma
light ;

I

DELEGATES ELECTED TO CONGRESS.

129

Bonaventure, and thence, in an open boat, fb his

Majesty's ship Scarborough/Captain Barclay, on boai*d

of Tfhich he was taken'at three o'clock in the morning.

In the mean time the Provincial Congress, which-

had, been called to meet on the 20th January, 1776,

at Savannah, was opened, on Monday, the 22d, bya

sermon from the Rev. Dr. Piercy, and was organized,

by |the choice of Archibald Bulloch as President.

Thf principal business of this Congress, was the- elec

tion^ of delegates to attend the Continental Congress;

and/on the 2d of February, Archibald Bulloch, Johti

Hoiistoun, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, and George

Walton, were duly chosen; to whom, three days later,

was" given the following letter of instruction, brief,

indeed, but pertinent, and exhibiting an enlarged arid

unsectional spirit:-- ; -

-I

"/GENTLEMEN--Our remote situation from both the

seat; of power and arms, keeps us so very ignorant of

the^counsels and ultimate designs of the Congress, and

of the transactions in the field, that we shall decline

giving any particular instructions, other than strongly

to recommend it to you that you never lose sight of

the ^peculiar situation of the province you are ap

pointed to represent: the Indians, both south and

northwestwardly, upon our backs; the fortified town

of St. Augustine made a continual rendezvous for sol

diers in our very neighborhood; together with our

blacks and tories with us; let these weighty truths

be the powerful arguments for support. At the same

time we also recommend it to you, always to keep in

view the general utility, remembering that the great

and righteous cause in which we are engaged is not

provincial, but continental. We, therefore, gentlemen,

VOL. II.

.'&

iI

I

-

'"

130

i GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

I

shalj rely|ipon your patriotism, abilities, firmness, and

tf I

integrity, fo propose, join, and concur, in all such mea

sure! as |ou shall think calculated for the common

goo4 &nd|to oppose such as shall appear destructive. -;

I "|3y oper of the Congress.

;

:l -%%i

(i ARCHIBALD BULLOCH, President. |

It, April 5, 1776."

i;

.

/ The organization of the militia was also a subject

1

of earnest deliberation; and the most efficient mea sures were: taken to enrol, officer, arm, and equip the

inhabitants, and to put them in readiness for any emer

gency. Y^ un^eer companies, as riflemen, rangers, and

infantry,|were also formed in several of the parishes,

t- and repofted themselves for service.

The Council of Safety also passed resolutions,, re

leasing ^11 vessels importing gunpowder, saltpetre,

sulphur, |brass field-pieces, or muskets, within nine

months, Ifrom the operation of the 'non-exportation

agreement, and appointed Samuel Elbert, Edward

Telfair, and Joseph Habersham, a committee to supply

the province with arms and ammunition; who were

recommei"'nded to contract for 400 stand of arms with bayonets^; 20,000 pounds of gunpowder; 60,000

fui

pounds of balls, bullets, bar-lead, grape, swan, and

goose sh0t; and, furthermore, the Council ordered the

stores atjthe Fort of Frederica to be immediately se

cured. I

To m$et the pecuniary wants of the colony, bills of

credit \fere issued, in the form of certificates, which

were to|be accepted, " upon the faith of the public of

this proy4nce," and it was made a penal offence to

$'

GOVERNOR WEIGHT'S APPEAL.

131

refuse to receive them in payment, or to depreciate t:

their value!

"-6,

From his retreat on the Scarborough, Governor

Wright, onjthe loth February, wrote a letter to the

members of his Council, which he desired to be laid

if--

'

-- .

before the| Provincial Congress, in which he says :,

" After having examined and duly weighed and cou^

sidered myl several letters from England, and General

Howe, at ijoston; and after having had a full conver

sation witli his Majesty's officers here, I have the

great satisfaction to be able to affirm, from the best

authority, lhat the forces now here will not commit

any hostilities against this province, although fully

sufficient to reduce and overcome every opposition

that could'lbe attempted to be made; and that no

thing is meant or wanted, but a,friendly intercourse

and a supply of fresh provisions. This his Majesty's

officers have an undoubted rio;ht' to effect, and what

i.

O

f

they insistlupon; and this I not only solemnly re

quire, in his Majesty's name, but also as (probably)

the best friend the people of Georgia have, advise

them, withput the least hesitation, to comply with;

or it may riot be in my power to insure them the con

tinuance of;fthe peace and quietude they now have, if

it may be called so."

Having 'stated that he had the King's leave to

return to England, he proceeds: " My regard for the

province is! such that I cannot avoid, and possibly for

the last time, exhorting the people to save themselves

and their posterity from that total ruin and destruc

tion which/although they may not, yet I most clearly

see at the threshold of their doors; and I cannot leave

them without again warning them, in the most earnest

132

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

v

and friendly manner, to desist from their present plans

and resolution!. It is still in their power; and, if

they will enaljle nip to do it, I will, as far as I can,

engage tofgrye, and endeavor to obtain, for them full

pardon arid Iforgiveness for all past primes and of

fences; ariji -tljis I conjure you to consider well and;

most seriously^ before it's too late. But let things

happen asj tfiey may, be it remembered, that I this;

if ;.s tin

day, in the King's ;name, offer the people of Georgia

the olive branch ; that most desirable object and ines

timable blessing, the return of peace and happiness to

jr-

t J

*.-

,

them and |heiip posterity."

I

">,

The "olive branch," which Sir James thus earnestly

and honestly/tendered, was not accepted, as the Geor

gians preferred war for liberty, to peace with slavery.

Mr. Bullochj-as President of Congress, briefly answered

this letter/declining a compliance with its propositions,

and assenting ;to the requests made in it, on the part

of Captain Barclay, the naval commander at Cock-

spur, only upon such conditions that he refused to

accept them.' ; This letter the Governor said he could

not consider as an answer to his, " as they have not

taken any notice of the most serious part, with re

spect to themselves and the province;" but he adds,

" if they will not be their own friends, the province

will blame them, and not me, who, through friendship,

put it in their,power to be happy."4

The refusal, of Congress, and the vigilance of the

Council of Safety, having prevented Captain Barclay

from supplying the fleet with the necessaries desired,

he determined to resort to force, and capture the

Original M. Journal of the Council of Safety.

FIRST BATTLE IN GEORGIA.

133

"

"-.

'.

"- 1 .

eleven rice ships which lay: under the bluff; waiting

the departure of the men of war to -proceed to sea.

On the last of February,! 1776, the Scarborough,

Hinchinbroke, St. John, and^two large transports with!

soldiers, came up the river and anchored at fivei

fathom. In view of this demonstration, th Council^

of Safety, on the 2d March, passed unanimously a

resolution, "that all the shipping in'port be" disman-J

tied, and that the valuation of the houses|of those;;

appertaining to the friends|of America be taken, fbrj

tire purpose of burning thet same, rather thftn sufiei|

the British to possess them.'^ This patriotic|ineasur|f

elicited great applause froni. the CaroliniansJ and th^J

same council which a few months before termed^

Georgia " that infamous colony," and resolveld to hold;

*--*

'

\' **

'-

'.-"

her inhabitants as inimicalf to the liberties* of their*

country, now declared, in a fetter sighed by'its presi

dent that it was "noble,'patriotic, and vigorous," "an

instance of heroic principle, ^hot exceeded by any. arid;

equalled by but few, in history." The Carolinians

still further evinced their interest, by sending a de-;

tachment of militia, under Colonel Bull, to join thel

troops in Savannah in repelling the attack, which it

was anticipated would be made, by the Cherokee and ;

other armed vessels, which had sailed from Charleston'

for Savannah.

\

'

Having previously sounded Back River, two of the:

vessels, on the 2d March, sailed up that channel: one';

anchored directly opposite the town; and the other,;

in attempting to go round Hutchinson's Island, and so-

come down upon the shipping from above, grounded 1

at the west end of the island, opposite Brampton, the

plantation of Jonathan Bryan, Esquire.

;

m

f, t

134

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

I

During the ijigfit, between two and three hundred

troops from thfe first vessel, under the command of

*

Majors Maitlarfdland Grant, were silently marched

across Hutchinsibifs Island, and, by collusion with the

captains, were Inrbarked by 4 A.M. in the merchant

vessels whichHay near the store on that island.

V"

/.'

When the morning of Sunday the 3d March revealed

the proximity of fhe naval force, the inhabitants were

filled with thef utmost indignation. The grounded

vessel, which provjed to be the Hinchinbroke,5 was im-

.mediately attacked by two companies of riflemen, under Major Habersham, who soon drove every man from its deck. H?: t-l'was not, however, until nine o'clock that the people} h^d any knowledge that troops were
v.* s?
secreted on boaydfthe merchantmen lying at the store on Hutchinson's fsland, a fact that became known through two spiers, who, on pretence of going on shore to get trjeir clothes, con^aiunicated the intelli gence that Captain Rice, to whom was committed the carrying out of the order to dismantle the ships in port, had gone on board one of the vessels in pur suance of his duty, and himself and boat's crew had been forcibly detained by the officers. This news created intense- excitement, and three hundred men, under command of Colonel Mclntosh, were marched to Yamacraw Bluff, opposite the shipping, and threw up a hasty breastwork, through which they trained three four-pounders to bear upon the vessels. Anxious, however, to avoid bloodshed, Lieutenant Daniel Ro berts, of the St. tJohn's Rangers, and Mr. Raymond
*' :,

5 The Hinchinbroke was a merchantman, which was sheathed with wood, taken into the nava] service, and mounted with twenty-eight guns. Lord Nelson and Lord Coljingwood were both made post-captains in this vessel.

:H-*I yu &
%~
^S
fvfl
&m
E-i

r

Itjy

I

t

I

FIRST BATTLE IN GEORGIA..

135

J\^

X-
Dlme're", of St. Andrew's Parish, solicited, and were

permitted by the commanding officer, to go on board

afd demand a surrender of Rice and his people.

IJheylwere accordingly rowed on board the vessel, in

which were Captain Barclay and Major Grant; but,

tttbugh they were unarmed and on a mission of peace,

tlley ;were immediately arrested and detained as pri

soners. After waiting half an hour, and the deputies

n|t returning, the people on shore hailed the vessel

through a speaking-trumpet, and demanded the return

of Rice, Roberts, and Demere; but. receiving only in-

siflting replies, two four-pounders were discharged..aj

th'e vessel; whereupon tjiey replied, that if the people

Wjpuld send on board two men, in whom they most

confided, they would treat with them. Accordingly,

Captain Sereven, of the St. John's Rangers, Captain

B'aker, of the St. John's Riflemen, arid about twelve

o| the Rangers, rowed immediately under the stern of

the vessel, and in peremptory terms demanded the

deputies. Captain Baker, doubtless incensed by some

insulting language, fired a shot on board, which im

mediately dcew down upon the boat a discharge of

swivels and small arms from the vessel, which was

kipt up as long as the boat was within reach, though

only one man was wounded. The firing from the

vessel was the signal for the batteries to open, which

were as briskly answered for the space of four hours.

{- At four o'clock, a meeting of the Council of Safety

was held, and the resolution adopted to set fire to the

vessels; and a party, consisting of Captain Bowen,

lieutenant James Jackson, John Morel, and six

others, proceeded to the ship Inverness, which they

set on fire, and, cutting her cable, she drifted upon the

136

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION;.

brig Nelly, which was alsojsoon in flanies. The offi

cers and soldiers on board the |essels| fled, in the,

utmost precipitation, acrossfthe low marsjes and half- \

drained rice-fields, several }>eing killed |y the grape-

shot played upon them from the Jintren|hments, and

most of them losing their arms and amnj|inition. V

The scenes of that day ajnd nigfet wer|f solemn and i

terrific: the sudden marshalling oj troops, the alarm ;.'

of the people, the roll of artillery, Ihe ve||els wrapped

in,flames^ every mast a pipnacle of firejcombined to

form a scene of awful and ,?pul-stirring excitement.

As Messrs. Roberts, Demer, and Rige were still,

kept prisoners by the King's troops, the Council of

Safety, on the 6th March$ put upder arrest all the

members.of the Royal Council that were then in Sa

vannah, and menaced the officers of the ships at Tybee

with still further measures:f)f redress, if the prisoners,

so unjustly detained by them, were npt liberated.

Various negotiations followed, and^on th&27th March''

an exchange was eflectedj; Roberts, JDemere, and

others were released, and |he crown officers put on

the footing of prisoners on parole. ? ' %

Finding that the housed on Great Tybee Island

afforded comfortable shelter for the King's officers and

tory refugees, the Council of Safety resolved to send

a detachment of troops there, to destroy them and

fcf"c^<S-^.g;t

rout the tories. The execution of this order, rendered

perilous by the peculiar situation of the place, and the

ia;

protection afforded by the men-of-war, was committed

to Archibald Bulloch, who,|with a party,of men com

posed of detachments from the riflemen, light infantry,

fusiliers, volunteers, and a |few Creek Indians, burnt

all the houses, except one, m which was a sick woman

1 -tm

FIRST BATTLE IN GEORGIA.

137

and several children, killed two marines and one tory, and took one marine and several tories prisoners.; The Cherokee man-of-war and an armed sloop kept, i up an incessant fire upon the party; but none of them" were injured, and they retired from the island in per-*; feet safety. Hitherto the Georgians had only heardJ^i of British aggressions; but now their own soil was moistened with the blood of the slain; their quiet homes had been assailed; their property pillaged; and their province threatened with devastation and ruin. The crisis had arrived; they met it like heroes.

.t%;
1'

C HJfi" P" TER III.

SOUTHERN EXPEDITIONS.

. ; ?;

""V "

'

"

.:. ?--

LORD NORTH'S << Prdinibitory Bill" passed the House

of Commons on ihe Ifth December, 1775. By this

act

all

trade

and

intercourse .<;*'

with

the

thirteen

Ameri-

can colonies was prohibited, "during the continuance

of the present rebellion within the said colonies rer

spectively." f

-

,

;

This was the first parliamentary act that involved

Georgia ; and while it was under discussion in the

House of Commons, this fact was made the ground of

particular objection arid remark. On the sixth day of

the debate, Edmund Burke moved an humble address

to his Majesty, " that;he will be graciously pleased to

order to be laid before this House such advices as may

enable this House to judge of the present state and

condition of his Majesty's loyal and dutiful province

of Georgia, in North; America." His motion, how

'>

ever, met with little favor, and was negatived. On

the Monday following, Governor Johnstone moved,

" that no evidence has been produced to this House to

show that many persons in his Majesty's colony of

Georgia have 'set themselves in open rebellion and

defiance to the just ;and legal authority of the King

and Parliament {of Great Britain, or have assembled

fc 5
m

T1%1;
$

| DEFENCE OF GEORGIA IN PARLIAMENT.

139

togeth;ef| an armed force, or engaged -his Majesty's

troops^ f|r attacked his forts, or prohibited all trade

and co;. n;4l'merce w' ith this kingdom and t'h< e other par:ts
of his;: Majesty's dominion." This motion led to an

animajtejl debate between Lord North, Governor John-

stone,! |nd Mr. Burke, relative to the position yof

Georgjajat this; period. Govern* Johnstone deplored

that Georgia should now "be entered fin the black

catalogue;" that it should be marked oiit for destruc-

" 5V

-

-""'

tion, ?as1- well as Massachusetts; "the latter, for

J

t- &'.'

'

*

defending their liberties, which were injmediately in-

vaded|-|the former, because they disapproved of the

inhurrifu| measure of condemning peoplfmnheard arid

untriedj| On the side of the Georgians, it was in-
\. --slf..
sistedfti^at "it had not even been urged in debate,

much pels proved, that they had committed a single

act, which the most willing, ingenious, mbst-expecting,

or besf-jfaid lawyer in the House could stretch even so

far as%tnisdemeanor;" and the certain ^consequences

of thel^Prohibitory Bill" would be, ";that a whole

provincejwas to be proscribed, its trade ruined, and its

inhabitants declared rebels, and compelled to submit

r-7- --J,

. -

to tyranny, or. consent to be starved." :-

;

Lord lST orth professed that he had no objection to

;**''

" "-

have the loyalty or disloyalty of Georgia the subject

of evidence; but declared, that though-.Georgia was

not actually in arms, or in a state of open rebellion, it

was welt known that they acted in conjunction with

the other colonies, and there could not be a more de

cisive proof of their disposition, and the part they

meant :to; take, than their sending delegates to the

Continental Congress.

.

^

_.

.-*CJ



'"

Mr.; Dempster animadverted very severely upon

140

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

Lolrd North's presuming Georgia guilty, and, riipoft":|

this presumption, including her in |his prohi^itorj^|

bill; declaring it " more horrible in its cons>quencesj||

and more repugnant to the generally established fideas ;|

ofJustice, than anything yet imputed to thp bjood^ft

tribunal, 'the Inquisition; that it was the fver^ lan|ff

euage of Charles the I?irst to his Parliament, fnd:of||

w ,'.'j- O

-

.

>-'

*;

-Sr

; t 5"

every other tyrant; from William the Conqueror :tp ff

this day."

ff

i i j - :| j|

p?he Secretary of rthevBoard of Trade (MriPownall|||

replied, by detailing the different proofs the Georgians|.

had given of their Tehiellious disposition. In answe|j|

toian expression dropped by this |gentleman^: that;f

" their own newspapers were filled with accounts of

these exploits," Buike-said, " this was the JfirstHime 't

he had ever heard newspaper information made a ~\

foundation for any solemn proceedings in that House;" f

and he commented with sarcastic raillery upon Mr. f;

Pownall's referring the House to the public gazettes I

for information which it was his duty officially to an- J,

nounce.

?

;*

The motion of Governor Johnston^ met the fa.te of ;

Edmund Burke'sf and the bill, to use the words of

Burke, "so diabolically constructed; for it inflicted .

punishment for acts thought innocent at the time they

were committed, and legalized others, which were acts ;

of atrocious plunder and robbery," was, with a few ;

modifications, carried through the House of Lords, and

received the royal assent on the 22d December, 1775.

iThus was Georgia by her own act, ;by the act of the7

Continental Congress, and. by the act of the British!

Parliament, bound up with the other American colo

nies, to enjoy with them the freedom which; they f j

'*$

SHlIS IN PORT DISMANTLED.

141

sought to gain, or share "with them the disgrace and

slavery that an ignorant Parliament, a vindictive

ministry, a foreign soldiery, and an insane monarch

were striving to fasten upon them.

This prohibitory bill-breached Georgia only a few

days after the attack on Savannah previously narrated.

A number of vessels were lying4 ^in the river, some

ready to sail, anctthis Majesty's ships Tamar and Che-

rokee were at Cockspur, to facilitate their departure.

Several of these Were .laden (besides rice, the export

of which was allowed by the Continental Congress,

until the 1st Match, 1776) withj indigo, deer-skins,

&c., and designed fto circumvent the non-exportation

resolves, by clearances dated prior to the 10th Sep

tember,

f

;>

Owing to the wajnt of a sufficient force to overawe

the disaffected, several irregularities had been passed

over by the Georgians, which, however, had not

escaped the notice and censure of the Carolinians.

The Council of Safety in Charleston represented these

to the committee in Savannah, and the latter resolved,

at all hazards, to comply with the strict letter of the

Congressional resolves upon this point, and therefore

ordered, " that the rudders be unshipped, and the rig-

irinsf and sails taken away and secured from the several

V-/

*--'

*/

vessels now riding in the port of Savannah."1

The absence of sufficient military power to enforce

this order, caused it to be imperfectly obeyed; but the

arrival of Colonel Stephen Bull, on the 10th March,

with various detachments of Carolina troops, to the

number of about 250, gave confidence to the patriots,

l Drajton, ii, 130.

142

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

whb immediately proceeded to carry out the resolve,

and dismantle the ships. Colonel Bull, having ef

fected the'object of his visit,returned !o Charleston,

leaving, the defence of Savannah to the Georgia Batta

lion, under Colonel Mclntosh, numbering only 236,

rank and file,'of which number only lOOjwere on duty,

and these, of course, confined to Savannah.

.1

i'

.

~f'

The seaboard and inlets were infested by armed

vessels, of light draft, for the purpose of securing pro

visions and carrying off prisoners, and there was not a

vessel in the ^colony to protect the coast. Along the

Florida line, there was stationed a troop'of sixty horse,

to prevent the driving off of cattle; and on the west

ern frontier, ^a similar body of cavalry was raised, to

guard the.settlements from the threatened invasion of

the Indians. : This was all the military strength of

this large, yet weakest and most exposed, of the Ame

rican colonies. In the midst of these dangers, the

patriots showed no alarm, but proceeded steadily to

their work of organizing a government suited to the

exigencies of the time, and accordingly, on the 15th

April, adopted a constitution or form of government,

and thus became an independent State.

Thus the prediction of Mr. Adams, that in conse

quence of this "prohibitory bill," which was looked

upon throughout the colonies "as the last stretch of

oppression," '''governments will be up everywhere

before midsummer, and an end to royal style, titles,

and authority," came true; and with no less truth

than force did he add, " It requires more serenity of

temper, a deeper understanding, and more courage

than fell to the lot of a Marlborough, to ride out this

whirlwind."

s1

pro-|
iot-|T
? thSI

m.
id, 16;
on of th of
"tm
, the,p
'"i^ D the 3 15th
rnent.-^Mi

;onse- If

>oked

1

/ -, <-Av4's*^*&8vl.

- Ch f $&:

vhere

f
'1 if*'']

'.&
-?

TH:R' EATENED, INDIAN WAR.

143

_____

- __ '

7'

-

*y

P '

Though; Governor "Wri^ht and most of his Majesty's

*--' 4'

'-f \

. *--'



.'^: v-. v

/

officers hajlrleft-fjeorgia; though the roya^ authority

was ehtire|^ ovejthrofpn;; :though a new government;

had been lorganifed by the will of the majority; yet

there wer(|manj| disaffected persons residentfin the

province. &rid mlany causes of internal anil external

a-1 larm.

TM$-'&ese

d'<ef'mand: ed

'
of

the

new

execu';t*ii ve^la

firm-"

&~fi~

'- Or

'.

&.-

;,V

ness tempej||d w^h prudence, and a sagacity blended

with wisdots,r;i..' thaitt cou.;.ld only> belong to on,e--5: who thoroughly urf<Jerstof)d his position, and who, rising above

all personal^nd'j|arty^schemes, dared to carry put the

requirements of ||uty,(; and maintain that |up|*emac,y

which thettXimuE of the times demanded.;! Mr. Bul-

loch proved; himlelf worthy of his trustf diligent,

active, unflinching, he Sustained himself in fhefexecu-*

tive chair with an ability suited to the statipn.lind an

, \ ""

,y

''_

^|,'

energy adequate fo the crisis. His modesty and re

publicanism were; very happily displayed at his first

assumptionfof executive power. When Colonel Mc-

Intosh, the"; commander of the Continental battalion

in Savannah, tendered President Bulloch the military

courtesy which hfad usually been paid to|Governor

Wright, and poste|i a sentinel at his door, he ^addressed

him a note, saying, <( I beg you will immediately order

the sentinel to fee withdrawn from my door; the

grenadiers are already removed, in consequence of

my orders. I ac| for a free people, in whom I have

an entire confidence and dependence, and would wish

upon all occasions:;to avoid ostentation." 2 | -,

In addition to fher other troubles, Georgia, in com

mon with South Carolina, was now menaced with an

2 Original letter of President Bulloch, in collection of I. Kv left, Esq.

144

GEORGIA IN THE RESOLUTIONS ;1

Indian war. Through the agency of Cajjta|h Stuart,

his Majesty's Superintendent.o| the South||n Indian

Department; an4 Mr. Cameronjhis deput^pie|3hero-

kee Indians hac| been incited to tall upoix;tj& frontier

settlements andfperpetrate thefmost atr(|b||ustnassar

cres. ^ To reduce them to order; the colonieftol: Geor-

i':

gia, S*o uth Carolf*fra, North Caro'"lina, and fii|Sjlm? i'a; , sent

detachments off troops, commanded respe^i^ly by

Colonel Jack, ^olonel Williamson, Gen|A Eitther-

fbrd, and Colorfel Christy; who penetratet: into the

northern parts |>f Georgia an| South Qa^lina, and

carried the warfwith such vigof into the IT^ian coun

try, that the savage foe, after fightinglblavely and

losing many men, were completely humble!. " Came-

ron, through whfose instrument|lity they halt taken up

arms, was driven from the country; and ih|f following

year.a treaty off peace, concluded at Dewitt^s Corner,

between Georgia, South Carolina, and the \pherokees,

W-,

gave a tempor|ry respite to fthe long-tiarlissed: and

stricken frontier^ 3

v

\ %

On the ISthljune, 1776, thl President |aid before

the Council offSafety a letter from President Rut-

ledge, informing him that General Lee J|who had

recently been appointed to command in thf Southern

Department) desired that they would send two of their

body to Charleston,, "to confer with him} upon the

state of Georgia, and the mode of putting; it in the

best posture of> defence against all enemies, external

and internal."^ The Council accordingly deputed

Jonathan Bryan, John HoustQun, and-Gblonel Mc-

Intosh. to wait upon the General; whiclf'they did,

3 Moultrie's Memoirs, i, 154.

Kfff'
Hid K. i

I'

REPORT OF THE DELEGATION

145

shortly after the ^brilliant repulse of4hef English fleet

from Fort Moultrie.

I

- "'.

";'

-"

On the* 5th July, the delegation handed in a report

of tHeir proceedings to the Council, in which they

statje.1":t' hat,7 "from. "ifthe weak and defencele%ss situation of thelcolony, surrppnded as it is with enemies, it stands

in immediate need of assistance from thejGeneral Con-

gressj; and. when they consider, that However small

the &colony may be of itself, in a comparative point of

view, yet that, from the great plenty |>f provisions,

numerous stocks of cattle, excellent inlets, harbors,

:: '':.
and: rivers,

with

'' .
which

the

colony

'. '?
abounds,

and

'
above

all, Ihe firm attachment of its inhabitants to the Ame-?

rican/ cause, they; are led to trust that fhe protection

and security of that colony will be hel(| an object of

cons-.id? erable imp-o' rtance. Not one of!-j-the thirteen United Colonies is so weak within, or so|exposed from

witliout. To the east, the inhabitants, suffer the

ravages of British cruisers; their negrjbes are daily

inveigled and carried away from their; plantations;

British fleets may be supplied with beef^from several

large islands, well stocked with cattle, which line their

coasts, and round -which large ships may fail. To the

south, they have the province of East* Florida, the

inhabitants and soldiery of which mustjjof necessity,

make inroads upon Georgia for the article of provision

with which they have been heretofore chiefly supplied.

Georgia here stands as a barrier to South Carolina, and

effectually secures that province against the like depre

dation." " We have certain accounts of there being

at this time upwards of one thousand British troops

in St. Augustine.' To the west, and almost down

upon the Georgia line, are the most numerous tribes

VOL. II.

10

I

146

GEORGIA-IN THE REVOLUTION.

of Indians now in North America, in;the whole, at
least 15,000 gunmen. They are so situated as to Iy
ma^ef it extremely convenient for our erlemies to

supply: them, from East and West Florida, with am

munition and everything that they -want. There

seems- to be the greatest reason to apprehend a rup

ture \fcith them ;| in such a case, the fate of Georgia

may be easily conceived. Add to thesefconsiderations

the vast number; of negroes we have, perhaps of them

selves sufficient to subdue us.

:

" The conquest of Georgia would be considered as a

great Tacquisition by Great Britain. It is a most ex

cellent provision country; abounds with ship-timber

and lumber of ;all kinds*, and is most conveniently

situated for a place of rendezvous to their shipping.

Under all these circumstances, it must certainly ap

pear indispensably necessary that measures be imme

diately taken, for the defence and security of that

province; but the low situation in point of means or

ability of its inhabitants, puts it out of their power to

do it of themselves, more especially as they have been

already put to a very great expense in consequence of

m

the late descent upon them." "The great objects

seem to be, then, fortifications, and a good under

standing with the Indians."

The deputies conclude their report with the follow

ing propositions :--

" 1st. That his excellency General Lee be requested

to state the peculiar situation of the province of Geor

gia to the General Congress, and to obtain directions

from them to 'raise, and take into Continental pay, so

many men as may be conceived to be sufficient to

defead this province. In our opinion, less than six

^ci-^-m
$&$
TM!?f< Ssl-rt
k *r'.*rt-~ivS^3
5^- -i:*5y
,m

IP-

^'SOUTHERN EXPEDITIONS. I.

t
I'
&*.-y
147

will not answer the purpose $ but as'|fre> do

Irfet conceive thstt any of these men can be recruited

f '?' '" GeorMg' i, a, we w' ould apprehend it full*j' as eli, g'fi^ble' (if

T^

,JJ

&.

.f

Sthat can be done), to order some of the| regimepts al-

triady raised to Anarch thither; and fuirther, tHtt "the

&

*^ "

"*'

'

A>

tfour trdbps of 'hbrse already raised be Etugmentejd to a

' '''

*

"

*^

r; " ^

, .^-- r

?res:ime& and thitupon the Continentallestablisllment.

;.. .s.p

j^:. '

JT ;

A

:

j.'

|;C;^ 2d^lThat ^he sum of ---- sterlingfbe granfedf by

,>

^'f 1. - .

"

/

;^ '

?tl|e General Congress,. for building fortifications and

Miard-boats in the province of Georgia! ^?he ; feason

&

^ .-

r

-,:--

'' "

w^conceive this ought to be a general chatg^, is

is evident the same will ser>e affaristi at-

..

.- ,

- ;:L;

^-* ''. .,' jj .

jta"cks frf)m the-south, and for cutting off the clmlnu-

'nication|; "between East and West Florida anft ithe

|Indians|upon which the peace of the batik inhabitants

,-. j, '

-'Q



'

tfe' j -

:bf Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, an% Vir-

i" --,-

- >

-

ginia depends. r

"L1 .

i'j: '

|;.

f

f |" 3d. fit is a fixed principle with the ^Indiansfto be

paid fbritheir good ofifices; and in this controversy, we

<30hceiv4that they will expect to be well paid|; even

for neutrality. The articles they preferiwill doubtless

M amnfuhition and clothing; but these we have^ it

.-;_ "i

^;



___

-.-

$? '-

not in our power to give them. We would then pro

pose cattle, as a substitute, and are inclined to think,

that if fthe communication between them and our

eriemiesjwere cut ofi^ they would soon be brought to

be well ^satisfied with a present of this : kind. t is,

therefore, submitted to the General Congress, whether

it-would not be' worth while to give direction that

----- heM of cattle be purchased, and distributed

among the Indians by the Commissioners. We are

offopinion-this step would answer many<valuabl|;pur-

poses, arfd would have a tendency not only of apach-

148:

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

ing ffeem to our interest, from gratitude^ but sh

m-

also |b4 a meansof civilizing them, and by fixing the ideafof property, would keep them honest and peace- }.

able fveith us, for fear of reprisals."

: H :

|Th^trepresentations of this committee had stich an .;;

efleej^n General Lee, that the morning after his inter-

viewjifith them, he paraded the North Qarolirta^and ^

Virginia troops, and told them that he had planed a

secreiijexpedition, one free from danger, certain pf suc

cess^? and productive of .a large booty. His scheme,

when, unfolded, was embraced by the soldiers, and

after;isome delay, President Rutledge furnished .him

with ^60 men, drawn from the several regiments of

infantrygrangers, and artillery, and the necessary; am

munition to carry on his design. The second week in

August, however, arrived, before he could put-even a

portion of his troops in motion; and then, in that

unhealthy season, they were marched to Georgia,

','aV

"without even a field-piece or medicine-chest." The remaining portion, with the artillery and baggage,

went round by water, and reached Savannah on the

17th of August. Generals Howe and Moultrie accom

panied the troops, while General James Moore, of

North Carolina, was left in command at Charleston.

. On the 19th August, General Lee waited on the

President and Council, and proposed these questions

for their consideration : " 1st. Whether, as the port on

St. Mary's is now abandoned, and the whole country

between that river and the St. John's broken up, and

as -jthere is no probability of transporting cannon, am

munition, provisions, or collecting a sufficient number

of men for the siege and reduction of St. Augustine,'

an jrruption into East Florida can be productive of so

?* "-tfc "/..'.:<*:

Jthe |^r i*?

?; - ---- v

tibns I -fIA

SOUTHERN EXPEDITIONS.

149

important advantages to the general fcause, or to this

State of Georgia in particular, as tof compensate for

the trouble and expense? and what these advantages

are ? 2d. What are the means of certainly supplying

the troops with grain and meat? Ho% their baggage

can be transported? whether safely byI water? If not,

whether wagons can pass ? or, if the road is practica

ble Only to horses, how pack-saddles' 5 are to be pro

vided?"

i

[ :The Council referred the questions'to a committee,

consisting of Jonathan Bryan and Nathan Brownson,

who reported; "that an irruption into^the province of

East Florida Will be attended with ttie most salutary

consequences to this province, and of course render

service to the whole continent." This opinion they

supported by several reasons, all of Which, however,

were based rather on their hopes, than on the real

facts of the case.

But so earnest were all the members of the Council

for this expedition, that the report of the committee

was accepted, and a resolution was passed4 promising

"all assistance in their power to forward the said ex

pedition." General Moultrie was placed in command

of the enterprise, and, in conjunction with General

Lee and the other officers, set about collecting sup

plies, and organizing and pushing forward his troops.

Everything wore a favorable aspect, and the hopes of

the Georgians rose high as they beheld such active

preparations to annoy, if not to conquer, their trouble

some neighbor on the south. But, in September, as

General Moultrie, having nearly completed his arrange-

4 MS. Journal Council of Safety.*1;

'*
SRI! ?

&M.$$& v fessg

%%& jfr-.-JW-

150

GEORGIA Jm THE REVOLUTION.

1

melits, was about to take up his;march ta join the ap-

vajice guard already posted in ; Sianburyi an,expr||s reached Savannah from Congress, recalling Gene||tl

II

Lee to the northward ; who immediately left Ge k ^ te

directing the Virginia ari& Norths Carolina troopsj

f 11

, ' ' m :. ; -I

ft

lOllOW.

:J '

W

-',

\

Sf

ip1j'

|Dhis sudden blow to ; thF enterprise ^|aa soon -

ceelded by the recall Mhe South '' Carolina regimeft;

'-"

J

'

'

;'.;.

Sjfi

and the expedition terminated as suddenly as it ||as

.'-_.

i



' ,-

*?v^"

suddenly projected. ^The ^vhole affair reflected v|ry

little honor upon the skill and military forethbugh||pf

Gejoeral Lee. The season of the fyear was the w|pt

that could have been chosen ; and as a ;consequen|e,

officers and men suffered severely from ^sickness, ^he

deaths averaging fourteen a day- while the South Cato-

lina battalion and Colonel Muhlenburg's regiment wgre

encamped at Sunbury.

:.

-v

S|

It was resolved upon after only one night's consideja-

'tion ; planned upon imperfect information; commenced

with means inadequate to secure the desired end ; and

the troops began their march, when as yet neither

boasts, artillery, wagons, pack-horses, ammunition, |nor

stores of any kind, were provided for them.

;

-* Washington, it is true, said of General Lee> " He, is

the first officer in military knowledge and experience

we have in the whole army ;" but, judging from this

display of his abilities as a general officer, he is ..not

entitled to this encomium of the Commander-in-chief.

The consequences of the failure of this expedition were

seen not only in the disheartening influence it had

upon the troops, but it gave strength to the disaffected,

and furnished matter of taunting exultation to the

loyal Floridians^

" f

^

^J$%~

1 ' : '*1fee>

k ,

ar*Cnfc-

.--.-;<_ ^-^*n|'^^',

jress'^fp^

PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

While Georgia wag thus deeply solicitous for her

defence, Congress was not unmindful of her necessities!

:-
and,

.
on

the

15th


June,

appointed

a

committee,

' $&
consisit|

ing of Messrs. Hopkins of Rhode Island, Harrison of

Virginia, and Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, to take

into" consideration the state of Georgia. Their reporf

was-made on the 5th July^i whereupon it was resolved!

to raise twd additional battalions (one of them to conf'

sist of riflemen) to serve in Georgia; that blank com*

missions be sent to the Convention of Georgia, to b|

filled up with the names of such persons as the said

Convention.shall think proper; also that the.Legisl{||

tures or Assemblies of Virginia. North Carolina, arid

'

.

O

/

7

v vj"

South/Carolina be recommended to allow recruit^

for ^ese battalions to be enlisted in their several

States.- It;was furthermore ordered to build four gaU

leys for the de/ence of the sea-coast, and to raise two;

artillery companies of fifty men each, to garrison two:

forts which the State was to erect at Savannah and;

Sunbury. >-

j

On the 8th, Congress appropriated $60,000 to pay;'

the battalions thus ordered to be raised.

I

The Declaration of Independence was not received

in Savannah until the 8th of August; when a copy of

it, together with a letter from John Hancock, was laid;

before the Council of Safety, who directed that it should

be proclaimed at the Assembly House, Liberty Pole,?

and Battery with military honors, on Saturday at 11-;

o'clock. This was accordingly done, and after thej

Declaration had been publicly read in the square fronti

ing the Government House, a procession, composed of-

5 Journal of"Congress, i, 375.

f

I

152

GEORGIA IN THEl REVOLUTION.

t|e milifkry and civil officers, soldiers, and eitizens|

ploceecleo! to the Liberty Pole, where the 1st battaliorf

of the {j|brgia Continentals fluted them with thirteen^

v'-a lle*ys' ;* f?the nee the p* rocess"-ion marched- to the , Balj|ls

tlry, whlre another national salute was fired. Afteif

;jft. mf f

' : -'

i, .

-3

,

"Zf

a%ublje Idinner, the procession was again farmed, i?i|

riversed lorder; and with muffled drums- and traile'd

:S

";'.

'

.

r,

^

.*;

alms, they solemnly buried the Royal Government of

iI

Aorgia. t At night they celebrated their joy by bon|

files andfa general illumination. -Thus were severe^'

the ties which bound Georgia to the mother country^

tfius wasj established the liberty and independence of

t^is youiigest of the thirteen^ colonies.

|

i The importance of having; a provincial marine early

impressed itself on the minds of the Council, and they

accordingly accredited Capta)n Bowen to the Governed

of Cape Francois for the purpose of obtaining armed

vessels, arms, and warlike stores; to procure articles

fqr the building and fitting out of vessels, and also an

assortment of medicines suitable to the climate. Cap-

-,"

-*

* '-

tain Pray was also directed, by the Council of Safety^

October 18th, 1776, to proqeed to St. Thomas, and to

procure as many seamen,- arms, ammunition, and

swivels as lie possibly could, with permission to mount

as many carriage-guns as the vessel can bear on his

,'v

.

"

return hither.

:

.

?

I

;; At this early period there were no national vessels^

m

and each State was left to/defend its own seaboard, a%d protect its own harbors. Georgia offered such

gibod harbors, so near to the Province of Florida; and

was so unprotected, that she was frequently visited by

the English cruisers, who committed many depreda-

$

:JF

*

I 1

EXPEDITIONS.

fo3

tions on the islaljids, and largely supplied then!

with cattle and titber provisions. j;

To secure these &s much as possible', fColonel-Mcln-

tosh was ordereS; to station troops along the

likely to be assa$e% and an express waf sent to

ral How,e to seflfback that portion 6f the Gjeor|ia

battalion doiSag fluty in South Carolina, as also fhe

"' P i.f;. ;"':'*'

' .?;

..'



boats and lammuMtrbn forwarded from|Greorgia.- IJhe

militia of the Stale:were also drafted into three dfvi-

sions; one of whiiph was required to be In readiriess^at

a moment's warmng; for danger menaced theiSt^te,

not merely from l&ej seaboard, but also from the Indian

and Floridian;b6r3ers.

f

tf- |

For a long time; a sort of predatory warfare fed

been carried on t>y (both parties on the Southern; bojln-

daries of Georgia^ but the incursions on'the parti of

the British now assumed a more formidable shape.! A

large body of troops, consisting of about five hundred

regulars, loyalists; aind Indians, with seyeral pieces} of

artillery, under the command of Colonel Fuser, with

whom were associated the noted refugee officers, Cdlo-

nels Brown, McGtrlhj and Cunningham^ marched fr|m

St. Augustine, and invested Fort Mclntosh, on fhe

northeast side of the St. Ilia River. This was a mere

stockade fort, about one hundred feet square, situated

on a rising ground;.near the banks of the river, and

was garrisoned by seventy men, under the command

of Captain Richard Winn. An attempt to surprise

the fort, on the morning of the 17th of February,

1777, having failed, through the vigilance of its :yot|ng
M
commander, it Was regularly invested;! and all hopes

of a reinforcement being cut off, the provisions be|ng

reduced to one day'is supply, and the rage of the|in-

t '
if fc t:
If- '-:
*;:--a: ' v-'
Hit |Pf
*
B! i
v-
s^-4i
! ?<? -'f.
? SA &

154

! GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

vading fore rising with delay, Captain Winn surren dered himjself 'and party as prisoners of war; after evincing jts much skill and firmness in obtaining proper articles; of capitulation, as he had done in bravely defending his little fort against such an overwhelming|brce. The main point of this capitulation required, tjiat the Americans should return *to Fort

Howe, and not serve until regularly exchanged; two

of their officers, Lieutenant Milton, of the .Georgia brigade, and Lieutenant Caldwell, of the Carolina regiment, being sent to St. Augustine, as hostages for the fulfilment of these stipulations.
The news of the capture of Fort Mclntosh, and of the faithlessness of the British commander to carry out all th| terms of surrender, roused the whole pro vince, and^ with a unanimity and enthusiasm never before known,6 the inhabitants prepared to repel the invaders. ? Notice was immediately sent to General Howe, then at Charleston, acquainting him with the

threatened,invasion, and he at once set off for. Savan nah, directing General Moultrie to send on a strong detachment to his assistance. Accordingly, LieutenantColonel Marion, with six hundred men, four field-pieces, and ample ammunition,-stores, and provisions, sailed through the inland passages; but did not reach Sa vannah until the 28th of February, a few clays after General Mclntosh, with the remains of the first bat talion of his brigade, had driven the invaders back from the Alatamaha.

So great;was the alarm, and so imminent the danger, that a large part of the militia of the State were or-

.>-'

4

6 MS. letter of Joseph Clay.

'lltl
m
;e
3;

DEATH OF PRESIDENT BULLOCH.

155

dered into service, and a camp was formed at |ledway

Meeting-house. The rest of the militia were com

manded to hold themselves ready to turn out with,

arms at a moment's warning; while the President,

finding it sometimes impossible to collect thejGouncil

of Safety, was desired, by a resolution of the pouneily-

passed on the 22d February, 1777, "to take upon

himself the whole executive powers of government,

calling to his assistance not less than five persons of

his own choosing, to consult and advise with op every

urgent occasion, when a sufficient number of Council

lors cannot be convened to make a board." I* r

This was giving to the President extraordinary

powers; but the Council knew the prudence 4^d reli

ability of the man to whom they intrusted them, and

hence confided fully in his wisdom and patriotism.

Mr. Bulloch did not long hold these dicta/tor-like

powers; for, before the close of the month, he died,

and Button Gwinnett was elected to succeed ihim as

President of the Council of Safety.

i

Mr. Bulloch seemed to be just the man yfbr the

critical time in which he lived, and for the responsible

station which he held. He was one of the foremost to

assert and maintain the liberties of his country, even

before the rupture with Great Britain, and ween the

friends of American rights in Georgia were few and

fearful. When Bryan had been ejected fronivthe Go

vernor's Council; and Wylly from the clerkship; and

Jones from the Speaker's chair; for their freedom of

thought and speech; when it was hazardous to come

in collision with the royal power, and provoke the

wrath of a King's Governor; when it was^ almost

treason to talk the honest sentiments of a freeman,

ff!j. : I itSj ||! !,;

GEOEGIA IN'THE REVOLUTION.

-I>".

5.?."



'

"''

-"'f

'



Archibald Bullolih and three other? came q|it, over

tfeir own signatures, with a call for a meeting of tliose

jdpposed to the junjust acts of England, andfanxious

fr a redress of their grievances. ;

* | I

!:$ His $."
Nfhen

death was a heavy loss to Georgia, at

it

could

-
hardly

' ^^
be ;;borne;--for

'
all

ajmonjent

'jl\'

?>

p$rtief of

-g?

''

*"

'

-'-:

x?

*'

Mberty men were united oti him. and on him alo)ie;

.S ?.
^alid

"
when

he

'
wa^

called

'
lience,

by the

fiat

'
of

-f'
God,

'>', ,
(|ivi^

rsibns and discord rent the ranks of the Americans,

abd it was not tmtil blood had flowed, and^yearb of a5n" imosity passed; , that harm ony 'again perva"''"ded j"our

councils. gaf ged i.n

Had tnot Mr. Bulloch -been provinc;,'i al affairs, as to prevent

so hi' s

dleplylenat;t*lendai'n" ce

alt Philadelphia Mn the Congress of 1776, to i^hicti he

t^as elected, his f name would have gone dowh topos-

tferity as one of?the signers of the Declaration of^ In

dependence. If he failed, however, of securing ihis

distinction; he gained the honor of being fthe first

republican Governor of Georgia--the peopje's first

choice to their highest office--one who sacrificed* his

*-J

-

!

private views for the public good, and who di^d infthe

vjery harness of ^executive authority, reveredland ijhe-

rjshed by his native province.

- ^ 1;

v Scarcely had Button Gwinnett seated himself in; the

executive chair, before he became anxious of military

a)3 well as civil renown; and, desirous of signalizing

his administration by some brilliant stroke of arms,

he planned an expedition against Florida, in order to

return upon St. Augustine the attack lately made

fpon our southern forts. But it was an expedition

ill-judged, ill-planned, ill-executed; resulting in-dis

aster to the troops, evil to the province, and death to

i|s projector, f

if

SOUTHERN

1571

It was ill-judged, to think of &ttacking with a fewj

half-disciplined Continentals an|l militia :a stronghold!

like St. Augustine, which had recently been reinforced!

by a thousand British troops; while the whole military!

force in Georgia, numbering some jseyen or eight huu-|

dred men, was not sufficient to, manats own forts andif

frontier posts.-

%.? - I. ;

I

It

-
was ill-planned,

as

V 'f

;!-_

being $ resolved i upon

by

jfl
a|

civilian, without consulting the? commanding officer ofr

(?jf-

the Georgia Brigade, or even aspdngfhis assistance, agf

t*S5

the President determined to rely solely on the militia}

and State Continentals.

It

was

;
an

'
ill-executed

iv C measure?^a*s.|'on"l-y' one

*
' te
portion!

of the troops, the militia, under |J/oloriel Baker, reached!

Saw-pit Bluff^ near the mouth: of the St. Johns, the f

appointed place of rendezvous,sColonel Sumter, withf

the Carolina troops by land, and Colonel iElbert, with^

his "Continentals and little armament by water, being

unable to join their forces at the apjpointed time and-

place.

I ;

'

It was disastrous to the troops, fas they suffered f

much in this fruitless campaign,-and acquired for the";

service an almost unconquerable .distaste.

1

It was disastrous to the province^ as it originated;

crimination and recrimination, splitting up the State?:

into feuds and parties; dividing, and consequently;;

weakening,

their

power;

perilling

\.
the

great

j-
interest!

of liberty in the bickerings of party strife and personal!

jealousies; seeking to cover the.mortification of defeat!

and the odium of ill-judged schemes, by criminations!

as foolish as they were unjust. ? '-; ;,

i/

,It was disastrous to the President, because his:

tm

highly improper conduct involved him; in contro-

r
.*;
i
IK
I

158

GEORGIA: IN THE REVOLUTION.

verMes with GeneralfMcIntosh, then^ commanding the

Georgia Brigade. A duel resulted from their mis

understanding, in Which both werep woundefl at the

first fire; but, while General McTntosh recovered,

Gwinnett, after lingering twelve da|s, expired on the

l&h May, 1777. 4

:f

'I f

ihe death of Gwinnett roused tl^e male^lencefof

his" party: irritated fat the loss of Iheir leader, tHey

threw so many obstacles in thejway of{General

Mclntosh, and so retarded all his efforts, that, feeling

he ; could do but little good in a State and ;^among a

people so unjustly arrayed againstfhim, he| applied,

through the President of CongresSjTto' be transferred

to a northern comniand. His request was igranted;

and, taking with Ihim his son, Captain CLachlan

Mclntosh, and Captain John Berriln, of hisr staff, ;he

repaired to Pittsburg, to take command of the western

army, to which important post he had been appointed

by Congress, on the"- recommendation of Washington.

The removal of this excellent officer, who, more than

any other, was fitted to command, in a State with

whose inhabitants, resources, and localities, r|e was so

intimately acquainted, was a very serious loss to the

State; not only by ;taking away from it so: valuable

a citizen, and a general, but also, as it : was the

means of having it placed under the command of

a weak, unmilitary, and inefficient officer, General

Robert Ho\ve.

t '

Painful, however, as was the removal of General

Mclntosh to his own feelings, and unfortunate as it

was for Georgia, no other course was left open to him.

The petty persecutions, the contemptible jealousies,

the open opposition^ and the secret undermining at

:re #*:

i

SOUTHERN EXPEDITIONS.

15J)

work in reference to him, were sources of such cohstanf

annoyance that his abilities were cramped for;; want

of scope; his power weakened by the usurpation of

civil officers ; his energy fettered by executive restricj:

tions, and his life was exposed not to the fire of the}

enemy, but to the jealousy of hating and murderous

rivals.

;

;I

thf able
eral era!

' 1: :'
CHAI|TER-IV.
SOUTHERNINVASIONS-^-CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
IN the beginning of l|7S, the State was veryirm||i disturbed by the irruption into its northern portionjgf a band of insurgents, wh|>, fromlbeing under the comimand of a fuming and illiterate partisan, Colonel Sc<pphal, were named " ScopHalites." This band, number ing five or six hundred nlen, came from the upper part of Carolina, crossed the-f9Savannah River iust ftelo':wi Augusta, and captured aMumber of well-laden tradingboats as they passed. On their route they were joined by the disaffected of thef district through which they passed, and committed .great depredations, before they reached Florida, whitherlthey hastened, to swell the garrison of St. Augustine^ and aid the British in their projected conquest of Georgia.
The movements of these loyalists, combined with the many rumors concerning the operations of Colonel Prevost, induced a resolution on the part of General Ho we to anticipate their'; meditated attack on Georgia by an invasion of the Floridian capital.
Yet, how little prepared Georgia was to make such an invasion may be kncfwn from General Howe's own statement, wherein he declares : J " That the country
1 Mmfltrie, i, 204.

SOUTHERN INVASIONS CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. l6L ^

I



I>

V,

f

.-!

was assailable on every side, and nowhere prepared|fbr I

defencej many of the people disaffected to the cafise, I

and Ahc-se who wish it well not united among thlm-1

selves^ ejsceedingly weak in numbers as to militia, and

thesefil| armed; and it is a melancholy truth that |>ur ff

regularstdo not exceed 550 effectives."

| JJ

Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances; whjch H

should llave counselled more prudent measures, Gene)raV^

t Howe.ordered to Savannah 200 men from the brigade S

- ,i 5;-_



*-* /,.

i*-^

of Gelaetal Moultrie, who detached 150 from Thdmp-|i

sonsJ;aM 50 from Sumters regiment. These w|re ^

subsequently increased to 600 Continentals, in addition f| to a "Ibifce of several hundred militia under Colonel

Williamlon, who marched down to his assistance frpm

Ninety-six in Carolina. Fort Howe was the place lippointed for the rendezvous of the several detachments.

ng-

Colpnesl Elbert, who commanded here, had recently

signalized himself by a brilliant exploit, which he thus

narrateslin a letter to General Howe: "

-

*".' ~&.

'-V-'

i I;
" DEAR GENERAL :

"FEEDERICA, .April 19th, 177$.
I

" I have the happiness to inform you, that about 10

oclock: tjhis forenoon, the brigantine Hinchinbrooke,

the sloopTRebecca, and a prize brig, all struck the Bri

tish tyrants colors, and surrendered to the American

-gia

arms.

" Having received intelligence that the above vessels

were at this place, I put about three hundred men by detachment from the troops under my command pt

Fort Ho^re, on board the three galleys, the Washing

ton, Captain Hardy; the Lee, Captain Braddock; ami

the Bullqch^ Captain Hutcher; and a detachment of

VOL. II.

11

II*
!: (t? &
{/,
if

162

GEOBGIA IN THEfREVOLUTION.

artillery, with two field-pieces, under Captain Young,

I put on board a boat. Witf this little army, we em

barked at Darien, and last evening effected a landing

fyf.-J-

at a bluff about a mile below |he town; leaving Colonel

White on board the Lee, Cajfcun Melvin on board the

Washington, and Lieutenan^Petty on board the Hul-

loch, each with a sufficient |jarty of troops. Immedi

ately on landing, I despatchet Lieutenant-Colonel :Ray

and Major Roberts, with abojpt one hundred men; who

marched:directly up to thelfown, and made prisoners

three marines and two sail''"Btt- rs belon^g"* ing^"^ to the Hin-

chinbrooke.

._%>

ri-

" It being late, the galleyf did not engage until this

morning. You must imagine what my feelings were

to see our three little men-offlyar going on to the attack

of these three vessels, who ;Bave spread terror on our

coast, and who were drawn^fip in order of battle; ;but

the weight of our metal soJOn damped the courage of

these heroes, who soon tools to their boats; and as

many as could, abandoned the vessel with everything

on board, of which we imihediately took possession.

What is extraordinary, we* have not one man hurt.

Captain Ellis, of the Hinchjinbrooke, is drowned, and

Captain Mowbray, of the Rebecca, made his escape.

As soon as I see Colonel White, who has not yet come

to us with his prizes, J shall consult with him, the

three other officers, and thejcommanding officers of the

galleys, on the expediencylof attacking the Galatea,

now lying at Jekyl."

f

4.

The contemplated attack Gn the Galatea was thwarted by the departure of that vessel, just as Colonel Elbert was completing his preparations for its seizure or de-

SOUTHEEN INVASIONS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. 163

struetion. General Howe reached Fort Howe, qn the

20th May, and on the 25th, he crossed the Alatamaha

and encamped at Reid's Bluff. Here he was'kept

waiting nearly two weeks by the sickness of his troops,

the .tardiness of the militia, and the non-arrival of those

supplies which were to come round hy water from South

Carolina. '\

mafc.*?- '

These supplies were greatly needed, as tents were so

scarce that ten and twelve were often crowded into

ir

one,-or else they slept in the heavy dews. One camp

kettle sufficed for twelve or fifteen, one small canteen

ii-

was distributed to six or eight, and though many Jwere

sick,'they had but few and inferior medicines. It was not until the 7th June, that General Howe was enabled

mit

to march off the Georgia brigade from Reid's Bluff, as

the van of his little army destined for the conquest of

Florida. This brigade, under Colonel Elbert, was ad

vanced to the Satilla River, to collect boats for the

passage of the troops; and the main body of the army

under Howe, finding no interruption of a serious nature,

was enabled to reach the St. Mary's River, where a

junction was formed with Commodore Bowen, who had

gone round by sea.

Fort Tonyn, which they had expected to have found

fully manned, was evacuated and demolished, and the

enemy had made a stand at Alligator Creek, fourteen

miles-to the south. To dislodge them, General Howe

tl*

ordered three hundred men to reconnoitre their posi

tion, and if it seemed practicable, to give them battle.

The camp of the enemy was only surrounded by

a ditch, while a number of recently felled trees con

stituted a simple abatis. Satisfied that a camp thus

slightly entrenched could be easily captured, the com-

164

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

manding officer ordered a body of cavalry, under Colo

nel E(ijah Clarke, to attack thenif on one side, whjle:

the main body, seizing the opportunity of the corifoi|

sion created among the enemy by|;he onset of Clarke, |J|

would rush upon them in frojcrt^-and gaia the da^.g|

Clarke, after great difficulty, penetrated the outw4r^fj|

barrier of trees and brush; but found, when abou^tb|||

leap the ditch, that it was too^wide, and his horses^|1

being; made fractious by the fire and huzzas whichfc

^

*"

'

*

'^''"^V.

greeted their arrival at the ditch, he was unable) tojll

C

'_ , ^ *

;_

gfe-^ .

effect;his design, and being woiihded in the thigh,t;or^

dered a retreat, losing three kifled and nine wounded Jjf

Owing to this failure, no attack 'iwas made in front^

and the whole force returned to tfee main army. ff

The failure of this plan was the natural result off \-

the peculiar and unmilitary State of affairs in thej

American forces. Some of these* are thus hinted atj

by General Howe:--

|. I ~

|

" I have been waiting for the galleys first, and, after!

their arrival, a tedious time ,for the militia 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 upon operations I have \

no right to guide, and men I have no right to com- -

mand, I shall deem it then, as I now do, one of the;;,

most unfortunate incidents of my life. Had we beenV

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 hav0 :

disturbed us, at least not hastily; and perhaps haver

been attended with consequences more important thaijj

the most sanguine could have~ expected; but delayed r

.-1
Id
ve -es ve
ve m an ed

SOUTHERN INVASIONS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. ' 165
beyond all possible supposition, embarrassed^ disap pointed, perplexed, and distressed beyond expression, the utmost we could now achieve, will be a popr Com pensation for the trouble and fatigue we have utffergohe; excepting we may be allowed to suppose (what lijtruly think has been effected) that the movements wi have made have drove back the enemy, and |rev^nted an impending invasion of the State of Georgia, wjiich would otherwise inevitably have overwhelmed itj-and also a dangerous defection of both -. Stales. This good, I am persuaded, has resulted from it, |nd this is our consolation. The enemy were, two qr three da;ys since, at Alligator Creek, fourteen miles from!ihis place; their forces, by all accounts, are at least equal to either the Governor's troops or mine, and we re 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 be lieve, 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." . ';
Though the 12th of June was the time appointed for the junction of troops at St. Mary's, Governor Houstoun, with the State militia, did not reach there until the 4th July, arid Colonel Williamson on the llth; and when the four portions, severally com manded by General Howe, Commodore Bowen, Go vernor John Houstoun, and Colonel Williarnsdn, reached their destination, so far from amalgamating into one command, under the general officer; Cpmmodore Bowen insisted on his exclusive right to control the galleys; - Governor Houstoun refused to surrender

^>p?B*95t

t v!4^-"** "i r. ","'' "*' "'"'

*

166
j^ "I

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

his right as coramander-in-chief of the militia; and

(Jolonel Williamson's troops refused to obey any orders

f(ut such as emanated from him;

|; It was an army cursed with four heads, each jealous

|f the other; and an army without unity, like "a

fipusej divided against itself" cannot stand. Sickness

|lso came into camp, and struck down one half of the

Iroops. Their horses were so reduced in number, that

"V- ; *



|bey had scarcely enough to drag the artillery, ammu-

liition, and baggage, so that had their retreat been cut

-r; -;.'

x

GCj O '

f|ff by water, they could scarcely have effected it by

5- ^ts ;
-;- $,1~&-A % $?*<.
it; -^aL^s-fy . C

land, " and if we do not retreat soon," said a distin

guished officer of the expedition, "we shall not be

able to retreat at all, and may crown this expedition

vwith another Saratoga affair in ^reverse."

K It now became very evident jthat the* enemy, while

/they were in large force at St. Augustine, designed

waiting for the Americans on the south side of the St.

\'

'

.

('

/John's, and concentrated there'-a force of twelve hun

dred ; consisting of regulars, royalists, and Scophalites,

;besides Indians, to dispute the passage to St. Augus-

jptine. The middle of summer had arrived, and two

\.m. onths and a half had been co. nsumed in ogetting<_;/ the troops to the St. Mary's, under disadvantages, arising

:in part from the roads and climate; but mostly, from

ithe tardiness of the militia, the sickness of the soldiers,

fS>

:-the want of co-operation among the commanders, and

; the lack of those military stores, which common pru-

^dence and military foresight should have anticipated

v^and provided. In the perplexing emergency in which

t General Howe was now placed, he called a council of

;war of the principal officers on the llth of July. He

:stated to the board the reasons which induced the

I

SOUTHERN INVASIONS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. 167

undertaking, the results thus far in driving the ene

my from Georgia, and obliging them to evacuate Fort

Tonyn, and the various impediments in the w^ of a

further advance over roads rendered impassable to the

artillery. I He added that he had not sufficient horse

power to carry the necessary baggage and ammunition ;

that his force was reduced by sickness, from eleven

hundred |o three hundred and fifty men fit for duty,

and that Be could not expect the co-operation of the

naval armament. He then proposed to the-officers

the following questions:--

I

1st, " As driving the enemy out of Georgia, and

demolishing Fort Tonyn, were the objects principally

aimed at ;fhave not these purposes been effected ?

"Resolved unanimously in the affirmative.

2d. " As it appears from information above recited,

that the 0nemy do riot mean to oppose us in force on

this side of St. John's River; is there any other object

importantf enough in our present situation to warrant

our proceeding ?

" Resolted unanimously in the negative.

3d. " Isjthe army in a situation to cross St. John's

River, attack the enemy, and secure a retreat in case

of accident, though they should be aided by the militia,

now embodied under Governor Houstoun and Colonel

Williamson ?

" Resolfed unanimously in the negative.

4th. " Does not the sickness which so fatally pre

vails in the .army, render a retreat immediately requi

site ? I

" Resolved unanimously in the affirmative.

" The general then proceeded to inform the council

that the Governor had denied him the right to com-

mni$'-
H

168

GjfORGIAf IN THE {RE VOLUTION.

mand thiepnililia, even if a Junction had been formed

between; |henfaud (the Continental troops, notwith-

^andingfhe resolution of Congress declaring * that as

"to the ^propriety of undertaking distant expeditions

Jand enterprises, or other military operations, and the

mode of edndacting .them, the general or command-

Ing officer, must finally judge and determine at his

fperil.'" i| f,. ;^ . |- ' f

>

= The General therefore thought proper to put the

fbllowing^iuesjtions:--- !

^

1st. "Gau he, with propriety, honor, and safety to

/himself^ Q>r consistent with the service/ relinquish the

command-to the Governor? |

t

" Resolyed unanimously in the negative.

2d. " C;an the army, whilst the command is divided,

act with |security, vigor, decision, or^ benefit to the

common cause ?" v '; |

;:.

" Resolved unanimously in the negative."

These resolutions were agreed to and signed by all

the officers who composed the council of war.

Agreeably to the advice thus given, the army began

its retreat by swater to Sunbury, and thence in small

parties returned to their several posts or homes. This

abortive 'attempt upon St. ;lAugustine resulted in an

immense loss to the invaders. More than one-third

of the troops, were either dead or were disabled, and,

although it had the temporary effect of driving the

enemy out of Georgia, yet the weakness of the mea

sures pursued, the vacillation of purpose in the com

manding officers, and the waste of life and money

incurredrby the expedition,!were such as lost the con

fidence of the .Georgians in ;their own efforts, and in

cited to.hew. attacks .the loyalists of Florid a,, who now

SOUTHERN if VASIONS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. 169



-.

':

-X'-.

i|;

.'

'

-i '*,

';

.

waited but a proper ^opportunity to return invasion for

invasion, with e|eryv prospect of success. I

General How| soon| repaired to Charleston, and

Georgia was leff in ?fher feebleness to bear the innu

merable troubles created and fostered by this disas-

/?;

V;

<''.

JV

trous expedition! Throughout the summer the south

ern borders of -;tSjht. e P rov* i.nce were constantlyJ assailed

by "small

v

,

marauding k>afties

it- <_;.:.J.

,"

of five

or

six

from ;_

Florida, f

who, attacking single houses, destroyed the people, cat

tle, and crops, and then, suddenly retiring, eluded pur

suit. The Creeps on the north, were restless and tur

bulent; and many murders were committed by the

Indians, thoughj there iwas no general rising of the

tribes, such asfdemanded military subjugation. In

addition to the|e troubles from without; the patriot

Georgians were Harassed by the disaffected and the dis-

;:

:'

"

'.'

appointed, and fby the partisan broils and jealousies

which disgracedjthe conduct of many of the leading

politicians of tha,t day. |

I-

Harmony andiwisdom seemed to forsake the coun

sels, as success |id ^the efforts of the Georgians; and

though some remained"firm and devoted, many wa

vered, many despaired, iand all suffered in the addi-,

tional distresses! which "gathered around them. The

rumors of an in vasion from Florida,' which had so long floated through the Province, gathered strength

and probability as the autumn advanced; and General

Howe returned .-'to Georgia to prepare for any emer

gency that might occur.

\-

Sir Henry Clinton had failed in many of his schemes

at the north, an"d the Commissioners appointed by his

Majesty "to treat, consult, and agree upon the means

of quieting the Disorders now subsisting dn certain of

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

rv
fthe

V- ? "
colonies,

plantations,

and

provinces

in

-
N0rth{Ame-

|rica," haying received no overtures, nor seen anjfpros-

Ipect of effecting a reconciliation, the British General

*

ff '.

O

'

"

fresolvedftq secure the southern provinces; and ftfr this

.fpurpose,fdesignated Georgia as the first point to*be at-

Itacked, proposing, if successful, to follow it upj with

'I:the subjugation of the Carolinas.

! it

!4

V ;,, O,

___

| In pursuance of this design, Sir Henry Clinton

I planned I two expeditions against the province^ one

i;iVoin the north, under Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald

fCampbell;- and one from Florida, under Colonel Au-

fgustin Ereyost, who commanded in East Florida, and

Swho was directed, on the junction of the two bodies of

; troops, to take command of the whole. Colonel Pre-

vost received his orders on the 27th November, but

previously to this had sent off two parties of troops,

one under his brother, Lieu ten ant-ColonelJames Mark

Prevostyand the other under Lieutenant-Colonel Fuser,

: purposing to follow himself in time to effect the desired

: junction with Colonel Campbell.

; The troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost (con-

i sisting of about one hundred regulars and threes hun-

,dred refugees and Indians, under the deserter Mc-

Girth, who joined him at Fort Howe) ravaged the

country as they advanced, meeting the Americans

first at .-Bull Town Swamp, who, being entrapped in

an ambuscade, after a slight skirmish, retreated; the

commander of the Americans, Colonel Baker, and two

; officers, being wounded. A more general engagement

I took place about a mile and a half south of Medway

;; Meeting-house, when both parties, seeking to ensnare

each other in an ambuscade, were brought into direct

I collision. ^General Scriven. who commanded the Ame-

SOUTHEKN INfAS&NS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. 171

rican side, fell ejirl in the fight, of a wound that"

proved mortal th^nixt day. This misfortune did not

altogether damp|t{ii| ardor of his troops; for they"

fought so bravely! ftat at one time the enemy were^

thrown into conf|i|i^n, and the shout of victory rose'

from the lips of M*fjf|r James Jackson, one of the gal-;

lant officers; butftKptcry was premature : the British/

momentarily conf^s5|| by the unhorsing of Lieutenant^

Colonel Prevost, were rallied, when he was remounted,

and returned to fh^ struggle with such spirit, that

Colonel White, or^whom the command now devolved/

retreated with ord^> first to the Meeting-house, and

then, pressed by|su/{>erior numbers, to the Ogeechee/

where a slight %eastwork had been thrown up by

Colonel Elbert. fPreyost advanced only about six or

seven miles north'libf the Medway Meeting-house,

'"' ii' 1'?'-

^

^^

'

when, learning th^t?polonel Fuser had not arrived at

Sun bury, nor any transports from New York at Sa

vannah, and tha| $olonel Elbert was prepared to

dispute the passage of the Ogeechee, "he suddenly de

camped, and beg|n :ai retreat/'2 blackening his march

with the ruins offsettlements, crops, and families; for

his force was bi|t a horde of freebooters, glutting

themselves with blood and spoil.

Owing to head winds, Lieutenant-Colonel Fuser did

not reach his destination, Sunbury, until after Lieu

tenant-Colonel Prevost had retreated to Florida. He

had with him a large force, and siege-guns, light artil

lery, and mortars. Encamping before the fort, he

summoned it to Surrender, in terms of marked fero

city. Lieutenant^Co':onel John Mclntosh, though he

2 Steadmisin's History of the War, 68.

Ifc
ni:
I \:: NtJ-1

!

ft:

s

-. .''.;, 'Sfe-vro!

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

1W under him icarcely^a hundred men, andfwas

!&.

',-

5;

A- .

"-

" Pr. - -

sfibus tba^t thefpluce could not hold out againsfc^l

otiiinary^ssaulfc sent back the laconic answer^ "Coife; awfiM- take' i'"t!" T- his courageous and unexpecfl"efa-' ""'' r:"-i4^*"-

<|fnibined Iwith |he fact that Lieutenant-

Tf|st had retreated, and that the American

nfarching ^frorn fSavannah to oppose him, caused hfl

praise the siege at once, and return to Florida.

JfGeneral Howe arrived at Sunbury shortlylafter

Jireat of^Fusel-. "The town," he said, "i|-:-not

."%; -

-

f|nsible for


half

an

hour,

should


it

be

"V
attacked

'"

Ilpist formidably; and : its present safety is

o|?ing to the spirited conduct of the troops in the

and the want of enterprise in the enemy." I

<a:

:r'

-

4.-j

f^The expedition

.

-..

%rf '"

'^i-v.-^--^:- - -:*T ~;r^;

under Lieutenant>Colonel|^ampbeps;->^;j,jj

sliled from New York bn the 27th November.

>' '

,": !-

"

-f.

-,

The squadron that was to convoy and assist,^consisted;

of: the Phoenix p)rty-four, the Fowey twenty-four, the

I|ose twenty-fbiir, the Vigilant twenty-eight^the Kep--

pel, an armed brig; the Greenwich, an armed sloop, and

the Comet galley; besides several transport ships, under - 'if:

c|mmand of Commodore Hyde Parker, having on board I

the 71st Regiment of foot; the Wellworth and Wissen-

'--.

'

**-'

i

:

blich battalionsfef Hessians;3 1st and 2d battalion of

I)e Lanceys corps, New York volunteers; 4th battalion

of Skinners corps; and a detachment of the Royal

Artillery; numbering, in the whole, 3500 men.

t^Of this designed attack upon Savannah, the Geor

gians had-no notice, until the 6th of December, when

afdeserter from tone of the transports gave the alarm.

fk.

',. k

tyl



I-



jyX:",.

'-5J

$ ' -t\

'

' 'i >

'...'"

J,.-

p Beatsons Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, iv, 371; Stead-

,.,4

means History of the :;:A.inericaa War, ii, 66.

f

;/

':mM-. -,---,'a*if ' *-t-,"J- >?<

fe

SOUTHERN JVASIONS-- CATURE OF SAVNNA\H. ,173

General HowewasHhfen at Sunbury, where} conjointly

with this news, fie received all express froni the; soMh,

notifying him of thenorth\vjard march offColqnef A.

'

'"

*f

W

-

'f't

Prevost, with all his available troops. General Ho we

- -V'

".

V-

"'

L

;\: -

,,

vi. '.

hurried to Savannah;; the Governor called outjpthe

militia; Continental troops vtere ordered from:;S<|uth

Carolina; and Ifvery (effort i/as made to prepareffor

the threatened $avlsidn. f

f ;: JP*

Bad weather prevented the arrival of thi;s squadron

off Tybee, until|the 23d December, thoughrit w;asfhot

until the 27th, that all the v|ssels anchoretf iusidefthe

:v t

bar. Both the favalfand military officersfwere igao-

rant of the coiidition of things in Georgia; and; to

gain the desired|inforjbaation,|Sir James Baird, with a

company of light infantry, and Lieutenant Clarl|, of

the Phoenix, we|e despatched in two flat-bqats, bnfthe

night of the 25ih, ta scour fWilmington Island, &nd

secure all persons omit. They found butHwo; men,

and such was the informatiori which they gave of ;the

defenceless state of Georgia! that Colonel? Campbell

resolved to land| at \ once, andl attack Savannah,, with

out waiting for the arrival o| Colonel Augustine Pre

vost. Owing to;'-the grounding of several tgalleys, it

was not until daybreak on the 29th, that tBe troops of

the first division, consisting of all the. lighj. infantry,

the New York volunteers, and the 1st battalion of ;the

71st, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland, were landed

on the river, down in front of Gerridoe's plantation,

about two inilesi, in a straight line, from ^Savannjah.

From this embankment a narrow causeway^ one-third

of a mile long, jed to a bluff about thirty ifeethi^h,

called Brewton's Hill, and distant, by roa<J, threefor

Ill

!T4 *

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.-

fbuf miles from town. Captain Cameron's company

|>f%hf infantry--the first that effected a landing--

pusfeed^on to this bluff, where they were opposed by

4" ' ",

JT 1 v -

Captain John C. Smith, of South Carolina, with about

forty nfen, who opened an effective fire on the assail-

---' ' ' T-

'' :

.

frat| killing Captain Cameron and two Highlanders,

|ui'd>'wolinding five more; but, overpowered* by num-

' ;ber| an<l the impetuous charge of the British, the hill

^va4 sobn cleared, as Captain Smith had received

Orders ko retreat, -as soon as it was untenable, to the

main works.

t As the (severaU portions of the army landed, they

IbniiedHn order of battle on the high ground in front

of Mr. ? Gerridoe's house, and there remained, until

Colonel Campbell, by reconnoitring, could ascertain

the:: force and position of the Americans. These,

under the command of General Howe, were drawn up

about half a mile to the southeast of Savannah, in two

brigades, one commanded by Colonel Huger, and the

.other by Colonel Elbert: the whole did not amount

to eight hundred, a portion of whom were militia; the

suddenness of the. attack not allowing the calling in

of the militia in greater numbers, to protect the

capital. Expecting the attack on the great road lead

ing to Brewton's Hill, General Howe had burnt down

a little bridge that crossed a small rivulet, and about

three hundred feet in the rear of this marshy rivulet,

a trench was cut, which soon filled with water, so that

the~ trench, the 'stream, and the marsh through which

At flowed, offered serious embarrassment to the advance

of the enemy. At this point General Howe had placed

-twd; catinon, that flanked the causeway, and three that

Ill
a ffi
561 M: l||*i|fe-
;.', jfevrtSfSf
te?lt- JJ -.^J^e^-iv'. Swsv --.-"-.

SOUTHERN INVASIONS--G&Pl|URE OF SAVANNAH, f I?5

! ' '; k I

fi

bore directly orf its frcfnt, f-Thins stationed, the A|n|e-

ricans awaited the onset. % >

I If

^-.

. -;.

>'':?. ::

:_,

|f. .;{?;

Colonel Cam|beli frail discovered their position, liM

having detaile(| a proper griardrto cover the landing,

pressed on to the attack. IThe light infantry, urfdjb

Sir James Baird, advanced firstj supported by the Ifew

York volunteerl, under DeQLancey. These werelfBl-

lowed by the fitst battalionlof |he 71st, with two lix-

*^



-,'

''

';*

'-

^

',.

pounders; the Wellwofth battalion of Hessians, \fi|h

two three-pounders; and partf of Wissenbach's ia[t-

talion of Hessians, which formed the rear. By 3 RM.,

V

J

",-

f

~-

s.

t-,^

'

. r,

.

\- ',.

- .

V ___

*.' :'',. / "y\ ,'j ,

they had reached the ope^n dbuntry near Tatnall's

plantation, and|halted.|awh'ile,i;as if preparing Ibrftie

battle.

I ;' i ;?: \

iI

Advantageously posted d$ the Americans wer^,^it

would have been quite hazardous to have offered tHein

: '

'

'?' -

: ";

?

i'1*

battle in front, for thieywer^ too well protected byfthe

intervening mafsh andlstream ^,nd ditch. The aim of

Colonel Campbell, therefore, was to gain, if possible,

their rear, or turn their extended flanks. In this

desire he was ^fortunately vaicted by an old negro,

Quash Dolly, who infqrmed him of a private path,

leading through the wooded Wamp, by whichi He

could gain, unperceived, the rear of the Americans.

This path had been pointed out to General Howe, in

the morning, by Colonel Walton, as being a pl;ace

necessary to guard and secure; but it was culpably

and, as the event proved, disastrously neglected. Ma

noeuvring in front, as if about to attack the left flank

of General Howe, the Americans opened their t&te

upon the enemy, who, however, received it in sileiice,

not a gun being: fired m return/ Perceiving the Ame

ricans thus deceived by the feint, the British com-

fSffH

I

;1

1T6 I &

f
GEORGIA. INlTHE REVOI|JTION

mandef lost no time to directing|Sir Jfmes jBaird,

with the light infantry jand the Ne|r Yorj| volujileersj

to fbllfw the guidance|of the negro, ani| secure the

rear ofl the Americans, t They reached their dlstined

",:

'-,

point, nperceiyed

-''"
by general

f
Hx|we,

*''-
and

;"' ''
suddenly

issuingf from the swamp, attacked! a bo|y of militia,

which iad beer/posted |o secure theigreattroad JeMing

."

''j-',

>

.J&A-

'4 ':".

to the|)geeche4 As%<|on as this firing ^tve nptice to

the colfemanderithat M|jor Baird h^d effected his pur

pose, hje gave prders for the wholefBritisJi column to

advancls at a rapid pace; while the artillery,^which had b|en previously ^r>*r-" aed behi/-n d a f'?s''li.ght?'r"i.s.ing

groiin4 to conceal it from view,fwas instantly run

forward to the eminence, and began to pjay upon the

Americans. With a destructive fire thus unexpect-

'e! t

''

' J^'

V1 '

^,Jv

-:

edly pburing in uponfthem in f|ont and rear^ our

troops nvere thrown irito confusiqn^ ani| thus fwere

compelled to make a hasty retreat.| Thejcentr0 of the

American line/with ttie commanclirjg General, were

'

i'

*

&

*--'

; *-"

' '.

enable^, by the, exertions of Colonel Daniel Roberts,

--who; had partially secured the rpad leading:to the

causeway over Musgrove's Swamp,|--to pafes in ^compa

rative ^safety; the right flank, under Colonel :Huger,

attempting to go through the town, rushed between

two fir; es, and .many were bayoneted inj the streets;

the left, under Colonel tElbert, finding it impracticable

to pass/the causeway, now in possession of the British,

cast away their arms and accoutrements^ and,;throw-

ing themselves into the swamps and rice-fields, sought,

by swimming the cree% then in full tide^to re^ch the

Augusta road,-thoughfthirty loststheir (lives mn this

perilous attempt.

{

f | j;

While Coloriel Campbell had been thus successful

SOUTHERN INVASIONS--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. 1?T

by land, Sir Hyde Parker had not remitted h|| vigi

lance in the fleet. Asjsoon as; he discovered tl^Et the

troops had made an inipressioh on the American line,

he moved up the small armed vessels to the Jtown,

sending the Comet galley as high up as the e^h-tide

would permit, securing'-the shipping and commanding

the town from all approaches on the Carolina^ side.

This movement completely s^ut in Savannahf from

succor, and was effected with the loss of only onip sea

man killed and five wounded; while the squadron

captured one hundred 4and twenty-six prisoners^ and

seized three ships, threje brigs^and eight smaller ves

sels.

- ? ,-

if '

:

f.

;"t|

The British entered ^Savannah without opposition,

and, notwithstanding the assurance of Colonel (tarnp-

bell in his official despatches, "that little or noidfepre-

vt. ^^I?f;' '

dation took place, and "that even less than had -ever

happened to a town under similar circumstances/' yet

the soldiers and officers did Icommit atrocities and

:.'

cruelties upon the inhabitants, of a character more

worthy of savages than of meh. The houses of" the

" rebels," as they were called, were given up a prey to

the spoiler, and their pilfering -hands and brutal'.'- out

rages carried terror to every heart, and made Savannah

a scene of anguish and distress. ; Nothing could exceed

the consternation of the inhabitants, when they saw

their defenders flying before the victorious march of

the enemy, and that enemy, with rolling drums and

flying colors, and a thirst for = blood and spoil niade

keen by victory, enter their streets, with their hands

and bayonets dripping with the blood of theii||hus-

bands, fathers, brothers, and sons; their facesj be

grimed with sweat, and dust, and powder, and :4heir

VOL. II.

12

Imff
f
1ft;, 1 "If : ill. j,
l
;. li i '?

-.,; 1

178

GEORGIA IN|fHE ^VOLUTION.

countenances lowering ^ith ^a|e and the pent-up lu|ts?

that chafed to be let lotise upon the vanquished. | .

;' In 1 this encounter--for itjUan hardly be called a



"'

battle--the

English

; "
lost

;. '?>
butitwo

captains

s
aiid

:'-
five

-

f

^

'

-j. '



V

"^

.

{'

privates killed, and one officer and eight privates

Tvounfded; while the American loss was nearly fme-

Hundred killed and wo|ndefi,|besides thirty, wlio lost %heir "lives in the swamplj, arid; seven officers and feinf Efe-

hundred and sixteen |ion-commissioned officers and

.privates taken prisoners^; With the town, th|y qap-,

tured) of course, the foffe. having in it forty-five pieces,

of cannon, nine of which |were brass, twenty-tljree.

mortars and howitzers!irinety-fbur barrels of powder,

and six hundred and thirty-seven small arms,Jbesides

shell and shot. ; fft |

|;

Thus, the expedition;/^ Qpfonel Campbell had been

entirely successful. l An^anny had been defeated, and

V

'.

>'- '

'-*'..<.*/ '

'_

'

mostly captured ; the capital pf the State was ;taken ;

its commerce destroyed,; the officers of government

dispersed; provincial rule was broken, and the yoke

of ministerial tyranny .was again fastened on its neck.

The military author^jof the Memoirs of the War

of the Southern Department has well said :4 " How

ever we must applaud.; the *judgment displayed by

the American general in selecting and improving

his position; however, we must honor his gallant

determination to receive the enemy's attack with an

inferior force, yet, as /this ? resolution in prudence

must have been formed in ; the advantages, of his

ground, we cannot excuse the negligence betrayed by

-his ignorance of the ^venues leading to his camp.

How happens it that|he who had been in command

* Lee's Memoirsj ii, 70.

SOUTHERN INVASIONS--CAPTURE lOF'SAVANNAli; 179

;

\r

'''

$ '.'V'---^ X

:.

f



fH

of that coiintry for many months should nojtlhave

discovered the by-way, passing to his rear,||fyhen

Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell contrived to disc^er it

in a few hours ? The faithful historian; cannotf|vith-

hold |his condemnation of such supineness."f | His

conduct in t-. this matter has been severely strfiinad-

verted on by military critics, and as severely eelsured

by th!e people whom he was expected : to deferfd. It

became a matter of inquiry, by a committee |df the

General Assembly of Georgia, who, on the ITthjFanu-

ary, IL780, ^brought in the following report: f^The

comrnittee iappointed to take into coiisiderati<|n; the

situation of the State since the 29th" of December,

1778,^;report, that the capital and troojJs in thil^State

were sacrificed on the said 29th of December, fwhich

was the first cause of the distresses and consequences

which ensued. Your committee are of opinioijf ;that

the delegates of this State should be directed to pro

mote a trial of Major-General Howe, who commanded

on that day. They find that the good people of the

State were still further discouraged by the said Major-

General Ho we crossing Savannah River the nexttlay,

with the troops that escaped from Savannah, : and

ordering those at Sunbury and Augusta to do' the

same; leaving the State at the mercy of the enemy,

"Hi

without any Continental troops; instead of retreating

to the back country, and gathering the inhabitants.

The country, thus abandoned, became an easy prey to

the British troops, they marching up, and taking post

at Augusta, and sending detachments to every part of

the State." ^

.>

If .

"V-1" *

I

General Ho we, was subsequently brought before a

Court of Inquiry, but was acquitted, though he Vas

ISO

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

*'

,-

'i

ne^er after employed in active service. In fact,$t the,

capture of Savannah, he was only;holding hisrcom-

mand until the arrival of General Benjamin Lincoln,

wlio, on the 26th of September, 1778, was appointed

by; Congress to the .command of the army lip the

Soyuthern Derpartment of the United -'States, andxjv<?yhose amval was looked for by the people: of the

hope and satisfaction.

:

CHAPTER Vt

V

-BATTLES OF KETTLE CREEK ANDfBRIER CJREEEil

II

v4^.M^^^v ;
--i^^ci;.^. ;

liAs so|h as Colonel Campbell had|ecured^Savftmah,

he placet it under the command of ieutenant-^!M|nel

Iifnes, afjl-de-camp to Sir Henry CHnton, and ffl^ied

forward^ portion of his army to Chlrokee fiill^wllich

- -i'.

=iV-'j A

; *f

'

""" ' '^.-.- i -" v"

was taken possession of-on the lit Januiary,lM79.

The next day he took the town of Eberiezei^f, ajfter

securinglall the intermediate posts. | On his^inarcll, he

o ,r. '

-1

:-iJ --

,,"'.. -. a. '.

cbllected^twenty horses for dragoons| and several: Hun

dtr^ed hea1-d- o. f cattle:> and th e dajy a,f: ter the; last-i--sc at-

tered remains of General Howe's :lirmy had crossed

.;' ',

*(

-i.".

/

?'



over Sister's Ferry into Carolina, heiestablished & post

at^that ferry. He then proceeded|;with his corps of

infantry'and cavalry to Mount Venture, scourihff ^he

country for fifty miles above the toT?n, " without; find

ing," as he says, "a single rebel to (fppose him." ; ^

On the 4th of January, Colonel Campbell and ^Com

modore Parker jointly issued" a proclamation, setting

forth, that "a fleet and army were now actually arnyed

in Georgia, for the protection of th% friends of lawfbl

government, and to rescue them from the bloody per

secution ?of their deluded iellow-citi|ens." It a^ljred

all those4 well-disposed citizens, w|to reprbbat|flithe

idea of supporting a French league^ and Who ^plh

to: embrace the happy occasion of Ipementihg

GEORGIA IN THE RESOLUTION!;

uniort with the parent state, ire|' from the imposition

^: , tij



.' A

-t,t^

^

=''

of tta'xes by ithe Parliament ;p|? Great Britain! and

f '%, - * "

..p-

'-.

Sj?.-

sJBcurf d in the irrevocable enjoyment of* everyjprivi-

llai. fconsisteht with that unicto of force on iwhich

" ^f,'-. '^

-,'

."

"-"

;

'

iJfe'

th^rpniitual interests depend, ^ould m^et wi|h the

m^tfaniple protection, on conc|tiori " they forthwith

referlied to the class of peacefu^fcitizens, land acSnow-

\' ''}

if

i

;.-*

^

-**'..

"v.



':5*'

l|^e| their yust allegiance tofthe crown." * ^it to

thojsefwho should attempt to oQpose thej re-est|blish-

nielitjpf legal-government, the proclamation denounced

ag^in^t them f the utmost rigorgbf war." J- This paper,

sustained by the presence of sollarge a force, arid the

; 'i. .'-. " '~i

A

' |:!fi

:i''- "^

expected; arrival of still further?rfnfbrcem6ntsr induced

many to accept its proffered mercy and protection! and

they Accordingly took an oatlvjpvearing Allegiance to

theJKing, ano/support of his goi^rnment| renouncing,

as f unlawful and iniquitous," the confederacy galled

th;.e.: "^'-.Gen-' eral :;Continental

Congress;"
c jp. '

also,
}

"th efl>?claim

setgup by them to independency, and jurisdiction of

any sort,' assumed by or under their authority." I

^;It was the boast of the British commander, add one

.?.

':'

.

'^.

.',

'

i*.

too! much verified by the conduct of those who!took

: *;. ="- '

J

? v;

,-

3

the!offered protection, that "many respectable inhabi

tants ^joined the army on thisj;occasion, with|their

rifles ^ind horses." These were ^organized into afcorps

of Jrifie dragoons, for the purpose of patrolling the

country between the advanced ^posts of the English;

and some of the Germans at Ebenezer,'also formed

themselves into a corps of militia, to act in the I same

ca- p -'-a: c'.ity 'i.n the vicinity of their^''settlement.

I'":

7 \ ?-\

-..

]? A Second

^
proclamation

".'.' '



soon ^followed,

.

4/

offering

"a

''.' ~'J -;('.

.

-: ';

7

i;*-3

reward qf tea guineas for every^iCommittee or Assem

bly-; man Haken within the limits of Georgia, an two

".'*^ >-,

:!*

*'

j*

/" -'.

^J

*

7'->

iit-

I: TREATMENT F PRISONERS AT SAVANNAH. |fl83

guineas for every lurking villain"--(for thus <|ffir-

teously did it stylet the patriotsjof the Revolutioi||--

"who might be sent from Carolina to molest thej|fn-

ohaf'|b"iteasntat'sb.l"ishTinhgispwtt.&'"bslicdosneec.uwriittyE-^f

-?.>

- O L ',,--.

/,. 7'

the ostensib.le preItPe! xt and checking e^ery
3s i?" *^

attempt to disturb :|he peace of Individuals." ^

-'"___

^

.-

.-;-/

A

" //

'^S1'

{The prisoners tatken in thefcapture of Savanjpli,

met with severe ami cruel usage. A few enliste|in

th|e enemy's ranks;; but those wjio refused, after b|ing

alternately threatened and cooked, were hurrie<t|bii board ships in the tiver--crowded together like slaves

I.
i

-:-' -.
--^tyrannized

-
overfby

every

''*i
p^tty

-"iiiEs-
officer--stintej^in

provisions .and every necessary of life, and trellfed

with savasre barbarity, so that four or five died evlrv

I:
da'y.


Nor

was

v
this

treat-merit'?'?, confined

to

:fe J
comilon

soldiers alone : ci. vi. li.ans of stand''ing and property ijrl*b' re thrown indiscriminately into thdse prison-ships; arifl in

&

softie instances officers, who had a military righ||to

different treatment,'were--as ini the case of MordpCai

Sheftall, Commissary-General of the Georgia Line,fabd

Sheftall Sheftall, his assistant,{ and the Rev. M^ies

Alien, Chaplain--thus immured.

.'



;The spirit which


;then

';
animated

the

English

l|
"-'U-'K
officers,

was often very alien to that high sense of honor find

gentlemanly bearing, of which they so loudly boasfe/d;

and painfully, at times, did the atrocious spirit of ||ar

glut itself in revenge of a personal and most malag-

nant kind.

-

^

|f

-Nothing of the American army now remained|in

Georgia, save the garrison afc;. Sunbury, under ||he

command of Majoir Lane, which Colonel Carnp$|ell

"thought too insignificant forjearly attentionj"m^-

$84

GEO:B* GJA IN THEp*EVOi- ,UCriO-'N.

now purposed to s|ibdu|, IhoAigh

f-- '

* * '-^.

i^,1

i"* ^-'

^"^

l^bout sorting ojgthe expeditionglie

|iad be^ reducej|by Colonej' A. |

fay l ,,

As soonjas Co|phel

|)f the Urival of J&e troops| fronf $&

assume thi dommanc

ifim his movements by the difficulty of

*5j&i. >..*

'ft. &

v,

**/ -f/ ' v ^

Iconveya^ce for Hi|,artillery and .a|nmunition^

^)n befb|8 him M^brother, Ijieui^antColonfci]^i!e^>v%

%Iark\ ftevost, wKl, by a forced inarch in +l^ ^s&i;1*^*^^

J|;

;.*?, _

- - -,-; ^

-

*;" .-

"surrounaed the

of Sunbury ;|and the

i0f the tr^)ps soopjcoming up, they regularly i

%'$: lace ; .s.spm;--d{.-' after'*ij%h'. ree d' ay* s''-'^ resi4'%a<n; ce,' durinISj' w'ifto'.ich -|fr

;lhe besieged had >;a captain and %o men kifled/and^fe

'

ilh' ?

""?''

'"

*'~ -

^S*^i

'

" '"^-''V'

three wo|jnded, Mfijor Lane surrendered at di|cre|ion ;.^'.'

:iwhile tke Britishfhad only; one ^private kil|^d^|and0

A:-; hree wo,l:and. ed. ''i''h$vo hun' dre'd andy, tw elve offieMf-ers'^r and . tJ :^soldierSj |wo gallejp, forty pieces ofjordnance oi|ya:rious J|

sizes, and some shot and small arms, were surrendered ll

i,- 4

'

',;.'.'

' ;^'

'-..'"

'^' " -

j^r * "^

: -' .

|with the] fort to ,|Eolonel Prevosty who, chafing its $

%iame toJFort Geome, settled in it ;a garrison, Ib secure C

r',

^i?.

'--~

"

--. .O

/ ^?i; -'

;. :

;the dependence oO-that portion of ; the country ; |

-.^= In def^ndinsr this post, Major Lane went contrary to I

-"."

~^:.'

';' A

*r

;.

E. '.'' J

;|he commands of General Howe; for on the d|y of the f

Capture x>f Savannah, he despatchecl Lieu ten ant Aaron -;

:.-; L _

;*v.-

;.; '

i

,'

-|iy

:;

.|Smith, or the 3d South Carolina Regiment, ^| JM[ajor {'.

iLane, ollering him to evacuate his post at

**

?-1ife '

'''' ""?v

*

.'!) *

|retreat|cr' oss th''ej country, and join him

Prevost's Letter, in Gentleman's Magazine,

'.i. '->>

"

^.'.

C3

/

if
saafVe'--'
\ -,-,*: ijifi^VV 1 '

GENERAL LINCOLN TAKES COMMAND.

185

Ferry. His refusal caused the loss of his command

and the loss of his commission; for he was tried byi,

court-rnartial,landi dismissed =the army, for disobeying

the orders of %he commanding general.

-f

;>

G C.

-j

On the arrival at Savannah of Colonel Prevost, he

took the command; of the combined forces from Florid^

and New York, and on the 84th of February he wa|

'%;"

V

-

"";' .

gazetted major-gerieral. i.-

t

The Provide of Georgia having been mostly re

duced by the; King's troops, civil government wai

re-established^ on :the 4th March, 1779; and on the

13th of July following, Governor Wright and the other

crown officers! who had taken refuge in England, rgj-

turned to Georgia,; and entered anew upon the admi

nistration of their ^several offices.

.-

General Lijfcolri relieved General Howe in the com^

mand of the5 Southern Department, and reached

Purysburg onthe.; 3d January, 1779, five days after

the capture of Savannah. The loss of Howe's army

was a more severe blow than the loss of the capital;

its dispiriting influence on the soldiers themselves, and-

its disheartening effect upon the State, did much to

prostrate its energies, and rob it of the strength and

confidence which were necessary for its very existence,

General Lincoln found the army in anything but al

gratifying condition. It numbered five hundred Con

tinentals and seven hundred North Carolinians; and;

so near were they encamped to the enemy's posts, thai

they could hear their drums beat every morning, and

the challenge vof the sentinels. In a few days afterf

wards, this force was doubled; but many of the troops

were exceedingly 'restive, as their time was nearly

*>'

1 |,

m-

186

GEORGIA IN THE RE VOLITION.

expy^a-|-al||the State levies rei|sp to come undejr

Corifileiltal tesulations--inilitaryfofedience was reluc-

t','
tft

..- !?/&, '??

"^ ; ^

jf jseldlp -- discipline

was

iv -5 '-'"

' " ,; '

fe<p>ly; enforced, Sami

ijr|ate|b- military crime the| ||>uld be guilty 0$;

lf pufishabte by a small p|cgniary fine." v f

nen^, in the mean time^lfrad : stretched tlieir

llon^ tfee Savannah: six hundled 5being stationed

<e."!S.- f O ^J-

T l-'rv- . .

'f

at SiSerls Firry, two hundred atfZICbly's Ferry, while

thefSiift bo|y of the army, und<fr|Colonel Campbell,

took iost al the little village ofV^bercorn, six miles

r.-f -

^'

O

::3,; -- ;

'

y.

belo)v|the American camp. Notwithstanding so mariy

toolt^rdtectMin, or enrolled themselves in the British.

.;--ljr. -t:

"#:': '

'' . . ' ,K

''

.

'

troopi| j|et affew resolute spirits, fnlBurke and Rich-

inond|Cdunties, took the field, and,|Vyith a mere hand-

ful

>; *-

^'-

off Continentals,

called

in

*V -i''.v

'

the|imlitia

to


their aid,

and routed |he upper district of G?eomia in its defence.

A

? ".
party

^V'
of

.'
royalists,

under

* ;;r
Colonel

Brown,

consist

ing of four fhundred mounted n>eiQ, was ^ordered to

form |a function, at the jail in -Burke County, with

Colonjel IThomas, the commander ^f^the militia of the

county, who/ with many of his fhen, had sided with

the ^elhemy.f Colonels Benjamin; :?tnd, William Few

hastily gathered the Americans, ^nd being joined by

Colonll Twi|gs, numbering in al) a'bout two hundred

and fifty, fell suddenly upon Brown, after a forced

march, and .-.defeated him, with a/ small loss; but, ex

pecting tbaUthe royalists would rje;reinfbrced, Colonel

Twiggs thought it prudent to retire, and wait another

opportunity^ when, by another dashing movement, he

could|seeure|a more brilliant victory. The opportunity

waCpnot lonj wanting. Major Harry Sharp and two

othj|ifTory majors from South Carolina, raised a parti

san ,c^rrj, b"ja"| which they greatly distressed the inhabi-

I

COLONEL CAMPBELL TAKES^lUGUSTA.

187

A>
tants of Burke County and -its fVicinity. Having

watched them for some time, the^ were at length

observed to encamp in such a ppsitio)a as would allow;

them to be very advantageously ^attacked; when

Colonel Twiggs and Captain Joshua Tnman rushed

upon and totally defeated them. HJhis sudden onset

cost Captain Inman his life--not,f however, until he

I had killed all three of the British majors with his own

hands. 2

" | -|-

.

This complete discomfiture of::the Tories gave a tem

porary peace to the long-harasse^Jresidents of that

vicmity ; though it did not arresjt tl|e-upward march of

Colonel Campbell, who reached iancj. took possession of

Augusta by the close of January! | Stopping but a

few days in Augusta, he marched lu'p some thirty or

forty miles in the interior; and^his|presence, together

with the fall of Augusta and Savannah, caused many

of the inhabitants to take the oath,"' o f alleg*--'iance and come under the British protection. I Those who de

clined, finding themselves insulted^ pilfered, threat
;.-%:^:
ened--in terror by day and by night--their effects

taken before their eyes--their children slain in their

yards--their stock slaughtered or ; driven off to the

English -- their crops ruthlessly : destroyed -- their

houses burnt over their heads---gathered what few

things they could save from the general ruin, and

moved across the river. The few who remained

faithful to the American cause, after {securing, as they

hoped, the safety of their families, reassembled, at the

earnest call of Colonel John Dooly, at a point on the

Savannah River, five miles above therline of McGirth,

8 Jackson's MS. Notes on Rainsey.:;

188 ;

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

wh<|, with three hundred loyalists, had encamfejl at a

cree;k, for the purpose of watching the mbveirfejats of

the|Americans and intercepting their passagclfacross

thefriver. By crossing a few miles higher u^JDooly

effected a^landing in Georgia; but only to*ret|rlfagain,

before a detachment under Major Hatfrilton, |rej|| pur

sued him so closely, that the rear of Booly's pt>f|y and

^

*/ '

*:

**- * "f Si>* ^-"j-j.

the? van of Hamilton's were within muske|:p|tance

when the Americans recrossed the Savannah; (liver.

:"

'

'

'^ r

Dooly remained upon the Carolina banks, iufxfously

watching another opportunity to fall^ipon hisfajitago-

nist, and at the same time rousing lip thejtfligs in

the vicinity to join him in expelling the A|r|iuders

from their once happy homes.



f"|-^|:

Colonel Pickens, with about two hundred|s|a|l fifty

men of his regiment, promptly responded toti|i| call;

and joining Dooly, who, though the seni^rf Officer,

waived the command in favor of Pickens, the^iinited ' Vi" :-'-,
force marched to the attack of Hamilton, then".:Opposed

to -be encamped in security about three milesIbelow

Cowan's Ferry. Hamilton, however, not anticipating

any movement on the part of the 1 Ameriearl^, had

marched off on a few days' tour, >for the purpose

of bringing'all within his military district under the

oath of strict allegiance, and of changing the garrisons

in the several small forts scattered through the'neigh-

bering country. The two little armies met at Carr's

Fort; and a detachment of the Americans,funder

Captain William Freeman, having, by an act of daring

bravery, secured a new log-house, which commanded

the spring by which the fort was supplied witMwater,

the British were locked in without food and'water.

Their horses and baggage were captured, and nothing

IV

SKIRMISHES' WITH BOYD'Sj^OYALISTS,

189

but the humane desire of Colonel Jjickens to s|ve the

few women and children in the fqr| deterred fthe as

sailants, from setting^ fire to the fp|t and conipelling

instant submission. |But while the|Americans|waited

for a more tardy, yet apparently ceria|n surrender, news was brought to Colonel Pickens of; fee advancejpf the notorious royalist Boyd; who, just returned from a

n1f t

conference with Sir Henry Clintonlft New York, had,

s

^;-

under a commission, iprganized a partisan corps in the

$?
*;

upper district, and Was now, witb| a body o eight

1^

t

'$

hundred loyalists, oil his desolating march towards

1

Georgia. This induced an instapjl abandonment of

S;

the fort, though within a few hours||t must necessarily have yielded; and raising the sig|}, the Americans

I

recrossed the Savannah; while M^jor Hamilton, re joicing in his unexpected fortune, retreated to T^rights-

ft jfe %

borough, and thence, In a few days||o Augusta^ where

he joined Colonel Campbell, losing- nine killed and

three wounded during the siege. 1 1

I

Boyd, aware of th|ir intention to attack him, and

unwilling at this juncture to hazardj'a battle, changed

his route; but Captain Anderson, with about a hun

dred men, who had been detached 'to watch his: move

ments, ascertained his point of fording the river, and

stationing his few troops in the thick canebrakes,

poured a destructive! fire upon the] main body, as it

crossed the river, and^continued the havoc until a por

tion of the enemy, which had crossed a little higher

up, came suddenly upon his rear, land compelled a

retreat, with the loss of thirty-two|killed, wounded,

and taken prisoners, while Boyd's los> was threejtimes

this number.

|

,; -j.

I;

The enemy having-effected a patsiage into Georgia,

1

;190

GEORGIA I THE ^EVOLUTION.

^Pickens and Dooly, now joined by Colonel Clalke, re- I

r



.

*^

j&\

*

v?

|solved to follow; and, they accordingly crossed the f

**

fSavannah on the 12th February, and the foMowiii^ |

(night encamped within four miles of. the |nemy. f

O^orminsz; the line of march unr the order of batlle, thief

t."

^J

'

-

-

'tii"

f *''' *$

{Americans-now prepared once more, at a greatjdissijfjj

Ivantage of numbers, to;contest with the Toriesffbr ^j|e||

^supremacy in Upper Georgia. , Much depended In thtlj ;

tbattle. If Boyd should be successful in driving bacl^l

^the Americans, under such men as Pickens, and j)ooljp||

land Clarke, he misrht'rest assured that no fartlfbr m&QR

-

'

.^

-."'

.

*%*

-v-j, ^

Clestation, at least for-a very long time, would iblloy|^

and all would yield tolthe British power; wfiile,

the other hand, should^the Americans be successful, iff^

/

,..'

/

-;fty -.'

would not only crush" the Tory power, already so|

galling to -the people, but protect them from further f f

insult, and give a stimulus to American courage,vwhich f

a long series of disasters made especially necessary; it|

was a moment big with the fate of Upper Georgia. - ;{

Boyd, with a carelessness evincing great lack of =;

;military skill and prudence, had halted, on the morn- ., I.

;ing of the 14th, at a farm near Kettle Creek, in Wilkes i". I!

^County, having no suspicion of the near approach of I

-

"the Americans, and his. army were dispersed in various

directions, killing and gathering stock, cooking, and

other operations. Having reconnoitred the enemy's

position, the Americans, under Pickens, advanced in

three divisions: the right under Colonel Dooly, the "

.'left under Clarke, the centre led by the commander

^himself, with orders not to fire a gun until within at |

, least thirty-five paces. *

-\ -\

As the centre, led by Pickens, marched to the"; r attack, Boyd met them, at the head of a select iparty, I M* $ ,', .x'lSv <-.-

'.'- .^^^T^lIllS

;BATTLES|pP KETTLE CREEK ANfX BRIER CIIEEK. 191

his line beirfgf protected by a fence filled in with fallen

timber, whiellgave him great advantage ov|r troops

displaying uf|his front. Observing this hjijfbrmed *-."

abatis. ;: 7'

Pickens ;.. ,y|

filed

off

to

a

rising ':;

grouni ; on



i^>

his

right, iand i|i|nce gaining the flank of Boy|, ! rushed

upon him ^th great bravery --the enem$ ;fleeing,

when tthey |iw their leader shot down before them.

V

-

'**- g^

-.

'?-'

Sustained nflfthis charge by Dool^ and Cl|rke, the

i&i

enemy, after-fghting with great bravery, retired across

the|creek; ibut were rallied by Major Spur^en, on a

hill |beyond,|^here the battle was again renewed with

fierceness j ||t Colonel Clarke, with about J^ty Geor

gians, -havirlgl discovered a path leading |||a ford,

p:usbed throu|h it, though in doing^so he eriSountered

a severe firelfand had his horse shot down under him.

*

;

',-, s)&

',;

"'['.-

and^by a circuitous route, rose upqn the hj|l?in the

'V?

rearv of Spurjen, when, opening g| deadly;:|fire, the

enemy, hemmjed in on both sides, fled, and wire hotly

pursued byitSe victors, until their conquest :was com

plete. For tone hour and a half, under great disad

vantage, and fagainst a force almost double^ had the

Americans Im-aintained the unequal contest, and

though once?<."'f&"r twice it seemed as if they must give way, especially when the Tories had gained'the hi}l,

and were re-fcirrned under Spurgen; yet the masterly-

stroke of Clarke, with his few brave Georgians, turned

the -scale, an(J victory, bloody indeed, but complete,

was theirs. ;f

;

?".

Pickens and Dooly lost thirty-two killed and wound

ed, while Bojp and seventy of his men were killed,

and Jas many more wounded and taken prisoners. Not

two-hundred!and fifty* however, of his party ever

reached Augusta,--the rest fled in every IJirection j

t--r
-,|
ffir

192

i GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.'

some cast themselves on the mercy of the Whig govern ment, some were hung as traitors and; miscreants, whose barbarities entitled them to :the j most fhorrid deaths, and some skulked among the mountain passes of North Carolina. The Tory force <wasf broken, and only in small parties and petty skirmishes, did they again take the field. This victory was on^ of thfe most important in Georgia, and secured, for a time, the "Whig ascendency in all that section. A few hours' delay in making this attack might have proved'fatal :to the Americans, as a party of five hundred:men, under McGirth, was even then on it's march t0 join Boyd, at Little River; but, the intelligence:bf His defeat and death, and the confusion it produced among the loyal ists, determined him to return at once to Augusta, lest they also should fall before the victorious'Americans.
The success of the Americans at Kettle Creek gave new vigor to their cause, and nerved the arms: of the officers and soldiers to deeds of daring %nd bravery. Some feat of arms was almost daily performed, and generally resulted in advantage to the Americans. One of these consisted in the surprise of the British post at Herbert, consisting of seventy regulars, by a party of militia under Colonels Twiggs, Mclntosh, and Hammond, killing and taking prisoners the entire corps. Another deed of valor was performed by Cap tain Cooper and twelve dragoons, who charged upon a reconnoitring party of the British Rangers, twenty in number, commanded by three officers, as they were advancing upon Brownsburg, and took them all prisoners. Instances of individual valor were of daily occurrence. One only need be related here. While the American troops lay near Augusta, General Elbert,

BATTLES OP KETTLE CREEK AND BRIER CREEK. 193

anxious to obtain an accurate notion of the force and

situation of the British, sent Lieutenant -Hawkins to

spy out their post. He departed alone; but, as he

neared their camp, he was overtaken at the Bear

Swamp by three men whom he knew to be noted

m

Tories, and to avoid them was now too late. Resolutely

advancing towards them, he demanded who they were,

and whither they were going. They answered, to join

Colonel Daniel McGirth. Hawkins, who had on an old

British uniform, told them that he was McGirth, and

did not believe a word that they said, that they were

I

rebels, and he would hand them over to his party that

were near. They protested to the contrary; when

Hawkins told them that if what they said was true,

I

to ground their rifles and hold up their right hands.

As they did this, he advanced with cocked pistols, and,

taking up their rifles, ordered them to march, and the

first one that turned round he would shoot. Thus

preceded, he arrived at the camp, and delivered his

three prisoners to the General.

Finding the Tories thus defeated and dispersed, and

all his hopes of help from these insurgents disappointed;

and being unable, with any degree of safety, to occupy

so long a chain of military posts, General Prevost aban

doned Augusta, and all his line north of Hudson's

Ferry, twenty-four miles above Ebenezer.

On the retreat of Campbell from Augusta (for such

his precipitate departure may well be termed), his rear

was harassed by parties of Americans, and a more

vigorous pursuit was prevented only by his burning or

breaking down all the bridges on his route until he .got

within supporting distance >f Colonel J. M. Prevost,

TOL. II.

13

JI
88

194

GEORGIA :IN THE

who marched up a little distance irbm Jludson's Ferry,

to conduct him within the lines, v. f 2

f

The Americans had now a large force along |he

Savannah River, distributed in seyeral|camps. At Joi-

gusta there were twelve hundred ^troops under Genfral

Williamson; at Black Swamp, seten thundred udder

General. Rutherford; at Brier Cleekf two thousand

three hundred under General Ash;Jand at Pufys-

burg, where General Lincoln hadf his head-quarters,

were between three and four thousand;;men,--making,

in all, a force of between eight |ind| nine thousand.

At a consultation, held at GeneralJRutherfbrd's camp,

it was resolved by General Lincoln, abd the principal

officers, to march the army from JPurysburg (leaving,

however, a strong guard there to Tifratch the enemy) to

General Rutherford's, at Black Swamp;,'--there to cross

the river and join General Ash, atj Br|er Creek. The

position occupied by General Ash; atj the creek, was

deemed by him perfectly secure, atid he even believed

that the enemy, having magnified his numbers, were

afraid to cope with the troops under his command. COn

the other hand, the British commander, anticipating

that the troops at Brier Creek might soon be joined by

the main armv, and feeling the ill effects which their

^

^--

V.

:

presence had upon his movements^ shutting him up so

closely within his lines, he deemed it advisable to strike

at General Ash before he could bd> rein- forced,7 and thus prevent the attack which General Lincoln designed to

make with his whole force upon the British at Hudson's

Ferry and Ebenezer.

i

;

The plans of the enemy were secretly, but inost

effectively laid. To draw off attention from the main

attack, which it was designed should be on the Ataeri-

i
Er^-'^jV^ |
iSli^fe I
^a8?>

R1=

'.". BATTLES OF KETTLE CREEK AND BRIER QREEK.

-

i

'&

'"-.

f ~ ^ v-

caii front, Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost, wi|h the|4d

battalion, took a circiiitous route of fifty miles tp clo^s

tMe; creek above them, as if to turn their flank arid |a|tf;

tlie rear of the Americans; while, to keep (reneiil Li.ncoln in i.gnorafftcbi of thei. r mai. n design": , Q'"en>|!;i. |%$'%|-

Provost made a feint on the river bank, as";if lie |t|jj

posecl crossing thl stream. The attacking c$uijd|j|_

fbuh<| some difficulty; in getting into their ptope^r p^jjjtf:

tion.bwing to the" swollen current and the "absence !oT

.;. / -: '

O

_.

,



.

.|i.'*:|f.

bridges which they themselves'had previously dest'i|d^|:

ed; but, on the morning of the 3d they wer| readyf^|;

adtioh. Three grenadier companies of the|60th r|gi|

m%n^; one of light infantry, under Sir Janie*

the 2d battalion of the 71st regiment; a tro'pp

dr|ago'ons, a body of provincial rangers, &c.f ;wifh fiye*

pieces of artillery,^ numbering in all one ltho)isaliif

mbved on to the scene of slaughter.

I I f|-

fGeneral Ash was not prepared for such an encouiir

ter, encamped as he was in a place totally unfitted for

defence. On his right was a deep lake, made by tEe^

overflowing of the: surrounding streams into the low,

and matted swamp.7 On his left was Brier Greekf

swollen, rapid, and impassable by recent rain; difdlt

his rear was bounded by the Savannah, with not fa^

boat to cross it; while his only means of exit froni-

this trap, into which, with entire lack of military^

skill^he had led his troops, was by an open field viYi-

front, and even this he had failed adequately to s|-;

cure.'; Not suspecting his danger, he had sent off t\fd|

detachments, one under Major Ross, of 300tdra;goo|^f

to;ireconnoitre the enemy at Hudson's Ferry5; aM f^

other/under Colonel Marbury, to watch the upper pa|s|

of"Brier Creek. This latter officer discovered the valiiV

m.

ft: GEORGIAN THE REVOLUTION.

of jpievost's army, aid exchanged a-fewpjiots with

* at Paris's Mills| He instantly sent j|i express

Ash of the pear approach of the ||einy, .but

tlaJJ|ider was captured, and it was only || a vague

rijJf|r, transmitted toUhe General by Genj|il Elbert,

thljjhe had any: ideajpf their proximity.

eue^my

h||||hen advanced ajtoost to the picket g||rcl at ^the

b]$ji|e, about a ;mile|from the main body^ind when

the^rum sounded toyarms, as that body || one hun-

drJSlfled before, the Jtritish van, not a soldifr or piece

^' "^t-S'?;^'-

'*

. '^y- 7



- ^'-jr-

of^tillery had been|served with cartrid^, and not

altlfen of any kind l&dieen formed for action. The

"'f^K-'-

'

coiflksion

* '*':"
of the

;'' W
camp

'"
;may

well

be

. S*y
imagilied.

Ash

' "i^rTv-

;

- * ' -'&"*

'*

4,'^'"'

att|$ipted to rally, his troops under thre||Jdivisions,

bu^; as he confessed, they did not sta^ fire five

miiuites, and most oMthem shamefully fleMthe Gene-

ralf$%lj'-t full

speed''

' ^"'"- '
leadjing

the way.

The Q?%rtly portion

of Jthis ill-fated army- that did stand their |grou-nd was

thejlieft division, under Elbert, which fbi|^it so gal-

larfIf*iyy that support the

the line

oEfnagtltiashc'k. :resneortveunwti.elrteheonr,d^yew*r':heden

upr to there

waviio escape, and resistance was hopelessjpid Elbert

order s5 :t -:;;

his

men

to

ground
c

their

arms, 7

and!surrender ;ti t:

themselves prisoners of war.

|;

|Phe surprise and defeat of the Americatfsjwere com-

pleJe. The enemy pursued the routed troops with a

vengeance worthy of savages, and the prder of Sir

Ja|nles Baird to his light infantry was, thjat "every

one-:who took a prisoner should lose his ration of rum,"

' iS.'s-.

*.

_

' //

ai^t|thus many, who on their knees implored mercy,

Vflfe bayoneted" by;tjbe brutal soldiery, whp'would not

loseltheir allowance M grog. The loss of he Ameri-

1 .'. '-f^-'f^1

'

'; ': ' -i*' '^'"7

*-^

*^

'V \

in battle w^^bout 340, killed, w|)t|nded, and

BATTLES OF KETTLE

-

**-*

AND BRIER CREEK

prisoners, one-half of whcxiliflell dead on

field, or were drowned. iif|ihe neighboring w||ers.

They lost also one thousanq'^tand of arms.

tish loss was very triflingjffeing only sixteen f|lll

and wounded. A few of tfefjfogitives, includinglpne-

rals Ash and Bryant, and Co"i,?lo,*n'/.'el Pickens, reache^kf l^V'-.Iatthews's Bluff that evenin^f f&nd that night, as|i||any

as could, crossed over intoy0|rolina.

A court of inquiry sat afffeek after, ;at the request

of General Ash, to investig|fe|(he conduct of this|p5cer

at this battle; and while, inftts finding^ the coilpf ac-

quitted General Ash of an|||rant of personal c||

it declared its opinion that'Kefhad not taken allKe'ces-

sary

precautions

to

secure

- '-I-- f^-.i1;
Mljeamp,

'-

"F^ 'jjjjjf''.'

and obtainffMely

notice of the movements an&lapproach 6f the enifny.

;F|:J- rr

'.

.-|--S%t/

But what shall we thinkto&a General; who, wMh an

enemy so near at hand, and %||h two hundred dri^ons ....; V .* -;.. -Ji- -j

-,


y ..-"/ EV
-.-,-; j*i*i.>

in camp, should allow himself; to be so surprise||:hat

not fifteen minutes tack ? Indeed it is

el ap^sed vf;>r,of m' fully evident

the that

alarm

to

till |:

at-

General Ashtwas

deficient

in

almost

"
every

''. \':

-

requisite

of

a

X
commanding

officer, having neither judgment, skill, fbresightj|nor

self-reliance; and, notwithstanding the judgment 6the

court, wanting in personal bravery. It was more fhan

suspected by many that he haed betrayed his armyfand

his place of encampment-," I The disposition of|:-his

troops and defence, his dilatory movements, andlhis

precipitate flight, certainly gfve strength to a report

which

obtained

a

very *f

erenerai

o

;..-.''"":?

credence. .

How unfor. ; >jj

tunate was it for Georgia tH^tshe should have hl^i in

her armies as her defenderlfjtuch men as Howl^iid

. :".-:'. ,^,



' r'^-^$'-

Ash, men totally incapacMatfd for their responsible

duties, and *

whose .

errors '

atvSi cowardice tv,& ^Sk-t'..

brougnlldis-



tJ -r- -3.?i

*i

198

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

grace and ruin upon the State. Had not the

spirit of faction driven Mclntosh from our borflejNia

*

'





-33,. '; *:'

different story might have been told of the pr|ti|h

operations in Georgia.

| ^Ifl

The defeat of General Ash was very beneficia|tp^e

English. It opened to them the upper and baci j|i|ts

of the country and put them in connection w|th|^|e

Indian tribes; and their boast was that fourte^iFEufi-

dred of the inhabitants of these districts had given,in

their adhesion to the crown, and had organized; them

selves into twenty companies of militia for the (lefence

of their property against the incursions of the^re'bels

c r J.

'

"# "'*" ',;:1

from South .Carolina.

f J If

To the Americans it was peculiarly disastrous;.,; The

well-laid plans of General Lincoln were thwarted^ the

JL

jg; }' -^"f

spirit of the people depressed, and the gathering rein

forcements of militia dispersed to their home!; more

than ever impressed with the prowess of the JBritijpi

arms, and the hopelessness of the American caifse. 4

The operations during the remainder of thefspring

and summer were of a very desultory charac^r. A

few troops under such gallant leaders as Colonels

Twiggs, Dooly, and Clarke, kept the field a% skir

mishers, moving rapidly here and there, as the exigen

cies of the times required; now striking down -a body

of Tories, and now fighting hand to hand with perfidious

Indians. The demonstrations which the enemy now

made upon Carolina, and especially Charleston, diverted

for a time their attention from Georgia, whic|i they

regarded as completely in their power. There were

not wanting, however, gallant men and gallant deeds

to signalize this sad period, when hope of freedom

seemed to have fled from Georgia fbrever.4; ;The

**

^.

;

BATTLES OF KETTLE CREEK ^ND BRIER CREEK. 109

surprise of a party of officers at Medway, on the 4th of

June, by Captain Spencer, and fris capture of a British

vessel of six guns in Sapello Stmud; the total defeat

of Captain Muller and his grenadiers, by Twiggs, at

Hickory Hill, on the Ogeechee:; the rout which this same gallant officer made of the party of McGirth; I

1,

and the victory which Major Baker gained the same

day over a detachment under Captain Goldsmith;

diversified the history of the war, and infused for a

-m

time new energy into the few find faithful adherents

of the cause of freedom.

>\

{ -'

H

It

4-'

CHAPTER V.

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

THE trea y between France and the United States

which! engaged France as our revolutionary ally, was ;

''

-I

.

"->"'

signed; at Versailles on the 6th of February! 17 78, and

was hailed by Americans as a happy presagej of victory

and indepep dence. Agreeably to the provisions of this :

treaty^ the -French government sent to America a fleet,

which?sailed from Toulon on the 12th of April, 1778,

composed of twelve ships of; the line and four frigates,

and pl'aced : it under the command of Count d'Estaing.

The special object of the fleet was, by a, Secret and

rapid movement, to blockade the mouth o the Dela

ware, Ithen occupied by the British fleet;. and, with

Washington's forces on the land, besiege the British

troops: in Philadelphia, and thus compel Lord Howe to

surrender both fleet and army to the allied powers.

A passage of nearly three months across the Atlantic

threw" d'Estaing upon the coast twenty days too late,

and the whole design was therefore frustrated. A

variety of joint operations were subsequently concerted;

by the^ American and French officers, but misfortune

t/

J'l in-



/_<

;

seemed to attend all; and, somewhat discouraged,;

d'Estaing $ailed with his ships for the "West Indies,.;

SIEGE OF SAVANNtH.

and there captured Grenada and St. Vincent. Whife

at the West Indies, he was met Iby letters from M.

L.

V

.

;<M.-J

Gerard (the^ French minister whlo came out in

fleet), General Lincoln, and M. Plpmbard, the Frend

consul of Charleston, soliciting his co-operation wi|h

General Lincoln in the capture of Savannah, whi<fjb

they represented might be carried (by a c&up-de-mcuvr^

The Count acceded to the proposal;; sailed for Amf- !$?

rica, and arrived off the coast of Georgia on the 3d |f

September, 1779, with twenty line;of battle, two fift|f-

gun ships, anil eleven frigates. So;sudden was his ap

pearance offi the bar, that he captured part of tjfe

fleet of Sir James Wallace (the sonfin-law of Sir Jam^s

Wright,) who was then in command of the Tybeb

station. The arrangements for the combined opera

tion of the armies had been deterniined on in Charles

ton between; General Lincoln and the Vicomte de

Fontanges, Adjutant-General of! dEstaings army.

Colonel Cambray, Major Thomas Pinckney, and Caj>

tain Gadsden were requested by Lincoln to join dEs-

taing, who had desired some American officers conver

sant with the French to assist in ttie deliberations and

interpretation necessary between the two nations. The

time fixed upon for the junction of Lincoln and

dEstaing before Savannah, was the 17th September^

previous to which the former was engaged in crossing

the river with his army, rallying the militia, and calling

in recruits; while the latter proceeded with his ships

to Tybee, which post the British immediately evacu

ated, and thence to Ossaba, where he was met by

Colonel Joseph Habersham,;.who had been despatched

to point out a place of landing, and nmke every arrange

ment necessary for the debarkatipn|of the troops. At

202

GEORGIA IN THE DEVOLUTION.

nightfall, on the 12th September, the soldiers) were

i'f'



* 4;/ "V

transferred to the boats of the fleelt, and vessels of Ifghl

; draught furnished by Carolina, and proceeded twelve

.-; mileiup the river to Beaulieu, th&old seat of President

William Stephens. The 13th, 14th and 15thlwere

:S

*

.

':

'~ff

I- consumed in landing the troops and artillery atiBfau-

'$ lieujand in sending ashore enireriehing tools afr^lfun-

derbllt. By the evening of'ihe |15th it had all fen

. eflecled. Count Pulaski, with his cavalry, had joined

thefFrench; and, on the morning of the 16th, |the

Ererich array took up the line of march for Savannah,

v and jfencamped at Greenwich^witljin three miles offthe

towri. The Georgia Continentals,%nder General vLjch-

lan Mclntosh, stationed at Augusta, were ordered, down

by Lincoln, to secure the British outposts, and openlthe

way-to the seaboard, which Mclntosh effected, anci then

fell back to Millen's plantation, a short distance from

Savannah, to await the arrival sof the troops under

Lincoln.

I

| -1

The preparations made by the British commander,

for the reception of this combined army, were %lso

prompt and vigorous.

.. -

;|

On the 4th September, General Prevost received the

first-" intelligence of the arrival of the French fleet off

the Jbar. He immediately sent orders to all the ;out-

posts to hold themselves in readiness to join him, as it

was yet uncertain whether the French designed to

proceed to Charleston, or land at 'Savannah. But; on

thei;7th, when it was ascertained that the fleet ^was

designed for Georgia, expresses jwere sent to all|the

outposts, requiring them to join the commanding

Genleral at Savannah. > ,:

;y: | ;

On the 9th, the Fowey and >the Rose, of twenty

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

203

guns each, and the Keppel andithe Germain, armed

vessels, retired up the river; thelbattery on Tybee was

destroyed, the;guns spiked, and tM munitions removed.

On the same day the following orders were issued from ;-.



-!/

O

.\

the head-quartjers in Savannah,:-!^

?.* The Regirnent of Wissenbaeffto take their ground ^

of tencampmerit; likewise the 2d|battalion of General J

Delanceys. In case of an salarra, which will be :

known by the^beating to arms, both at the Barracks

and main guard, the troops are?^repair to their seve-

raj posts, without confusion or -tiirnult,

;

^Captain Stuart, of the British Legion, willktake

post with his men in the workfioii the right, near the

river. \ >

;. |:|

"The main;guard to be re^iejled by convalescents

from the Hessians.

j; %

^ Major Wrights corps to send their convalescents

in it-he old fort. ; Twenty-four men in the small redoubt,

and seventy men in the left flarik redoubt, upon the

road to Tatnalls.

||

" The militia to assemble in rear of the Barracks.

" The Light Infantry, the Dragoons, and Carolina

Light Horse, as a reserve, two .hundred yards behind

the Barracks. ;

|

" The Kings Rangers, commanded by Lieutenant-

Colonel Brown, in the small redoubt on the right, with

fifty men, the remainder extending towards the larger

redoubt on the right.

\!

" The Carolinians divided equally in the two large

redoubts. . -

;^

"The battalion men of the 60th Regiment in the

right redoubt. ; The Grenadiers qn the left, extending

along the abatis towards the Bayracks; the Hessians

204

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

on' their left, so as to fill up the s- space to the Bar-

i"OrJfthe left of the Barracks, the 3d battalion of

SkinneJ-'s, General Deiancey's, and the New York

volunteers; and on their left, the 71st Regiment,

aiming |he abatis to the left flank re|oubt, on the road

m

^iTatfall's.

- . [ $

: *"lflall orders are silently and punctually obeyed,

the General makes no doubt that, if the enemy should

attempt to make an attack, but that they will be re-

pulsedf and the troops maintain their former we}l-

acquired reputation; nor will it belthe first time that

British and Hessian troops have beat a greater supe

riority-^ of both French and Americans than it is

probable they will have to encounter on this occasion.

The General repeats his firm reliance on the spirit

and steady coolness of the troops he has the honor to

command." 1

;

Having confined his views to the sole object of

defending the town, General; Prevost bent all his

energies to make it impregnable. : The cannon and

ammunition of the ships of war were landed at Sa

vannah; the seamen were appointed to the different

batteries, and the marines incorporated with the gre

nadiers of the 60th Regiment. The troops were

employed in making fascines and cutting pickets;

while a large body of negroes were at work night and

day with the engineer, Major Moncrief, making and

strengthening fortifications. Fifteen batteries, thirteen

redoubts, communicating, each with each, and protected

by an,tabatis in front, were begun, and when completed

manned with seventy-six guns, ranging in calibre from

1 From Ihe original Order Book of General Prevost, in possession of I. K. Tefft, Esq., of Savannah.

I

,.*,

f3-'

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

205 I-

y-

,

-M

-,,'

six:|to eighteen pounds. ; Even the captains and crews I

of t'f*he 'merchantmen i. n th e river wer'. e as?Is,igne- d to pr- ost sf_$S%>'

of <|uty; every available resource of men and meana>||

$i

.-'

_

_.

^

' _$*/".

bemg subsidized by General Prevost. I

|;

it being apprehended that the French fleet might |:

move up the river, the landmarks whicji pointed out if

'! ''&

'%

ife,

the|ship ^channel were cut down; {the firmed vessels,: ff

Ros'e and Savannah, and four transports, were sunk |;

%;

'

3

s-

below the town, to stop up the passage); and several |

t%'

'i

..

-\

smill vessels were also sunk above the town, and a |

booln laid across, to prevent the descent of fire-rafts, f

or the landing of troops in their rear. -$uch were the |

-.<'.

. .

"

,,-.

^>.''

enelgetic measures taken by the iBritiish general to |-;

defOenndthheisaprroi.svt.al of the A merican t\roorj\I-s under Gene "^

ral {Lincoln at Zubly's Ferry, they met |yith so many \.

obsfacles, that they did not reach ^Chefokee Hill, on

thefLouisville road, until the 16th; whe|e they halted, ;

so |s to be ready, by an early march on the follow- .

ingfmorning, to join, as agreed upon, \ the army of }

d'Eitaing. But d'Estaing had no sooner reached k

Saviinnah, on the 16th, than, withouf waiting for I

General Lincoln, he demanded of General Prevost a \

surrender of the city to the arms of| the King of .

Fratice, in the following summons:-- i

f

";Gount d'Estaing summons his Excellency General Prevost to surrender to the arms of -the King of ; France. He apprises him that he will /be personally responsible for all the events and misfortunes that may ' arise from a defence, which, by the superiority of the : force which attacks him, both by sea and land, is ren- dered manifestly vain and of no effect.
"fHe gives notice to him, also, that cjtny resolution

ft

;

II'

u

206

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

he^fiajf venture to come to, either before the attack,

Hi

in Oaf bourse of it, or at the moment of the assault,

of ieititfg fire to the shipping or spall craft ^belonging

to the -army, or to the merchants! in the riyer of Sa-

ft .?; iv .'

' J

'* '-'

' -:

va^i^ as well as to all the magfizines in the town,

wifflfemputable to him only, fy

I

v^V^i. *v 7 1

*^

'^ -'-_

{

-l^lbe situation of Hospital Hiil^ in the vOrenadas.

, "yS "f^'~"i-

7

L

<V."..

;.5

thef strenprth of the three intreifchments and stone

Ct

*--'

;

'-^"_

redoubts, which defended it, and the comparative dis-

?'-. H-' f -j



-'..

position of the troops before the ftown of Savannah,

with a single detachment which carried the Grenadas

by assault, should be a lesson to futurity. Humanity

obliges the Count d'Estaing to reeiall this event to his

memory; having so done, he has nothing to reproach

himself with.

t

?

"Lord Macartney had the goo9 .fortune^to escape

from the first transport of troops who entered a town

sword in hand; but, notwithstanding the most valua

ble effects were deposited in a place supposed by all

the officers and engineers to be ^impregnable, Count

d'Estaing could not have the happiness of preventing

their being pillaged.

--

1 "EstAiNG."'

"CAMP BEFor.E SAVANNAH, the 16th of September, 1779."

The reply of Prevost, to such a: grandiloquent sum

mons, was, as might have been -expected, calm, but

decided.

i '

"CAMP, SAVANNAH, September 16, 1779.

"SiR--I am just now honored with your Excel

lency's letter of this date, containing a summons for

me|t4 surrender this town to the arms of his Majesty

the* ]png of France, which I hadfjust delayed to an

swer^ till I had shown it to the King's civil Governor.

\. it "
'v$r$-$rrtf&fSc&vv-&^^-v. AsSfcj-:;!;-*-'--:-:

tjsi^ljl: OF SAVANNAH.

207

^'r' i -~V. -'

'Ai \ %; '"

C

" I hopejyour|Ex|eilency will have a bettelr opinjon

of me, and^of E^ritish}troops, than to think either will

surrender 0n a gne|a;t summons, without any specific

terms. ^ || fj

f

"If you, sir,jjEavjjJanything to propose tjhat may

with honoi|; be l^cejpted of by me, you can; mention

them, both| witft^-egajd to civil and military, and I

will then^Jnve fey answer. In the mean time, I will

O

t;"7'" '<V

''^f-' '

.-.

promise, upon nly l^nor, that nothing, with my con

sent or knowledge, Mall be destroyed, in either this

town or river." 4: II

I' '

To this d'Estains: replied:--
f- "<; *-" e -J' '1 A '

BEFORE SAVANNAH, Sept. 16, 1779.

" SIR--I ;havef |ustf received your Excellency's an

swer to the letter- I |r|ad the honor of writing to you

this morning. iTpu |atre sensible that it is the part of

the besieged to propose such terms as they may desire;

and you cannot dourjfeof the satisfaction I shall have

in consenting to fthose;which I can accept, consistent

with my duty. f| f-|

'

" I am informe^d th'at you continue intrenching your

self. It is a master of very little importance to me;

however, for forija sake, I must desire that you will

desist during our,conferences together.

" The different-columns which I had ordered to stop,

will continue their march, but without approaching

your post, or reconnoitring your situation.

" P. S. I apprise your Excellency that I have not

been able to refiise the army of the United) States

uniting itself wit^lth^of the King.

^/

ftft^t &$&..'--:'*&*#*{i
'-

-I'
208 *.;;'.

' % i' $;&
^ |i- ,', :-_>-
GEOEGIA IN THE REVOLUTION".

" I-.'.

-; -j>

"Tl|5 junction? will probably be effected this day.

If I jhive nofcfanl answer, therefore, immediately, you

must cfjnfer inifuture with General Lincoln and me,"

As; fieneral; Prevost was hourly anticipating the

arrlvaliof the^Hdnorable Colonel Maitland;with some

eigSt "Mundreii troops, from Beaufort and .vicinity, he

was anxious%>%ain time by negotiation, to enable

them to reach'Savannah before hostilities commenced;

and therefore; he? sent this note to the French com

mander :-- , jv

" ;'

?

'

[

&''*:'

"September 16th, 1779.

" SIR;--I am honored with your Excellency's letter

in reply to raSineJof this day.

" Tjje business we have in hand being of importance,

there being various interests to discuss, a just time is

absolutely necessary to deliberate. I am, therefore,

to propose that a suspension of hostilities shall take

place for twenty-four hours from this date; and to

request that your Excellency will direct your columns

to fall back to a greater distance, and out of sight of

our works, or I shall think myself under the necessity

to direct their being fired upon. If they did not recon

noitre anything this afternoon, they were sure within

the distance.

"A. PREVOST."

D'Estaing suspected, and even intimated his suspicions|of the temporizing policy of Prevost, and yet granted the boon, confident of final success over every advantage which this truce could give to the besieged, in the following terms :--

S--'*:r^-' f-?
iii
er

SIEGE OF SAVlANNAH.i

209



"CAMP BEFORE S;AVA>.'NAH, September 16, 1779., ;

" SIR : 'I Consent to the truc| you ask. It shall con-1

tinue till ttte signal? for retreat to-morrow night, the

17th, whicH will serve also fo announce the recom-

''I

":'' '

'.:

'.

mencement of hostilities. It is unnecessary to observe <.

J4

-*'

V

?

"

;

to your ExicellencyJ that thif. suspension of arms is

entirely in t/

%mr favor,

ifj

s

since

I? cannot be certain

.

.j 1:.

that

you will not make use of it to fortify^ yourself, at the

same time tfiat the propositions you shall make may

be inadmissible. '

I



"I must observe to, you also,|how important it is that

you should be full aware of your own situation, as well

as that of thei troops under yourjcommand. Be assured

that I am thoroughly acquainted with jit. Your know

ledge of military affairs will n<|t suffer?you to be igno

rant, that a, due examination^ of that circumstance,

always

;-
precedes

:

*

*'

the march ofIthe columns;

and that

this preliminary is not carried into execution by a mere

show of troops.

\.

"I have ^ordered them to withdraw before night

conies on, to^prevent any cause of complaint on your

part. I understand that my "civility in this respect,

has been the occasion, that thetChevalier de Chambis,

a lieutenant in the navy, has been made a prisoner of

war.

|

"I propose, sending out some! small advanced posts

to-morrow morning. They wijl place themselves in

such a situation, as to have in view the four entrances

into the wood, in order to prevent a similar mistake in

future. I do not know whether two columns, com

manded by the Viscount de Noailles and the Count de

v

:

-*

';

Dillon, have ishown too much ardor, or whether your

VOL. II.

14

I

210

GEQ&GIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

i

cannoniers havej not paid a proper respect to the trucej

subsisting between us ^ but this I know, that what hal|

happened this TJight^ is a fresh proof that matters wil||

soon ccjme to a decision? between us one way or ahotheil

'! have tee honor to be, with respect, &C;,-

i

I

-i .- i

- "ESTA!ING."

Th- e. -

next

d-ajy-

Ge neral

Lincoln

.. joined

the; f

army, Und, as i|ildly ais possible, remonstrated J

the precipitancy of the Count's movements in demanft

ing a s^urrenderjpriof |o the stipulated junction. Bj|

the noon of the 17th, Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland||

with eis'ht hundred men from Beaufort, reached SaW

-^

'::

't- "



'' ,

'"%$!>

vannah, favorejd by a thick fog, unperceived by the|

French; and h*is p.r:estence so stimulated the besiege.dy

that, at a consultation of the higher officers of the navy!

:-

. >*' >' i

- '

--?

and army. withHhe Governor and Lieutenant Governor^

J

. -.: --' T

...

%-

--it was unanimously determined to defend the place?;

:;

/;

'

*!$*

to the last ex|reniity ; and the resolution was coup

municated to Count d'Estaing, with the statement thaj

the evening gun fired an hour before sunset, would bf

the signal for recommencing hostilities.

|;

Before the arrival of Colonel Maitland, with a force

nearly

equal

-
to

-:
the Continentals

and

militia

of

M
thj?

Americans, serious thoughts, and even incipient mea

sures had been taken for a capitulation; but the acces

sion of so much strength turned the wavering decisiori

to firm resolve and determined resistance.

/

The feeling; of the English, at this succor, may be

inferred from It he orders of the day for the 17th Sep

tember, when "hostilities were to 'commence :-- .!

-

|.

V "GENERAL ORDERS.

i-

I " CAMP BEFORE SAVAKXAH, ITth September,

Parole, Maitland. Countersign, St. George.

SIEGE OF SAVANNlji.

;" Field officers for to-morrow, f|Lieutenant-Goloi|el

Cruger and Major Graham.

ff.

jrf* I

"!'" The troops to be under arms th||afternoon at fbjir

o'clock ; as the enemy is now very iffar, an attack may

be" hourly expebted; the Generalfltherefbre, desires

th&t the whole may be in instant ^adiness. By the

known steadiness and spirit of thej|roops, he has the

most unlimited Dependence, doulljlng nothing offa

glorious victory, should the enemyffry their strength.

"Wjhat is it that ;may not, by the jessing of God, Ibe

expected from the united efforts of British sailofs and

4-



'

tiff-^'i

V

';'-'.

soldiers, and valiant Hessians, agaflist an enemy that

they have often beat before ? In cas1| of a nighfattack,

V-





'

5|S-

. ' \. !'-

th'e'General earnestly requests the ^tmost silence to ]be

observed, and attention to the officers, who will be

:-



.

-?-.

-

'*

caireful that the men do not throw||away their fire kt

'fly;

"

random, and warn them earnestl^not to fire until

ordered." 1 :

>

ft.

unexpected decision change||the whole face of

affairs, giving disappointment to tlieJ combined army,

and exultation to the British. A sie|e was determined

on, but as, yet neither French nor f|mericans had the

cannon or mortars necessary to conduct it, and time

was again lost in bringing them fromjlhe fleet. On the

23d September, the armies of Lincoln and d'Estaing

broke ground together, about a milejffrom the enemy's

works--the French on the rmht. IS

:

- %':

"It appeared now," says an eyewitness,--Major

Thomas Pinckney, "to be the determination of the

'

'

General to endeavor to carry the|fpost by regular

approaches: for the enemy's lines Jeff defence, which

were scarcely begun when cl'Estaiif|s summons was
-.
Original Order-Book of General'Prevost.

212

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

giveg had in thatiinterval of ien days become formij|

dablfj; it extended fclong the sabdyoidge or| bluff fronjj

theJJWamp, below Jthe groundj; now feupfedriby th|J

eastern wharves, to Yamacraw], or Musgrove Creek oi

thelHest. It consisted of a |hain of redoubts wifcj

batjffies, the whole^povered in Iront by a string abat^f

Tbf^rincipal battery appearel to be in th| fentre.||

the* line, where stood, when w| first fapprolched it^S|

largeipublic building of brick,Jbut which disappeare$

in oife night, and in a day or two a formidable batter^

was Opened upon us from its site. The next1 work if|

.if.

"'

?'--

''-'

-

'"

'%V

importance was the Spring Hill redoubt, which comj

manded Yamacraw Creek, at the mouth ofxwhich wal

".-.

'

'v

-.

' $ ;.

'.{.

stationed a British galley. TJhis line was? admirably

adapt-ed .to line,%their

the two

tehnoeu.msayn'sd

ffoirvcee;Ix?luifndirtechf":aj-'tdroobpei.sen0oa' ulcdlonseodt

have manned the w^hole, especially as they were obliged

to have some slight works on" each flank, and to pay

some'attention to their front on'the river, asfthe French

had sent some vessels of war >vith a bomb-ketch into

Back River." \

f

-' '

The besiegers were no less; active. Day after day

they: drew nearer and nearer--rtnounte'd more iand more

.'

cannon; and, from their land and river mortars and

cannon, kept up a constant fire upon the town. For

two weeks this cannonading aiid bombarding was con

tinued, relieved only now and then by the sharp dis

charge of musketry, as parties of skirmishers met,

fought, and retired. Sorties were occasionally made

by the besieged, and bold attacks planned by the be

siegers. Personal prowess was often called into reqiii-

siticfa, and daring bravery was often manifested as in

an trena before the contending armies. One of the^e

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

2113

dashing movements was made on the 24th September

by three companies of light infantry, under Major Grja-

ham, ?bf the 16th. At 9 oclock he dashect out with Mis

partyI|and

momentarily

had

. -. V
possession-of



~KI

the nearest

breastwork of the Americans, but he was soon forced to

-v

:-.

/--

V,

retiref In the haste of pursuit, two columns of French

troops? pressed so far that they came within range of thte

grins from the redoubts, and many were slain. The loss

in this sortie being, on the part of the; British, twenty-

Sill

one killed and wounded; while the French had over

fifty. [On the night of the 27th September, a party frotn

I

a British picket, under Major McArthur, and the chief

engineer, advanced towards the Americans in such la

t

;:

'

.'

* ' ':

'

'

manner as to draw out portions of both Americans and

French, and then, retiring unperceived, in consequence

of thejdarkness, the Americans and French, each sup

posing the other the enemy, began a brisk fire upon

each other. Several were killed before the mistake

was discovered.

-On the 4th of October, the batteries of the besieged

:.

';.

'

'

O

opened/on the land side with nine mortars and thirty-

J.

;





4A

seven eannon, and from the broadside 6f the frigate La

Trinit4, of sixteen guns, on the river. The cannona

ding was now severe; and aware ,of the dreadful situ

ation of the inhabitants, Prevost beat a parley on the

morning of the 6th October, and, sending in a letter to

Lincoln and dEstaing, requested permission to send

the women and children down the river, and place

them-under protection of one of the French men-of-

war ; but this request the allied Generals refused, for

reasons of the most urgent and politic nature, comport

ing with both the courtesy and discipline of the soldier.

Much blame has been cast upon them, both by English

I-1
&

214

GEORGIA ItfOTE REVOLUTION.

and American historiaif!, for this refusal; but not one

of f;hem seemed to be acware that General Prevost had

actually refused a similar application made*by General

Mclntosh in behalf of-bis wife and family,'and such

Other females as might||6hoose to avail themselves of

hilt courtesy. Had Brllvost granted the i request "of

Mllntosh, on the 29thfSeptember, the allied Generals

would not have refuse|%he petition of Prevost on'the

6th October. The fault then lies with the English i'"~_p:
General, and d'Estaing^nd Lincoln spoke truly when they wrote, " It is withr-j&lregret we yield to the" austerity

of our functions, and ysfe deplore the fate of ?those per

sons who will be the victims of your conduct, and the

delusion which appearsfin your mind." Already had

d'Estaing remained orrjshore longer than he had in

tended; he had landed but for a few days--a month

had nearly passed, and'tie was not as near success as

when he first paraded-;his troops on the bluff of Beau-

lieu. The tempestuou's season for this coast was at

hand, and his naval ^officers, among whom was the

celebrated La Perouse,: remonstrated with him for keep

ing the ships so long upon a coast so exposed, with

out a single harbor in which they could be sheltered;

and represented the risk he was running, not only of

being wrecked by the hurricane, but of capture, during

the absence of so large a part of his force by superior

fleets. To continue the siege by the usual advances

would therefore be impossible, as, according to the

opinion of the engineers, it would take ten days to

reach the British lines} and, after much deliberation,

f

it was determined to carry the town by assault, and

thus, if possible, gain by a stroke what otherwise would

require the operation "of days. Such was the determi-

-TlSk?
0
>*% .0^;
^

iff:

r

is

IEGET OF SAVANNAH.

213

i ?

>' &

nation of the fgilssailants. What was the preparation

of the ^British tf G"5aVy- ^iI*-i- lece"iVM'!~- them?

"
"i

ii - ''Jr'
"

''
;=: I

At the firstfa|>proa^h of dEstaing ihere%eref Mit

ten cannon mbpnted lipon the works; now^ through

the almost incredible exertions of Maior Moncrief, the

. **i :^C.

ir"11 -



**

:



':'

number exceeji^ one fhundred and eighteen. . ;-The

defences in evfply respept were ample and ^flective;

every pass affl|avenue to the city was vigilantly

" -' ^, ')'f f

-

'



'

"

guarded and cohered. ; The Germain, the only ship

that had not ]||eh dismantled, was carried above the

town, and comiMnded every approach through the low

grounds bordering onj Musgrove Creek.

were

well

"-v|v. '&
trained,

".. .



disciplined,

and

.,.
faithful j^the

\

were well servjed and judiciously planted, and what

ever militaryllcience; or experience .could jdo in its

defence was d:qne by the zeajous and-able 4mcers : iQ

command. ||| \,^

:.:'<:

But there ^^^ one/ ^advantage which served them

above all this.; |yAf.is soo'.' n as the plan of attack had been agreed upon byphe American and French commanders,

James Curr\vMclerk ,of Charlestown. but who had

i ?? I-

"

been made Sejt|ant-Major of the volunteer company

of grenadiers rfrpjn that city, deserted to the enemy,

with the entirejprogramme of operations; by which the

British were apprised of the intended feint, the real attack, and the disposition, strength, and nature of the

army, as had been agreed upon by the- allied Generals.

Of this desertion the French, and Americans knew

nothing until after the attack.

At 2 oclock^on the morning of the 9th October,the

troops were p^r^ded under arms; and, soon after, the

whole force of .nearly three thousand French and Ame

ricans, in one;splid column, marched up to the front of

i fe-
!

216

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.?

T!*

ttie wood, when, ^wheeling into their appointeS plac|$|

^they proceeded t<J;-?their several duties. |Unavoida|l^

^hindrances had prevented their appearing before tjit:

enemy until it w|s clear daylight, whereas,: |hey hjt|:

vdesigned~

to

havelattacked
!>'.'-

before

the

break! of
-' ;'

INow they were eislly seen, as they deployed anto

|ral columns, andf|he enemy, knowing from; |

JCurry, that the |tiack of Colonel Huge! onf the

;Avas a mere femt,Jconcentrated all their strength

Jthe Spring Hill rfctoubt, on the right of their lines, Jot?

the road leading JJci Ebenezer, where thefFrench cc-irt-

mander,d'Estain^'Sword in hand, was gallantly leading

up his troops. It':,

L

.i

%.^ -,

^^
><i^'

? V|. I, ^

-^. . ?-

; -,t;

Count Dillon, firho had orders to lead; hisj colufnn

under cover of the night round the swamp tand g^tin

the rear of the lEbenezer Road redoubtj mistook to

way through theldarkness, and did not reachjhis p^s|-

tion till day discovered him to the besieged, who drove

him back with afgalling fire. The near; approach^of

d'Estaing also drew upon his troops a most destructive

cannonade--the jgims loaded with grapd, chain, an.d

cannister shot; ajhd the muskets of the Hessians, Gre

nadiers, and Loyalists, made awful havoc amidst those

well-drilled troops. They fell like grass before the

mower. But animated by their officers, they still

rallied to the front, pressed onward to the attack, and

still hoped for.a victory. Amidst all this slaughter

they gained the; abatis, while the other columns; of

French troops having mostly lost their way by the

darkness of the |night, were crowded together in) a

morass to the wje'st of the city, and exposed to th!|e

deliberate and galling fire of the redoubt arid a crb^s fire from the Gernaain and its associate gallies. te'|-'*":.

STEGE OF SAVANNAH.!

t
V
217

Colonel Laureris at the head of the^ Light Infantry,

;"

.

/"

,:

f.

fS

*?

the Second South Carolina =;RegimenJ, and the Ifirst

Battalion of Charleston Militia, also fattacked|tli|frej

doubt, and the colors of the Second- South (farcllma

.

-

3'

' . v &.

Regiment, which? had been-presented to. it riyjVLrsI

Elliott, of Charleston, were for a moment pla|ite|lN>|i

the berm by Lieutenants Hume and iBushk whb being

"

*

"

-"

".:.

i-i. r

killed) Lieutenant Grey advanced to their ^upp|)rt|bul

he being wounded, Serjeant Jasper rushed fbrwa%d/lan4

though mortally wounded, brought offjhis colors at the

expense of his life. Count Pulaski, ?|ith tiis cjavjalry]

followed the attacking columns with the view of cnarg-

.'?-

' ' '

ing in the rear of the

'-
redoubts at

'?

'

i: -if ' j' -

the first vulnerable

point j

but, findin g

the


front

of

d'* EstaXings-tfjtr3o*" o ps

thrown into confusjon by the deadly fiije oftthe British;

he left his command to the care of Colonel; Horry.^and

'-'!

'-

;>"' ' "'-

with Captain Bentalou hastened on hisjblack charger to

animate by his presence the waving spirits!of the

soldiers, and carry out the plans of AE^taing novv twice

wounded, and borne from the field. |He dashed on,

heedless of danger, and anxious only^.to retrieve the

discomfiture into which the head columns had been

thrown; he penetrated to the Spring Hill redoubt, the

scene of the greatest carnage, and, endeavoring to rally:

the disordered troops, was struck by a-grape-shot from

the last gun of the bastion; he reeled upon his-horse,

which, unguided, plunged madly forward, until his

noble rider fell into the arms of his comrades, and

was by them borne back from the murderous conflict.

But nothing human could, stand before the terrible

cannonade from the enemys lines. Troops the bravest,

soldiers the most disciplined, hearts the stoutest, quailed

before the Angel of Death, as he seemed to spread out

m*

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,,

I 13

OEOBGIA IN THE REVOLUTION".

fjlhisltyings upon lhat blood-covered plain. When;fhe|

S'Sf-.-".

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.

'

':-_

'K

.

i *' '- TT . "-' 1

T

-V. -^ : 1 :^JS

/I They marched up over ground strewn withNjlieJ-|;.

ff|de|ej[; and the dying, and seldom has the sun of a-WaJpEQ^

IflPcfpber morning looked down|ipon a scene so mai|rn-|

&3**._i&i- v appa}jmg The smoke^of the muskets|jnc||

hung broodingly over the place, gatherjin^

and darkness from e^ery discharge; and|hej^

fjfroar; of artillery,Hhe rattling of small arms, the casing;!:;

fff.bugle, the sounded retreat, thej;stirring drum, andfthe,

&;':-.$

^r v



,v

^

_

./

^'cries of the wounded blended dtartlingly together^ -I K;

J*>V-* "A

"

^t

^^

^"^



'*'

III Colonel Huger marching through the low rice grounds

fp on the east, reached his appointed post, and was received

f|| with music, and& brisk discharge, which killed twenty-

H? eight of his men, and compelle)d him to retreat. Qnly

HJthe column of General Mclmiosh was now fresh |ind

^ ready for action. But the fatl of the day was decided;

;^ the French and Americans hacLbeen slain and wounlded

JJi by hundreds, and their bodies; lined the redoubts land

ife ditches. They-had left theirfcamp in anticipation of

|||, decisive victory, blood-bought land toil-earned, indeed,

? but yet victory, and expected to plant the standards

|.j;| of the army over the prostrate ensigns of England;

||: but the betrayal of their plan of attack, and the losing

||| of their way, with the consequent detention till daylight,

|s revealed their position to the ;enemy, changed the for-

f.f tunes of the day, and, though;bold, valiant, and perse

vering, they were repulsed and slaughtered. For one

hour they had stood gallant and undaunted before; the

murderous connonade, whichfstruck down rank 4fter

rarik, and sent dismay by its sweeping fury, into every

column; until, fftnding further attempt but a ^useless

-.-.-.v^--..*-<rKlS? jl
j|M
lja?4;SVrSi**i^
^i!;*
-~Jr ri-,^fVyi*V*&j^j*f. xHJJJ^:^'^
S |^;^

fSIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

fI-:
.
.'.*'
$19

sacrifice offlifejf af retreat was ordered, and the ^|rna$ns

of that galiantfarmy were drawn off the field. J|f ||

With the exception of Bunker Hill, no battlelfbf Hke

.;-**

j-

''

:*' stffi"<; ^Si;

Revolution was; inore sanguinary or destructive^ Gpie

British marched tinto the engagement at Bunkttr Hill

!..

.,'- ,i

OO

.--5yri

;*g*_

with about?-35-D&-men. and their .killed and wbjinlid

p:-

~,'*V -^

'

5;;. >.-?.' '

amounted Jto 1054. Even at the battle of J\^nd|h^

4;

'- :

!

^

-.'^ #

one of theJ-<bloo:d rest ever foucgp ht in. EuropITe,y whe'$l*e Ji^nv, e

English sustained for a long-time the whole forcejof

the French arm". y- , th- e killed?:' and; w-o unde d we^le Bfft-ut 1328; but,* at U*'- hi- is assault o"f-" Sa van' * nah,- there:.&*!$?w- i~&&$re' brought inl'o ac'f-tio'. n not q-1uiteMvOOO men; and ~M^-t..-'M^y~i'e ' killed and wounded were 1100, or nearly one-^mrdipf

the army. Of these, 640 were French, and 469A.me-

ricans. The loss of the British was about 100.Jf ^1

General 4 Lincoln, with the reserve, cover tHe

retreat; and, notwithstanding the terrible voHgyslbf

grape and :ball $hot, and a sortie in their rear| they

were brought offfwith but little loss. Count d'E&taing

was twice wounded,--in the arm and thigh; Vi'conrie

de Fontanges, Vicomte de Bethizy, Baron de St|ding,

Count Pulaski, and the Chevalier d'Eronville^ welfe

also wounded; four majors, two captains, four lieu|e-

nants, and several other subalterns, were killed.^ one

major, nine captains, and eleven lieutenants,|:we'i?e

among the wounded. About ten o'clock, the lallies

O

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*

&.;"?'

requested a truce to bury their dead and remote the

\vounded. It was granted for four hours, and within

certain distances; and this most melancholy dut|/r wjis

performed by the comrades Jof the fallen, wijli ^e

silence befitting; the mournful task.

^ 9'

All hopes of itaking Savannah were now^fxtiti-

guished. In a few days, d'Estaing :re-embarke^ Kis

220

GEORGIA: IN THE REVOLUTION.

froppsf artillery, c|; but they had hajdly got on

|bo4rdJand receivedlthe order of d'Estaing, ibr seven;

^T"

Jj

-v "

'*'''*'



ihrosiof the line toepair to the mouth of the Chesa-

9 5 ' i- '

'P' *

'; '

fpe$ke|' before the long-dreaded hurricane rose upon

'? v

fhe^rmlscattered their ships, and but onejve&el, com-

v*. - rf *' ';'/".

$.'

''?-



by the Mdtrquis de Vaudreuil,! reafched its

Mtinjttion.

|

fI

| General Lincoln,|immediately after tne battle, re-

freated to EbenezerlHeights, and, on the 19th October,

|bro^se| over into Carolina, and repaired to Charleston,

ffrom which place hejaddressed the following ^letter to

III

^1:

"CHARLESTON. October 22, 1779.

$i

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it

"''*''

"



I Sm-^-In my last, lc>f the 5th ult., I had the^ honor of

y. i. t. ^

!

' > - ,

sinfbrming Congress |hat Count d'Estaing was arrived

fbffv Savannah. |

?>

I " Orders were immediately given for assembling the

ftrobpsv They reached Zubly's Ferry and its vicinity

fonjthe llth, and some were thrown over. The 12th

$and 13th were spent in crossing the troops ^and bag-

fgage, -which was effected, though not without great

Ifatigue, from the Want of boats, and badness of the

jroads,- through a deep swamp of near three "miles, in

fwhich are many large creeks. The bridges over them

|the enemy had broken down. We encamped upon

Jthe heights of Ebenezer, twenty-three miles from Sa-

fyahnah, and were there joined by troops from Augusta,

iunder General Mclntosh. The 14th, not being able

ftor ascertain whether the Count had yet landed his

|troops, though several expresses had been sent for that

Ipurpose, we remain encamped. On, the 15th, being

|advised that 'the Qount had embarked part of his

^, that he would that night take post nine miles

I,i-inlfelft
^:F

5,'
I

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

221

from Savannah, we moved, and encamped at Cherollee &
Hill, nine miles from the town. The 16th, we fbrmld &
a junction before Savannah. After reconnoitering tjae

enemy's works, and finding the town well coverlfd,-

and knowing their determination to defend it, it

deemed necessary to ma.ke some approaches, and J

the effects of artillery. From the 18th to the

we were employed in landing and getting up the

nance and stores; a work of difficulty, from the wantjpf

proper wheels to transport them, the cannon being|m

ship-carriages. On the evening of the 23d, grouM

w.- a.s b-'r' oken; and on the 5th instant., the batteriesJ**o' f' thirtyrthree pieces of cannon and nine mortars we[re

opened on the enemy, and continued, with intervals,

until -the 8th, without the wished-for effect. T$i""e period having long since elapsed/which the Count h|d

assigned for this expedition, and the engineers inform

ing him that much more time must be spent, if he

expected to reduce the garrison by regular approaches,

and his longer stay being impossible, matters were

reduced to the alternative of raising the siesre ininie-

*"

"-1

S

diately, and giving up all thoughts of conquest, f>r

attempting the garrison by assault: the latter wjia

agreed on; and on the morning of the 9th, the atta~|i'k' was made; and it proved unsuccessful, and we were

repulsed, with some loss.

f

" When the Count first arrived, he informed us thfit

he would remain on shore eight days only. He hid i^.-
spent four times that number; his departure, there

fore, became indispensable; and to re-embark his oijd-

nance and stores claimed his next attention. TE.*.is was completed on the 10th. The same evening, hav

ing previously sent off our sick, wounded, and heayy

. 31'. *
-II
v-W %
^F?

222

IN THIS RESOLUTION.

baggage, |^ A|nefilan troojps left the ground; reached

Zubly's ^ryfthl jnext morning, (recrossed, jani en

camped tfia| night&i Caroliha. j ?

^f > W

"The ]|||ncn t?opps encamped, on thetiiglit-Ojf the

10th| about two'miles from Safannah. f They^yere,

afterl tweniv-fouri Ihours, re-embarked at &ne'aid's

''- v

* ;>"'>' j *" HI

' i.

;..'.',-

:i; .-. ;. ?'.;*''

*(0ur dis^ippoiiftinent is great/ and what:;adds:|aiuch

to our sense of i|,fis the loss of a number of brave

officers aM men,lamong thpm theQate intrepid Count

Pulaski. $f' "-- :f|

. |-. | )

?: <? ' ;;;:

" Count^'Estain^ has undoubtedly the-interest of

America Muclf ftt Iheart. I This he has; -evintsed by

coming tO|our assistance, ^by his constant Attention

during thjefsiege, MS undertaking to reduce" the-enemy

by assau|t||wtien| fee despaired!of effectingHt Mother-

wise, and-ljy bravely putting himself at'- the head of

his troop^and fading them to the attack. ,;In our

service h^has freely bled.f I feel" much-for;him^ for

while he is suffering the distress'-of painful wounds, he

has to com.bat chagrin. I hope lie will be consoled by

an assurance that,|although he has not succeeded ac

cording to his wishes and those ?of America, we; regard

with high "approbation his intentions to serve'us, and

that his want of success will not lessen our ideas of his merit." * > * '* * * * *

The lower part of Georgia was now in the possession of the British, rejoicing in their signal deliverance from a superior;! force,>ahd by almost a miraculous succor. The Governor's council at the suggestion of Sir James Wright, j^pointejd; Friday,' 29th October, as a day of public andfgeneral^thanksgiving---fthe Governor pbserv-
,v e

SIEGE OF

Ife s:
!' i'

.y

^ . -.



ing to the Board, that "he donsidered the late delive

rance and preservation of the towjn,!garrison, and i4-

habitants, from the formidable combined force of Frenck

*

>.

$' '-.

:'

'"' -;'

and rebel enemies who came against it, as an iact^of

Divine Providence," and therefore^ worthy of public

acknowledgment.

-* f i

\ ^|

Lookingflback upon the fsiege Jof^ Savannah, aitp

taking in -ill > its operations^ at orfe isurvey, we &F&

astonished idt the number o errors which seemed to

mark the contest. The first great error was in t)|e

French fleet passing by Beajufort, iwithout capturing

Colonel Maitland and his eight hundred men. i TKe

overwhelming force of the |^rench| cbuld easily havfe

effected this; but the Charlesion pilots refused to take
* ;;S>-&
the ships over Port Royal bar. Had this regiment

been captured, the fate of the city|w,ould have been

reversed. The second error was in the hasty summons

of the cityio surrender to the arifisiof the King of

France before d'Estaing hadfbeen jbined by Lincoln.

The joint summons of these.; generals, backed by the

presence of .their joint armies^ would have produced a

different answer from the English commander. The

third great error--the fatal error--was in the French

General granting a truce for twenty^four hours. That

truce saved the city. It was:;:highly impolitic when a

sudden impression was desired; it was almost culpable,

when the American General |vas not present, but was

hourly expected, to concede such a privilege without

his approval. D'Estaing wa| too much flushed with

his late victories at Grenada^and St. Vincents to be

cautious. Lincoln had been|too long schooled in dis

asters not to be wary and vigilant. ^

The English officers, themsjelves acknowledged that

^"^

'lx'' .

"?

*

had the combined armies marclhed to Savannah at their

224

IGEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTK|N.

I1P*1 ;

first junetiorj) they could easily have taken.it,; so poorly |

defensible wjis it at the beginning of the >siege. The f

ignorance of their guides, and the betrayal of their J

plan oftatt&k, completed the, series |>f;; misfortunes |

which resulfed in their overthrow. | :?;;

.|

The season of the year both for land|and sea opera-1

tions was tie most improper which could have beenjl

chosen J "Wlho that is at all acquaintedjwith our coastj

does not knW its peculiar exposures tojthe equinoxial|

gales of Serltember? and who that knojvs our climate,!

is not awaretof the almost certain sickne|s which during fj

our fall mcfntlis attacks the stranger,|particularly at:;

that period;| when camping near swamps^nd ditches?^

The conseqiience was, that the French officers and|

troops, both at sea and on rland, were continually^

anxious, restive, longing to depart, fearing the miasmaf

on shore arid the hurricane on the ocean/: Both came^

to them toojsoon, but the destruction of neither, equalled:

the carnage;of the battle.* There was/a vauntingnessf

at times infthe language of d'Estaing,Jwhich rendered"

it too haughty to be brave. His words at his sum-:

mons;--"Ljiave not been able to refuse:; the army of the?

United States uniting itself with the king" is a strange

piece of diplomacy, for it implies that he had endeavored

to prevent; it, when his very purpose in coming to

Georgia wa;s to effect it. The conduct of the French

troops during the siege was exemplary and praise

worthy. A generous emulation, and nothing more,

pervaded loth armies; and the bravery of the allies

needs no greater comment than the number of dead

and wounded they left upon the field of battle. Wash--;

ington, writing to General Lincoln two months after

this attack, concerning its failure, thtis alludes to the

:*tm
>*:*?*; ' >J@g$V
pi

i, ;:rv|\t j& t > &y&il it!
f

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

army | "While I regret tiie misfortune,!!

sensible pleasure in contemplating the

of the officers and men of? the French and

w

t ,t

'*.-

:';.

y- '

army f and itfidds not a little to my

that mstead <ff the mutuallreproaches

follow^ the failure of ^enterprises depending

co-operation ctf troops- of different nations,* t

dencegin andfesteem for eaqh other are

.".I '

rf

'.

&

"}

Ampng the-English andfFrench officers^

of Safannah^were severaljof historical or-j

nence,^who d|serve more than a passing

Mafbr-Gen^ral Augustine Prevost,

V,- .

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O

.j^ !

"

/

the British tfoops, was a fnative of

land, \yho had settled in England; and

armyJ .l*r ose gr-adually to hi>s his:h. position.'? ! *H?*f$f%is$^. wfll*fe was tlje daughter of the <|hevalier George Iprr^id^lof

AmsteHam. I General Pretest died in l!T8^|pivlfig

four children | the eldest, George, was created a Haroiiet

in 180^, was colonel of thes!6th regiment, and <jov<lr-

'".

-r -

V-r--

"

.

'- - i"1

nor-Ge|neral arid Commander-in-chief of NoHh America.

The second sdn, James, became a captain in the roml

r

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navy. I The ^hird son, William Augustus; rose-to |E!e

rank of a major-general in the English service, an.d

commander of the Bath. |-

:, . *M

The^ Commander of the iPerseus, at Savannah,; |h

1779, was George Keith Elphinstone, the son of Charles,

the tenth Baron Elphinstahe in. the Peerage of Scdt-

^



J.

-.',

C^

"

,' 5-,

land. :He attained the rank of Post-Captain, in 1775.;

Rear-Admiral! 1794; and f the next year, as-liefer

Admiral, conducted the naVal part of the successful

I

^'

*



;'.*.'

>i -^""-.^

expedition against the Cape of Good Hope. '"-- 1Jf*

services, on this occasion, tie was created,

.J

-

;;-

i/j

Baron jKeith |pf Stonehavep, Ireland. In 18^0t|

VOL. II.

15

226

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION,

became Admiral of the Blue; obtained, n 180% the

Barony of Keith, in !Dumbarton, Scotland; and, :in

1814, was created Viscount Keith. His Lordship! died

in 1823.

| f:

' f

*:<:

Count Arthur Dillon T?as the son bfj Henry,: the

eleventh Viscount Dillon| in the Peerage of Ireland.

His father was a Colohel in the French service. ifHis

grandfather, Arthur, wenMnto the army of Francf,Jand

commanded an Irish regiment after his father. Theo-

bold, the seventh Viscpunjt, was outlawed, in 16&0,fby

reason of his attachment to the falling fortunes, of

James II. The grandfa|her of Count Dillon was, in

1705, made Marshalj:of, jhe Camp, and.f Governor of

Toulon;' and, subsequently, a Lieutenant-General, of

France. Dillon's regiment was commanded, after the

death of Marshal Dillon,;by his son Jarhes, a Knight

of Malta; and when : he fell at the head of this regi

ment, at Fontenoy, his brother Edward; succeeded to

his command; and it was this regiment which 'the

young Count Arthur lecj into action at the siege of

Savannah. He was /involved in the troubles of the

French Revolution, and buffered under the guillotine,

in 1794. His daughter, Fanny, was married to Count

Bertrand, who adhered so closely to the fortunes of the

Emperor Napoleon;-and Lady Bertrand was distin

guished by her fidelity to the Emperor, during his long

imprisonment at St. -Helena.

Charles Hector Compte d'Estaing was born in Au-

vergne, in 1729. He was of an old and distinguished

family: being early advanced, he commenced his

military career as a Colonel of Infantry; and soon,

becoming a Brigadier-General, he was sent under

Count de Lally to serve m the East Indies.

SIEGE OFlSAVANNAH.

1-227

Being t|ken a fjrisoneijat the siege of MadrJ|| in

1759, he wias set at:liberty |Jy the English Otthis^afrpble.

This parole} he violated;, f|as unskilful enough; ijjtbe

again takejn; and,|was, according to the laws of||ar,

in imminent dangel of hisllife. After a painfulfgon-

' .

^* ".' i.~

^"-JJ

'f*3?f.*

finement, hjpwever|in; theffiulks at Portsmouth, ftbg^

land, he w^ released} andlpien took an oath of eternal

hatred to the English, : wmlh he rigidly kept. - Hf

;

tJ :

^

*

$$>

After the peacepf 176|fhe was made LieuteiAtr

General of|the nayal forcfis. But this appointrfent

dgave ogre- at i-.:d, issatisf.eV iction Ib#?;% the navy/ ,y and. he ri^i*|?"er obtained eyjen a partial po^ilarity in that service^

In 1778 he was |ent, as^ice-Admiral, with "twp;ye

ships to aid in establishinf| American independence;

but misfortune mostly attended his movements.; llon-

'

'

'

.^ :

.-.

;. g^,'

trary winds kept him bact until Lord Howe, wi0Bt- a

.

-

i:

""

?|S;.

.

-$$>,

much smaller squadron inSthe Delaware, had re-Urn-

, -.

-f?

-

" "

barked his f troops iand la^ed them in New Y^k.

Before Rhode Island, he w^s about to attack Hdwe,

now reinforced by ; some vessels from Lord Byrons

v '

ivJ

.

/

'-^,

squadron, wlien a fearful s|pnn separated the hosfile

.'.



'^r'r

.iis*1 "

fleets, dismasting dEstaings ^ship, and putting

fleets, for the time, ftors-du^jpmbat.

Later, however, pursuing the enemy to the

Indies, he attacked and beafeAdmiral Byron; and,

/

<**:

*f

/

/

only deterred from pursuing his victory by the prefa-

lence of contrary winds. After his fruitless expedition .

to Georgia, he returned, in ip780, to France.

ff

In

1783

he

was

ihtrustedfevith ~YiV"

the

command

of

Ihe
^P^-"

combined fleets of Franceliatid Spain, assembledfct

^S"-L ..-'

-

*

~ gjS*'!-"

Cadiz, and was ready to set sail when the treatpbf

*



- / -

litii. -

/i?^.j

peace put an end to^the expedition.

"%

He threw' himsel"f" with H^rea-l into the moveme^nJ-'-'t' s

228

GEORGES'.

HE REVOLUTION".

Which? led to the FreiJtfeevolution ; and, in 1789, was

'

'/

"t !Y'*iM^'''

madejfeommandant ojf tjJIpNational Guards at Versailles.

Pis Revolutionary |co:u||e, however, is not without

fomej|rievous stains; ||0, in April, 1794, he expiated,

JunderHhe guillotink III crime of being a cojtmter-

':'. %'.if.-'Sf



'fewutionist.

v.; %fll|t"

'.

|

.;.

^
'& '&'

|U|ltii|he fleet of Co%r|||'Estaing, was La Peroufe, the

laraous navigator. EnttUng the French navy at the age

.-.v



O

*".; i:-.js;'fcv.&-v ^--'

*

^*^

;bf fifteen, he servedlwItHdistinction in several parts of

:.,;

.-.

/

^', S&s^-fti 1

.'

fhe.'wbrld, and par&iflfly in the East Indies., y After

'the peace of 1783,he^wlfeppointed to command a scien-

."''

*" '#V3*S'.

''

.

Itific expedition to t|iep^cific ^and Chinese seas. ? With

^superior ships and & ^per corps of scientific men, he

followed the track Iof^||ptain Cook, and made;;many

valuable discoveries^ aJ^obseTvations. From the 7th

fr

^Februiary. v'

1788, '

th^e Itafle ?, :' .-'f"$*z'!$:&d""i

of? his -~-

last

communication

from ^Botany Bay, to1|;|27, a mystery hung over the

fate of this distlnguis3||d navigator. ;It was-unex

pectedly cleared up b|f|lhe accidental discovery that,

both his ships. ther.-'Bo-tJFa"''<ssole and the Astro.labe' , were

lost on one of the i|slai}f)f of the New Hebrides group.

___

*"

ir. ';..:'yV

'

The death of Count^|u;laski threw a deep gloom over

the ill-fated siege of Saylnnah: Descended from a noble

house in Poland; educated under the eye of a father

who was one of the-ablest jurists in the kingdom;

associating with the npjble and influential; he early

showed his hatred of Russian intrigue, and his oppo

sition to the efforts:to5piace upon the throne of Poland

the celebrated Poriiat5^ski, as Stanislaus Augustus,

/whom he regarded^'ajt|a Russian viceroy, rather than

""'

' .'-^.'r'V

as the chief of an in&fftendent nation."

Engaging with ard^0 in the plans devised by his

father, for freeing Polfili from the chains of its north-

1 '' ^

*~*

'-i^ff't'y''' -'

1

** f -
-*T;-5-;v-

SIEGE OFtSA:

ern opprefsor; Casimir Pufaski soc% became th|fmoj|

famoul ch|ef in his native country fyr his militarj sujlj

cesses^hisj)bold daring, anlUhis intense ardor f| : tlfif

cause of freedom. The fecord of his battles arifl hfl

struggles eyinces courage, skill, and energy worthyfif th^

sacredjjcause to which his ikther, hisjbrothers, and|hi^|

self, hall p^dged their lives arid fortunes. " In thosj coM

federatesJwhich were soori^fbrmedilii -various parts tat

ft,- ?

; ri'v

f>

':

the colintrl^, to defend and ^indicatj its msi

t- t r '-; ^SK" W-: V'-

reignty, thje ardent patriotism of the. Count, his i|p

cable Jatifed of foreign usurpation^ his indefat%abfc

zeal, his unshaken constancy, his h|roic intrepi(Mty-^

in short, hfs towering geniiisland his stoical

a bloody war," says a writer who ||as eloquently del scribed- th(| situation of Poland irilthose ^calamftousl: times,1 ?" tli^ operations of Pulaski w^re such as almost?; to challenfe belief. Sometimes Vanquished, muchjf oftener? victorious--equally "great ifi: the midst ;bf afe defeat, ias formidable after ^victory,;and always s/upe-lj rior to events, Pulaski attracted and fixed the a|ten-^ tion of >all purope, and astonished her by his long;andl vigorous resistance. Obliged to abandon one province^ he made incursions into another, anid there performed* new prodigies of valor. It^was thus that, march ing | successive!^'throughout all \the palitinates. he signal-! ized in each'of them that eternal hatred which he^hadl sworn against the enemies^of ^Poland. It was Pulaski:| who, in 177!1; conceived andiorganized the bold de1sign|; of forcibly -carrying off Stamslaus>;from Warsaw,^,ndi: bringing hijn to his campj; tvbt indeed to assassinate %

i ^Pulaski Vindicated/'M; Baltinvbre, 1824.

' ^-

230

IN THE ^EVOLUTION.

him, as has be|lf) basely and falsely asserted b^ patfii|

sans of Russiliffbut with the; view to rftaket

rallying pointer the nobles, find-all th&J

Poland; and, j|f-means of this union of the n>onar|fl|| I

with;the nati|ipto crush, or, ftt least, to^Mrive aw|^

from the terri&rV of the republic, the sateliites^of ttrait

. > -

' fKiv* -

-.-.



>



:$ $f

unprincipled a^^perfidious poorer, by whjpse Kau^||^

mandates it h^fitoo long beenj governed.fTKf

prise, confidedj||r forty brave |>atriots, succeeded 6^3^

so far as to section the monarch in the very bosoinl|bf|-

his capital, anillto carry hiniMway}some distance

it, in spite of ffpry obstacle ^abd danger.** The

ness of the ||t|lit, and othei* unfbreseeln calualti|s^

prevented thdllinal execution 5of a plan, ^whicli mighfe

J-

. ^"'j^ :

J

;A

-

-"'

^?. * y';'

eventually ha^|isaved Poland from that political an^i%

y^i,-:^-'-;y

;.

V1 ,

"...'.

v- vC'%1

hilation whicl^Bjias since become her lot. ^'i v ^;^

" When, frojff nearly the t; same 1 motives as indiUcW

^/.S-L.; _ '

fc/





..

...

</ '?;

robbers to dis|ujse or suspend, for a time, their jeMrf

ousies and auliiosities, and to unite their efibrts an<}j

their strength|fthe more easily to secure a commbnj

prey, Russia, Jprussin, and Austria jointly dnvadedj

Poland, in lT7;2y and at a ' fell" swoop' seized upon the

fairest portiotffof her territory, which .they divided;

among themselves, by that right which only kingsj

-: tf.ytx

-S**

and freebooters dare to claim, the right of superior*

physical fbrce,vjhe Polish confederates were compellecl

either to acquiesce in the degradation of their enslaved!

plundered, partitioned country, or to flee from the be!

loved and hallcfwed land which had given them birth;

--from the la*n*.d*which they had disputed, i. nch by iri-c'i-,h\itr

with the lawless potentates who have since entire!^ f

3iVS,-' L

-



*-j'. v-:t-

erased it fronpfhe map of independent nations. Wrjf;

few submitteMdl^-:m any^ fell into the hands of t.he E&fo-sw? '">\,.

SIEGE OF Sit ANN AH.

231

sians or their adherents, and died martyrs to ithat noble cause which they had so strenuously supported; others escaped to foreign climes. Pulaski was the last to retire from the noble contest. In a desperate? and
bloody engagement with the Russians, his army, vastly 1,
inferior in numbers, was routed, annihilated; but his courage still remained. To rush furiously on to death V would have been useless to his country; he chose to.^ live, in the hope of again serving it, should Heaven t and time favor his wishes.
. " Through countless fatigues, difficulties, and perils, and after a variety of singular disguises, wonderful adventures, and hairbreadth escapes, he reached Tur key, whose hostilities against Russia accorded with his hatred of that power, and at the same time flattered the patriotic schemes which his ardent spirit had not ceased to cherish. On that side, however, his hopes were frustrated by the peace concluded between Rus sia and the Porte, 1774.
" In the meantime the situation of Poland had become more deplorable than ever; her king, her senate, her people, yielding to foreign oppression, had sunk into the torpor and apathy of the most abject servitude. Envoys, from the Courts of St. Petersburg, Vienna, and Berlin, swayed her destinies; and, far from as suming a brighter aspect, her horizon daily portended more violent and more tremendous tempests. By the Russian faction, Pulaski had long since been deprived of his estates, degraded from his rank, condemned to lose his head--in short, outlawed. Unable to rouse Turkey to any measure auspicious to his country, he passed into France about the time when the declara tion of American independence kindled in every gene-

232

GEORGIA IN ; THE REVOLUTION.

rous brea%st Pulaski Mad

a holJy enthusiasm. lost her liberties; lie

T he native lan/. d""^fitt-^fliJ- lii resolved to;fight:f|^

the liveries of America. With him to resolve

execu|e were almost simultaneous. -In 1777,

j|

delphia blheld him tendering l;is services to the

J|

rican ^Copgress. The inherent ardor of his war^ej:^. jjf

spirit,!hishabits of activity, and the desire of effieie^ serving the cause which he had so warmly e

mp7'.'
|^;-.*|;-,.ji^i;

did not permit him to wait for the decision body on his application, but he^immediately joined

fir'lit

army. He was at Brandy wine on the day of the ba^te^l

with the Marquis De La Fayette, and other

guished foreign officers in the^suite of General

ington. :-At the time when our right wing was tur-n^dl!!''! ^p-? '''"''* 3$
by the -victorious enemy-pressing>upon us, and fie;: |

rapid retreat of the right and;:centre of our army me^'il ll

X

'

vJ -

*'

.

J ^-j/'. .'$\.-t 4^

came the natural consequence, JCount Pulaski propopidl/

.

to General Washington to give him command of ||is? IfH

body-guard, consisting of about thirty horsemen., TJ|isj

was readily granted, and Pulaski, with his usual intre

pidity and judgment, led them to the charge^ and sjjfc-w

ceeded in retarding the advance of the enemy--a de|ay,

which was of the highest importance to our retreating

army. Moreover, the penetrating military coup cFjeil

mi

of Pulaski soon perceived that the enemy were mano|u-

vreing to take possession of the road leading to Ches

ter, with a view of cutting off our retreat, or, at least,

the column of our baggage. He hastened to General

Washington to communicate the information, and Ttas

immediately authorized by the Commauder-in-chief|tcv

collect as many of the scattered troops as he could ifndT kl

at hand'and make the best of them. This was m<bst

-. -.

'#' '.v,

fortunately executed by Pulaski, who, by an

SIEGE OF SAVAN|f||

233

s, y- '<'
advance upon the enemy's front; $r!d fight flank,fde-

feated their object, and eflectual}y^|)rqtected our bag

gage, and the retreat of the arm^t This important

service was justly appreciated bypiefierul Washington,

who did not fail to recommendJPiulaski to Congress,

and that body passed the followlngjjresolution on Jthe

15th of September, 1777:-- ;| f| J

4-

.__

v" ^ : ~i: '

"'Resolved, That a commanderM the horse bei^p-

pointed, w ith the rank of a Br.igayi"$^'..' *--.

''f

" The ballots being taken, Counf Ifulaski was elected."

In 1778, Pulaski was authorized lay Congress; to

raise an independent corps, to c^oMst^of three com

panies of cavalry, armed with lanjjejf atid three of foot,

equipped as light infantry. Tfc|;|co|ps was called

" Pulaski's Legion;" and, such wasf||is &nown bravery

and popularity, that he soon repo^teft htis legion as full

and ready for service. While enga^dpn this recruit

ing duty he was stationed for af titiie-?at Bethlehem,

.A

Pennsylvania, and some of the|ch|ir> houses of the

Moravians were converted into barra'cks, hospitals, &c.

To protect the single sisters of |his|religious commu

nity from rapine and violence, afguard ; was posted;by

Pulaski around their house, an;d ^iinself in person

often shared the duties of the sentinel.

'.

Grateful for this protection frpmja rough and un

couth soldiery, Susan Von Gersdorf, the spiritual super

intendent of the establishment,'suggested 1 that the

sisters should present Pulaski with a banner for his

new legion, as a tribute of respect for his guardianship

of their persons, and of sympathy with the cause in

which he was engaged.

| ;V

;

i,-' v'-"' 'A,V:

f r-$

1 Bethlehem Seminary Souvenir, 1858, by Wm.;C. Eeichel, pp. 38-9.

y*:?.#."ii!

:: * ? r

i

fe '* f - '.

ill

234

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

Her suggestion was approved and, adopted; The

design ofIfie work was intrusted to the sister| Becky

Langly alpi.Julia Bader, who planned a banner of

double erflison silk, twenty inches square, on qne side

of which^s embroidered, in yellow silk, shaded with

green, theflUl-seeing Eye, inclosed in a; triangle, sur

rounded t|r thirteen stars, as if God had rsaid to the

United States, in the words of the Psalmist, |" I will

guide theejwith Mine eye;" and, above it, the; legend,

" Non aliu&regit" No other reigns. On the other side

'?>

were the initial letters U. S. and the surrounding motto,

" Unitas vjrtus potior" UniteS valor stronger. The

silk was heavily fringed with bullion and Ttasgels, and

affixed to ja handsome lance.

,;- f

The emjbroidery was executed with taste and ele

gance by|Anna Bean, Anna Hussy, and " Elrdmuth

Langly, wjth other associates. The banner; was re

ceived by Pulaski with expressions of grateful acknow

ledgment, fand it became thenceforth the ensign of the

legion.

i:

It was the consecration of this banner which gave

occasion for one of those earlier poems of Longfellow,

in which, ^vith somewhat indeed of poetic license, he

portrayed .the scene, and sung the "Hymn of the Mora

vian Nuns" as they took from the altar

' The blood-red banner that with prayer Had been consecrated there : ;>

and, presenting it to the gallant Pole, exclaimed-- "' ;'

-;;-%:

,

-

?:. . " Take thy banner! May it wave

|:

Proudly o'er the good and brave.

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

' .
1-
?; 235

Guard it I till oar homes are free, Guard it! God will prosper thee. Take thy banner 1 and if e'er Thou shouldst press the soldier's bier, And the muffled drum should beat To the tread of mournful feet, Then this crimson flag shall be Martial cloak and shroud for thee."

i
>r

In February, 1779, Pulaski, with his legion, w^| ordered to the South, to form part of the Southerly army under General Lincoln in South Carolina. Her^ :' he did good service, until he was removed to Georgia! to operate with the combined army in the attempt lj& ; retake Savannah. How he behaved -at this memorabfj ; siege has been told. Cool, resolute, daring, vigilant; ~ he entered upon the contest with all the ardor of mil]-tary fervor, panting to distinguish himself on a fiefl where three nations would witness his bravery, and acknowledge his heroism. When :he fell before th| lines of Savannah, he was carried back a little di|tance; and there, on the field, Dr. James Lynah, df Charleston, extracted the ball, an iron grape-sho/t (now in the possession of the Lynah family), from his groin; an operation which, though exceedingly painful^ was borne by Pulaski "with inconceivable fortitude!' He was then with Captain Bentalou (who was also wounded) taken onboard the U. S. brig " Wasp," where he had the best surgical attendance ; but gangrene soofi made its appearance, and death speedily followed^ " Just as the Wasp got out of the river, Pulaski breathed his last; and the corpse immediately became so offensive, that this officer was compelled, though re?luctantly, to consign to a watery grave all that wajs now left on earth of his beloved and honored coni-

23G

? GEORGIA IN THE REVOMTTfONl

raander. The Wasp entered the harbbr gf Charleston

with her flag half hoisted. The mournful signal was

repeated by all the shipping in th| port j and all the

fbrts^and batteries responded to it in the manner usual

on siich occasions of deep and universal sorrow. The

Governor and Council of South Carolina, ajnd the muni-

cipal^authorities of Charleston, join Unadopted resolu-

tionsjto pay to the memory of General| Pulaski the

most-respectful and the most splendid funeral honors.

A day was set apart for the obsequies, and^he Quarter-

Master-General of the United States/ af Charleston,

directed to make and to defray all the ^preparations

for the melancholy solemnity. T;he t precession ;was

grand, and suited to the occasion.- f Tlie pall was

carried by three American, and three^j French officers

of the highest rank, followed by gth& beautiful horse

which Pulaski rode when he received liis death-wound, ".. " '=/ &
with all the armor, accoutrements, arid Hress, which

he then wore. So very kirge ;was; 'the mournful

procession, that it was found necessary to) make a cir

cuit of the whole city to the church, where an eloquent

and impressive discourse was delivered f>y the chap

lain of the army." 1

,; \ I

The banner wrought by the Moravian nuns was

saved at the battle of Savannah by one;tof Pulaski's

lieutenants; and delivered by him to Captain Bentalou,

who, on retiring from the army, took it with him to

Baltimore, his place of residence. In 1824, however,

it was used by the young ladies of Philadelphia, on the
,'S 1
occasion of welcoming La Fayette to the city; and then

deposited in Peale's Museum, where it-remained until

-.

J "Pulaski Viodicated," &c. ; I

C f#

SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.

237

1844,*when it was given to the Marylarifl Historical

Society; and now adorns, not with its beatfty, for it is

fadedfand tattered, but with its glory, |he tjjall of

that institution. *

| f _'

It is a strange, yet remarkable fact, p;hat touch

controversy has been occasioned concerning the^place

where!-Pulaski was buried. The narrative of? Cap

tain l|entalou, quoted above, states that hefwas juried

at se|y and others declare that he wasf buried on

land. "When the City of Savannah carried|:nto execu

tion absolution,- which, for nearly seventy-five lyears

had been a dead letter on the books of Congress? and erected" Launitz's noble monument to Pula%|ki.. i.il|vMon-

terey Square; there was placed within fhe plinth,

alongside of the corner-stone, a metallic case, hermeti

cally sealed, containing " what were supposed fto be

the remains of Pulaski, exhumed on the -|-- of De

cember, 1853, at Greenwich, on AugustinefCreek, dis

tant from the City of Savannah five miles."? ?

As, however, all contemporary evidence, so far as it

goes, corroborates the statement of Pulaski's friend

and fellow-officer, that he died on board the ;Wasp, and

was buried under the water,--as no contemp6rary

record mentions his death or burial at Greenwich; and

as all the evidence offered to support the latter theory

is parole, circumstantial, and conjectural, so must we

still believe the reports of the time, and say, with a

probability amounting almost to certainty, that this

brave soldier lies under the tide-waters of the Atlantic,

and not beneath the majestic column which bears his

name, and is consecrated to his memory, in the City

of Savannah.

During the siege of Savannah, occurred one of those

238

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

strategic episodes which vary the usual bloodiness o'f

war. So soon as General Prevost heard of the arrival qf

the French fleet, hefordered in all the outposts; and $,

portion of Colonel Cruger's command, stationed atlSuif-

bury, under Captain French, attempted to obey the

order by passing in vessels through the inland channels.

Intercepted in theirjcourse up the Ogeechee, theyjwerp

compelled to land, and entrench themselves for safety;

and there they remained in their fortified camp, about

twenty-five miles south of Savannah, until the nigUt

of the 1st October; when Colonel John White, of the

Georgia line, with Captains Melvin and Elholni (an

officer of Pulaski's legion), a sergeant, and three privates,

having reconnoitered his position, withdrew a -little

distance, kindled many fires to represent a large

encampment, gave loud commands as if guiding the

marching of troops, and so simulated by their move

ments the hurry and bustle of staff-ofEcers, that Captain

French, on being boldly summoned by Colonel White

t'

to surrender, was convinced that a large force was

close beside him. While parleying with Colonel White,

Captain Elholm hastily rode up, and abruptly asked of

Colonel White where he should place the artillery.

Captain French having expressed his wonder that he

saw no troops, was told that they were purposely kept

back, because they were quite exasperated at an out

rage on some prisoners, said to have been committed in

Savannah, which they were determined to revenge at

the first opportunity.

Captain French being convinced, from what he

saw and heard, that it was only by an immediate

surrender that he could preserve the lives of his men,

I

SIEGE OF StaVAN,yNA; ti.

230

capitulated, and one hundred and Meven troops, and

five vessels,--some of which>were armed,---with their

crews and munitions, weref delivered up to Colonel

-5 ''

-

'. .'":

White. ffiThe deception," says Banisey, " was carried

on with sqtnuch address, that the wh'ole of the prisoners

were safely conducted;, by $hree of the captors, for

twenty-fiye miles through the country to thej\merican

post at Sulabury."

1^1

t

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:"

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t/



t7

' " ' '."-

"

;-

Rejoini|itg the army befbrelSavann|ih, Colonel White

was severely wounded, eight;*days a^ter, in the assault

on the Spring Hill redoubt, aind wasftaken prisoner by

the British. He succeeded, however:;, in escaping from

the enemyy and made his way to'Virginia; where, it is

said, he shortly after died, from ja jhilmonary attack

produced by fatigue and exposure; f

;

CHAPTER VII.

tr>$

SIEGE OF AUGUSTA.

ft THE departure of the French fleet, and the repulse

^'.-f,' -.-
||f the

*
combined

army

by

the


English,

.
opened

the

way

vlfbrf Sir Henry Clinton,Ho make further and more im

portant movements.

t' Leaving the garrison of New York Under the com

mand of Lieutenant-General Knyphausen, Sir Henry

Clinton, on the 26th of December, 1779, sailed for the

South, with an army of three thousand British, Hessian,

and loyalist troops, escorted by Admiral Arbuthnot,

with an adequate naval force.

;; The severity of the weather was such, that it was

,not until the end of January, that the fleet reached

; Tybee, the place of rendezvous. Here they waited a

.short time to refit the damaged vessels, and then pro

ceeded to North Edisto Sound, in South Carolina, to

carry out the plan of Sir Henry Clinton of besieging

Charleston.

Into this city General Lincoln had drawn most of

the troops at his disposal, a.nd thus Georgia was left in

fa most unprotected condition.

" V ^Against this step, the Executive Council of Georgia

strongly protested, by a series of resolutions, passed

!

"xm the 3d of February, 1780. The disastrous result

1I :

SIEGE OF AUGUSTA.

241

of" the siege of Charleston, confirmed the ju^grlfnt of

the I Council: Augusta, the seat of the- frepi||lican

government, was abandoned, and Heard's For^(now

Washington), in Wilkes County, was the last ijrong-

hole! of liberty in* Georgia. Here the {Executive

? '','-,

''..'.-

O

"'

v^',v

Cpuiicil sat, and, during the darkest period inffjeor-

gia'f history, governed the almost deserted Stat<|| At

this|time, there were two distinct governments Hjithin

the fboundaries of Georgia: the lower part H the

State, from Hudson's Ferry, just below Brier (Jreek,

to: the seaboard, being under the civil government of

Sir ^ames Wright; while the upper part of Ihefftate,

^ ^-j1

.'

o

'^^^"'

from the same ferry to the mountains, was nominally

'.? .'-ii



"/

",

-JY *f

in!;the hands of the Republicans.

j

iOii the withdrawal of the troops by GenerafeLin-

coln| many had abandoned their homes, anticipating

the re-extension of *royal authority over the whole

State, and fearing the vengeance of the British regu

lars, and the more dreaded royalists. The distresses

of!the inhabitants of what may be termed republican

Georgia, were greatly heightened by the plundering

parties of Tories, which infested and wasted the farms

and dwellings of the citizens. The General Assembly

ordered the Governor to take proper measures to pre

vent,, as much as possible, this practice, and annexed

a clause to the act, declaring it felony for any person

or persons, under any pretence whatever, to plunder

or take away from any of the inhabitants of this State,

within a line from " Hudson's Ferry to the Ogeechee,

any property;" and also ordered "all such as were

not, well affected to the confederate alliance to rerixain

'k



:

_

withojut the same." :

'

" ''*-**

||

On the 3d March, 1780, Richard Howley, ;the:"bo-

VOL. ii.

16

242

v;GE)RGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

vernor, issuejl 'a proclamation, reciting the above act,

and " fbrbidtirig all and every persbn from such illegal

and shameful practices, which reflect a disgrace on .the

sacred cause^of America, and assimilate |t to the-ini

quity of that|>f pur enemies;" and he further1 ordered ,and

required, "that every person well affected.|to the cause

of the United States, should repair, wifhout loss of

time, to proper places, within a line frdm Hudson's

Ferry to the Ogeechee, and there remain quiet, de- ;

meaning themselves as good citizens of the State."

Many of the best republicans 6f Georgia had, how

ever, much -property in the low c&untry^the removal

of which was important, as a means of| their future

subsistence, as Svell as to prevent" its falling into the

hands of the British, and thus adding to the supplies

of the enemy. In order to collect these various

stores, and to facilitate their removal toSthe north of

the designated line, Colonel Pickens, with a part of

his South Carolina regiment, formed a junction, on the

20th March, with a few militia under Colonel Twiggs,

iSteiie S

and a troop of horse commanded by Captain Inrnan,

the whole force amounting to about three hundred

1'

men. Their first aim was to surprise McGirth, who

had been laying waste the southeastern part of the

State; but in this they failed, owing to the flight of

the marauders, when they heard that the Americans

were on their track ; though several of McGirth's

party were killed and taken prisoners. Colonels

Pickens and Twiggs formed a post on the Ogeechee,

which constituted a rallying point for the Americans;

and a point from which incursions could be made into

lower Georgia, to the great annoyance of the Governor

and the loyalists, who had gathered near the seaboard.

' y -
SIEGE F AU(5ijSTA.

To disperse: this body, tile British general ordered Ibcft

a portion of Delancy's corps, under Captain Conkfiipl

which, leaving Savannalf before daylight on the |ttjtj

April, reached the Ogeechee Biver by ten o'cldeMl

*

,-,

' -'

>2 t; -

'

*^

'

& ' ->V~-

They were ; soon ensrao-etl in battle with the trolt^;

**

.V

-

O O *^;-

,

;. VKS&r 1.

under Pickens and Twlggs, and were complei

routed, f Captain Conklinjdied of his wounds the n

day, and the discomfitedfparty returned in confusfplpf '\

to the garrison in Savanrfah. :;

? %'

The frill of Chiarlestonjin May, 1780, was a dis!sj|

trous event for Georgia. f/As soon as it was commu|ii||

cated toCrovernor Howle^he resolved to comply w^nlf

the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Exe<|u|f

tive Council^ by leaving t|e State and proceeding ftcr

Philadelphiaj to take his seat there as a member of Con

gress, to which he had been previously elected ; and

it is recorded, as an evidence of the depreciation of /

the paper currency, that it- cost the State nearly half

a million -of dollars Continental currency, to pay the

expenses %>f the Governor')in Congress. Most of the

civil and military officers of the republican party ac

companied the Governor asjfar as North Carolina; an|

Georgia was left with onlypthe name of a government,

and with scarcely a regimelt of soldiers to defend its

territory.

|>

\

As soon as AugOusta was ;deserted bv/ the Americans,7 it was taken possession of by Colonels Brown and

Grierson, two notorious partisan officers in the English

service. Thomas Brown had been a resident of Au

gusta, before the breaking dut of the war, and had sti

offended the friends of liberty in that town, by his:

censures and ridicule, that he was at last taken by the

Parish Committee, tried, and sentenced to be tarred

$.;
'*S:

I

-

It.

.&

f

244

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

*~t

t%>*.-



.:.

and featherej, anjd to be publicly exposed in a cart

drawn by th|ee mules. After this ignominious punish

ment, he escapecfo the British, distinguished himself

by his bitterness and hatred towards the Lfberty men;

and, by his|address and daring, wasysoon entrusted Si-,
with the command of the town in which fie had en

dured such gross Indignities.

^

:f

He was now in|a position to gratify hiscr|venge, and

pay back upon th inhabitants of Augusta the ill usage

which he had received at their hands, and he did it

with no stirited treasure. The first plan'adopted by

him in conjunction with Colonel Grierson, was to seques

trate the pro|iert^ of the whigs, that theyfmight thus

possess themselves of all that they owned j The next

&

step was to order-all their families beyond the State,

under pretence th)at they held correspondence with the

refugees. Thesefwretched families, strippld of nearly

all they had; were driven from their homes and their

fields, and with fa few scanty personal effects, were

obliged to travel, under great privations^ exposed to

gross insults, nearly two hundred miles to'the borders

of North Carolina, whither they arrived " nearly

.famished from the want of food, and worn down with

the fatigue of so long a way; and the health of many

was so much shattered that they could never recover

from the effect of such privation." 1

Induced by the promises of succor held out by General

Andrew "Williamson,--that southern Arnold,--the pa

triots of Georgia had somewhat rallied in Wilkes County,

in the hope of keeping possession of the upper part of

the State; but when his defection was known, Colonel

';< l Jackson's MS. notes on Ramsay. :

',

SIEGE OF AUGUST$M

245

j.

f

Elijah Clarke^with about one hunpred and fifty, men, *

gathered at Freeman's Fort, in Elbert County, with

the view of opposing the British fo|ces in front, on the

South Carolina*,-side of the river. H fh is. p* lace was called Freeman's Fort from two/ brothe|s, Colonel Holman

Freeman andSFohn Freeman, whofhad made a-settle-

|'-

.~/





ment near the^lace where Lord Geol-ge Gordon had pre

viously Iplantelt a colony of Scotch people, brought over

from Scotland!under indentures tojserve his Lordship

for five years, hi consideration of ffis advancing their

passage-money? and support. At tfe beginning of the

colonial; disputes, Lord George refbrned to England,

and his ;colony^was broken up. ^ & ;

The attempj/, however, of Colonel ;Clarke to make

*;

.

"^

anything likeii determined stand,|at Freeman's Fort,

was unsuccessful; and most of his ?men, being dis

couraged, were dispersed to their fhomes, to await a

more favorable; time. A party of thirty-five, however,

under Colonel; John Jones, of Burke County, and

Stephen Heard, President of the Executive Council,

determined tolbrave every difficulty and make their

way to the arrny in South Carolina!?

On their march through the loyalist regions, they

represented themselves as loyalists, and under this

guise, by boldness and stratagem, captured a party of

thirty tories, whom they disarmed, jM put upon their

.','*.

parole of honor not to serve again against the Americans.

After various other adventures, they|reached the Paco-

lette River; and, on the 16th July, Effected a junction

with Colonel McDowell and a bodylof three hundred

North Carolina-militia. i.

I

-,

:

'

f-

'

Colonel Clarke, though disappointed in making his

desired stand at; Freeman's Fort, andjthough compelled

246

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION":

almost to disband his troops, could not long remain idle, or give up the contest. By great efforts, he suc ceeded Jn reassembling most of his regiment; and, striking; upwards into the mountainous regions, he joined tiblonel Jones at a point where Georgia and the Carolines intersect each other. They were shortly I reinfqrced by a body of mountaineers from the neigh borhood of Holstein River, under Colonel Shelby; and now, feeling themselves sufficiently strong for action, they entered South Carolina, penetrated through Williamson's settlement, fighting their way at almost every step, uritil, being joined by some Carolina whigs, under Colonel Williams, they, resolved to attack a party of the enemy posted at Musgrave's Mills, on the Ennoree River.
Colonel Clarke, as commander of the whole, made a most judicious selection of his ground, and formed his troops ..with great advantage. The British, under Colonel Jones, advanced to the attack with much courage; but, after sustaining for a few moments a very galling fire, and seven out of the nine officers being either killed or wounded, a retreat was ordered, and the enemy were pursued until they reached Musgave's Mill, being severely annoyed by the fire in flank and rear from the pursuing Americans. In this action Colonel Jones was wounded, sixty-three were killed, and one hundred and sixty were wounded and taken prisoners; while the party under Clarke had but four men killed (among them Captain Inman), and nine wounded, among whom were Colonel Clarke,--who received two sabre cuts on his head and neck,--and Captain John Clark.
This action was so decisive, and its influence upon

;4SfS

II

f

.SIEGE Of-AUGUSTA.

247
.

1"*'

' "

','

->,f

the spirits an|l hopes of the friends of lijiertj was so

elevating, thai Colonel Clarke now turned h|| atten

tion towards the reeovery'of Augusta from tfie hanls

.

'A

*''};'"

>.

'*'

';-

of the'loyalists. The present feeble statefof tEe garri

son, which hall been weakened by the withdrawal ftf

several detacfrments of troops to join the Earl Corn-

;'

{_

'

-iK-

^ :' JT

V

.

-,5;

"-',

wallis,'iiear C|mden, seeraye'd to hold out s|mepromise

(if success; an|^ therefbre,pn conjunction |pith|Colonel

McCall, he resplved to rai^e soldiers for thfe enterprise,

believing thatibetween thefm they could mi|ster|at lea?t

a thousand trjops. But iwhen they mef; at|the ap

p-ointed; r endeztvous on Soa-i?jvj. Creek, in Linc*volnJ%Goant*y , ifistead of a thousand merij*;they had not (fne-Hjilf that

number; yet, fmwilling t6 defer longer so im|)ortant

an attempt, Cdlonel Clarke resolved to n|arcl|to Au

gusta; and on llie 14th Seplember, 1780, th| littje army

reached the scene of action-. The troops ^ere^fbrmed

into three divisions, and they advanced severally along

the middle, lower, and upper roads, and w_ere not dis*

m

covered by Colonel Brown,?uritil the left division, under Major Samuel fTaylor, attacked the Indiaa camp near

Hawk's Creek,fwhen the Indians after a short resist

ance gave way| and fell ba^k towards the town;/

The firing fit the Indian Camp induced Colonel

Brown to ordet Grierson to support Captain Johnston,

who, with a company of King's Rangers and Indians,

had taken post: at Seymouffs white house, which stood

over a mile distant from ihe town. Bro\y-n, himself,

followed Griersbn with ther-main body of his troops;

and, while they were thuslengaEred with the division

'

[..

"K':< DO

of Taylor, the?fcentre andlteght divisions, comrhanded

by Colonels Clarke and MfeCall, entered the tdwn by

,

i'

"<,-

~Z

'

the other road^; and surprising the drainetl gatrison,

248

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

.'

* K.?

took possession of Augusta. Hastily placing! m's

prisoners ahd: booty,--consisting of all the Indian

presents about to be distributed by the Englishj go

vernment to their dark-skinned allies,--under a proper

guard,;Clarke marched to the aid of Major Taylorfnow

endeavoring to capture Colonel Brown, who, with %ier-

son and Johnston, had thrown themselves intofSey-

mour's white house. ?

f

The firing was kept up with more or less spirit during

the day, but without dislodging the occupants. f The

Indians, unable to crowd into the house with the

Rangers, fought outside, according to their irregular

mode of warfare, crouching under the edge of the

river's bank, concealing themselves in the shrubbery,

and hiding behind trees and fences, and from fthese

places, secure themselves, they delivered their effective

discharges against the Americans.

t

During the night, Brown sought to retreat, bi|t the

it

strong guard posted around the house prevented him,

and his only hope was so to secure himself, as to hold

out until he could receive the relief which, at the first

alarm, he had sent for from Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger,

then at Ninety-Six.

i

Accordingly, himself and Eangers labored with all

diligence to make the white house gun-proof, by-filling

up the spaces between the logs, and barricading the

windows with boards ripped up from the floor; and, as

the house -was loop-holed for muskets, the assailants

dared not approach, for the Rangers could take delibe

rate aim, while, at the same time, they were ;them-

selves comparatively secure.

:;

On the morning of the 15th September, two ^pieces

of cannon ^were drawn up from Fort Grierson; bu)t they

-.$--,:''s2v.;;.

i

K'fimtf*;

S

\

i

f

SIEGE OF AUGUSTA.

." i; 249

; ' '
' f' i f wele.o^^ mounted on trucks, and were so badly^r|ed,

oyjringS;j|l|t the want of artillerists, that they pr^ye|l of

li|tle sluice, and that little was soon lost by the^Mlling

'/- -'i. ? |pkC';'/.v v

-..

".- ^

^';-

ofj^ap^ii Martin, the only artillerist in Clarke'sjarjny.

Hat; tllise; been field, instead of fort pieces, and fen

*?; ' .:&& ''

'

r

'

.- -^

1, they would soon have compelled i;Br,cfwn

jf, or battered down the house over Inslhe^d;

asm%j&i.t;W?:H|Hf-eanother day was spent in fruitless efi,b' r.tfsr to

dislod<*@lli:h enemy. Brown was shot through both

i:i<;; : 9HS:

"

:-> ^-

thighs^ie wounded were suffering for want of niedical

at||ritite| and their distresses were increased ;^n:fthe

1^4^ '.the Americans charging upon the fEndian

alM|s,^Bo,)the night before, had been reinforice^lby

fif|y C||||bkee warriors, and completely driving-them

from tBelriver. thus cutting off all supply of'Water to

:,;

i ;&' :

'



ft J

''--

- - . -- ;-A . -

;

f^ot^thstanding their distressed condition^ !the

many 'mounded in the house, and the suffering of the

'i; fj - !*-||f ?"-

'

-

Bangei^lbr lack both of food and water. Brown still

*' ?-'

' iS1 TM " : .

refiiu*.s' e. d;'";lSl-"d;.;surrender, though twice summoned b*yCla'rke

totdo '^|. haughtily rejecting the summons, withihe

warhin^lo Clarke, that he would retaliate the calami-

< .'.-

-'nV. '- J .

tie^ of |this siege upon the inhabitants of western

Geprgia|; ^nd declaring his intention to defend himself

'

' '^

tovthe ^.st extremity.

-

|Ebur|days of confinement, privation, and suffering,

reducecff Brown and his party to the very verge of

abandoning his defence, and surrendering to the Ameri

cans. Still, however, he deferred this humiliating act,

intthe nppej faint indeed, but yet tenaciously clungito,

of;H3lief|||Each hour he waited with extreme impatience

the ;ap|^arance of Colonel Cruger; and, as they ;slowly

m-. passed Without his coming, he was on the point of

;^ V ^:)io

-

250

GEORGIA iN THE REVOLUTION.

.'
sending out a white flffg, to settle the terms of capitula

tion, when the head of the column of British troops

was seen emerging frdm'the woods on the other side

of the Savannah Ri^er, and their appearance was

hailed by the despairing Rangers with wild expressions

of joy. Had ColonellClarke a properly organized or

well-disciplined fbrce,|he could have easily prevented

Cruger from crossing the river; but such was the weak

ness of the Americans, occasioned by the loss of men- I'

in the action, and tie desertion of others who had

joined the army for plunder, rather than patriotism;

and such his want of confidence in the men who served

under him, that, by fen o'clock, two hours after the

appearance of the English troops on the opposite bank

of the\ river, Clarke raised the siege, and, knowing his

-inability to meet so Targe a force of regulars, hastily

retired, leaving nearly thirty of his wounded men

in the town to the niercy of the British commander.

How well that mercy ^as exercised, may be learned from

the treatment whicht these men received, for Brown

caused Captain Ashby'and twelve of the wounded, to be

hung on the stair-ca$e of the white house, so that he

could see them swing off as he lay in his sick bed. The

other prisoners and founded men were delivered up

to the Indians, who practised on them the refinements

of savage cruelty, satiating their revenge by ingenious

expedients to prolong the misery of their hapless vic

tims.^--seeking, by the horror of their death asronies,

'

<-- 7 t/

..

O

s

to make propitiation to the manes of the seventy

warriors who had fallen by the American arms.

Colonel Cruger crossed the river, and entered Augusta

without opposition, a;nd the English flag again waved

from the fort.

I

'

ft

SIEGE OF AUGUSTA.

251

Brown, smarting in body and mind, under painful wounds andf remembered indignities, and true to a :- nature whicft gloated in ^revenge, immediately spread around Augusta detachments of troops and Indians, : to pick up |tragglers from the American army; to : j surprise suchfsmall parties as might still hover near; f to seek out ^very friend df liberty, and ascertain who yhad relatives^ among the rebel troops; and these, whether aged men or helpless women, quiet citizens or defenceless^ children, were visited with cruel treat-
r'-T
-/ment; theirf houses were burned, their plantations /laid waste; the men driven off to filthy prisons, under \a drivers lash, or at the'point of the bayonet; the 'women abused, dishonored, and, with the children, left to be the spot of the ferocious royalists, whose tender mercies were i1"eruel. No wars exhibit such horrors as those which enlist friends and neighbors in opposing interests and|arms. The;sudden displacing of kind feelings by political enmity; the hardening influence of such a transition ; the private piques and feuds which are engendered; the personal acrimony which embitters theIcontest; the covetous desires fostered by the easy Confiscation of estates; the little value placed upon human life; the intense selfishness which is cherished; these, added to the hardening influences of camp life, and the license accorded to the victor, conspired to make the partizan warfare in Georgia one of the darkest; spots in the history of the American Eevolution. The minute record of these cruelties is too heart-sicke-ning to be transcribed. War with a foreign power, jn well-pitched battles, with disciplined troops, to decide great principles or to enforce great rights, may hav^e in it something noble and stirring, to

<* if

$$'252

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION. '

If

| the dark features of the bloody field^the sacked

~# isj town,|the wasted life; but the social feufcjis of civil

war-r!the hand-to-hand contests o neighbors--the

4?

r.

<

mutual jealousy of adjoining hamlets--the ^nbittered

strife|f once bosom friends; and the friurderjl assassin

ations! ravishments, burnings, thefts, and^bjarbarities

of the; most revolting kind, which" daily Ault from

such partizan warfare, can be painted bylno pencil,

vjli5 ;
IS; written &ff&>

by no pen, told

by no

tongue;

for eaph

case of

outrage would, if properly portrayed, fill a large canvas

with its sickening details : yet, until each case can be

considered in all its bearings, and all these;cases, with

their ^various ramifications, be fully? spread:; upon the

historic page, we cannot form a true picture of the

horrors, or obtain a true idea of the distress, which

filled ^Georgia with blood, and ashes,>and tears, during

the years of its revolutionary history. *

To attempt any further defence of Georgia, was now

considered useless; and Colonel Clarke, after collect

ing such men and families as were unwilling to remain,

led them over the Alleghanies, on the northern edge " of Georgia, to the borders of Tennessee and Kentucky,

where they were welcomed by the hospitable but hardy

inhabitants, and where, for a brief season, they rested

from their toils; though it was a repose purchased by

the sacrifice of all their property, and by enduring

sufferings which baffle the most graphic pencil.

From this time until the opening of the next year,

the Georgians who kept the field were found doing

good service in the adjoining States; and at Black-

stock's, and King's Mountain, and Fish-dam Ford, and

Long-Cane, the soldiers of our State fought with zeal,

and gained unfading honor. In this last battle, Colonel

SIECfE OF AUGUSTA. I

253

5,'- ,.

.

.:

Clarke was borne fr<|ni the field severely wounded,; and

was not able to f'eifjira to his command for several

months, i Without f^ leader, under Iwhom all ifmld

rally, the refageej Georgians were broken up into sinall

parties, and actedl Without concert, a;S circumstances

''".'' *" i^. '''

' ?

;.

suggested, keepin^>pjp a sort of guerilla warfare

against the Britisli,^JfjTo remedy this Refect, by which

so much jstrengtK ^aipv efficiency was wasted, for want

of co-operation, Qeneral Morgan, from his camp on

the Pacolette Riverf' addressed to them, on the ;4th

January, 1781, the Mlo wing letter:-^

.;:

' '- 1" ^- "^'-^

"^ -

^-'

: TO THfiiE- F-' UGEES OP GEORGIA.

' J-


" GENTLEMEN--rHaJiug heard of your sufferings, your

attachment to the cause of freedom; and your jsral-

.' ..

-if''- - /

f-

*/

O

lantry and address in action, I had formed to myself

the pleasing idea !of receiving in you a/ great and valu

able acquisition to in^ force. Judge, then, of my disap

pointment, when I find you scattered about in parties,

subjected to no order!, nor joining in any general plan

to promote the pu'b#li'c service. The recollections of your past achievements, and the prospects of future

7

laurels, should prevent your acting in such a manner

d

for a moment. You? have gained a character; and

y

why should you risk%he loss of it for the most trifling

cjr

gratifications. You must know that, in your present

situation, you can neither provide for your safety, nor

assist me in annoying^the enemy. Let me then entreat

<T O

you, by the regard you have for your fame, and by

your love to your cbuyntry, to repair to my camp, and

subject yourselves to Jbrder and discipline. I will ask

you to encounter no dangers or difficulties, but what I

shall participate in^ fShould it be thought advisable

254

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

to form detachments, you may rely on being employed

on thr|k business, if it is more agreeable to your wishes;

but itjis absolutely necessary that your situation and

moveifients should be known to me, so that I may be

enabled to direct them in such a manner that they

may t|nd to the advantage of the whole.

"I'|tm, gentlemen, with every sentiment of regard,

|

" Your obedient servant,

I:

" DANIEL MORGAN."

?."'

In consequence of this appeal, many of them rallied

around his standard, and were present at the battle

of Covppens, on the 17th January, 1781. On this me

morable day, the Georgians were under the immediate

command of Major Cunningham, of Clarke's regiment,

and were incorporated into the brigade of General

f -.

Pickeris,--James Jackson being Brigade Major.

;-.

Major Jackson greatly distinguished himself on this

occasion by capturing the colors of the 71st Regiment,

and by: taking prisoner Major Me Arthur, the commander

of the;infantry of Tarlton's Legion; and he received

the thanks of General Morgan on the field for his gal

1

lant conduct.

The overthrow of Fergussorr at King's Mountains,

the defeat of Tarlton at the Cowpens, and the march

southward of General Green, who had superseded Gates

in the command of the Southern Department, revived

the flagging spirit of the Americans; and, under the impulse of that rekindled energy, it was determined

to make another effort to wrest Augusta, the key of

the whole up-country of Georgia, from the'hands of the Tories.

: Lord Rawdon had not only been held in check, but

..''&p~~'.
jCa,-:!

"'Ii;

: ^S ~Mfe^:~

SIEGE OP AUGUSTA.

255

been turned back towards the seaboard by General

fGreen. Th^e outposts of Forts "Watson, Motte, Granby,

land Orangeburg, had successively yielded to the Arue-

Irican arms: and the troops therein had either been |,tak" en prisW oners, or were withdrawn; and, when the

JArnerican |rmy reached the Congaree River, its Gene-

fral viewedf with great satisfaction, the successive fall

jbf |he advanced British posts, and the rising patriotism

liof-the p* edtp* le, and resolved to press his march with ^uch vigor| as to compel the enemy to surrender or

Ire tire from the whole interior of Carolina and Georeria,

- ;

't



|and confine themselves to the seaports of Charleston

lt-and\ Savan'.n%'-ah. i; On the 16th of May, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, of the

fegion, received orders to advance upon Augusta; and,

learing thfft, in the general abandonment of interior

|posts, Colonel Cruger would evacuate Ninety-Six, and

join Colonef Brown at Augusta, he pushed 011 with great

|jelerity, relieving the tired infantry by making them

occasionally exchange with the dragoons, or mount

vbehind them& , and reached Augo-usta on the 19th. | While I|ee was thus pressing on, as the van of

General Green's army, on the one side, Colonel Clarke,

having again rallied a band of faithful Georgians around

him, was prepared to join the expected forces of Pickens

and Lee in :the reduction of Augusta. As Clarke ap

proached this place on the South, he learned that the

boats, laden with the annual presents for the Indian

tribes, and :with supplies for the garrison, were then

ascending the river; and, posting his men among the

thick trees ;which skirted its banks, he so commanded

the passage that the boats, unable to ascend without

being captured, took shelter at Fort Galphin, or.Dread-

256

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

nought, at Silver jBluff^ twelve miles below Augusta,

on the north sidefof the river. While thus engaged

in watching thesejboats, Lee was requested by General Pickens to reduce this post, which was a stockade fort, f:t$, . ' '.% <$&!*?

manned with two companies of infantry. It being

important to make the attack at once, as it was evident

that neither of the commanding officers at Augusta and

Fort Galphin kne'w of the arrival of Pickens or Lee,

Lee, to whom the affair was intrusted, detached a com H

pany of infantry and a troop of horse, under command

:?t f^

of Major Rudolph, who, by a forced march, reached

the pine barrens!, in the vicinity of the fort, on the

morning of Monday, the 20th of May. Being strength

ened here by a strong detachment of Georgia and Caro

lina militia, under-Colonel Clarke, Lee attacked the Fort;

and continued the attack with such spirit during the

day, that, evening drawing on, and it being impossible to

hold out much longer, Captain Roath surrendered the

fort by capitulation; and thus, without losing a man,

if-

and having only eight or ten wounded, the Americans

Iff:

made one hundred and twenty-six prisoners; and "t

gained a large amount of powder, balls, small arms,

blankets, salt, and other articles greatly needed by the

army, and of many of which they had been completely

destitute.

On Wednesday, the 23d of May, Colonel Clarke

formed a junction with Pickens and Lee, near Augusta,

and prepared to invest the town. Augusta was then

defended by the Forts Grierson and Cornwallis. The

former, commanded by the Colonel whose name it

bore, was situated near the site of the new market,

and was defended by two pieces of artillery and eighty

men; and the latter was located half a mile to the

SIEGE OF AUGUSTA.

257

east and south, on the spot now occupied by St. Paul's Church In Fort Cornwallis there were several'pieces offeannon, and it was garrisoned by four hundredimen, in "addition to two hundred negroes, who did di|ty in the fort. Both forts, as indeecj the whole Britishiforce in Upper Georgia, were commanded by Colonel Thomas Brown, who had so bravely resisted the former siege under Colonel Clarke.
The first object of .the combined forces was to cut off communication between the forts. Pickens, there fore^ to whom the honor of conducting these move ments was confided, erected field-works on the plain, which equally commanded bo'th forts. This battery opened its fire of artillery on the morning of the 24th, and;it was determined, under cover of this fire, to fall upon and destroy Fort Grierson ; and then, if possible, take Fort Cornwallis. The troops, destined for the attack on Fort Grierson, were divided into two por tions; one, under Pickens and Clarke, being ordered to attack the fort on the north and west; the other, under Majors Eaton and Jackson, was to approach it simul taneously on the south. To prevent any succor being sent to Grierson by Brown, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, with the infantry and artillery, menaced Fort Corn wallis; while the dragoons, under Eggleston, were so placed, under cover of a neighboring wood, that they could, at a moment's signal, fall upon the rear of Brown, should he attempt a sortie for the rescue of Fort Grierson.
Colonel Grierson finding himself galled by the fire of the American field-works, and fearing that he would be entirely cut off, resolved to abandon the fort, and retreat, under shelter of the river bank, to Fort Corn-
VOL. II.

II
fiih

I- GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

wailisl "\ Atsooti as this movement was perceived, J

? ^A'.%>"<

'

"' V

''

"

'""'" rc|pted;and attacked ^vith such vigor,Jthat!

second in command, two field-pieces,

} and forty-five wounded or taken prisoners! |

and a few others only, escaped to Fojt Corn| |
% ||ipi moment of desperation, at the anticipated cap- |

tijleiof Fort'GriersoD, Brown sallied forth.witfi a body J

to: the aid of his brother commander; but he |

met and repulsed by Lee, who drovje |

his fort.

i

.L

-V I

~ ' -:

''

"?;

Gri^rson having fallejn into the hands of the i:



,-

'. , -'':

'i' -

" "

" . v

a^ailants/tlieir combined force was now directed upon |

Fpi't S Cornwallis. Brown, unwilling to surrender,?

tfipugh summdned to do so^ exerted himself to the}

utmost tor vplace the fort in a defensible ^state by I

strengthening every assailable part, and resolving tof

h|ild out to;the last extremity. The peculiar nature!

of the ground not permitting an assault, it was resolved!

to invest it by regular approaches, and at these the^

troops labored with commendable diligence, occasion-!

ally interrupted by sallies from the fort, which alb.

;resulted in loss to the British. The level plain afforded'

no .eminence from which the besiegers could command

the fort by their artillery,, and in this emergency!

Oolonel Lee proposed the plan,--adopted, with so much

success, by Lieutenant Mayham, at Fort Watson,--of

erecting a square tower of rough logs, about thirty feet

nigh, filled in with fascines, earth, stone, brick, &c., to

it solidity, sufficiently platformed to sustain a six:-

jso loopholed as to make it effective, botfi

sjni artillery and rifle battery. It was begun on the

i

SIEGE OKI-A UGUSTA.

250

evening p| the 30th of Ma|y, under cover of rauio

house, wli$ch concealed thej laborers from the* |ewl|f

the? fort, aid, by the 1st offlune, was raised

with the enemy's works, f

Brown'4 attention was nojsY directed to

this'noveltnode of warfare,find he accordingly ejeclft

a pl'-atform' - ^? in

the an*gle off-i*h;' 'is fort, opposite

thepVIay- ''*$:'

*$:&*'

ham towerlupon which he mounted two of his heaviest

'

J' *

5 .:

'~$% -i.;v

pieces, anclppened their firejit once upon the bes^gerj.

Not trusting to this alone, afod feeling, in the desperate

condition of affairs, that hi^must make a bol^; anpl

sudden striike, if he w o' uld ei*l.n'- er dislodge or intin^fidate his foes, Brpwn resolved to r|ake a general sortiepand,

for this purpose, divided hist hand into two part|^ one

of which wfas to attack thej^American works on the

river quarter, as a feint; white the other party, l|d by

Brown himpelf, was to fall directly upon the troops in

front, and gain, if possible,lpossession of the t^wer,

wit1h a vi* e\^*' to burn if t d-* own!*' Sr~* hortl* y after mi* dr"t^;"i ght,

on the 1st June, the sortie wjas made; but the British

found the Amencans prepared to receive them,*and

they were repulsed, in both attacks, after a long, qlose,

and very bifoody conflict, wilh a steadiness and sgal

id

lantry worthy of all praise. | From this time Brpwn

y>

gave up all such attempts, anjd sought to do by strata

3h

gem what he had failed to do^bv force.

^

O

:.

;*;/

.,_

-of

The Mayham tower being completed, and a fsix-

et

pounder mounted on its platform, it was pointed ?and

to

fired with such effect, that Ibefore mid-day the Iwo

'

'_:;( \~.

/

;V?;

X-

pieces in the angle of Fort|Qornwallis, nearest ||he

th

tower,* were dismounted,/ and thi* e inside of the fort Was j^..t

he

raked by its ;balls.

|"

|

" It was now," says Colonfl Lee, who relates the

^' '
;3 '

I-

260

GEORGIA. IN; THE DEVOLUTION.

circums|an|e,2 "that l|eutenant-golonel Brown deter

mined .Jb |ut in execftion his foncealed stratagem.

In the bourse of the night a deserter from the fort was

"^f}

:>

G

V

__

sent to|Lieutenant-Col<|nel Lee. |He was a Scot, with

all the/lyily sagacity o| his counfry, and a sergeant of

the artiflery. Upon l^ing questioned upon the effect

of our fannonade, and! the situation of the enemy, he

answer|d, that the stfange log-house, lately erected,

gave an advantage which, dulyf improved, could not

fail to Iprce surrender | but, thatfthe garrison had not

suffered so" much as img:ht be presumed; that it was

amply .supplied with pfovisions, albd was in high spirits.

" In |he course of thejconversati|)n which followed, Lee

inquire^, in what way |?ould the effect of the cannonade

be increased ? Very Readily, replied the crafty ser

geant ;|that knowing |he;spot w|ere all the powder in

the fbr|fc was deposited^ with red |iot balls from the six

pounder, directed properly, the: magazine might be

blown "up. This intelligence was:received with delight,

and thfe suggestion of|the sergeant seized with avidity,

although it would be jvery difficult to prepare our ball,

as we Jwere unprovided with a furnace. It was pro

posed '$,0 the sergeant, that he fshould be sent to the

officer'commanding our battery,-and give his aid to the

execution of his suggestion, with assurances of liberal

reward in case of success. This proposition was heard

with much apparent 'reluctance^ although every dispo-

sition^o bring the garrison to submission was exhibited

by the sergeant, who pretendeet that Brown had done

him many personal injuries in: the course of service.

But l|e added, it wasjimpossible! for him to put himself

*r." y
g? '"?

.**. -,

tm'.

* Bee's. Memoirs, ii, 105,

SIEGE "OF AUGUSTA. I

261

in danger of capture, as he well knew he should be executed on a gibbet, if taken. A ^ood supper was now presented to him, fwith his grog; which, being finished, and being convinced by the arguments of Lee, that his personal safety could not be Endangered, as; it was not desired or meant that he should take any piart in thejsiege, but merely to attend at the tower to direct the pointing of the piece, he assentecf; declaring that he entered upon his tasl?, with dire apprehensions, and reminding the lieutenant-colonel of Jiis promised Re ward. Lee instantly put him in carefof his adjutant, to be delivered to Captam ;Finley, witE the information communicated, for the fipurpose of Mowing up the enemy's magazine. It wjas midnight jiand LieutenantColonel Lee, expecting on the next Hay to be much engagejd, our preparations being nearly completed, retired to rest. Reflecting upon what^had passed, and recurring to the character of his adversary, he became much disquieted by the tep he had rtaken, and soon concluded to withdraw the sergeant from the tower. He had not been many minutes with Captain Finley, before an order remanding him was delivered, commit ting him to the quarter guard. In the morning we were saluted with a new exhibition, unexpected, though not injurious. Between the quarters of Lee and the fort stood four or five deserted houses; some of them near enough to the fort to be used with effect by rifle men from their upper stories. They had often engaged the attention of Pickens and Lee, with a view of ap plying them, whenever the-enemy should be assaulted, to aid in covering their attack. Brown, sallying out before break of day, set" fire to all but two of the houses, j. No attempt was^; macle to disturb the opera-

Tft- si

t-

2G2

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

.
tion, of tb extinguish the;fiames, afte|r the enemy had

returned! itfbein^ deemed improplr to hazard our

"" '. ' : *..

V^

-

O

*

* --*"

troopslciefieetirik any object not maferiaHn its conse-

-*'' -^

' ^ .'O

/

**.

'IP1-

quenc^ 10f the two left, one was post commodious,

- .> ^. .,'

-;'.

' .'

"W> .

-4"i

for th| ^urpcfse' originally contemplated by Pickens

and Lee |n the hour of assault.

,,f

";The ^Desiegers being incapable oj| discovering^ any

reason^for the omission to burn the| two houses/and

I-,

;'

i. '

,

*^>

','...'-

especially one!nearest the fort, various were their con

jectures as to-the cause of sparing them ; some leading

to the ;:Cpnclii|iOn that they were le^ft purposely, and

consequently^ith the view of iniurlnar the assailant.

>: -V J "fk V
The fire fifromf the

>; '

'. J S'

tower |continued,find being

chiefly

directed against the parapet fronting |he river, in which

quarter the proposed attack would b| directed, demon

strated satisfactorily that the hour haj arrived to make

the decisive appeal. J.

Orders ;.

were

accordingly

|;

O /

issued

to

prepare for the assault, to take place|on the next day,

at the hour of nine in the: forenoon. :'tH In the course of

the night, a party of the best marksmen were selected

from Pickens' militia, and sent to cjne of the houses

nearest to the; fort.

;

f ' -

" The ofBeer commanding thisfdetachment was

ordered to arrange his men in the upper story, for the

purpose of ascertaining the number|which could with

ease use their rifles out of the windows, or any other

convenient aperture ; then to withdraw, and report to

the brigadier. It was intended, before daylight, to

have directed the occupation of the house by the same

officer, with such a force of riflemen' as he should re-

port

to

:'
be

suffic.ient.

Ha: ndy

was

*
ordered

to

return

to

the river quarter at the dawn of day, as to his detach-

.";" ''
inent jarid the


legion


infantry

the

*
rijain

assault would

:SIEGE OF

263

be com.' mitted. TJiese, with a?ll the|ot3r|er preparations

beingimade, the troops continued In fheir, usual sta-

tionsjlpleased thafofhe time was neaf wffich/would close

withlsuccess theirjsevere toilsl I I

\ ''

-1*1 ,

>_

&.

'

:" A&out three iti^the morning of this 4th of JTune,

!;- '

''$

'

^'-'

$'

:

-'.'

'

we \fere arousedi|by a violejit explosion,

soon piscpvered tc| liave ^ha|tered|thej very

tende^^to'^e occupied by thf riflej party before

break'>? I' t was seve-,red, and th}r ownlyin.to5 '-th-e air thirtyJ or forty feet high,! its fragments fallii|g; all over the

field.--This explained, at oncfj, not|on!y the cause of

Browia's omitting |ts destruclion, butjalso communi

cated pthe object of the constant 4?gg|pg jwhich had

until lately employed the besieged. | |

"Brown pushed4a sap ta this hc|ise|which he pre

sumed would be certainly .possessed" bj^ the besieger,

when^ready to strike his last b|ow; land he concluded,

from |he evident maturity of our w^rks, and from the

noise tr.nade b*y the m', ilitia,} whe''.n sen t to' the house in the fir^t part of the ;night, for tjie pujrpose of ascertain

ing the number competent to its capacity, that the ap

proaching morning-was fixed lor thp general assault.

Not doubting but the house iyas occupied with the

:

'

V-

body destined to hold it, he determined to deprive his

adversary of every aid from this quarter hoping, too,

by the consternation which the manner of destruction

could not fail to excite, to damp^the ardor of the troops

charged with storming. f :

"Happily he executed his plan too early for its suc

cess, or our gallant band would! certainly have shared

the fate of the house. This fortunate escape excited

grateful sensations in the breasts of the two command

ants, for the gracious interposition oft Providence j and

m%*&-
!5&v-

264

EORGIA IN THE RESO" LUTION.

the

chaHetertof

.- T#S--*-

vs

their

opponent^

*

*; -

On t&e 3d June, V\ -j-r^'-^' rt %r -r PT-*ickT ens an-^ d1 Leega T '^^''f" g econdt tiitf*$i'*e

summoM '. <5fH B?r!own to surrend eiyt\who M|W ued; , as he hidY: "

-^ i

^



f ~; f *- '

jSpfeA~^;

'

'/. ;

.Jit;.

done on|ihe Slstof May, "4.s ilvis n^guty, it is lil||-

\vise n^Inclination, to

extrem|^." iThe next dayy

prisonefs in Brown's possession|were|p^rposely placid

m

in the inost exposed position of-the|tb;rt, so that the

? ; ',.
Americans,

''
if

r
they

r
fired,

-. ','. -'
would, be

ifc;:;fe-
Ipely

to

.
kill

S*-;:
their

own friends.^ the commanding officers proposed -ito

'Si';'' '
Brown ftp

sehd

them

out

".!
of

>"
the^

'SSr'-Si



fbrvp|uring the

--'
cdn-

test, to ^ be considered yours oours,f||j the siege mjay

terminate." fTo this humane tiroposalitBrown refused

to

acced''e ;

''
and

the

Ameri.c-a'nc: o mma* fi$ lers

determin'ed

to carry the Ifort by a general assaultfjibut its execu

tion wa| stayed, to receive a flag from;^rown, offering

to surrender}on specified terms: butllhey were such

".'.'

* ' r5!'*;; ' .

as could not be granted, though terms were trans

mitted in reply, which, with some slighj modifications,

were accepted. On the 5th June, thte| following arti

cles of-I capitulation were signed bylbith parties, and

at 12 M. Fort Cornwallis was deliver,e$ up to Major

Rudolph, the British troops marching ?put and laying

down their arms:--

- $ S

I

"ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION

PROPOSED" BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BROWN, AND ANSWERED BY GENERAL PICKENS AND LIEUTENANT-GotoNEL LEE. ;

"AlffiCLE?!. That all acts of hostilities and works

.-ii-t"/ .,-.

~T

.

'.'..'

shall cj|ase4between the besiegers ancf besieged, until

"TV
,,ifiiW.W : rT.w '1 1-1^=. -fgit

I

i

! SlE<i5f AUGUSTA.
:' f I

265

. the articles of capittillti|n shalKbe aireted o^ signed,

A " executed, or colletltlrely rejected.! I 4 5-

f-

. IHostUi&es Rhall cease for lime hoilf^motherI -, '

,.

",.'** -K: <f

* -.

* i-

.*? - -\ .

/,

'

' v 1#B5."-. ^'

';

iv' ',.

' ^- :*. . ^

I operations to continue!; H ; I: I .fr'' 4'l-; -I

Sr'

41

,'.

|a| it now stands. '"Tb|itlfclie King's troops,

I after signing. the artic|fes|bf capitqlatidnylshalt|be|cbni|

4'- v^'.V

*

"^ -^'' *'"



^--

'':' -

*'

I ducted to Savannah,, %i|h. their baggage, whfere itheyj

|\@11 remain prisoners |>f par until thej|a?e exchanged ;|

|tj|at proper conveyanq|s^liall be^provi|ed by | ; icom-

I Branding officer of tli04iI^ er^15^ troops ffbr t|iatipur-f

Ip^se, together with <y|istMcien^quantrty of jlbodiand'

1" ^

C. :

.' ' '$ .St 1 . ^ ;

J<\*.

jf- '.'

wholesome provisionsJtill^theirarrivaltat Savannah.

: .'-
I

'i'

$ ^~j<

f" Answer. 'Inadmissible;

' ,'

* "'

"'.

The :prison|rs to sirrender

' '' ?'

'' '

" "" --'"'-

'' '

^- ' ""

';";'

i fipd-prisoners of iwar|; ^phe officers lor be Ihdolged

|wjth their paroles ;? thefe soldiers to be ^conducted to

isiich place as the commaliider-in-chief shall direct.

': "<;

:-

-'?f '*$ : >

?- -;"

;'

t |" ARTICLE III. Theln|litia now in garrison ^sh all be

^permitted to return tojtfteir respective|homes, and be

^secured in their persons and properties! \.

f 'Answer. Answerediby the second article, the militia

-;- -;.

.

V-- /; '

':

?

^mAaking part -of the gafrilon. *''**'' '"" i

:

|""

.

I" ARTICLE IV. The sick 'and wounded shall be under

~:

'*.?. .''' ...

.'' .

the care of their own ^|ufgeons, and be supplied with

;siich medicines and n^cejsaries as are allowed to the

British hospitals.--Agreed.

*

f" ARTICLE V. The ofllclrs of the garrison, and citizens

who have borne arm| Jluring the siege, shall keep

their side-arms, pistols| aucid baggage, which shall not

';.

' ' ;;-/- "vi<. "f-'

> ,-

^

; bei searched, and retain their servants. I

;

-



if ^ ..

^' /;

V

-'::

["Answer. The oiG&cersland citizens who have borne

;an- ns duri.ng the si.ege''ijf-;s^j-i?all be-;I'|/permi{-tted th*|-i\r side-

266

GEORGIA IN THE REFOltlTION".

arms,

private
^ r *' l *

-fcairxage,
i"1"'; **^ ^^ ^^

and

servarits: - ',.' -

their

side-arms

not to bjworn| and the baggage fo be searched by a

person ajfpointld ibr that purpose. | ?

t

"ARTiipLE VI. The garrison, ;at!an hour appointed,

shall ;;ih|trch out with shouldered r arms and drums

IS ft

beating,l|o a place agreed on,l wjiere they will pile

their arms. $

' ; i i\\

.?

"Answer. Agreed., The judicious; and gallant defence

made by the garrison, entitles them to every mark of

military: respect. The fort to be delivered up to Cap

tain Rudolph at twelve o'clock, who will take posses

sion with)a detachment of the legion infantry.

"ARTICLE VII. That the citizens' shall be protected

in their persons and property. K

"Answer. Inadmissible. t ^

"ARTICLE VIII. That twelve months stall be allowed

to all such as do not choose to reside in this country,

to dispose of their effects, real and personal, in this

province,: without any molestation whatever, or to

remove to any part thereof, as they may choose, as

well themselves as families. v ;,

"Ansicer. Inadmissible.

\. :

r

"ARTICLE IX. That the Indian families now in gar

rison shall accompany the King's troops to Savannah,

where they will remain prisoners of war, until ex

changed for an equal number of prisoners in the Creek

or Cherokee nations.

"Answer. Answered in the second article.

"ARTICLE X. That an express be permitted to go

to Savannah, with the commanding officer's despatches,

m

which are not to be opened.

'''Answer. Agreed.

;

Xf. Additional. The particular attention

SIEGE OF. AUGUSTA.

267

of Colonel Brown is expected towards the jus|delivery

of all; public stores, moneys, &c., and that noljoans be

permitted to defeat the spirit f of this article. H ;

" Signed at headquarters, Augusta, June 5,p.781, by

fj

"ANDREW PICKETS, B. G. Mif; / 4

|J

" HENRY LEE^ JR., Lieut.-Col| Com.i|

|f

" THOMAS BROWN, Lieut.-Col. f

1^1

commanding King's troops at Augusta?'

fU-

.

I- ' :-

So feasperated were the Georgians at th| wanton

crueltie$ committed by Brown and Grierson, that they

were both placed under a strong guard, to sectire them

from fihfi determined assaults of those whosej fathers,

broth|rs, and sons had been massacred Ity them.

Browrijvunder the care of Captain Armstrong, was,

with difficulty, saved from assassination ; but prierson

was shot clown the day after the capitulation, by a

man qn horseback, who, riding up to the room where

he wa;s ^confined, and, without dismounting, shot him

so that he expired soon after. The American officers

exerted'themselves to the utmost to check these mur

derous^ feelings; but the long course of atrocities per

petrated-by these men; the many personal insults,

which, in the excited minds of the individuals, de

manded personal revenge; and the generally exaspe

rated state of the militia, made it extremely difficult

to secure to them the protection which was guaranteed

by they articles of capitulation.

Immediately after the surrender of Augusta, the

commanding officers, Pickens and Lee, marched their

troops^to Ninety-Six, and joined the main army under

General Greene^ leaving Major;'James Jackson an com

mand at, Augusta.

j;'

f

C' HAB'TER VlSl.
r OF SAVANNAH.

THE excitement kindtfed in Georgia by the success of

this siege ws as-* s.o*!grea*t', S$ nd th.e dang'er to w'. *hich, in the

view of the British, thef Province was exposed, was so

c

^

:y

'-s

$}; '

:f

IT .V

'

imminent, that Lord Ra|^don felt coioipelled|even in his

own weakness, to sendjthe king's ^merican regiment,

in a small crafUand wilhout convoV, from^Charleston,

I. : '-f

' ' ij

v'

. -%

___ ;

'

in order to reinforce Lieutenant-Colonel Jariies Wright,

.

fr

..'*'



Crf

'

at Savannah/ '

|

-

\

'*'

'"-

V



*4

'

M."

-, .

Augusta had^been aj stronghold;of the English, by

means of which they|held in check the whole up-

country of Georgia, and preserved an open communi

cation with the toriesjof Carolina; but,?being now

driven from this, the British found themselves reduced

.

$_.



',:

1

to narrow limits. With the exception of:^ Savannah,

they had but two garrisoned outposts,--at Ebenezer,

twenty-five miles northwest, and at Ogeechee, about the

same distance southwest of Savannah. Communica

tion was still preserved,,with Florida, by the seaboard,

and through this route the tories and Indians made

I--<

,

:

frequent and harassing incursions; for such was still

the influence of the British over thd Indians, by means

i

':

'""

' s*."..'

._

.'

V

of presents and resident agents, that parties of them

--:, :- f.

%

_

:'

*'^

' " Vf

"V"'

"

\ Y ?; i Tarlton's Campaigns, 486.

';.

*"''
->^T!^S.-
.:-'-,Ar\ti'
.-:S-if<ffshK

EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH.

269

were ever on the alert, to ctot off straggles jfrojh the

American forts, and massacre such as wer|f|i;[1

rican interests.

VI

As the British lines contracted, the MritHf the

f

'

J'^'i,' '

*$$.

'ij

Georgians expanded; the dawning hop|^f;thaf| they

*'

*' '&: ' j&lt' t\-

might yet drive Out the vfde, roused manv;wK If^d

'-

1\'

'- "" y ''

&j$

>p''V

heretofore desponded of liberty; while oth|^i wlp Mid

been kept passive by the "overawing fbrcefof'{ regulars,

tories, and Indians, now joined the American |camp,

and seemed anxious to atone for long ilMctivily, hy

the most energetic efforts. General Green|,|^sofjleem-

ing it a favorable momenf, had prom|||c| (^neral

Twis:a;s

that,

so

soon

as

'>t.f'4 Cl.air,

then olMhis tmarch
I'Ft F ?'

from the North, should fbrmj his camp, hef^ou^ send

"Wayne, then lying at Pufysburg, with a |i|ge djBtach-

ment, to his help in Georgia. Under t||Msib circum

stances, Twiggs began a movement souft|5var|^ cau

tiously feeling his way,. an<d securing 6Veiy loot of

ground over which his troops passed, until tie reached

Burke County; when, hearing that a band |f loyalists

and Indians were collecting xm the western* frontier of

Georgia and Carolina, he retraced his way tp'Augusta,

where the legislature was then sitting,! to tlevise

measures to disperse the enemy.

J; fJ

In the meantime Colonel Jackson, to whom Congress

hacl committed the raising and command of a Georgia

legion, with a small advanced corps, had attempted, on

the 2d November, 1781, to surprise the British post at

the Ogeechee, commanded By Captain Johhson| but,

failing in this plan, through!the impetuousjconduct of

one of his officers, at the very moment tqat yjctory

seemed certain, he retired towards Eberie|er, Saving

lost sixteen of his comma>ricl in killed, woundeS. and

".';

*

-C .-".

^., *

2TO

GEORGIA IN THE

fe *

prisoners, while he had inflicted uponpielfenemy a loss of three officers and nine privates kill|d|||nd wounded,

and taken prisoners. On the return of G^ieral T.wiggs

to Augusta, after dispersing the Indiaji said tory bands

at the Big Shoals, on the Oconee, wHi||i? for a few

months, gave peace to lhat hara$se1|| district, he

ordered Colonel Jackson to retreat |o J||rke County,

for the purpose of recruiting his fbrce^Jand^then to

proceed against Ebenezer.; As soon as (Ms corps num

bered one hundred and fifty, he coi|r$|;eiy shut up

the garrison at Ebenezer,^--cutting dff Iheir foraging

<-*'

'"

*--' -y ;.;" "(%'-"..

*--'

*"-*

parties, and so harassing .them, that the^Jbst was soon

broken up by the retreat of the British^ Savannah.

On the 4th January, 1782, General^SttfClair effected

a junction with General <Greene, in| Sicfiith Carolina.

.'

'^',. if i-ts^V

Upon this accession, the mind of the^uthern com

mander turned at once to Georgia, and| agreeably to

his promise, he detached General Waymff on the 10th

January, with the 3d regiment of ^dr^goons, under

Colonel White, and a party of artiller||, to proceed

thither, and assume the co'mmand' of f'oil: Sj*~he American forces there. Colonel Hampton's cavalry &d previously

been detached from General Sumpter's; brigade, in order

to report himself for service under Wayfle in Georgia.

The distressed situation of Georgia todk a deep hold

upon the mind of General Greene. The savages had

laid waste nearly all the frontier settlements, and often

penetrated into the older districts with |he torch and

scalping-knife. The tories, lost to all feelings of hu

manity, wreaked their fiery and bloody vengeance upon

the plantations and persons of all interested in the

American cause. The British soldiers,; most of whom

were imported loyalists from the nbrtoy or German

.

,.

I ^V' jr ^Jti

3-



u":-;>" ;^^S^:f^tS'li f'.

-*u "- *i,-^ <i- H

I- ;$&& pv "- *'^;?

.t

-.-*,, .'V-j Of-^i-- .'f

I

EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH.

*
I-- 9.7' 1L ISStJ

hirelings, ravaged the country with merciless vigor. |

The continual alarms prevented planting or reaping. ^

The absence of so many males, embodied in theiya-

rious partisan corps, >dre|y largely on the resource! of f!

the country. The JiavocJand destruction of the tvlligsJl

/

-,



V.

>.:. O '$&

upon the tories, and the |ories upon the whigs, an<$|jihe||

general insecurity of life, and labor, and property^

reduced the State to a mipst pitiable condition, it islf|

not too much to say, that^no State suffered more, inler-i

nally, than Georgia. ! Tite legion of Jackson, popujlar j|

as it was, was subsisted |?ith difficulty; their ratibns Jf

were mostly boiled rice, Wi small quantities, and e|en if

then uncertain. The most common articles of provi- i

fi"

* *-'

?f f

sion were exorbitantly high. Salt often commanded

two dollars (specie) a quart. Rice, to keep the people j|

of the upper districts ftt>m famishing, was obtaifted

with difficulty from the State of South Carolina. The |

frontier settlers were grouped chiefly in log forts, and f

planted and tended their] corn by companies. While

some guarded the forts with the women and children,

the others worked and guarded each other by turns.

The utmost distress prevailed. They planted, but

knew not that they should reap. They built rude

cabins, but knew not how;long it would be before they

were burnt over their heads. They went out to labor

in the morning, not knowing that they should eyer

return to their little fortress; and each night was a

night of horrors and alarm* That General Greene knew

much of this distress, is evident from his instructions

to General Wayne, in which he says, " The peculiar

situation of Georgia, and^the great sufferings of the

good people of that State^ and their uncommon exer

tions to recover their/liberties, induce me to embrace

i :? li-

f-

GEOGIA INlHE

1

|4e|e4rliest opportunities to giv&ihem more effectual

j't; tff'i

:'

'i"-..

>!-

Jk *

''

^^ " -;.C .

''

'"'-

"~f"

Js|rp|o|t than has been |hithertp|fn my power." |E$;

fISal particularly ^njoinejl to " incite all the peoplel toj

llimfwhen he should get ^raifr the low country,'

$'

"-'

il s glve

-

^

protection | and

.^" :

''

secjpty^ to

all

**'

'' "

such i as;1

li engage in servi|e under^^is command." |Iii|

(3reene'4 lette to GoM||nor Martin,

4y9li, 1782, he dvel expresiioii to the following!

fIfs$S>rn>l*'im^'' ent' :
,f; Bi' -! ? - '
y

"I c"'ani not |'"h elp rec; o' m: mending

i:.

'}' .'->'

^

to opfen a door for ttre^jdisafiected

to of

yoi' :'ur;
* > _
yourl

|j|taie fto :come in with|particul8|i|iexceptions. It; is"

|l^t|erl to i save than deftroy, es|pially when we are

|o1|%e|l to expo$e goodj men toflaestroy bad. l is

taiwkys dangerous to push people, to a state of despe-

\ ?'; % i.
|r|itij)n5

'
and

the

,

r

satisfaction

-..-.:'
of revenge

has

-
but

a

;.^
iho-

Imental'y existence, and Is commonly succeeded by pity

|iMd!re1morse. The practice of plundering, which, I &m !

Itil4 has ^been too much indulged with you, is very

Instructive to the morals and manners of the people.

^Habits and dispositions, Jfbunded "on this practice, soon

|gjo|r obstinate, and are jdifficulfc to: restrain; indeed, it

lisHhe rmost

< -K* !-,-

'

direct '

way "

of r

undermining ^11

'

O

government,

o

t7

|a%d: never fails to bring the laws into contempt, for

!pj30|)le will not stop at; the barriers which were first

fintepcled to bound them^after having tasted the sweets

|of possessing property by the easy mode of plunder.

f...T.^;h6>. ip*reservation of morals,/ and an encouragc^ement to f Ifpriesf industry, should be the first objects of govern-

|me?it,-T--plundering is the destruction of both, I wish

%tlhe|ca;use of liberty may;never be tarnished with inhu-

J-r. .^' /' v/-
|maiity,

nor

the

'
morals

t
of

people

-

':

bartered

in

'
exchange'

!f|rfve>lth." ;

|

> -.,-i '

I ..>

:? "Vfa|^n4 with his command, reached Sister's

-

...

:,,

-

'"

'

'

EVACUATION OF SAf

273

p-

..

./

-

-

f*J-

the ^avannah, on the 12th/ and* crossed the river in|

smafl canoes, swimming his horses by their side. Thel|

artifery^ which formed parHof his detachment, tie%asjl

comfelled to leave in Carolina, $s he had no means oil

tran|por|ingut across the river, f T|ie Legislature^^te

at tlis time in session in Ajugusja,;tand immediaW

on-tfeceifing intelligence from (Jeneral Wayne of|hiiM

being infGeorgia, accompanied \vith*?a suggestion akir

to t|at of General Green, "recommending proclamal

$&.

tion"|.% to 3)e

issued for

openi*n g

a} door ?""

"-

for

the

abs<-:

" "*"

citizens of this State, and toencourage desertion fromfl 1

k

'.

'

'

:.':

: ' fj

'

''"^''

the |nemy," appointed a commi^eefof the Execu^

Council lo wait on General Wayne to devise measiireli

to cajry out these views. The result-of this conference^

was,fthat two proclamations werfe rpade, viz., one -fbr^

opening It door for the reception ofrcitizens; and anotherj

to encourage desertion from the enemy, particularly?

amo4g the Hessian troops, who^frdm their nearness?

to tH-e Germans of Ebenezer, were stronslv attracted

-V

^

.

w */

thither. >The appearance of-General Wayne, and the

vigilance and activity of his dragoons,: and of the legion v

of Jffcksqn, drove the enemy withiri their lines, after>

they iiad -destroyed all the provisions in the vicinity of"

Savannah which they could not carry thither.

:

The proclamations also had a very good effect, espe-

cially as they were aided by a general dissatisfaction

V ?;-

v

v

O;

among the troops in Savannah. \Many of the former

citizens who had been compelled,-from various causes,

to take protection under the ^British Government, and =

who |a4 even joined the armies qf the enemy, availed

themselves of the door opened by the proclamation,

whicfc ha^d special reference^; tof them, returned to

their rState allegiance, and joined Ihe camp of General

VOL. II.

" sv .

18 f -;

p I-
H*fc fe te IN ;r.i fi E>S;'
Ilf'Sf;t

I^"i..-

274

GEORGIA IN THE REVj)LTJTIQk

Wayne, proving their sincerity^jby; the* most |zalous

Iffbrts to merit the pardon and l^otectipn extei^ed io

||em by the Executive, A vinf|ctive and rejjpgefbl

filing, however, existed againsjf mjanysof thefe" men,

||<i it required the strong arnffof|civi} and;i|pitary

ffiver to hold in check the ebullitions of feelinjj||yhic$i

irfquentlv betrayed themselveslin la desire ^tfcnju^

.^v .|vciT.

J

*

' '"



Wf^" . " .'",

i|i even to murder these reclaimed citizens, furred

prj.;by passions, which the camp tended to excitejrather

|han subdue; roused by prejudices, the pfisprin|^ather

pf ignorance than of justice, thelfnilitiaiand other citi-

|erns were led to the commissiottjof tacts) of atrocity for

which there can be no extenua-tion. gare inline un-

-b.' r"idled

.
spirit

.
which

war

ever

*4-
begets,

i
and

the

^:$*t'.>alousy

|f,sharing blood-bought rights withithose who^ad, for

aJtime at least, turned traitors ici their eountrjj^

..?,' The condition of the enemy in^avannah wasjjgreatly

Straitened; and though reinforced by * Lord ip,awdon

^itli one hundred and fifty men of" the 7|h regi

ment, there were, including these, the: militi^: and a

corps of one hundred and fifty negroes, arriied and

equipped as infantry, under the command of thfnotori-

ous Brown, only about one thousand inenl The

town, indeed, was well fortified and protected by

ordnance, and guarded on the river side by row-gallies

and brigs; but so completely had the Americans com

pressed their operations, that Jackson, with his) legion,

often pursued the enemy within sight of Savannah,

:and, in several instances, picked off men and horses

e|?en from the town commons. f^The British spared no

rains to form and keep up alliances with the Cherokees,

;<3reeks, and Chickasaws, and aimed to ingratiate them

selves into their favor by rivalling them in |deeds of

- i ,; 4i *"#"!

,,

-"__,;" p . . ..-T-?S

./$w, -'^iite>"3-S'
IQS 4'.
m-|.
^,|
thy I
sest-'f
nol-
51^<11 .es^| *:!|f -rogf,%
,6fJ*'

EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH.
/*; '<*

cruelty and blood. These savages|werel induced rf

visit Savannah under the idea of receiving pres&tSjl

and were mostly brought round from the Alatamahll l||I

boats, through the inland passage! The peclli|i

ferocity of the enemy, at this time, i| indicated

following extract of a letter from fy.General W. y^<B^v:jstFess dated Headquarters, Ebenezer, 26th March,

" On receiving intelligence that the enemy

the point of moving out in force, I determined to

than meet them, and to avail myself|of circumstailc^p

and position: from a conviction that, althoughloilil?

numbers

were

not

so

great

as

I

'

-;.'

could^ishj^et

we

$ ' Sx;<S>? :
"vfe|ipt

not to be disgraced, and that if we c|iild f|)ssibly||ro1t

duce disorder in their ranks, the enemy would hav<|;ifb!

reason to triumph from the encounter. Our adv^hcif guard fell in with a party of their dragoons;5three niilesf

from Savannah, whom they immediately charged &ndf

drove into the lines, and then sounde| a charge wiChinfr

the influence.of their batteries. Thi| temerity inithe!

officer, drew the enemy out in fbrc6j and, in falling!

back before them, one of his dragoons fs^as killed. Hiaw- f

ever, as soon as they discovered that the advance were |

supported, they retired into their worfes, bearing off 4he|

scalp of the dragoon, with which they pkraded the streets f of Savannah, headed by the Lieutenant-Governor and S

other British officers, who gave an ^ntertainment; to | the Indians, and had a dance on the occasion. Nor>

did their barbarity rest here: they mangled and dis--1

figured the dead body in a manner that none iu| |

wretches inured in acts of cruelty would possibly^Ke! f capable of, and ordered it to remain upburied; bufJ|h6 | Ethiopians, more humanized, stole it away, andlfjie^ |

posited it in the ground, for the commission of which |

It
It": :

r
I

i

276

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

I'
crime| Inward of five guineas Is: offered forfthe

coferjjljljiny person or persons fclncerned in|tbSt

Iifiafi ., v

binilbiitiiem .*>. ^3 *i (3 ' 1-'/i"

over ."

to

the

American -*1

side, of at leasl-

"s*'

'-"''.

o^nl^nglthein neutral in the strife/ Knowiifg, ther|<

fbref|h%tfmany of them, unsuspecting the presence <pj

Arjaeric%n|troops near Savannah ,nyould attempt to gej

inio;th|t|wn on the land side^ tie despatched Majoy-

Johnlllafiersham,' with a body^of South 1Carolinit

:.

S- f'; JT.#

'

'

':T *-.

K

cayalrjl fender Major FrancitfOVloore, and sonre

mounUldliiilitia, under Captain jatrick Carr/po collect

the various parties known toffee on theiiS way to

1; S- -&
Savanrfahf

The

.
erlbrts

of

S" V .
Hafeersham

jf .

*

were) at first

quite! successful, as he represented himself a|; Colonel

Brown|wijfen whose name they wfere quite familiar, anci

his ordjr|i|; therefore, were promptly obeyed, t But the

wholf pan was foiled by the knavery of a part of his

mounted;militia, who, with a lieutenant, ufider pre

tence/thai the bad roads wouldanjure their horses,

aban<$Qhedr him in their thirst for^blood,--sle^v several

of the"'-Indians, and then threw themselves prelipitately

into the neighborhood of Sunbiiry, where thVy killed

eleven|loyalists. This transaction opened the eyes of

the Indians, and, notwithstanding all the ^vigilance

whichIHabersham observed, the savages fled ;by night,

i,

..

"X



\_j

__ ^

C_j

1

carry4i|g tales of outrage and blood into the |urround-

ing tribesl Major Moore was shortly after killed, in a

skirr|ish|with some Indians and^Pories, at Reed's Bluff^

oil tl|e|A;latamaha, while on his return to headquarters;

--*- $? '* ',:'

-.

"-' -^

".

and:JQafipin Lyons, of that corps, and Captain Carr,

wefe}4|8ncensed I at his fall, that they, w^ith their

m
.*l

EVACUATION OP SAVANNAH.

277

several commands, breaking away fromf-the orders of

Habersham, determined to repass the Matamaha, and

avenge the death of their gallant comrade. But his

death was avenged more speedily and tytother hands,

as appears from the following extract from the Order-

book of General Wayne :--

/I

6/

V .

'* . '

"HEADQUARTERS, EBENEZER, Jkpril 16th, 1782;'"
" Five of Colonel Jackson's dragoons and young Sny-

der were surrounded and fired upon a little before day

light on Sunday morning by a partyfo| the enemy,

thirty in number, under the command of Major Dill,

but without effect. The fire was returnep by Snyder

with so good a direction, as to leave the'Major dead on

the spot. A pistol fired by one of the dragoons wounded

two men of the party, which was all the.arms made use

of by our people on this occasion,--the enemy flying

with such precipitation to their boats, as to escape the

keen cutting swords of their brave pursuers.

"General Wayne requests Mr. Snyder, and those

five brave dragoons, to accept his best thanks for their

fortitude and gallant conduct in defeating five times

their number, although attacked by surprise."

The return home of the Carolina cavalry, and the discharge of the State militia, whose term of service had expired, who, however, in the language of the General, " required some respite from duty and fatigue, which they have gone through with cheerfulness and forti tude becoming the virtuous citizens of America," was in some measure made up by the arrival of one hun dred and fifty Virginia troops under Lieutenant-Colonel

278:

IEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

Posey. S|ii||'ijfhe number in his camp was fluctuating;

arid he wat ||nbamissed greatly by the lack of clothing

arid subsi||eifce. " We are in great distress for want

o shoes^iirts, and overalls; the." Virginians have

marched {Iplfards of three hundredfmiles barefoot, in

winch "satiation they still continue. I send you/'

&"

'

8- '-S'".

*

'

he cohtiniiesl writing

&

.>'" %;f -

<-J

to

Colonel Jackson

(24th
*

April. * *

1782), "algfll of spirits for each man with you, and a

little ;";

for

foilr iown
*fy; _. . --

use. ';

as

we

have

not

a

sufficiency *

to .

divide

f the officers in general. I have directed

a? distribution between Colonels White, Posey, and

yourselfy'b^tvhich means your officers will participate

in rotatio-n a^try/ our tabl,- es." ' In thef general distress which then prevailed, the

civil func|iojiaries suffered equally with the military.

A few dajsfifter the above letter was written, Governor

Martin iriade a communication to the State Legislature.

I' .1'-



.

0.7

in whichlhe^says : " I am sorry to inform you that my

*.'. a,- -. "

.

*

v

i

t/

family islfr|qfuently destitute of provisions, and that I

have no fiiqde of supplying them but through the Com

missary, iwlio has it not in his power to prevent it, or

is very neglectful; and that, in a fit of illness, from

which I have not yet recovered, I was obliged to send

to my neighbors for every article but sugar and coffee

fit for a gick or weak person to eat. I have not had,!

since myJ commencement in office, as much money as

would purchase the most trim'no: necessaries myself or

-

L

;. .

w'

4/

j

family sfanjis in need of from time to time. My family,

such of |h|' members of your body who stay with me

|for waift |f; public houses), and the guard, have been

for som| finie, and are now, supported by grain prof-

cured or| my private credit.''

This fct|er drew a resolve from that body, on the 4tn

-EVACUATION rOF

279

'', ''' :-1'
of May, empowering the Governor taltake ten negroes belonging to any person or persons whopiave forfeited the same, for the purpose of supposing himself and family while in the exercise of government. The aspect of the .times will perhaps be ||;ill better under^ stood by inserting a report ordered fbyithe House; <of Assembly, upon certain articles forwarded to Governor Martin from Captain Ignatius Few, ||tc|rtain portion of which were set aside for the Goverthpr^and Council; " the same being inspected by a comraitt|e, report, that there is seventy-five pounds sugar, njn4 bushels salt, and twenty-three gallons .rum. To ||e {President two gallons rum, to each member one gall||iy|he remainder for the Governor, to be disposed office may think proper. To the President ten pourids sugar, to each member five pounds, the remainder ftp fbe disposed of as the Governor may think proper. fSThe salt to the President two quarts, to each membe| one, the re mainder to be disposed of as the Governor may think proper. To the Messenger of this Board five pounds sugar, one quart of salt, half gallon rwn.''
At this juncture the State of South Carolina voted the Georgians some rice; but so difficult'was its trans portation, that one-third of it was fallowed to any person or. persons that will bring the said rice from Pocotaligo to Ebenezer." Strange as it may seem, at this time, the very legislature .which granted ten negroes to Colonel Martin to support him as Governor, voted five thousand guineas, to be vested in three commissioners, to purchase an estate for General Green; and foui? ^thousand guineas to be likewise vested in an estate for General Wayne; so highly did the Georgians estimate the^services of these


P

S-
I
*f.'
280

GEOEGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

distinguished men, and so liberally Idid they reward!

them. 1 tBut they were not estimated beyond their!

"i

*^

-

'"

''

-: 'tJT'

value, i|or rewarded beyond their^raerit. The grao;ts|'

were th| more generous, from the deep poverty of thef

grantors;; ibr when, a few months before, the Conti-f

nental Financier had called upon the Executive for jtbel

*-.-,

__

."->? -^ .

quota pf this State, amounting to f$25,000, Were&tJ'

wrote, 12th March, 1782, there is&io|- '' a quarter pa>f|

I
P-

of the money in the State without the enemy's lines,! neither is there produce to raise it from, or a sufficient!

provision to last the people vuntil harvest, besides al

general iwant of every necessary." : |

f

General Wayne found much difficulty in filling upf

his regiments, and keeping up a proper/orce to sustain:

himself so near the enemy's; lines*-! Yet, under diffi-;!:

culties of the most disheartening.character, and inf

command of a post that demanded anxious vigilance,?

Wayne not only kept up good appearances toward the;

enemy,;but so disposed his troops, iand adjusted his'

plans, as to keep them in continual fear; hovering-

around the city, attacking their foraging parties, cut

ting off their supplies by capture or conflagration, even,

under cover of the guns of their redoubts. The energy

and prowess of Wayne and his soldiers were soon, how

ever, put to a severer test. With the view of escort-;

ing into camp a body of Creek Indians, under the

command of Guristersigo, who were to rendezvous at

Harris's Bridge, on the Ogeechee, seven miles from

Savannah, Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, with all the :

troops that could be spared from Savannah, marched-

TV

out to ^conduct their allies into town. As soon as

,..

?>,

.-*'

V

.'

'. .

?

l Johnson's Life of Green, ii, 40lr, 419.

,;

EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH.

281

Wayne heard of this at Ebenezer, on the 21st May,

he immediately put White's dragoons and Bosey's in

fantry in motion, who reached Mrs. Gibbons's, within

six miles of Savannah, at 5 P.M. An hour after, he

received an express from Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson,

stating that ihe enemy were in full force at Harris's

Bridge, on ttie great Ogeechee road, and that a smaller

party were at Ogeechee Ferry, which he designed to

attack with his corps. Upon inquiry, Wayne found

thai the only route to the enemy's position was

through a tangled swamp of nearly four miles in

extent, with many deep and dangerous morasses to

pass) and then to intersect the Ogeeehee road at an

intermediate distance between Savannah and the

bridge. He was properly impressed with the difficulty

attending a night-march over such ground, as well as

the delicacy of a manoeuvre that placed him in con

tact with the whole of the enemy's force in Georgia;

but trusting to the experience and gallantry of the

officers, and the steady bravery of the troops, he or

dered an advance, assured " that the success of a

nocturnal attack depended more upon prowess than

numbers." The vanguard, under Colonel White,

reached the Ogeechee road at a point four miles

southwest of Savannah at twelve at night, and there

found the enemy advancing, and in good order.

Without waiting for the rest of the troops to come up,

Wayne ordered the vanguard to charge; which they

did with such vivacity as to cause the precipitate

flight of Brown and his large force, " without the use

of powder." The almost impenetrable woods, deep

I

swamps, and morasses into which they plunged, under cover of night, secured them from total ruin; they lost,

m

I

282

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

however, many of their horses and arms infteir hui-

ried

efforts

*



to obtain

:t
person all safety.

?%*-. '

Sg

THfe suddeji

route of a force five times theirfsuperior^ wife eflectefl

by a company of light infantry tinder Captain Parked,

ffi

and a few dragoons under Captain Hughes find Lie|i-

tenant Bowen, led on by Colone|White, undgfe General

Wayne; and the only weapons) used were^lhe swoifl

and the bay> o_net. T' he remain,4der of Posev"il^s^' detaeiv,' ment, and of White's dragoons^ under Captiain Gunf,

did not reach the sroad until Cafter the eifemy haj;

broken and fled.

___

?C

'.*'yi '

The flight ^as complete;

Q*
Man|^

were killed and wounded; arribng whom f|was Lieu-

tenant-Colonel Douglass.

-M.any.

prisoner: s

if".;.
"vflre

>- "f
madf,

and between twenty and thirtylof their bes^tdragoon

horses were taken. The discomfited troopl reacheld

Savannah by twos ;and threes} and Colonels Browli

J

.-

<; .

,;,...

ii;

and Ingham did not get to town until the next nighl,

when they entered unattended. I

Bi %

This

whole

.
affair^was

as

'
brilliantly

.:

"V

achieved

'*.
as -ft

was daringly conceived, and reflected great|honor om

' 1.

iti*""

Wayne and his enthusiastic troops. After,refreshirlg

his men at Mrs. Gibbons's, Geieral Waynelmarche^

within view of Savannah, in the hope of drawing oi|t

General Alured Clark and the troops underthis com^

mand; but that cautious officer declined the virtual

challenge, and Wayne therefore returned! to Ebe-

nezer, on the morning of the -24th, with the loss <|f

only five privates killed and two wounded. ^

|

While these events were transpiring in-the lower

part of Georgia, active operations were being proslr

cuted in tbe upper districts for the suppression of di'sf-

turbances created by the toriesfand Indians*!; In ti|

beginning of the year, GeneralfPickens wrote urgent

'-ffl

EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH.

283

letters to General Rutherford, Colonels Clarice,-Sevier, Shelby, and others, to join him in an expedition against the Cherokees, appointing an early day iay February for their setting -bi- ut, and the middle se-ttle.m/en.ts as a place of junction^; stating that he had ordered his own brigade " to be in readiness by :that time, with thirtyfive days provision, and pack-horses to? carry it;" urging this measure "as a means of savingtthis COUEL? try from total ruin, and enabling them to act with their whole force against the enemy below, Owing to the impossibility of mustering men ftom such remote districts at a given time, the expedition wjas delayed more thanamorith; and even then undertaken not as originally designed, as the Tennesseeans^ and .North Carolinians did I not reach the ground ;t$or when Pickens reached|Choti, where he purposed?, to rendez vous, he had but^two hundred and seventy-five men, "including officers, pack-horse men, and: servants." Out of this number, two hundred only had guns, and about fifty swords. Undeterred by this small force, scarcely a fourth of what he anticipated* he deter mined to march on, until obliged by necessity to turn back. His progress is thus described by himself, in a letter to Colonel Clarke, dated Long Cane, South Caro lina, 3d April, 1782 :
" Still in hopes to reach the middle ground and meet the over-mountain men, we crossed the moun tains to Catoogojoy, and from there to Quanese and Cheweg, but the Indians had removed from their towns with their ^provisions. From there we took the road to the middle grounds, and reached the Coosa town, where we were in hopes to get some corn, but did not- get an ear in the town. As the snow was

284

GEORGIA IN THE REVOLUTION.

excessive, andkio cane or corn for our hordes, many of them dropped^dead on the road that day's parch. In the town we inet Crittenden and Jack Dojharty, with two other young fellows, who were sen't from the middle grounds the day before, to spy an$ watch our motions. Crittenden and one Indian wasfkilled; Doharty and the ;other was taken, who told Jus that the Indians had removed with their provisions into the mountains as soon as they heard the Indians with the flag-was killed, which appeared to be the case. I told him we had come a great ways to meet their warriors; that I had heard that they wanted muchfto meet us in that country. He said they were ^collecting their men to fight us, and that he expected them there that night, tout, as the day had been very bad, perhaps they would not come till next day. The :nexjt. morning I sent out parties with the prisoners to search for corn, and in the whole day found but about thirty bushels'. The excessive: snows and rains occasioned the loss of the most of our little provisions we had with us. The greatest part of the men were then entirely out. I called a council of the officers; who were unanimous of opinion that it was not possible to proceed any further, as there was no prospect of getting any orn in the Indian towns, and could get no intelligence from the over-mountain men. We staid there two days in that neighborhood, but could not find more than forty bushels of corn and four small beeves, and through absolute necessity we. were obliged to return. The officers and men that were out underwent the hard ships and fatigues, and done their duty: with more cheerfulness and less complaint or murmuring, than I ever saw- amongst militia. Though I fear that this

-U iii s1 si.- -1-j.' 5V"<

EVACUATION OP SAVANNAH.

285

important expedition for our frontiers Has not been as

successful as I coMd have wished, through the inat

tention, neglect, oiyl fear, the lukewarmness of some

of the field officers of the different regiments in this

State."

--|. |

Major John Curininghato, who commanded the Geor

gians in this expedition, speaks of it " as the most fa

tiguing expedition-! ever had: The weather was so

desperate that wefwere all nigh perishing:" he attri

butes its failure Jo the " North Carolina men not

meeting agreeably|to their repeated promises, and the

badness of the weajther." 4

*

The failure of this welklaid plan reacted with disas

trous effect on the people of Wilkes County. They

were left in a perishing condition. Over half of them

had not a grain of corn, and not the least hope of a

supply, and were obliged to live on roots and such

fruits as the woodsiafforded. In addition to this, they

were threatened by the Indians and Tories with a

retaliating visit, with scarcely a hope of sustaining a

contest against such fearful odds,

A week after the defeat of Brown, on the Ogeechee

road, Sir James Wright received letters from his Ma

jesty's Secretary of State,^inclosing copies of the pro

ceedings of Parliament on the 27th February, 1782,

and also his Majesty's answer to this address of the

Commons. These Sir James inclosed the next day

to General Wayne, expressing his determination to

" observe such conduct in every respect as may best

promote a speedy and happy reconciliation and peace

between Great Britain and.America;" and he proposed,

" as the most effectual jmeans for bringing about that

!.-

I'

-.

286

GEORGIA IN TEE REVOLUTION.

desirable object;" "a cessation of arms and hostilities

;

i?.

?' ;^~" ^

for such time as shall be agreed upon." f;t| f

This proposition Wayne referred to his c?ffi;n|ander,

General Green, who, of cofirse, referred it to Opftgress.

It was well for Wayne thftt he did not enter into the

*

:j' .

... . -t$* , - !'.

proposed terms, -for a bodjy of three hun<irettndians,

under-Guristersigo, was at| that very time'onflafraarch

to join General- Alured C&rk at Savarinah|a^l|would

augment his force to a dadgerous extent. TJieijIipdians,

which had hitherto been Raptured by Genefal|Wayne,

had been returned to their tribes with Mr. Cofnfell, the

": '

' -



-V -1. " L

interpreter, with friendly| talks and kind|tr|atment.

This, to a great extent, influenced thetmasisbt the In-

7

O

U

f ' ' ''

dians towards pacific measures; but this %Ep^under

Guristersigo, having longfbefore determine^b|i|aiding

the British, now proceeded to carry their rfese-He into

execution. Wayne also,|so soon as he heardrof their

movements, took every precaution to avoid^surprise in
3fS. ,
his camp at Mrs.; Gibbonsf on the Ogeechee road;1 But

on the night of the 24th|they succeeded, by the most

stealthy manoeuvres and Cautious approaches!;in gain

ing undiscovered the rejir of Wayne's encampment,

and their startling war-wlioop was the first-ndtice the

army had of their approach. The rear guaro^ finding

the enemy in their midst,fretreated, and formed under

cover of some of the plantation houses. ! While the

Indians took possession of his field pieces, and. in their

futile attempt to turn these upon the Americans, they

lost so much time that it .gave opportunity; for Wayne

to rally and form his men and issue his ordefs, which

he did with a promptness and decision thai; at once

banished fear and inspired courage. As Wayne led

.

K-

'.' %,':

on his nUn his horse was|shot under him, buiJ, jputting

i:

mm

EVACUATION IOFJ SAVANNAH. |;

287

*:&:-N>
fhimself at the head of Captain Parker's infaiajry, he

ordered his troops to advance with charged basnets ;

/and his orders were so well executed that the i||illery

ywas soon recovered and tHe enemy fled, leaving! their

;chie his white guides, and seventeen of the1|f war-

"'

*J

*

>',

s.



~j%*&fv'

-

iriors dead on the field. ()ne hundred and

%ack-horses, loaded with peltry, were also

f f '

r -'?;-. --.-</

'



tgroand. The pursuit wasjnot long kept up. |m.bout

thirty Indians were ascertained to have been Ikilled,

though many wounded wfer6v probably bornegoff by

Itheir friends. No prisoners were taken, for such was

#- *'

.

'* -"51

:'

&.&

fthe ^indignation of the soldiers; at the merciless/lscalp-

'y

f*

O

-

' ,;.'. .^/



f"'

*>

ing of some of their wounded dbmrades, that no garter

I*

was given; and twelve, ^ho were captured m the

woods, were shot as examples by General Wja-yne.

jhe American lo' ss wounded. Wayne

rweacseivsem' d^allm"', ufochurpkrialilseedibarndhi'ts' w^|'ceolovle-

ness' and firmness on this trying occasion ; and, |a<deed,

But for this promptitude and !self-possession, th^fmas

sacre of Paoli, in 1777, would have beert re-enicted,

"''

'

-

'^

to his own infamy and destruction.

|

"I Preparations were now made for bringing the war to

a close; and negotiations were going on from the 5th

of June, between Sir James Wright and Gov|rnor

Martin on the one hand, and the British merchants

and General Wayne, through. Major Hale, on| the

other, with respect to the property, protection, &c., of

the residents in Savannah.- These terminating |in a

manner more satisfactory ;to -the British than; |they

dared to hope, a day was appointed for the formal de

livery of the town into thel hands of the Ameiilans.

That day was the llth of July^ 1782, and ,by 2 ogiock

in the afternoon the last of the English troopslhad

ll>

.-.

U

-,-

i ,-. of-rf.

ml

288

|GEOR|I IN THE BEVOLUTION.

f



'

'

If? >;

embarked c|n board the ships in the river, abd aW

P.M. General Wayne issued the following ordet:--tt

|

. "HEADQUARTERS, SAVANNAH, llth July, 1782.

" The liglit infantry company under Captain Pamer

to take postj in the centre work in front of t|e to|?n,

placing senCries at {he respective gateways and sajly-

p6rts, to prevent any person or persons going qr en^er-

ing the line's without written permits, until: further

orders. I '. } '

?. j^?

'''" No insu'-'lts or' de' pred!Ea%tiion-.-sm to be committ.e; d up3?ot-n the persons pr property, ofthe inhabitants on any gre-

text whatever; tHe bivil authority only will t;ake ^)g-

nizance of the criminals or defaulters belonging to fine

State, if anjr there :be. The merchants and; tracjers

are immediately to make out an exact and true invoke

of all goods, wares, or merchandise of every^spec|es,

dry, wet, or hard, respectively belonging to thlm,

or in their fpossession, with the original invpicesJ to

the Commissary, who will select sucb articles as n|ay

be necessary for the army and for the public ifses

of the State, for which a reasonable profit ' will|be

allowed; no goods or merchandise of any kind what

ever to be removed, secreted, sold, or disposed of, until

the public and army are first served, which will bef as

soon as possible after the receipt of the invoices, &c.

" N. B. Orders will be left with Captain Parkerffor

the immediate admission of the Honorable Executive

Council and the Honorable members ofthe Legislature,

with their officers and attendants."

J

m

:.

V ;/

' * j|.''

"That evening the troops paraded'before the lines of

Savannah; lind Colonel James Jackson, who, " in con

sideration of his severe and fatiguing service in t;*h'/e

"vf.giVWi" rT?5i:' '
M
or ye

EVACUATION OF SAVANNA&

289

advance," had been selected by General Wayne to?

receive the formal surrender of the towfi,|advancied to;

the principal gate, where a committee effBritisli offi-i;

cers stood in waiting, and received at thefr hands the|

keys of the metropolis of Georgia. T^ejtroops^thenl

marched into the town, which for three years an<j|

/

-.,

r.

'i&^s

a-half had been in the possession of the|enemyy and|...

Georgia wasfonce more free and independent. i f

Wayne received orders to leave Lieutenant-Colonel!

Jacksons corps and Major Habershams new recruits \

in charge of Savannah, and then, wi^ihe rest of his;

troops, to join General Green, encamped^ on Ashly

Kiver in South Carolina. While the ^evacuation off

'\'

"?';

;

'. ,

Savannah, as^the first formal and voluntary cession of^;

British to American power, was hailed witli joy as an i

earnest of the disposition of the ministry; to comply i

"

*

* -{ * \

, L v .'

with the prevailing desire for peace, though, no articles

or treaty had been signed; yet the manner in which

the evacuation was conducted, reflected disgrace on the

authorities who permitted such gross disorders. Many ;

of the most notorious Loyalists in the /State, whose i

hands and hearts had been stained with fraternal blood, ,

who had instigated and witnessed the cruelties of their

savage allies, were gathered there, and in; their anxiety

to secure themselves, they laid hands on everything

that they could possibly command. All movable pro- .;

perty that could be secured was taken away; and five

thousand negroes, from three-fourths to seven-eighths

of all in Georgia, and many of them plundered from

their republican owners, were carried off in the general

embarkation. The State was drained of everything

that the enemy could avail themselves of> and was left

in a crippled and dismantled condition. ; \

VOL. II.

19

i.-'-^-^S

BOOK FIFTH. f

*:

,5

&

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

CHAPTER I.

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT*

I

'-,-

~~

.' "

''

HITHERTO we have been chiefly occupied by nar

rating the military transactions in Georgia, and have

alluded to civil affairs mostly to illustrate the condi

tion of things under which the events recorded

occurred.

In order to obtain a somewhat connected view of

the civil condition of Georgia during this period, when

two independent governments, one royal and the other

republican, at times exercised jurisdiction in the same

province, it will be necessary, in some instances, to

state anew facts which have been already related, to

avoid the necessity of continually referring the reader

to former Chapters, or of making unpleasant breaks in

the history.

iThe first effective organization of the friends ;of

liberty in the province, took place among the deputies

from several parishes, who met in Savannah, on the

KSTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

291

llSfM January, 1775, and formed what has been (failed

jl A Provincial Congress."

||

I Guided by the action of the other colonies, a "(Ipun-

jeil of Safety" was created, on the 22d June, 17t|>, to

iwhom was confided the general direction of the fmea-

jgurest proper to be pursued in carrying out resistance

to the tyrannical designs of the {King and Parliament.

fW^llfam Ewen was the first President of this Council

Sof SaLfety, and Seth John Cuthbert was the Secretary.

I Orf the 4th July, the Provincial Congress (now^pro-

perlyt called such, as every parish and districtfiwas

^represented) met in Savannah, and elected as itsjfpre-

fiding officer, Archibald Bullochi This Congressjcon-

ferred upon the "Council of Safety," "full power-upon

every emergency during the recess of Congress." IFhis

latter body, which was fully organized on the 511th

December, when George Walton was elected its Presi-

dent,Jand Edward Langworthy its Secretary, assumed

now the functions of government--levied troops, com

missioned officers, bought supplies, and did whatever

else was needed in the peculiar circumstances of the

Of

These movements, however, were confessedly imper

fect; :yet were patiently endured7 .with their many evils,

until)a better machinery of government could be con

structed, and set in motion. Yet the patriots were

not prepared to establish a new and permanent consti

tution, because it was yet undecided what measures would be ultimately pursued by.^the Continental Con

gress.' Feeling, however, the need of some broader

basis--of action, the Provincial Congress, on the f5th

Aprilj 1776, adopted the following preamble and reso-

lution> as-the groundwork of a :-mt>re stable and formal

government:--

292

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

"Whereas, |he unwise and iniquitous system of ad

ministration c&stinately persisted rfin by the British

Parlianfent anii Ministry against the good people of

Americl. hatH ;at length' driven thej latter to take up

arms, & their/ last resource^ for the preservation of

toir rights and liberties, which G6d and the Consti

tution gave them :

^

"And whereas an armed force, Hvith hostile inten

tions against the people of this province, having lately

arrived at Cockspur, his Excellency): Sir James Wright,

Baronet, the King's Governor of Georgia, in aid of the

views of administration, and with |i design to add to

those inconveniences which necessarily flow from a

state of confusion, suddenly and unexpectedly with

drew himself ilrom his government, carrying off the

great seal of tne province with him:

''And whereas, in consequence of this and other

events, doubts have arisen with the several magis

trates how far they are authorized *to act under their

former appointments, and the greatest part of them

have absolutely refused to do so, whereby all judicial

powers are become totally suspended, to the great

danger of persons and property :

"And whereas, before any general system or form of

government can be concluded upon, it is necessary that

application be made to the Continental Congress for

their advice and directions upon the same; but, never

theless, in the present state of things, it is indispensa

bly requisite that some temporary expedient be fallen

upon to curb the lawless and protect the peaceable:

" This Congress, therefore, as the representatives of

tne people, with whom all power originates, and for

whose benefitfall government is intended, deeply im-

ESTAfclSHMENf OF STAXE GOVERNMENT. ' 293

is

^;-

pressed with|"a sense -t)f duty to their; constituents, of

love to their^ountry, |nd inviolable attachment to the

ltoibethrteieasdtvofajn&'|f;angeeriocaf,eaaf*nc' hd

seeing how to preserve

niuch rules,

j.iu't.s-wtici'lel',teanndd

order--do tajjte upon 4hem, for the present, and until

the further f)rder of |he Continental :.Coii2ress> or of

this

or

any

JS'
ftiture


Provincial

.'
Conorress. to

: ;-
declare,

and

they

'-;. li
accordingly

do

'{
declare,

c
order,

and-direct,

'.
that the

following Ru'les and Regulations be adopted in this

province^--tHat is to say :--

*

f

" 1st. 'Th$ there shall be a President and Com-

.

' '

mander-in-cluef

.-',
appoirited

by

ballot, in this

;-
Congress,

for six montits, or during the time above specified.

"2d. Tha| there sH^all, in like manner and for the

like time, be| also a Council of Safety, consisting of

thirteen persons (besjdes .the five delegates to the

General Congress), appointed to act in the nature of a

Privy Council to the said President or Commanider-in-

._

the"3exde.cuTthivaeif^t;' tphoewPe' rrsesoidf' egnotvsehrnalml ebnet,

invested with all not inconsistent

with what to consult

airs%illhefroellaofwtert-hme eandtvioicneedof;

but the

shall be -bound said Council, in

all cases whatsoever; and any seven of the said Coun

cil shall be ajquorum for the purpose of advising.

"4th. Tha't all the laws, whether common or statute,

and the Acts|of Assembly which have formerly been

acknowledged to be of force in this province, and which

do not interfere with the proceedings of the Continental

or our Provincial Congresses, and also all and singular

the resolves !:and recommendations of the saidt-Cbnti-

nental

and

*H

-'

BfovincialCongresses,

shall

be

J
of full force,

validity, aiidjieflect, until otherwise ordered.

6y *
Hi
iTM? $
i, :
\ If 1
It '.''
&| 1'- *,

-

294

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.f

*f

.-

\

a

" 5th. That there shall be a Chief Justici and two

,."



'

d;

Assistant Judges, an AttorneytGenefal, aj; Provost-

Marshal, and Clerk of the Court of Ses^ionsjappointed

by ballot, to serve during the pleasure of thelCongress.

The Court of Sessions, or Oyer and Terminer, shall be

opened and iheld on the second Tuesday in|June and

December, and the former rules^and meth|d of pro

ceeding, as nearly as may be, shall be observed in

regard to summoning of juries, and all other cases

whatsoever.

', -j

11 6th. That the President or Cornmander-in-jchief^with

the advice qf the Council as before mentioned, shall

appoint magistrates to act, during pleasure, in the

several parishes throughout this" province ;%and such

magistrates shall conform themselves as nearly as may

be to the old establishment, form, and methods of pro

ceeding.

>i .

"7th. That all legislative powers shall be reserved to

n

"

-,-

the Congress; and no person who holds any place of

profit, civil or military, shall be eligible as a member

either of the Congress or Council of Safety. I

" Sth. That the following sums shall be allowed as

salaries to the respective officers, for and during the

time they shall serve, over and besides all .such per

quisites and fees as have been formerly annexed to the

said officers respectively."

Pursuant to the provisions of this scheme, Archibald

Bulloch was elected President and Commander-in-chief

of Georgia; John Glen, Chief Justice; William Stephens,

Attorney-General; and James Jackson, Clerk of Court.

The "Council of Safety," on the 1st of .May, pre-

sented to the new President the following address:--

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE

295

" To His Excellency Archibald Bullock, Esquire, Presi-

\~

' -'

--" '.

dent and Commander-in-chief I of 4he Province of

: Georgia: The*Address of the Council:oj'^Safety for the

said Province^

& :, ~

'fo

F

'-

-"

'

t

^

""' :

" May itfplease your Excellency :

: " The long session of the late Cc-ngress, together with

; the season of the year, called particularly for a speedy

recess; and the> House having adjourned while you

were out of town, it becomes mo|e particularly neces-

?; sary for us to address your ExcMenqy.; All, there-

I fore, with unfeigned confidence and rregard, beg leave

;' to congratulate,!not only your Pxcellehcy on your

; appointment to, |but your country? on your acceptance

of, the supreme |ommand in this province.

; " It would bejneedless and tedious} to recount the

various and yet; multiplying oppressions which have

driven the people of this province Jto erect that govern

ment which theyihave called upon;you to see executed;

suffice it, then, to declare, that it was only an alterna-

V.

j."

**

tive of anarchy ^,nd misery, and, (by consequence, the

effect of dire necessity. Your Excellency will know

that it was the endeavor of the Congress to stop every

avenue, of vice and oppression, lest the infant virtue of

a still more infant province might in time rankle into

corruption; and,;we doubt not that, by your Excel

lency's exertions,, all the resolutions made or adopted

by Congress will be enforced with firmness, without

any regard to any individual, or any set of men; for

no government can be said to be established while any

part of the community refuses submission to its autho

rity. In the discharge of this arduous and important

II

296

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

task, your Excellency mayfyely on our constant and f

best endeavors to assist anc|support you."j; I f

^;

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:- #

.; To this earnest and confiding address President Bul-

- '3K" &'

loch returned the foliowingfreply :-- ^

y

To the Honorable the Memoes of the Council of Safety f

of the Provin(j}lof Georgia: I- :

f

if ':/

.

j

" Honorable Gentlemen :|| am much obliged to you :-

for your kind expressions of|congratulation of my ap- ).

pointraent to the supreme|command of ibis colony. :;.

When I reflect from whence|the appointment is derived <

---that of the free and uncoifiipt suffrages of my fellow- -

citizens, it cannot fail to stimulate me to the most

vigorous exertions in the discharge of the important -,

duties to which I am called by our Provincial Con- "v

gress. While I have the advice and assistance of gen- \

tlemen of known integrity^and abilities, I doubt not ;

but 'I shall be enabled to enforce and carry into execu- ! '

tion every resolve and law|of-Congress. And, as far

as lies with me, my country>may depend I will, with ; ,

a becoming firmness, and |ihe greatest impartiality, '

always endeavor to cause^ justice in mercy to be

executed.

^.

f " ARCHIBALD BCLLOCH."

'I'

The Council of Safety still continued to exercise its

several functions, his Excellency being the Presi

dent of the body.

|?

;The Declaration of Independence, which had been 'i

published in Savannah with;impressive ceremonies, put

a new aspect on political affairs. It was now no longer

a contest of colonies acknowledging fealty to the Eng- ]

- I?
f

ESTABLISHMENT?!OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

297

lish Crown, seeking re]|ress of grievances from an ob

stinate King and a servile Parliament; but a} struggle

of States for independence. Allegiance to Britain was

*5"'fl'-
cast off; the governmeilts which had so long been esta-;

ffr

blished in the thirteenfcolonies were overturned; |nd,

with them, went dowif|the courts of law, and all$the $

instrumentalities by and through which government!

hM been administered! The old civil and political f

superstructures were tajten down, and new establish- ;

nlents were to be rearef|in their places. To meet the J

exigency arising from tins new attitude of the Conti- V

nental Congress, in deefaring the American Colonies

free and independent, president Bulloch issued a pro

clyamation, based. on a re**c ommendation of the General Congress, ordering " the| several parishes and districts

within this State to procled to the election of delegates

between the 1st and 10th days of September next, to

form and sit in conventio?sn; and the delegates so elected are directed to convene ||t Savannah on the first Tues

day in October following^ when business of the highest

consequence to the government and welfare of the

State will be opened fb% their consideration." In a

circular letter addressed' to the several parishes, he

enjoined upon the peopje " the necessity of making

choice of upright and gqod men to represent them in

the ensuing convention?--men whose actions had

*. J

:- f~

proved their friendship s|o the cause of freedom, and

whose depth of political!judgment qualified them to

frame a constitution fbrflhe future government of the

countL ry. }>

%|$

The Deputies met irffconvention at the time ap

pointed, and took up |he important subject before

them. Much other busfnessj however, pressed upon

S. : '
if iff
!'* i

298

GEORGIA ANllNDEPENDENT STATE.

them, consequent on Jutting the States in a proper

posture of defence ; bill after.one or two-adjournments

they accomplished their work,' and on the 5th of Feb

ruary, 1777, ratified i| convention the first Constitu

tion of the State of Gforgia.

,/.

This instrument, after reciting in its tpreamble the

causes which led to it| origin, was divided1 into sixty-

three articles, covering the whole ground of govern

ment in its legislative|executive, and judiciary depart

ments. The second article declared what should be r;>
the composition of thelLegislature, to wit: a House of

Assembly and an Executive Council; and also directed

how the Governor andrthis Executive Gbuncil should

be elected. The fiftlf article apportioned, the repre

sentatives to the sevefal counties. The sixth stated

their qualifications. 4Fhe seventh, the power of the

Assembly. The ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thir

teenth, fourteenth, the qualifications and duties of

electors. The fifteenth contained the representative's

oath. The sixteenth land seventeenth declared who should and who shoAtild not, have seats in the Le

gislature. The articl'?e; s from the nineteenth to the twenty-fourth, inclusive, set forth the duties of the

Governor. Those from the twenty-fifth to the thir

tieth, inclusive, state<J what were the duties of the

Executive Council. , The articles from the thirty-

sixth to the forty-eighth, were taken up in defining

the powers of the Judiciary. The fifty-fourth re

quired the erection ofUa school, at 'the public expense,

in each county. The, fifty-sixth established religious

toleration. The sixtieth, the fundamental principle

of the habeas corpus^ The sixty-first, the inviolate

freedom of the press fand trial by jury. The sixty&'*

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

299

-
second^ the ineligibility of clergymen to seats in

Legislature; and the sixty-third provided, with great

caiitiorfj for any needed revision of the Constitution.

Itewasla striking indication of the grateful feeling of

Georgians for those who had so warmly defended thie

cause <ff America in the British Parliament, that <tt|e

- K-

i.';

fourthJarticle of this Constitution changed the desi|-

nafic>ni)f the old parishes by striking out their former

names &nd substituting therefor, with one exceptioi>,

the naines of the English apologists for America.

Thus the old parish of : Christ Church, in which was

Saviannjih and a part of the parish of St. Philip, were

set?off as a new county and called CHATHAM, in honor

of ithe Jelder Pitt, the venerable Earl of Chatham.

1

&.



The -parishes of St. David and St. Patrick, were

ereetedlinto one county and called GLYNN, after the

eminent counsellor of that name. The parishes of

St. Matthew and the upper part of St. Philip, were

to be kriown by the name of EPFINGHAM, after Lord

Effingham, who had refused to employ his sword

against A he Americans, and resigned the Colonelcy of

the 22d-Recg** iment rather than serve with it in the war of the Devolution. To the parish of St. Paul, in which

Augusta" was situated, was given the name of RICH

MOND, iri honor of the Duke of Richmond, who had

boldly advocated the cause of America in the House

of Lords. The parish of St. George was named

BURKE, p,fter that great commoner and wise states

man. The parishes of St. John, St. Andrew, and St.

James, were to form one county under the name

LIBERTY : a distinction awarded to the parish of St.

John fbmts early and steadyfdevotion to the cause of

freedom^ The parishes of S& Thomas and St. Mary,

300

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE,

werel@|constitute another county by the name of CAM- j 1

DEN, ftffier the distinguished Lord Chancellor of Eng-1 i

'(V "<;'jj''7

^-'

__

^V <Sy

. laruLrfixfd firm friend of America. The ceded lands f I

-fVff-

>'

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,' fl

north||f the Ogeechee was constituted a county, taking ||

the if||ie of WILKS, the name of that political dema-1|

gogufjlvho payed his court to; liberty only that he f '

migh1Jain notoriety and wealth. ,

|||

Thflgreat seal of the State;'-adopted by this Con-||

ventioHJ had on one side a scroll, whereon was en-||

grayedJI" The Constitution of the State of Georgia,"

and tlie motto, "Pro bonopublico ;" on the other side^|

an ele|d,nt house, and other buildings; fields of corn.|

''-? !> "'

"- ^'

i'

and meadows covered with sheep and cattle; a river I

running1 through the same, with a ship under full sail; I

and the motto, "Deus nobis hcecotia fecit"

I:

To ckrry this Constitution into effect, was now an |

important object with the President and Council off

Safety.t But it had scarcely been signed, before Archi-l

bald Bulloch died; and on the 4th March, 1777,1

the Council of Safety elected Button Gwinnett Presi

dent and ."Commander-in-chief, until such time as,, by!

the Constitution, a Governor shall be appointed. InJ

the exercise of his gubernatorial powers, he( issued al

proclamation requiring the parishes to electjdelegates^

to a Legislature, to convene in~ Savannah on the first;

Tuesday in May.

f

The Legislature met at the time and place desig--

natedj'and at once, after the formalities of opening,

proceeded to elect a Governor and Executive Council:

when/tlohn Adam Treutlen was chosen Governor; and-

John|Houstoun, Thomas Chisholm, William Holzin4

dori^lVfilliam Few, John Coleman, William Peacock,'

John|Walton, Arthur^Fort, John Fulton, John Jones,!

ESTABLISHMENT OP SfATE"GOVERNMENT.

301

f,1 ' "

'

f': I)

ariS Benjamin Andrews, were ichosen .as the first Ex-

eciatnfe Council. 'Of this body, Benjamin Andrews

w$s elected President, and !|amueV Stirk, Clerk. The

books; and papers of the late Council of Safety were,

bylu/resolution of the Assembly, confided to them, and

the'"nce forth the Council of S"}a fe.t*y'"ceased to exists-

Intthe latter part of 177B.a resolution was intro-

'?*-. t S-

*

$ v

dufjedf into the General Assembly; of South Carolina,

anfl i|nanimously passed, " that a union between the

two States of South Carolina and' Georgia would tend

effctdally to promote their Strength, wealth, and dig-

ni%,mnd to secure their liberty, independence, and

sa^jt, yC'" It was also resolvesd i>'to" send Commissioners to|Geprgia, to treat with the >Legislature upon this

matter; and, among others,|William Henry Drayton

wa% appointed.

4 ; ;-

Mr.^Drayton reached Savannah in the beginning of

January, 1777; but soon foufidthat "every gentleman

in fkiblic office, with whom He (conversed, was strongly

against a union." A few others, however, approved

th- el* m'-e" asure. Being honoreId * with an invitation to appeaf before the Convention, then in session, he

stated to that body, in an address of an hour's length,

the) various reasons which shpuld lead them to seek a

unipntwith South Carolina,^ and the many benefits

which,would accrue to Georgia thereby. The state of

affairs;in Georgia, as he painted them, was certainly

very highly colored; and some of his prognostications

read quite strangely alongside the\ facts of actual his

tory. Among other things,the declared, "in a state

of ^separation, in all probability, Savannah will be

ruined, because it will be dm interest to preserve our

trade to our own people. B. Itown will rise on the

302

GEORGIA INDEPENDENT STATE.

If-

'

CaroMba sid4 of the! Savannah River, which, will be

sure i|> preslrve oul half of the trade of that river,

. -'^-'- ,-'*''

i

*

t

and, ll^being wiself supported, may draw to it the

othe^alf; also." f

''

| B^arguinents failed to produce the desired re-

oni^; the |overturs iwere rejected, as the Conycin-

6|^4iat same afternoon, delivered to Mr. Drayton

i" '.'.';" $** : "

-'

&*

.

their^hswer^ declining the proposition.

'
-;

|:Bu1|x)n Gwinnettfwas particularly opposed to this

measiire, and labored assiduously to check it. After

Ms'j d:e ath,

''
afnew

V
plan

of

action was

adopted

by

the

peo'pli of Sbuth Carolina, who circulated petitions

* ' * '

~-'

"'," '

.'

^

tending to cast odium.' on the Executive of Georgia;

magnifying the grievances, and exciting distrust in the

peoplf ;-andlurged them to take some action towards

','

'.

$~' '.

a unipn of^the two most southern States, as the

best imeans -* of defence and safety. Finding these

papers freely circulated, and calculated to be detri

mental to the welfare of the State, the Executive

Council, on the 14th July, requested Governor Treut-

len " to issue a proclamation, offering a reward of one

hundred pounds to; any person or persons who will

apprehend William? Henry Drayton and sundry per

sons,'' engaged in this project. The next,day, there

fore, -the Governor^ issued his proclamation to that

effect; and it was freely distributed, to counteract the

pernicious effect of : the Carolina papers.

To'this proclamation Mr. Drayton returned a most

discourteous and defiant reply. His aim seemed to be

torac^st ridiipule on;;the Governor and his advisers, of

whom he says: "I;Jam inclined to think you are con

cealed Tories, or their tools, who have clambered up,

-

or Hatve been put Unto office, in order to burlesque

M

il

II

tfESTABllsHMENT 0F S&E^GOYERNMENT.

303

f /

$'

l\ :M '

*fc!

.

i

.&

government (a|id I nefer Jiw |t more extravagant

b)irlesij|ie thari^oUiexhi)it),|that| the peoples might, be

sick o|| an Alierican ^dmi||istration, and strive- to

return?;Junder |he British a^|mimon, merely for : the

sake 4ftendeai^ring to|pro|ure|something liken'

and o||er. I|respect |he people of Georgia; '

niost j$se rulejs, kissing y||r hands, I cannot

laauugghhiajisiosormaee fi|lks. ? Catbi y^gui^^sssswwho they are?'V^

ft Sucnsan insolent comniunidltiori evinced the animus

7

'?:-l

iS

'-

i . W .' - '

of theimen w% moved| in fhis ynatter, and excited

I.

neraiisust , ^ 1'-'* ?

"

-'^. .

-' ; ' ;i - : ~-' '"?

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|The|| prorapj measures ^o^poyerrior Treutlen put

alstoppo the |JR>rts of|tho^wHo sought to reduce

Georgi|;ito a stafe ovass|ilag|ito South Carolina; and

thienc. ef!o''*rward, f%e" nder dif&ficul^t--ies i'"n' deed of the most trying Mnd, herlpeople w|re prrmtted to carry on the

government of their owrii afialrs. ^ind to place them-

:"

; '- ''

'&

1^1

selves, as; an independent Btat^onlthe floor of the Con-

ti4enta|^Congres%, on a level \jith ihe other colonies.

:-

y'

J-4?

>.

^'4,

.' -

tWhenlhe Assembly met in Ijftvannah, 17th January,

17J78, John Houjtoun, sop o^,Sirv Patrick Houstoun,

and onelbf the ^Ibremost ^ndftnos't earnest friends of

; ~-

^*?

"-.>*,*

v4?'t*'1 -'i'

$-'

liberty, -was, onfthe lOtlf ins|ant^ elected Governor;

John Glen, ChieJT Justice^ "V^ppiam Stephens, Attor

ney-General; William O'Brieifaand Nehemiah Wade,

?:.

*

.;" l^L^ .

Joint Treasurer^; James}- Ma|cwell, Secretary ; and

Tho mas -.Chishol"m-' , Survey- or-G~ne''-neral. James Jones
was elected Collector for the piitt of Savannah ; David

Eees, Collector for the porj; of^untuiry ; and Ambrose

Wright,vQommis|ary-General^|the State, and Super

intendent, of Public Bu|ldinJi in the County 'of

ChathainAr Registers of Proba^|fbr each of the coun

ties, and>.other minor officers, were also elected.

'.

""'_

'_-4>.

,;'6

*

^f2*'' *'

''i'"

;ttS>-
.r ?--?4'-:- J
?^_T-'-*iS^f^ftitLt
- -s.si&'-LH*

304;

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

pPhus, gradually, did the State seem to be consolk

dating^ itself into a compact government, under judi^

cicms leadersjtwhen the threatening aspect of .affaire

caused: the Executive Council to take a step, which,

shewed at once the greatness of the emergency, and

tbfe confidence which was reposed in the Chief Magis?

trite of the State.

||

|At a meeting of the Executive Council, April 16

If78, to consider and act upon the condition of things,

both military: and civil, that body adopted the bold

and, in most instances, dangerous policy, of investing

one man with almost dictatorial powers. In a- series

of/ preamblesj and resolutions spread upon the-ir mi-

niktes, they declare, that "the situation of this State"

is-truly alarming, and, without the most spirited and

vigorous exertions, the machinations of our enemies

threaten to succeed;" that " in such times of danger,

it^ may happen that everything may depend upon in

stantaneous measures being embraced, which cannot

be done should the Governor wait for calling a Coun

cil;" and then, having expressed their opinion as to

the constitutionality of the proposed measure, they

proceed: " The Council, therefore, impressed with a

sense of the calamitous situation of this State, and

apprehending it as an unavoidable expedient, do

request that his honor, the Governor, will be pleased

to take upon himself to act in such manner as to him

shall seem most eligible; and to exercise all the execu

tive powers of government appertaining to the militia,

pr the defence of the State, against the present danger

which threatens it, or in annoyance of the enemy,

independent;of the Executive Council, and without'

calling,; consulting, or advising with them, unless

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE

305

when and wjt.^re he shjall find it c|fei^nient, and shall

choose toMoJscI And- they pledg|ftj|emselves to -sup-

' rS;"'"4fr\ ^

: ';-.

'"& -t: j;' % .

'

\

port and uptioljd him in so doing, aMlHo adopt as tfceir

*

* ,':' yi>.

',

f-> '|.;j' "it:

*

own the meastjffes which he sballf^ifibraee ; and $|jat

this shall cc^li/nue duMne the preterit eraergencjfeor

Iyafwe 1

(VS- M



-^ |v'' .fc

'''.::

until the horfoiiable House of Asseld-bly shall makwn

\;7; _fe. -

''

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"^..V-

-S.y

il%i"

order or giveft||eir opinion to the ^n^ary."

ff:"

The Governor, having consider^a^his requisition,

answered, tha^'he was exceedinf|lyf|mwilling to Jtlo

any act withdu| the approbation olfti^ Council ; Mat

that, as he found by ^experience llurlhff the present

-* if:

'.*

.-^^. Jt '-P

i

t,

alarm, the ; iia|^jssibili%^of-at all ^^3- getting ^t

together whe|too michy perhapisj|d|pended upon'a

minute; . and.t"ffjal:rther, -that as thef'teisolpn- c il had given it as their opkiin that the proceeii|i^ was justifiable

under the Ccfnltitution, and as tfeeimeetinsr 6f the

3?'**'

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V^* '

ri'S-i

*^

Assembly wa- s-. tf*o .near '."at hand, aiaf^d': alarms and dan-

gers seemed tofthicken- on all side^||hl -agreed to act

in the manner I$h e Coun. cil req^uested?, H4j urin 2: ' the rpresent emergencypor until the honor|ib^ House of As

sembly shall malke an order, or gi\f fheir opinion to

the contraryJ .'';" Cy>?




'Iff
%?. :*.

The practical fivorking of this gra/nt fef power to the

Executive, was fproductive of evilf^c^using disputes

with Continentafijoffieers as to military rank ; and was

one of the caused which led to a fapufe of the expe

dition on the sou''th'.ern .seaboa.rd, tof*e* h'- e'e'.k the Indians and Tories of Flprida in their maraudin incursions
'
into Georgia. ,-

When the town of Savannah ^

, in De-

'- " rjb-' ,

, 7*;-?

:ff

cernber, 1778, the Executive Counciilremoved the seat

.'./

"

-A;'' "- ;"*'

of government Hto Augueta. At

. the mem-

%k..

i

.

bers of the Coalicil met at the Ho'lisi^of Matthew

VOL. II.

20

%
US' Mf-;

306

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

Hobson, tachoose a President.- As, however, no Go

vernor had-been elected by the Assembly, "the Con-;

vention of the representatives'of the State of Georgia,

in Assembly met," by a resolution, passed on the 9th,

empowered " the members chpsen for a Council, or the

majority thereof" "to act as) a committee to recom

mend everything they may Ithink expedient, in : the v

place of a Council for this State, until the Convention^

meet again, to clothe them with power to act as an

Executive Council."

4-

:

'"-

Under these instructions, this committee acted until

the time came for the next tnjeeting of ithe Assembly j

in Augusta. At the designated period, however, a ^

quorum of members did not convene, owing to the

disturbed state of the province, and the occupancy of

the lower counties by the British troops and govern

ment.

;"

The twenty-five members who did meet at this time,

though not able to organize the House, and carry on

in full the operations of government, felt most deeply

the need of certainty and ^stability, as it respects

authority and law; and the great evils which resulted

from the absence of an executive head and legislative

direction. Impressed with these sentiments, they

drew up and subscribed the following remarkable

paper:--

" State of Georgia, Eichmond County.
" Whereas, from the invasion of the British forces in this State, great evils have arisen, and still exist, to dis turb the civil government of the said State, and which, in a great measure, have prevented the Constitution of

V

ESTABLISHMENT OEgSTATE

307

the land from being carriefl irita such aiiswer the purposes of government ollt. And whereas, it

fajre, happiness, and security of, the

leges of the good people fpf the said

maintainance and existence of legal

authority in the same, as far as the exigerillef of affairs

''-

v

;*'"

'

vJ

'-i''5y'vs*"=' i ''

.***;; v " U*i5 '

trh\e-qeuiCreosn,sut.intutitli,,oan titma keeofi. tlses^:sr. edgius.qlauriectosuhrsaelll;w|i|l|f&p|iWDhee(n|f'?f-ci:tnf>a'd,

therefore, that government may prevailjl|||d' b|f'ac

knowledged to prevent, asffar as' may be,

cobfusion from continuing^mong us, and fiply

port the laws of the land derived under tleftonstitu-

A j\,

.

ji-*'

fy*?_ jjS" ^ji./'

' 'i

tidn thereof,

- -I; '.

;| 1

"^ 4 We, therefore, the representatives oAJfe pe%)le

of ;the counties of Wilkes^Richmond, Buj^|(|y Effing-

ham, Chatham, Liberty, (flynn, Camden^Iiid other

2.' .* -'^

'f;

freemen of the State, having convened and|rn|t in4h<e

county of Richmond, in the State aforesa|d|,for ^the

purposes of considering the^present disturbed|feituataoh

of the State, and for applying, as far as in |>ur po\fer,

some remedy thereto, and having maturelyTdrnd seri

ously considered the same, do recommend thaf.the fol

lowing persons be appointed by the good people of this

State to exercise the supreme authority theredf; who

shall, before they enter on the execution of tfeir office^

take the following oath, viz., I, A. B., elecle^ one| of

the Supreme Executive Council of the State^ollGfeorMa^

i.

.-.

:^"^f''&^'' .SPr - /.

do solemnly swear that I will, during the tdlrlri of liiy

\

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appointment, to the best of my skill and^|tigme|ity

execute the said office faithfully and consjS||fitiously

: fri '*:U'

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sfv-* '

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308 '.

! GEORGIA AM

ft !

te

:

.withi ou' t^*Xp' vor,*ii'ntection-"' . or

.*y?.\:

* J&i

*

of ^iy power, sup^ori,

I will, to I and defend "I

.Georgia, and

pepple thereof i'flf

fenjoyment of ::

tfs,, gamnednp:t',-r- iveixleefgle,s

;|and]|b$M will,
I.. I A Sf; j >

to the Ir
"'.-".

help me,:

aid -each' .of :iisfoi|^(|tii|pp||, a& free,

zens^oflhe State of Georjiaf afores|ia,t do for

;selves /' .'"''' no'&m i. nat$e , aut,1horize.-' e)|':npfpr w'V e^% aiid ^'^'..- require

' : ___ *;

'' 7

'.'

/, & L % '?: * "if ':''

John Wireat^posephyClayy; fosiph Ha|)ersham,

phrey \lls,..|^illiam^ Fe^^MMi ^Ifr Seth

Cuthberi; Wilfeam Gibbons,4el.latidplyrick

:":

' H*

"

Z- S' .*' J' "tf * . -

""

s".

Esqr's, o(r a in|ijority f you| t(| a^t|a^|the Executive;^

or Supreme Council of this jBtate ^andltQ^execute, fr

Si

---,!|

'

* J ",* Vv ' i? -S:5.': :' '

Tuesday the Iwenty-sevenfhlinMant^ toihe first T

*-

S?

i' ': -. ?' S'-'S

-

dav in Januar% next, unless"* sooner Irevoked by a ma-t '

f

-i.

y

"

= ;' :

;7 y

J',; .>S .'

^

jority o%the freemen,of this? S|afe,|e\jery such power

as you, |the slid John Wereat| |To|eph|Clay, Joseph^

Habersham, Humphrey Wellf, |"VV|illiam Few, John

Dooley, sSeth 0ohn Cuthbert, Willian| Gibbons, Sen., -

and Mytick Davies, Esqr's,, or $. iha|or|ty of you, shall ;

deem necessary for the safety and defejice of the State

and the /good Citizens thereof : faking care in all your

proceedings tdikeep as near the] spirit sand meaning of

the Constitution of the said S|a|e -asf may be. And

you, the; said John "Wereat, tJoseph! CJay, Joseph Ha

bersham, Humphrey Wells, IWiilliarh -Few, John Doo-

ley, Seth Johii Cuthbert, William Jpripbons, Sen., and

,Myrick|Davie;s, Esqr's, or a majonty-.of you, hereby ha v~ e fu^""'|"'l pow"N" er and authp"" ri%' /t1 an**'/ d"t>'>a<r- -e authorized,

empowered, and required, :tq elect fit |tnd discrete per^

^' '

"*&

'

'

-.-"". :^' -.'

-

sons toffepresnt this State in Congresls, and to'instruct

1 Ii

f

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE

300

the Delegates so chosen in which m at tei|

things

as vpll tend to the interest of this Stat

andfthe United States of America in geri|ra|^;|:

"IFhe said delegates -taking care from tifhelo^time to

--'

*~^

^^

"^v .'ij.'t j>Y'\5? -

transmit to you, the said Council, or othelf auflloriity of

-ft
thelState

for

the

.
time being,

an

H S: $-..:;-..
account|bf$Beiripro-

&' "

^**

iei-' - . ', .*' ' *

ceedings in Congress aforesaid ; to regulaje ^Ityjiublic

treasury of the said State, to borrow or Sthe^wise ne-

'$':

M.- >" -

gotiate loans for the public safety ; to^egllate the

J-4',

*^,y

'-i~-, '.'1' J '

mili'tSia,~ and apffpoint an off.icer if necessarJyfe<.-.: co' m;vmand:"

to appoint, suspend, and discharge all civipfflclrs^ if it

shalf; be ;!"v"

found

expedient;

to

demand

an

^#c'c. ovti'iM'4: 'v" bf

all

expenditures of public money, and to ^egilpe the

same^ and, where necessary, order payments ofinoney ;

:_, i

j# -

-^!|; *""'"

to adopt some mode respecting the current fn-oney of

this fState. and

.sj.

'

for

sinking O

the

same ; tfA direct J- ^.- g;.. :-

and

comm*. issionate the Chief Justice of the Stav*te.l%br assist-

ant justices, or other justices of the peaci. a%d ? other

"JL

"

*

;<*'' >> .

officers of each, county, to convene courts Sforlthe trial

of offences cognizable by the laws of the land^. in such

plac4 or places as you shall think fit: always taking

f

Si

*

/

,v: J '.., '

O

care |hat trial by jury be preserved inviolate, find that

the proceedings had before such courts be ift a sum

mary way, so that offenders be brought to a speedy

trial,--' and justice be amply done, as well to the State

as to^the individuals. You. or a majority iof^ou, the

said Council, have full power, and hereby are requested

on conviction of offenders, to order punishment to be

inflicted, extending to death. And when s objects de

serving mercy shall be made known to yoi|, to extend

that ;inercy and pardon the offence, remit all fines,

mitigate corporal punishments, as the case may be, and

as to^you or a majority of you shall seem fil|anjd neces-

.>
. it=vu*s iii.;iF;;

-**v' i

I

It

I&ORGIA AN INl|6pEBff||.T

1

t-- ft

Six

?4 t?S

4" .
i' B'v'

'

',!

*- ,: *-?.

r-

v

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-i-;" iyi #"

>;.' -^-

aary At|(|lyou the said (|0nn(p[^r a ma|ofity

at all tiniei-and places, ^heE|!a^ whlr^' you sjkllf

think fit, Bive hereby full ffjowe^ atfd competent aulho4

; iSi' j^'

*

~J- '

'*);*' % ; f"'

'^ V

>*'

*

rityv to m mft^fefJe anpnpnoint yvoouurrfJe>wwninJ|PP^||essiiddeenfe;|issettlfei winrP

own ruleljfsit, consult, dftibe^t^f advi^,|direct, Ir

carry in execution, all and^ve|^v^t, spe^^l and g^i

ral. hereby Delegated to hMu. ;^all atiBlevery &!k

7

/ _-j.

O

,/.^;^ -' * ^;efj v 4K;I^

"igg A;"

^ -'ii1--

other act4 measures, and Arr^Js you^ijrla rnajeti*>yf

of you, shrill find expedien^ anifeiifefeessary lor the wel-t

iare, safetyJand happinessjof tMirleemenlof this State.'

'

*l. -,?

* *

' -v^? " *^J: V y3".Jir.

|-p\ ;^-" .

^

" And incase any of the^>er4|ici^hereii| appointeS to\

exercise tli supreme auftoriSllS afbre^aiid, shalUre--

* ;'J" '..'J-

*

' ^- - a^1?' : ^ i^ir'- 'wS3*-" -

'-'*S4':' v^d"

*?''

fuse to aetf^die, or departmhifi^te, ort&fall by i

t-.

-1 '; SW' ' Piivt ^;v

5f' S

Jm

other means be prevente<|?frof|i ^xercispj the salne,

then, andfv in su.ch. case, ytMkr.1 i; t"l'vsfict M-; ="aid C^ouyi.cil 'hei%ibyf chosen, or;;a majority of yo]a^ sli^l|pind ^lujare hereby"

authorized, ^empowered, :a|id reqifired to} fill up sjchf

vacancies--by choosing fit ^bd discrete persons, or per

sons to act in his or their ftaomlajid steap|;which per

son or persons so chosen, is>or are hereby Invested with

X'. .

,^'- . ' ?.^

"f ,c

^

every power and authority, in: as full ^arid amplfe a

-5

25 "', v'': ' 4 ;;:

|- ~

manner, ats if they had be|h appointed by this preslent^

instrument of writincr. #' 'tv'r ?> '- *f

I'

1__l>

-. '



__

.-;

"And we do hereby declare all officer|, civil find

military, ;and all personsf inhabitants bf|this State,

subject to, and amenable !io your authority, and ^vill

ratify and confirm whatever you may do (for or con

cerning the public weal, according to therbest of your

judgment^ knowledge, andrability; and further we^ do

hereby promise you our siipport, protection^ and co!un-

tenance. | H

?f ^'"- "? |

| ' '-

" In witness whereof, we;have hereuntoiet our haMs^

this twen|y|fburth day of tTuly,'iir the yearlbf our Eord

'"

'" "

.1
S I' .

ESTABLISHMENT OJFSTAfrE?GOVERNMENI^ ''?' 311

$'

.<

:.; '' ' "

< The Supreme Executive Council, thus clolhedawith

'-'

ft- !<-

*;? :

ff &>, i$,

plenary powers^ temprarily |rgauized on

I-

the 24th July, ] 79, .% the chice of Seth

bert, as President pn> tempoiy; and fully |>r|aiiized

on' the 6th August, jjy:^electing; unanimousl^ftohn

Mereat, President, wb|> then, logether with fhj^ther

members of thelCounclLftooklthe oath prescribe by

': ' -' >

"3 '

tf .

?'..

*

V "K-'"S^f

|h^ instrument, ^hich created |hern the supremi jfower

in^eorgia. *, | . |

||g

> 4lt is evident ihat tffis ^whol|;; transaction \^ai.Ulegal

and unconstitutional. | The appointing body^ said; the

body appointed to offic^, :.'both .jfelt it to be so: and the

i-f.V Jrr

-;.

'S>- '';-;:

:'ij;;. -'

'r,- W-'i/^S-

Council, in a letter to Several Eincoln, say, in Irefel^nce

"?-

?:t'

*v '

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'

.(

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to; the delegates appoin|ing nine members as fhe Coun

cil, " this we assure you they^did, but conceive :they

-

^

'*.*-

v "-;''

-^-" i" - --j

**

had sufficient poWer tolestablisn : but recommended it

I

t' o:

the '

inhabitantSs.'

S''
of the

S-' tate,f%and

it has

beeii'

a;-'do' p- ted

':

:

*, '

*'

by .a very large majori|y ,of th^n."

f- ' . *
?' .j-

: Such was the ^condition of the country at that time.

-.':

-

-\. :

/

." ,-

'

that it was impossible |to act under the provisions of

the Constitution. A |regular)y formed government

could not then be constructed, and the question was

reduced to the dilemmifi, of having no form of govern

ment at all; or,;.- acting as nearly as possible to the

letter of the Constitution, and .always in its Spirit, to

set up, by the popular voice, a provisional government,

during such period as tbe Constitution was necessarily

inoperative, by reason^ of the .distress and bloodshed

and war which filled the land.

I

How trying to"- the h^-earts of the people thiss ' pe' 'riod

v

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v-

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.

.

X

J.

f.. ..-,'A. --./ --

was, and how dark thefuture appeared, may b learned

from a letter written |)y this ^Council, under; date of

August 18th, 17X9, to ^General ^Lincoln. ~s

*^

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312

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STA1E.

Haying ^stated in the beginning, the :Circu0;stances

whicli created them the Supreme Executive jjfouncil,

they remark with an earnestness and a far-sig||tedness

truly Commend able :

-: | ''^-.

" ^considerable part of the State having bejji in the

immediate possession of the enemy ever^sinceSs inva

sion ^|y them, those counties which have 'Mid out

again|t them, have been constantly surJjectfe their;

incur|ions and depredations, and, of coursejlhe-few.

militia thereof, much harassed with duty; Mt their

*t"
spirit^

'
have

been

kept

up

with

the

'
idea

;of'^|fj"support

from the continent and our sister State,^Qther^ise, we

apprehend, a total evacuation would lonjg^siijitie have

taken place by those who have firmness enough to

*

'

' ";

Us?*'

sacrifice everything to the cause of Anreric^} whilst

the wavering would have joined the enemy, a fei'.

them an their operations against Carolina.

" Xhe arrival of the advance of General Scot|s army,

under Colonel Parker and Major Jamison, ag'a very

critical juncture, has had the most salutary eject that

could be expected, for it has infused new spirits into

the militia, who are now all cheerfully- undfr arms,

to oppose the concerted invasions of the enelny's ir

regulars and Indians, who are at this time^making

different inroads upon us. General Mclntosh -has sent

out a part of the Continental troops to support our

militia, and \ve hope that for the present we|shall be

able to repel the enemy, and to keep them fr<|m reap

ing any considerable advantages from the attempts of

small.parties. But we presume, sir, that we need not

endeavor to impress your mind with an idea of the

feeble ->

resistance .

we

should

be

able

to

make" to . ;/'

anv "

serious attempt of the enemy to sujugate tlje upper

'Vi - ifli-x-'

sIrff" :

7'!^-[
II
ESTABLISHMENT OF ST^TE^ GOVER NT,

parts of the State, even with! the assistai|e-that Gfen-

5'



ir^tcT11 * "

'

eral Mclntoshlcan at this tinie aflbrd us.^V^e beli|ve

that it is generally allowed, that, unless tl|fenemy lire

considerably reinforced, they! will not n|ake anojt|er

attempt uponiCharleston ; and, from a y|i|iety offir-

$'

.Vi

-,-f' ,1J'i

'*'. ..&;';

cumstances, we are led to ihope that Hiey

.

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{.' .'.i-V . *r

receive such reinforcement. Bhould thislpje the

there can scarce remain a doubt but that t||ey wil

at a not

total subjugation of Georgia this fall:||fbr in reason Isuppose that t|iey will ke||f> a

we can consiSe-'

f^*V"

rable body of iroops immured'in Savanna||; whilst the

back country, so necessary toftheir quiet^ubsistenle,

as well as their future desigifs, remains ^conquered.

The large quantities of grain fmade in th||vicinityf of

this place, andithe numerous fherds of ca^le through

all the upper |arts of the country, must |S| very con

siderable objects with them, particularly &S we know

that they cannot even now get sufficient|f|upplies of

cattle without "coming upwards, and thenffighting for

them. The frequent skirmishes of our inilitia with

their irregulars,, who are employed as drovejrs, evinces

the truth of this observation; and should they srain the

f

'. - i">'

^_-

1-:>'.

upper parts of this State, we are bold to tissert that

Carolina would be in a very dangerous situation. The

great defection-of the upper parts of that%iountry;is

well known; a circumstance on which ^the enemy

found the most sanguine hopes, and we liave every

reason to believe that they continually ^receive en

couragement from these people to invade.the back

country. Nor could the enemy wish for a&tftore favor

able situation to be joined by them, thilbli that %

Augusta, or anywhere above .it,, where tgi' river is

shallow and the swamps all passable. iff

II". -

- it,-:.7
? $& *'-31r , J^>i-> t.

m
it

i>-1

m

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT

|f " Add to the circumstances ^already

Might induce the enemy to progress

ffaat of having no obstruction;: to tfieirlf^f|f||)i

fjfie Indians, is a very capital onej an|*.f|j|j|fa w|ll im-

ftediately be the case should^theveffeli^^fei]

^ps-"

*

'' "-'"

i

~W'- ^i^l^g^'-

fcestof this country; arid unlesthey:ii$itid

W\ ^

.

i; :l - .x *feSsllMfiS'

^fieir intercourse will be

fend we shall always have! it In Our

.Ljj^.

v

y



?

Host considerable interruption to

4"~?t

"

*-

^pint worth paying the jmost

ffs we are informed that
"*/?f:
pit Savannah, and that

n -'.
fwhenever

they have

a

'& ^



'v; ~^r\. Tr (> ^-

npind> in bringig|||ie

' '\%v .' ->.-^'''F^^^i" f-J-
sayage|.;

fupon the frontiers of Carolina, i ifltlil' I ' iff''^!^'',

II " Besides our apprehensions on thelaJll^headSj^WjC S^^/

fare fearful that in case the British troo]f^npuld moveT

this wav. the greatest part of the irirJa-bitants, worn

.*/ '

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J.

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J

-'

font with fruitless opposition,:and actuiafe^jby the fear?

faf losing their all, would make termsif^lfcfcernselves ;l

lfa" nd as the human mind is" too ap* tHf^iflff-c' f'.e..' led b*y a ;

fnatural gradation from one step of infaii^yAto another,

j?.y



L

"-:. f- ''. 'i : '

'

l^re have net the least doubt of their joinl|ig%tlie enemy.

iigamst their countrymen in any othelr^.S'tate. But

||ven should the British commander notfbend his force

ffhis way, a great many families, harassed .and unsur)-

-'\;i-"

" ' IT;! ''"

|ported, would remove far northwardly:/ (JK>r|which they

|are already thinking of preparing), and|thii^dangerous

pnigration nothing but the appearanc&f^rijupport can

prevent.
.*-

'

^


'

;-
-.

l%l^*'.-' 5V-j

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;'

.:

II " With minds forcibly impressed byi tlte operation o^

1

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-;

$ m& : :

/'s *-
?i i>
,v*jt'-.%.r
ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE|GOVEMfMENT
"?*' ;.^-

such powerful reasons, we be? leaVe, sicito'soHciftyou,

^ $r -

~ JE

ftftflfV-

*

in the most serious manner, t<f |>rder .general fpbott,

who, we understand, is on his mjaijch sou|hwardl^?ith

the rest of his troops, immediat|l|' to thjs pli

cannot think that the lower paitl of Carolina will be

'?%:

endangered4 by such an order; f&or"|- we' m1*ay reaso'^lttlilbly

' 'ii, |;'

j%

fiHK '

presume that the enemy will ney|r tpenltrate

that part of the country while %respec|able

mains in their rear, which would hie the <|ase if Geilral

'

. -"-

?- :

'V

*f*K .

Scott and his troops were in Gedrgia." :i|

At the same time, the Counei||addresl3ed a co||mu-

m'eation to the Governor of Squ|h Carolina, biSfly

reciting their grievances and distress; \|ithout repre

sentatives in Congress, without a Legislature, without

O

s

rf -if O

iif;

/

-;_;_;.

money to pay the services of itsvl^ldierj, surrourided

by enemies, and expecting still Sftirther Jsubj ugatidn ;

and then they ask assistance, bothipecunfary and mili

tary, to enable them to maintain their stand, and \ipot

abandon Georgia entirely to the British. |

^

Their appeals were not unheeded; and|a few weeks

saw the combined army of the Frferfch ancf Americans,

under Count d'Estaing and General? Lincoln, lay siege

to Savannah.

11 I

-y

The failure of the allied arms fecaptufe this town,

and the virtual defeat and withdrawal of|-the French

and American troops, left Georgia in a worse condition

than ever; and it seemed almost ^is if iier political

existence was at an end. The royal government was

re-established, and Sir James Wr-ighl issued his procla

mation, dated Savannah, the 26th 'October, 1779,'p-

pointing Friday, the 29th, as a day|of public than^s-

giving to Almighty God, for " His Biyine iifterpositioli"

8
;v- ;- "'31 -

GEORGIAN INDEPENDENT STATE. fSIII

fand Signal pence! says

tphreote(|lilivoenr,n"|owr,ho"sehassupaetrinnotenpdeirniogdflbeen/Sifl.

"'- !^'

4^"'

"3; ~'

linorelfully displayitl,

4
thin

in

the

late

--

-"?"' *' ' ffi-

deliverance we^lf

;|>;--

yt- J

c />,. - 7

'

i..-^ -- i^y

|bave ^xperienced Ifrom |he united efibrts of reMHon^tt

land Ilitr natural grtemief.^ Proclamations werllno^il

**'-V

' ^S^"

'"'

jft'



"

itsstfeij|; also, by Go^ernorfWright and by the

jomi^inders, ofier|i|g projection to such? as

owhltheir arms, Ind'li^at peace under

i&h-/-''

**

\ ''

'

'

i

availed theinselves of these beguiling offers^ ahd,if

--"

4 -'.



v

(*'

that all \|as losf in Georgia, sought to!*makeji|

B with the eitemy,fend secure life, even

of\JJi liiiu bdervtY^-{.*i'j>. ''-:"^&-*V ' " ;

ft Sotsoon as SavMnah^irks relieved from the of '- :' th0V: allied arm'J-?^:>Sir J";?ai nes Wri. ght exerted himself

to re-establish tl|e? royi^l government, and

backHthe whole iprovinQb to its former fealty to

crown. His first^feare was to put Savannah into a|f

proper condition :F for ittiiad been so shattered by theft



>.

r, .:



<>

^

m.&a.

destructive fire of ;tthe French and Americans, and byS %':

the wanton use of :the troops within, as well as by the; t

necessary demands of the siege, that it was in a deplo-(|

rable state. The} ichurches and public buildings hadj

v been; used for depots, and hospitals, and barracks ;?i

private dwellings-had been converted into mess-halls-^

and officers' quarters; fire had laid waste some squares '

of buildings; others had been pulled down, to use the

vmaterial in the different parts of the fortifications;:!

"other's had been rendered tenantless by the battering,

vf

/

O,

!: balls; and there was scarcely a house in town whichK

Mhad|not been made to suffer, outside or in, in conse^ i-:": quer^kc: e of crowdi.'n-g together so many of the inhabifBti'

, tants^ with soldiers, seamen, and negroes, within

' narrow limits of |the intrenchments.

?;

'?$

II

if. I

II

Vm)*i*#-.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ST^TE GOVEie|iIENT.

317

I

j|

Scarcely had the town pift on the af|ect of order

and cleanliness, before the s^nall-pox Iflbke out, and

produced great consternation} among tJ|| inhabitants

and soldiers. Inoculation was at that t|me but little

practised; and only then, af%r an .ordeffobtained for

that purpose from the Governor's Gbunp, who gene

rally refused to grant the order, except th|' disease had

already broken out in thejhoisehold^desmng this pre

ventive operation.

| : ; lit

JL

/T

.'& i'l'

Another serious difficulty, |whichwtheifovernor had

to meet with prompt and decided /meas1|res, was the

number of armed negroes fifund itt an|j| around the

town. These persons had rjeen used %s laborers in

the works planned and executed by the|engineer offi

cers; and, in many cases, it fwas foundfiiecessary to

arm them, as they worked! at the entrenchments.

Knowing to some extent thef value of ttfeir services,

they grew bold and presumptuous; and||t was found

no easy matter to check their insolence:^ and reduce

them to their proper obedience and position. The

petitions which were sent in to the Governor from the

inhabitants of Savannah, shbw how great was the

danger, and how unbearablet the insoleiice of these

negroes, for several months after the siegelwas over.

Soon after the allied army had left ^Georgia, the

Governor desired to call a legislative Assembly; and,

to this end, put several queries to his Council, on the

30th October, 1779, whether; an Assembly could be

called without issuing writs Jof election:\:for all the

parishes ? how the provost-marshal shouM do, where

the inhabitants would not meet and elee$ ? whether

an Assembly, consisting of members froni|f)arts of the

parishes or districts only, will be a'law|ul Assembly

si
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m

1:'&

318

GEORGl AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

or representation 61 the whole province^ ? and wliet&er;

! sucaV a parti.a;* l Assfte'-'mbly or represen' tat*ion may l"5 -' lv^-^!.

*%*'

**

$

?"" -1'

*^

'?;'

f

proceed to tie business of legislation ? I

;

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'

^ffiie Chief Justice (Anthony Stokes^ and the |

M.^
; tp-.; .,

nevJGeneral (James Eobertson), to -whom these qliefli^

$
werii

': .<-

'

referred, reported to

.
Council,

j-V
ofi

the

15iblM^ i1'"- *' ;!r>S?p

t'&::; ;

1^J?
v^mber,

V ",
and decided

that

"writs

of

v

;

emotion

%^' ^' M^^*'
ouh^|

M
be ilsued, in the usual form, for all the parishes! &

,*

'-,.

r J,"'

'

',''

ttl-^^rr'-"''

districts that sentf members to the last As

'^.'

"

"'' -^

''- ,

" aiid if there should be an y parish or/district

'.

:

;.''.

/ Jt

..:

freeholders 4ualifieid to elect, or if through thejin^|-

siorifor viciriity ofjthe rebels, the pro\0st-marshal|Gjph

not|yenturej to proceed to an electiorf, then hef/ibalisl

return such' special matter along with the writsHoi"

elecjtion, and; veri.f"y',- i. t by affid' avi. ts. Sa" ch a ComJm. :' ofnl>s^%

'''

*

.

V

V

'"

~J->. ", (".?-' J!' '

House of A:SsemSly, convened with jthe preca|iti||^

aboye mentioned, ; we conceive would be a iawft^

.repfesentatiipn of ^the whole province.'^

f||

While this report was approved by the Governor

-

A -:.

LA.

y

-v

{!""";'. '?

ani Council; Sir James and the Council also thougjvt

it b<est to postpone calling an Assembly, and It -was

not funtil the following March (1780)/that writs'wiere

<J

\

/X .

-i "* .vi .y-

issued for the election of members, returnable dn the

5th-;May.

-,

\-

A ;f.|

The following persons were returned to the Council

as rhembers of the Commons' House of Assembly. -'/:?

For the town and district of Savannah : Samuel

Far-ley., James Mossman, John Simpson, and Jaraefe

Robertson.

;

I ''.^.'i

I|ittle Ogeechee in Christ Church Parish : Willium

Jones.

^

;;

0reat Ogeechee and St. Philip's Parish :

Busier, Thomas Goldsmith, and Simon Monro. I

,1

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

310

Midway and St. John's : John Iryine, Joseph Fox.

/ >" :?.

-L

._ '

*.*'**

;: Goshorn and Abercorn in St. Matthew'sj: Samuel

:Dou2;lass. If . I.

.4

_ ^--'

' ">' "



'

" rEbenezer ;and jSte Matthew's: Alexander! Wright,

Co wpej| Nathaniel Hall.

I

Acton, Ch|ist Church Parish,: David Zubly,

Vernonbuf|, Christ Church Parish : Basil'Cowper.

FWilmingtdfi, Tybee, &c. : Philip Yonge. f

,St. Andrew's : Robert Baillie and James Spalding.

?Frederica and St. ^"ames : William Panton|

St. David*^| Samuel Douglass.

$.

vSt. Patrick|s: Robert Porteoiis.

f

-St. Thoma^: Simdn Paterson.

-I

St. Mary's^ William Ross.

?

Halifax an'4 St. George's : Alexander Wylly and

Hendersbn. i

'

; On the 9th ^of Mayy only fifteen members had quali

fied, and as the constitutional quorum had been fixed

by previous Assemblies at eighteen members, with the

Speaker, the Governor was at some loss what to do ;

but, with the Council, finally decided, " that from the

necessity of the thing, they should be taken as a House

and proceed to business." Accordingly, the members

present organized themselves into a Commons' House

of Assembly; elected their Speaker; presented him to

the Governor, who approved their choice ; and then

received from the Governor his speech, and returned

the usual replies.

The two principal bills passed by this Royal Assem

bly, were u An act to attaint of high treason thejseveral

persons hereinafter named, who are either absent from

this province, or in that part of it which is ifetill in

rebellion against his Majesty, and to vest their real

X,
K

-58.

320

GEORGIA AN INDEPElfDENT STATE.

and personal e|tate in his Majesty, c.;" and a bill enf

titled, "An Ac|' to disqualify^ajd render incapable th| ?everal ;personsj herein after :iiai|ed, of holding, orexerf.Mf :;

eising, any office of trust, hon||, or profit, in the pro|

Hnce of Georgia." . * | : f||

;< - ; "^

t v The Governor, with the usuj|l formalities/proroguei Ithe Assembly on the 10th of Jf|jy, to the lstJNovembe|

>JWV.<

-'

%.

.; *{S.'

.''

'If

Jf?. When AuguMa was besiegedjby the Americans, an<|

ffCJolonel Browmand his troops Reduced to great extre|

Jinities, Sir Janfes, by advice Jf his Council, issued &

| proclamation on the 21stiSept|mber, callings meeting

| of the Assemlly for Mondaypthe 25th of the ^same

I month. In his; address to thefmembers on the mornr

'"?'.
ling

of

' 41
Wednesday,

the

J.

!.*?<

27th, h^expressed

~
his

regret

i*"-
ait

I being obliged to call them together so soon^ " but the

^exigency of the times requiresfit."

|

J After stating some of theJbircumstancesi "of the;

''"'-

i

'

-,-

'

'|



"late attack on the English feoops by a number of

^rebels from South Carolina, joined by others in th|-

i ceded lands," fhus showing "pearly, that the spirit

Jand flame of rebellion is^not ^er, and that; rigorous

f measures are still necessary tolerush the rebellion ii|

|;the back part^of this province," he urges upon the)

# Assembly: 1. The passage of|an act " to compel all

^persons within; such a distance from this tpwn and:

JfeAugusta as you may judge convenient, forthwith t^

give in an account of all theMmale slaves from six|

|teen years ofiage to sixty; and that they shall bel

Jvobliged, when galled upon, to send immediately sucll

| a proportion of negroes as may; be deemed :iiecessary|

f with proper tools, and for suchttime as the said workf

| may be found |o require theirlabor."

M

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

321

*':

'

2. To inquire "whether all the inhabitant^ in the

town should not be obliged to give in an acc||ii|t; of,

and to send such male slaves as they have i)vfown

within the ages as aforesaid, or pay for the same | and

whether such male^lnhabitants in the town wbo tiave

no hands liable to work, should not be compelled #o

I

work themselves or serve as overseer."

I? I -

I

t<

3. To rest authority " somewhere" to impress horses,

carts, or teams for the public works.

>-

4. To revise the militia laws, so as to make them more

stringent in their provisions, and more certain in pieir

operation; and to inquire whether it m ay>;be ; prioriat

the present time to embody and organize a iiegrd dorps

as part of the militia of the province ?

?\

But little was done by this Assembly; harmony did

not prevail in its deliberations; differences continually

rose between the upper and lower houses; members

absented themselves and were fined, placed-under arrest,

and reprimanded by the Speaker at the bar of the House;

several adjournments over long intervals took place;

and the Governor at last, on the 15th November, 1780,

adjourned the Commons' House of Assembly <to the

17th of January, 1781. Before that day came, at the

urgent request of some of the members of the House,

and the merchants and traders, Sir James called the

Assembly together again on the llth December, 1780,

to " recommend to their serious consideration the pre

sent defenceless state of the province, particularly the

inlets and sea islands." To remedy this, it was pro

posed to build a galley from seventy to eighty feet keel,

with from fifteen to twenty oars on a side; to carry a

six-pounder in the bow, and four two-pounders, twelve

swivels and twenty muskets, and fifty whites and ten

VOL. II.

21

S1ATE.

-v^-Sif^,
.ll' f:l: 111

F< refugee

' ' ' -5 ' ; n%roes.fBut tit

was

;. ibunM

' :|hat

the

-cost of I

)%''

-V. - .;

S' . '

-

'

<''''&'

"$'

suchffa galley, itf Equipment, andisuiport, would beitlr

SV--

'< " "'*'

i1".1 - TL ! *



': ' '"*'

^

VSV^-'L

beyofki tie means at^ command, iuid the Assembly8^

adj. o% jrned- ^'': 'Witho* u't anjl definite actii ohA|i'.n the matter, ^ ^ '"?f'".

&jj, sub|equentfattempts at royaMegfslation in

gia^re -4o .little|-purpose. i'The British found

selvS gradually driven into!a smalferfcompasSj

'&*>$ ^3

/ '',. ;

'

.

;,'-.,''.--<

^

lineSbf the so-caHeH "Rebels" wereSpushed on t

^V

't

* -',

'

Savlhnah. The I headquarters of the American arnryj 4 ^

SM

':*..

' :'

werefshortly
f^

after*;'es' tabi:lished.

at Ebeneler,
",

and

^.A.'j.'
.

anyifiinjr was leMto the Governor butHhe town of Saf'

J %.
van^ah.


which

'?. ' i.

-

' ' *

^en tiontained ;:240 Rouses

and

~&\

-

'-

'' -

" :-- : "?-'

whiti inhabitants/ exclusive of officers and soldie

it-

-V . : -



:- ' i

General Alured Clarke; aiid |his town,

one the British officers. f{ was so closely

"*7 :

'

"'''

"

by tie rebel army/ that it was dangerous to go

our lines." This|state of things continued until

14thjJune, 1782j?when orders were received at Savan-| |

nah|fby Sir James Wright, for the' evacuation of the| '|

province, and measures were accordindv taken to - 4

g"

'~:-

: *. *~> *

:$

comply with the Requisition.

f

^|

If^was during |he period when British rule was tem-l ?\

poralrily re-established and the hopes? of the patriots'

wer| well-nigh extinct, that the smothered disaffection;

whicih had been at first excited in two) or three minds,

in reference to the manner in which the Executive^

Council -had been-constituted, and to the extraordinary

povffers which had been conferred, upon it by an irre-

spofrsible meeting of citizens, gathered force, and burst

oufcjfn a movement which threatened lor a time to rencl j!.|0

asujider the Iittl0 liberty that was yet left in Georgia*? f'if|:

^eorge Walton,,- who had been taken prisoner when"" ^'W

m

*L-

ESTABLISHMENT OF%TATE GOVERNMENT.

323

Savannah was captured, in 171.8^-and had been ex

changed after the siege, in 1779; in conjunction with

Richard Howley$ George Wells, and a few others, spared

r.

-

?.. J no pains to spread discontent towards the existing gov-

ernment; they represented?some of the members of the

Council as favorable to the Tories, <jand unqualifiedly

condemned the whole bod^ "and all their proceedings

as illegal, unconstitutional, ; and da'ngerous to the liber-

jties of the State." Accordingly, these men called upon

;;the people to choose delegates to ajn Assembly, to be

'fconvened in Augusta, in November, 1779; notwith-

listanding the Executive Council had?issued their writs

fpf election for deputies to!the Assernbly, as provided

Jfbr by the Constitution of 1777. The friends of Wal-

|ton met in Augustarj and, on the 4tlx.November, chose

-(him Governor, ft>r the short remainder of the year;

(and also a delegate to Congress. The so-called Assem

bly also appointed a body of councillors, so that there

nvere two Executive Councils exercising authority at

!

."

l_>

/

'

the same time, yet neither of them was constitutional,

and no act of either was strictly legal. The conse

quence w.as, that'- this aspect of affairs " occasioned the

most violent parties and convulsions," and introduced a

confusion in civil affairs which the historian, with his

present imperfect materials, cannot fully unravel.

While this disaffection was being engendered by the

enemies of the first Executive Council; that body, for-

seeing some of the evils, endeavored to ward them off

by publishing a declaration of their powers in these

words:--

.

<'

" Whereas, some jealousies, natural to a people tena

c' ious of their lib'erties, have, arisen ..a'm. ong some of the

citizens of this State, respecting the power of this

Piti 1
11
IIJ

1
f

324

GEORG.U AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

Board; and whereas it behooyes: the rulers offaffree;

\"

^ . '?

country, at all times, to take efery step in theirfpoWer

to give all reasonable satisfaction to the inha|it|nta

thereof and to put a stop to suc'h jealousies ani

plaints ;assnay take place; and whereas the citi|eis

this State "above-mentioned conceive, by virtuelbife!

' '

"*--s.'



*

V

-*<;(> ''.-W-'-j-

delegation' which authorizes tjais Board to proeje| feitr'

the executive department of ^government, the?| if*

iSf<,

power to act in the judicial; and legislative

ments; we do hereby declare -and make known; tf>. all

whom it may concern, that w^e are not investelct |yith|

any such ^judicial or legislative powers, arid ;|tiftt i|

never was nor ever will be our intention to asislinfe t

ourselves any such powers by virtue of the aboye-men-:

tioned delegation, and that we neither mean io |con-

travene or destroy the Constitution of the State|which

we think must have due operation, whenever la lime

of less disquiet will admit of ijts being adequate? t6 the

exigency of Government." ?

|' ;

The proceedings of this second self-constituted As

sembly and Council, were principally marked by their

attempts to traduce the character of GeneralifMcIn-

tosh; attempts which had begun during the adminis

tration of Governor Treutlen, when the General, as a

Continental officer, refused to obey the orders of the

Executive; and which had been fostered by his enemies

with a steadiness and earnestness worthy of a better

cause.

.



The Council of Walton had caused a letter to be

prepared and sent to the President of the Continental

Congress, 'expressing the dissatisfaction of the} people

of Georgia at the appointment of General M|Intosh

?

.

.

*" .^

to command in the State ; and declaring, that5 *it'

.

ESTABLISHMENT OF 'STATE GOVERNMENT
r.

highly necessary I that Cdngress shoull, fwhilst that

officer is in the Service of the United|:States, direct

1-



';

j|:

'

some distant fielcl for thet exercise offhis abilities.'5

This letter purported to |e from William Glascock,

Speaker of the Hpuse of Assembly, acting for and in

behalf of that holy; and|was official% Iransmitted,

with other public ipapers, % George Wafto:n, then the

Governor of the State, to the President of Congress.

The effect of this was, that Congress,! on the loth

{February, 1780, voted to 'fdispense witfi^lhe services

of Brigadier-General Mclntosh. until theufurther order

'-

S

. *- -fe'

of Congress." It fwas subsequently pr^ed, however,

that Glascock never wrote for saw the letter to which

his name was appended ; that it did notfemanate from

the Assembly, nor/did it receive its sancfioh; but that

it was the product of Wajton, and a few of his ill-

judging friends and adviser-s, for the pufpose of black

ening the character of Mclntosh, and removing him

from any command in the State.

!

Three years later, when the painful subject was

again before the public, the-whole correspondence and

doings of Governor Waltoh and his Asse'mbly were

carefully reviewed by the Legislature, which, upon a

report of a committee of the Assembly!voted "that

the resolves of Council, dated Augusta, |l2th Decem

ber, 1779, and the letter from the Governor (Walton)

to the President of Congress, dated 15th December,

1779, respecting the General, were unjust, illiberal,

and a misrepresentation of facts;" thatfthe so-called

Glascock letter was " a forgery, in violation of law

and truth, and highly injurious to the interests of the

State, and dangerous to the rights of its |itizens."

The Assembly also expressed their seniefof the vir-

- ^s I'XH- -.Vjjr-

I

f p

I

326

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STAf E.|

I

>

'''.-

&



:

%

tues and meriti of General Mclntos1i,;jan|l ordered the

Attorney-Gtenejfal " to fmake the i|ec<ess1iry| inquiries,

and enter stich prosecution as mayp)e^ consistent with

his office and duty." |

II | |

Thus was General HcTntosh cleared >f|the malig

nant charges of his enemies, and hif cha^ic^er publicly

indorsed by the Legislature of his Stale J 3|et, strange

to say, the very Legislature which ?passfd |he resolu -f

tion condemning the course of Walton, fm| directing

the Attorney-General jo enter prosecution^, had only

the day before elected Walton as Chief:|Justice of

'

*'



V ' $- ?!

Georgia, and placed him over the yjery tribunal before

which he shoul'd. have!.b< een brough'-t a' nd%- tr.*ied for his " unjust and illiberal" Conduct. Of coufseethe prose

cution was never attempted.

] |{

-

v

_;|

-S*' 1

^i.

The reins of government, which^had |be|n usurped

by Walton and the Assembly which s|t for lour or

five weeks in the close-of 1779, were resumed by an

;j

7 -i

&. &

Assembly, called agreeably to the provisions of the

Constitution, which met at Augusta,.in January, 1780;

when Richard Howley.was chosen Governor, and Wil

liam Glascock, Speaker of the Hou;se. George Wells, Stephen Heard, John L''i. ndsay, and- Hu' m phIrey WTells,

were appointed members of the Executive Council;

;

li,

George Wells being elected President of|th|t body.

As might have been expected from the constitution

of tins Assembly, made up mostly of |he| friends of

Walton and Howley, early steps were ttaken to cast

odium upon the Council of State chosen |n July, 1779;

and on the loth January, 17SO, the Asslmbly, having

recited in a preamble some of the evils fyhibh resulted

from the action of that Council, such as | exercising

powers and authoritiesfunknown to, and^suSversive of^

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE ^GOVERNMENT.! 327-

."S3

the Constitution fand laws of the State;" "|reaj:ing;

different*politicaljppinions, and thereby weaker|ingithef

| authority of legal; government," a/nd giving the|efi|my|

| a me4nswhereby|they could foment dissension^;wheref

|unity|w;as neededvjv " resolved and declared, ait|Lj|t is|

lbere% ?resolved,4fid declared, that the said <|ojifncil,|.

iand thelpowers iliey exercised, were illegal

5

--' :'T"'*, *

>" - ti

*''-,,.

^

.7 ' -

^ ' _K. '"'

.-

-la,

I The cc-ndition of the State at|this time wa|

ialarming. Manyjof its best andlnost reliable|:itizens|

I"

fhad been driven,!away, and were in exile in dherf

.

y- -:."-,

~~- ;

v'

,? ,

^- V

v.

iState^;,4|^e paperj,currency had ^depreciatedJthat it|

I

Iwas scarcely possMe to pay thefexpenses of go>^ern-|

frnent| political power was mostly in the hands|,ofr "a |.

ftriumyirate;" th^ aspect of affairs was " hastening f

m

firom |>ad to worsfe with great rapidity;" justice had, 'i

in some :glaring instances, given;place to tyranny;"

.boisterous demagoguism, and iealty to the dominant }

>party,t; passed lor * patriotism ; and many gool men f

^who hadr previously, and who subsequently, occupied :

high positions in the State, mourned the fearful evils, .

{which; they saw so clearly displayed, but which they

could not then mitigate or remove.

t i;.

On ^the 1st February, 1780, the Assemblyji; ahti- ;

cipating "from the. events of war, it may so happen

that the ministers^of government of this Statejmight ;

not be able to do or transact the business of the State

within the limits of the same," un-animousfy resolved,

"that his honor the Governor, or, in his absence,-the '

President and Executive Council, may do and transact

all and every business of government, in as full, ample,

and authoritative .manner, in any other State within

the confederation^ touching and ; respecting oT this .ji

if
.
it%^
fii!ll 3svvg. ; ; ':

GE(RGlAN INDEPENDENT

n
State,

as

-.i "<;^-J
thojugh f t

had

been

."--' V ~ ' <i~*}

?'<-*y;-

qjpnf |s|id ^ansacted

within the Unfits o| the State."' | |-11 -^

The next day, in consequence o$ haifng||that the

J :-'

'-t ' & . '. W V**

British troops? in Savannah have tfeceiyd a^einfbrce-

*

'"'

'^

'

^ "*' ;>'

-'-'''

ment from New "Eork," the Governot Isjuediv procla-

mation, "to the en5d that the good&eiapMo^irs State majih:. a've noti: ce c*p" the same, aneP| m\ i-' ^**pi'^^1ei' exer?

tions may be madelfbr repelling t|0 |()iynojenemy,"

"commanding andlrequirino; the peoplelrto ^land firm

O,"

is

J.

*--'

'

--/* ;'. -^'.

^.'.'i/

to their duty; anc| exert themselye& inj sup>ort and

defence of the;;grea,t and glorious.i||depeideif|y of the

United States; ahd also to renieinbi^ S^h grati

tude to Heaven, tfiat the Almighty|R4iir^| human

affairs

hath

' '
been

V.
pleased

to

'^v 'f: - ;-' ^'

-?f^.

rais4-up|%e ^irit

and

might of the two greatest powers in the ||orl||(France

't'

2" ' "x* - ' "''j'" " * $ t"v"

and Spain), to;join|with them, and|op|)o^ an|| destroy

the p ersecutor of thv,:eir liberties and' im;;- m' u-i niti'-e. s." On the 3d February, the Governoi was u;|quested

to issue orders fbr|embodying one-half, of tt^ militia

of this State immediately," to rendezvous at ILugusta.

Colonel Twi^0s W!:vt;s! ' a^so desire.d t> o c-- oll'e" ct I';Sr*;i' s men,
and as many volunteers as possible, and *tak^ post at

the same place, v The Assembly censuredltGeneral

Lincoln for removing the Continental troops^and de

clared, that he stood "answerable for; all the conse

quences which may? follow that unadvised measure."

Aware

of

the

almost

defenceless

state of M.u2usta,

o- <**

^

the seat of government, which, it was stated^" might

be surprised by twenty men," and feeling thai it was

" unsafe and impolitic for the Governor^andilCouncil

to remain thus exposed," the Assembly designated

Beard's Fort, in Wilkes County, as "the %>lace of

-

';



'

''Sf

meeting for transacting the businessf of;thejgovern-

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT

329

mej|t of this State, as soon after leaviiig: Augusta as

maj| be."

- ; | '"""it' ; ^ 4' .-.

Acting upon this recommendation, tte Execiitiv|

Cotjpcil, on the 5th February, ;adjourned to meet aj

HeJ|rd's Fort. Governor How|ley was ! requested v$Jj

talU his seat in the Continental ^Congress,; to whidMH

v'7^f

''

-'

*"^ ' '"*

f~ SVj

ha||;been elected by the Assembly; i and "the PO^

George Wells, Esq., the President, with three mercf

berj[} of this Board," were declared to M " fully conj

pe$fnt to the transaction of apl public! business, a|

effectually as though the Governor was|in the^Stat^

; y j '.

''

'**

"" - __.-

'

V

V- s|,j t

reath shortly removed President Wells froni ffi&

^ty

**

' "'

^'-.

:' ;'' ?.

" ' ^' ".">'

sea/E in the Council, and, om tHe 18th IPebruary; St

1$,
ph|li

Heard,

'
of

Wilkes



I

County,

'.-':'

V

" was ^appointed

>V
to

fillihat station for the remainder of the^ year."

i

Jtt this time, republican Georgia consisted of only

^counties, Richmond and Wilkes; as all south of a

?f drawn from Hudson's Ferry, on the Savannah, to

thef Ogeechee, was in possession of the ^British; and

thia: small portion was now menaced with danger from

British troops and Indian foes, :and reduced to alarm-

ingidistress; a distress greatly augmented by internal

dissensions. While the Assembly was voting the pro

ceedings of the nine members of the ; body, called

" The Supreme Executive Council," illegal, unconsti

tutional, and dangerous to the liberties of the State;

the Grand Jury of Richmond County, the foreman of

which was John Wereat, the President of that Council,

made a presentment to the General Court, in March,

1780, before the Hon. William Stephens, Chief Justice,

and his Associate Justices; in which paper, among

other things, they declare on oath, and present as a

grievance, " as a manifest breach of the ^Constitution,

SIM.
? ,-/::. :'*',: Ijf.
tpiSl. IfeteE 1 '
I;

330

GEORGIA A& INDEPENDENT STATE. ^

a meeting, composed k>f about the number Of

in the month of November last, who called thenlselsl

' The House of Assem-bl'y',' and actually assuml$d ' aH$&>*I& exercised the legislative and executive poWers|of ^

vernment, contrary to the express letter anel

the-Constitution, which we conceive to be a| pr^edej

dangerous to the rights and liberties of the

of this State. 'Tis rnuch to be apprehen

the fixed opinion of many of the citizens of

that this mutilated Assembly, at the eve oft a genej

election, was rather ^contrived to answer the prr

purpose of some artful and designing individuals, tl

for the real interest and benefit of the State;"

Thus discordant were the counsels of the leadill

""''

-tEt'1 ^1,

men of the times; and the strength of the TepublidalaRl ?

, X .-'.

'^Haf- /'^ '

party was wasted by^the political animosities of tho^^|o

who should have moved in fraternal union towards t|f|H:

attainment of their great object,--the rescuing t|l|

State from the hands'of the enemy, and the upl|oldii||p

of its declared independence.

|

The capture of Charleston not only deprived

South of its army, but enabled Lord Cornwallis

spread his posts in the back country of Carolina

Georgia, and hold both States under his military^

power. No sooner had the sad news of the capitul^,

tion of General Lincoln, in May, 1780, reached A|i|

gusta, than the Republican government retreated |8y

Heard's Fort, the place designated by the Assembly!

Governor Howley was requested, by a vote of the Exf

ecutive Council, on the 23d May, " to retire to somf place of safety, either South or North CarolinSr a; ;!^&

from longer delay, his situation might endanger tji^ ....

liberty of his person ;" and the public moneys wei|| .

c

ESTABLISHMENT OF STA$E GOVERNMENT.

331

^:

I-;-



\

directed to "be placed in the lands pf the President,

and to-?'be paid off as the occfsions bf public service

may require, under his direction and that of the Ex

ecutive; Council injthe absencefpf the Governor.''

ThuV'was Georgia reduced fp the verge of political

death. llThe government, sucj| as it was, was admi

nistered by President Heard land a?few members-of the Co"ui n* cil in "W'-'fflkes Countyff and w'' hen Mr. Heard

retreated to North Carolina, Mvrick Davies was chosen

,:

;

'

/-

President in his pface. The condition of the republi

cans iif Georgia w|is indeed deplorable. Driven from

Savannah and the -seaboard: fcompelled to evacuate

-- :

a

f

.

Augusta; hemmed in by hostMe Indians on the fron

tier ; and confineo| iriostly to apew settlements in and

around Wilkes Cojinty, they lilted in^daily peril; had

almost-daily skirmishes with Regulars, tories, or In

dians ; : were harassed with alarms, were surprised by

ambuscades, weref pinched with want, and had one

long bitter struggle Tor simple Existence, with scarcely

f'-

\:

a ray of hope to light up the fuxure.

The 'principal cities of Georgia and South Carolina

being now in the feands of the|. British, and the royal

government having been re-established in the Province

of Georgia; rumors^were heard in various quarters 1 that

it was the design of the ininist|y in England to make

new overtures of peace to the ^mericans, but to leave

out of consideration the claims |f Georgia and perhaps

j

^;

of South Carolina,^regarding Georgia, at least, as now

completely restored to the British rule and throne.

These accounts reached the ears of the delegates in

Congress from Georgia ; and with a promptness worthy

Curwan's Journal and Letters, p. 328, sjSeaks of them. Madison Papers, i, 65-71.

-iiStr 4: ft

332

GEORGIA AN? INDEPENDENT STATE.

- ;

f-s

of all praise, they imm|diately issued a small pamphlet

entitled " Observations upon the effects of certain l|te

*..

Political SuggestionsJ'^by the delegates from reorgi|.

These "observations" were written and publishecj|!n

Philadelphia, in January, 1781, and signed tpr jrej^e ;,

Wafton, W. Few, andJR. Howley. To theni t|iej|jp|;:^ ;

periled a valuable ta})je, showing the progressiv

merle of Savannah,|r|)m 1755 to 1772, compile

Wiljiam Brown, Controller and Searcher of his

jesty's Customs in Sayannah, the truth of whi

sworn to before Anthony Stokes, the Chief Rustic

the ^Province.

II

-

* -

In'*. the openi. ng pat^a^K'raph of thi.s tra' ct, they rema:l

" From the most recent accounts that have beeriiie-

\ - '-''.

-

*;!&' _ '" :

ceived from Europe^ there is the greatest reasonjjtoj

expect, that a new? commission will issue from ie

Court of London for the purpose of again sounding ijhe

temper of America upon the subject of pacification ;|in

which the State of G'ebrgia, and perhaps that of South

Carolina, will not be'regarded as part of the American

Union, but excluded jas having been again colonizedfto

England by new conquest."

|

"The utipossidetis also has been much talked of|n

Europe as a probable basis for the peace; and this ye-

port, although rejected with marks of abhorrence by

all descriptions of men in. America, circulates with ter

ror, \ as it is pretended to be drawn from the arni'fed

neutrality."

I

The delegates then forcibly remark, in referencelto

Georgia, which would,be particularly affected by the

operation of such principles : " They united in the o$e

i-

cause, and have sacrificed their blood and fbrtunes|m

;^"._

its support; and, therefore, it would be unjust and ih^

ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

333

human fprf the other parts of the Union separately to

embracefthe result of the common efforts, and leave *:
them un|ef the yoke of a bankrupt and enraged tyrant.

To preserve the States entire is the object of the alli

ance with France, and it cannot be the interest of the

'& \V

*

other gr|at'branch of the family compact, that we should ajatn make a part of the British Empire." /

t

Enterijiglat once upon the subject of the importance

of Georgia ito the Union, they show, that in its com

merce aMSagricultural productions; in its sea-coast

'$;

and harbors;; in its ship-timber and pine forests; in its

position |sm check to the encroaching power of Spain

and England;' "Georgia is a material part of the

Union, aMfcannot be given up without affecting its

essential| interest, if not endangering its existence."

With greatfjustice and political sagacity do the dele

gates declare : "As to America, no part of it could

expect tO'be free long, while England retains both ends

of the Continent."

" How f^r this publication prevented the consumma

tion of the rumored uti possidetis, is not known. Cer

tain it is; that such a plan as' settling a peace to the

exclusion^ of Georgia, was never formally proposed;

yet the report of such a movement must have been

undoubted, or such a labored defence of the rights and

importance of Georgia would not have been published.

The possibility that the uti possidetis might be en

forced as "a basis of treaty by the armed neutrality of

Europe, produced alarm in the minds of many. To

conciliate) Spain, for the double purpose of obtaining

from her pecuniary aid and of keeping her from yield

ing to the British emissaries, who were now at work

at Madrid, seeking to detach his Catholic Majesty from

a!,S!'-".'I'.I' '4ft I t-.-h *H>.^

334

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

the war, the delegates from South Carolina and Geor- ?

gia, then under military occupancy by the British^

were willing to give up^the claimed right of __ Ml*

,



l1_ _ _1 '__ _J _:_'Ui. _.P ,, _ '^:*'.'

ting the Mississippi, rather than, by insisting upon it, T

to defeat a peace on a full Continental basis,

had been instructed to insist upon the right

free navigation of the river Mississippi, into

the sea," 1 as the ultimatum of peace ; but the rna|%|

of the members of Congress, moved by the im

danger, coincided with the delegates, and the

tions of Mr. Jay were altered, permitting

quired to do so, to recede from his demand for the| j v'^V"^-
navigation of the Mississippi, below the thirty^

degree of north latitude; provided, above that

the Americans could have equal rights of

with the subjects of Spain. As soon, however, as

menacing crisis was over, Congress revoked these in- '-'.

structions, and insisted upon and secured its first de-;

mands.

-ii^-ffe

The whole transaction forms an interesting and in

structive page in our history; especially when viewed

as to what might have been the result, had the con*

cessions authorized by these fears been made by Mr.

Jay; and had the outlet of the Mississippi been closed

.to the commercial enterprise of a people destined soon

to find, in the valley of that great river, the heart and

centre of the Union.

The policy of the British conqueror of Carolina, in

compelling men to take arms against their country,,

and visiting with almost unparalleled barbarity of

punishment the helpless victims which war threw ;

1 Vide letter of Madison, in Madison Papers, vol. i, Appen. iv. ri*r. : ";l^

f',?'

ESTABLISHMllNi?: OF ittlTE GOVERNMENT.

335



" ? I '&

'"- y >

into thelhands of?tn^nem^ stirred -uplthe masses of

the people, and caule^ihe^^o rally onc more finder

their lespers, for |h|^urpo^bf recovering IhebsState

and thefr libertiesff ^Fnde^he animatipn^of feeling

inspiredfby thesel^b|jemeiif| a better state of things

dawnedfupon Geptgi f> in year 1781.f Augusta

had been recovereji irlm thljlnerny, and fan" Assembly

V^

-*t \ i_*i .jji"

" $lp&*

'>; fj V,

'.

had convened there|^hen^pi the IStfhfAugusi^ Dr.

Nathan jBrownson w;a^i

^Governor;land Edward

Telfair, )olonel WiUi|-m |, Dr. Neblje Wimberley

Jones, ar|d Samue^^t^k,

appointed!delegates to

Congress^,

:^%^

$>$! '''-C "'fe

At th4 next meeting of Assembly! in7 January,

1782, held also at;An!usta,iiphn Martirfwas elected

/

^r

''- ^^' i

7 gSsS^i

' *

^'

'

.

Governor^; and such|was^e brighter Icondition of

affairs, that in his inalgura|||ddress to the House, he

was enabled to say: f*|jl am^fitremely^happy in find

ing the virtuous striig^les i^^e by the good citizens

of this State, against loUr cru^and unnatural enemies,

have at length nearly' slecure^Ito us those ^blessings for

which weihave so lorig^onte^ed; and.d0iubt not but,

by a continuance of thlse e^Srtions, and Ithe support

J

...

-ft,;

fig?:

'

/-

iI

we have ievery reasohfo ex4it, we shall^ in a short

-'

*%'

*ft^-

time, reap the happy;ft|ait o^^ur labors."- But little

business was transacted by ISis Assembly, and they

.

** * :^'i-t'"

*

**

adjourned to July ; but|the ^gencies of public busi

ness, and :the necessitous conttion of the 6tate, made

it necessary for Governor JV^Irtin to recall them by

proclamation, to meet;a|Augi|||a on the third Tuesday

in April, 1782.

i | f| .

, . k ( t.

In his address to th;e Ass^bly, Governor Martin

stated, that he had "called tl|j|fn together fbr^the pur

pose of requesting themfby le^&ative actiio% td remove

-if: -%

_H ',jV:
-''$

f*i' |-i

336

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

i!

1

-J

*

!v. 1-i

somf-of-fhe distresses to which they were subjecteE^

" thewahton waste of grain heretofore expended,

seqi|2nc1ff which the people, '* for want of

tenajbeejare now reduced to a perishing conditionj'-lb

de^ijse ii|ans for raising the continental quota

an4f|tQ lie vise the militia law, " whereby the

Equally borne."



alsb recommended " the establishment of a ^c^i

of Claims, to determine the right of contested propeft$|"

andffurther desired them to pass an act defining

','*.-

" "

.>>;;'.

boundaries of the State, which might prove

of S|ate|and Continental^negotiation.

Ror tlae first time, since the Declaration

V

".

XV ~ &.

dence, could the Governor say that " the legislative, executive, and judicial powers, now enjoy the^free

w

exercise of their respective authorities," the e|iemy

being shut up writhin the lines of Savannah, whils^ tEe

Anrericstns had " full and absolute possession of every

other part of the State."

I :f



*

' - .

This Assembly, however, did not sit long; having

adjourned the first week in May to the 1st of jFujy.

This they did, as the Governor said, " for want of'pro-

-*

**

7

*

f"' JL *y

visions." They left undone the most pressing businfss

tha| was brought before them, and only legislatedip|m

sonie inconsiderable matters. The Assembly met|)n

theUst July at Ebenezer, in Effingham County^then

the^military headquarters of the State, but it soqnjjre-

moyed to Savannah, which was evacuated on the:; l|th

July, and became once more the seat of government!

Freed from the presence of the enemy on the sea

board, there yet remained many evils to be redr|ssld,

and much confusion and misrule to be reduced to -order.

-.._"

"ji

A%

One ofithe earliest efforts of Governor Martin

I-
*'
"'

-

i

*' -.

'5 '-

' "'

ESTABLISHMENT-Of STATE &GVERNMENT.

337

written conference wifh fPatrick fPonyn, <|0vernor of

Florida; a ni'l th*r'o' ugh "'j?f?eii-7iam Mcl'?:r\ittosh, S^'?n'.--iuel. Stirk,

and John Wereat, wiulwere appointed by-theXjover-



'* '

> i; ;..

A j;; ;

m

' r.

'-,

nor and Cuneil of Georgia Coifiiuissioners for that

>

V, r .

^'_; y. CJ

y. .-

.v

-.

purpose; t& c|eck ^thje almost djaily massacres and

robberies whica^occurrMlalon^ and: in the Hcinity of

'I'-. -S..1' 1

' 'f-. -'I

! :.'

' . '.

St. Mary's|Riyi|r. 0?}ie|border ^ar, waged not lor

glory and liberty, but plunder arid lust, which was

O

/

;,.

;.-. / 7

}",*,

"'i '.

kept up byfalternate parties of Tories and Americans'

along the boundary linfesfof Georgia and Horida, was

disgraceful|to f3oth-g6v6rnment8|land productive of

benefit to ^either; wKi!4 its atrocities antl its; blood

shed reduced me content {to nothu% less than la strife

of savages, f Governor ITqnyn responded to these efforts

of Governor Miardn. ahd r thus checked in : some mea-

'- ;;

' \, -v.

& ;;

;

sure these ipredatory incursions, though it'was^ a long

time -befbretthere was peace in those borders.

The upper part of the State was ialso sadly harassed

by Indian .hostilities, fincited and I directed by those

miserable wretches, th;ie frontier Tories and the half-

breeds, the iyultures and jackals who snuff .the carrion

;-.'

-?:



'

.$

breath of ^ar|Prom afary and wh|'fatten on the car

cases of the battle-field/ Multitudes of these men,

organized into various Ibands, andfincorporated into or

acting with different tribes of In.dians, saw all their

hopes of gain depart, and their trade in blood gone, if

war should cease. Hence they Sstill stirred up the

spirit of the Indians, urged them by misrepresentations

to keep the field, directed their movements for surprise

and ambush j that they might continue their maraud

ing life; using the Indians as the Instruments of their

cruelty, to give greater; terror to their movements, and

enhance their gains, f :

It

-l

VOL. II.

22

CHAPTER II.

E^CUTIVE TROUBLES AND LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS.;

ON the 9th January, 1783, Lyman Hall was elects

* Governor of Georgia. In notifying him of his elfejGf'

tionflhe Speaker of the House alluded to the "decide!

v ?-

'



' . .:

partrlsvhich he had taken in the cause of America; and

exertions in the course of the arduous and important

struggle which preceded the auspicious dawn of inde

pendence ;" and stated, that these efforts " confirmed

the fllouse in the fullest assurance that, under his

administration, a continued practice of Whig principle

will; jprevail, and a strict execution of those wise and

salutary laws which have been passed in former As-

sembllies, for completing the safety and welfare of the

State?' The Governor replied: " The early and de

cided part which I took in the cause of America,

originated from a full conviction of the justice and

rectitude of the cause we engaged in, has uniformly

continued as the principles of my heart, and, I trust,

will*to the last moments of my life."

After making provision for the appointment of a

Board of Commissioners to treat with the Creek and

Cherokee nations, the Legislature, on the 13th Janu-

ary|jyoted a congratulatory address to General Greene,

thertin Savannah, in which they say--

EXECUTIVE'ITROUBLES^LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 330

.<'-V'

^".;:.

'

-?f*<jv-'

" The

Legi%slature

f
of the

State

of

f
Geoin'a \vish

to

assure you of the real hajpiness your presence in their

capital has given them: |human languages too mean

to convey thefr true sentiments of your distinguished

virtue.

I

I"

f

^

V

$"

" Your viewjI?s of ease tb'"(, the citizens, in dr$awing your

resources through a scattered country; the^ many diflB-

culties.you surmounted Huring your comnfand in the

Southern Department; your well-directed! exertions;

and the virtuous struggle'of your victoriou| army, will

be gratefully femembere|l by a State, whi%h has felt

so particularl^fthe happy^ consequences. rf v

^"They congratulate you, sir, on the signal success

wherewith the| arms of the United States, funder your

command, wit^the blessing of Divine Providence, have

been crownedf by the total expulsion of Jthe enemy

from the Soutl|ern States----an annal in the- history of

our country, w|iich must? endear the name|of Greene

as long as th0 remembrance of British Ityranny is

hateful.

|

i

|

" They beg ^ou to accept their unfeignedphanks for

your decided arid intrepid conduct, and to bjelieve they

ardently desire^ that your future days may be passed

in that ease and tranquillity, to which a glorious and

serviceable life; through this grand Revolution, most

deservedly entitles you." *

f

9

-;"

'**

To this address General Greene replied tin the fol

lowing letter, which was ordered to be inserted in the

minutes:-- .*

I

"Sm--Yourjpolite and obliging address, to welcome

m** 11/
3; %

840

^GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

me to A;; Sfat4, affords me the most singular satisfae|J:'|

tion; nt>r are*vour liberal acknowledgments for m-jjfI

;'

*/>)* ** ,^V?'

'' :' ^



'

*"**V^K" 'V'

small istrviels, knd
': < ''~!^' & '%'

generous
*

wishes

for

my

future

ease,
*'&

I
t

.-

" *

f |[lffiB%(|s

i
me

the

most

agreeable

sensations

to

templati the happy change in the affairs of this counif I

;<-'*. .;*?$$': 'i-

f**

' it is among

'f

."'

the first of

'
my wishes,

. ,<'j'j5g!";.s:

@ loig, long enjoy the blessings of freedom

independence, free from further alarms; but should

beiyourjmisfbrtune to hare the flame of war rekindlejf^

p> ray early endeavor shall not be

ing to cjieck it^ progress; and,! cannot but hppe,.:|

smiles of Providence, the virtue and spirit of,

army, jmned by the genius of the country, we shaj^l

triumpX h.-'-i1 over our enemies. " I beg :the Legislature to believe that I am

sensible-of the honor they have done me, and I

the liberty to assure you of my disposition to

them." 1 '

i-

On the 31st January, the House, by ballot, elected!

as civil officers of the State for the year 1783, GeorgeJ-

Walton, Chief Justice; Samuel Stirk, Attorney-Gene^

ral; John Martin, Treasurer; John Milton, Secretary;!

Richard Call, Surveyor-General; Joseph "Woodruff

Collector for the town and port of Savannah; John!

Lawson, Jr., Collector for the town and port of Sun-|

bury; and several gentlemen as Registers of Probate|

for the several counties.



-V

J^i

General
: .- . . i:

Mclntosh.

John

Houstoun,

and

Edward'''y$

Telfair,|were also, on the 15th February, appointed

agents^to settle and adjust the northern boundaries^

I of this"fState," and to treat with such Commissionersl

EXECUTIVE TRQ||LES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEM|NTS. 341

:.|lfft

4

il|

',-'$

as misfht be appointed Iby the Stalte of SouthfCarolina

for that purpose^- rf^$j$lp!'- t'(

f'^

-* 1$|

^

i s^^*5 V

"

- 4l -

.

'jgVt

While matters ^feuch momentfto the civilfbterests

of the Sta< werejtflus; engaging|the attention of the

Legislature, it is -^jatiifying to k|ow that thf higher

interests of ^eliffioifknd morality^ere not ovejrlooked.

vJ

.W^-j*-:

,:'

*f ?f*l;

^

The Revolution folld Georaria wilh only a fe$ settled

' llp^'i--' '. . -

--fe

"

''^f

clergymen. Several-of these, being minister! of the

Church of Englai|tt|' and, deriving their support, in

part at least, froiiffithe veherablfj Societ^: fbrj Propa-

--5^b''^i''

"'

""*

'if;.

. ."'

: ?;: . .

gating the Gospel||j|i IFbreigu ?|rts, sided ^ith the

mother country,. at^mi?b'le',ft . th'e pro:iv*':ince. T he$ir: places were not speedily^upplied. TBe minister^ of the

other churches welrf few, widelyfscattered, and their

voices were almo^|drowiied in |the turmoil which

ruled in a State hal||ssed by war,^/nvaded by Indians,

and exposed to allj|Jie calamities |of a frontier settle

ment. Religion* l||guished, and) morality declined,

with the relaxing ol|bivil order, anci the absence of the

preaching of the h|Jy Gospel. Nor was this a condi

tion of things likel^to: remedy itself; it required the

strong arm of lawf||> arrest the licentiousness which

was so widely prevflent; and theipud tone ofdegisla-

tive authority, to Ijfeak out its decided approval of

the power of true -religion to remove crime, promote I peace, and exalt agnation to a true and eiiduring

glory,

. II .

,;

f:

Such was the feeling entertained- by Governor Hall

and the leading niie'n of the Legislature, who, with

great clearness andjfprce, stated their views i^u this

subject, and bodiedffbrth their desired action thereon,

in the following preamble and resolutions, passed on

the 26th of FebruaH 1783 :-- f

f

t

I^N INDEPENDENT STATE.

can have a greater tendency to

promote |h||lfnor |l God, the propagation of the Chris

tian rel%ic|||md Me spiritual welfare;of the citizens

residing Inp|is State, than the regular performance of

divine; sjer||e; ;alid whereas, the seVeral churches

througbouijtlie cojiinty of Chatham, a)id other coun

ties in tnislState/are much out of repair, owing to the

-.;,

. VV-k "

i'-l ''-

'

;'

' "'

great ne^letjllof tjHein fr many .years past--

-tn

I. "Resolved, That; it be recommended to the inhabi

tants of :th|^id] county of Chatham, ;to meet at the?

different cpirche^ttherein, on the second Saturday ofj

March riexfe-'andilue inhabitants of other counties. ^i& >

soon

"^*: '*.-","

$ l'4: 'v:

as ma^/be atfaer the

publication

:^
thereof;

.

"" ''"i"

to elect

1"

and chobse|fif antifdiscreet persons for vestrymen and

church-war|iens, and other officers, for their respective

churches, fwlone^year next ensuing." v

It was proper ?ancl expedient for the State thus to

express itsJopinipii^through its House of Representa

tives; but flfrequirfed something more^than legislation

to rebuild .churches., re-settle pastors, and bring- back

to

our

almost '; ;.

deserted */. :

State, '

the

blessed

influences

which accompany |the full exhibition of the ordinances

of grace. ?.';" f;

Great complaint :having been made at the distance

of the seat of government from the settlers of the

back country, and the ceded lands; by which long,

expensive, and dangerous journeys were required, in

order to transact public business with the several de

partments rof government at Savannah, the Council

resolved, in cMay, 1783, "to afford such relief as is

consistent ;vfith their duty, and the powers given them

by v

the Constitution;

<$. '<','.

;>; '

and

therefore

unanimously adJ

journed, op|Fuesday, the 14th of June, "to meet in

I sf I;

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 343

the town of Augusta, on the 28tij|j|b|-tljf. same month;



. JK-jw 1' "%

**Vx

^

'

and that from and after the s^id j|%hf|une next, the

executive powers of government f|ill 1^ exjercised in

the aforesaid town of Augusta, fqf fhejterm of three

months."

;

, I im-j'. I'?'f$ '

On the 8th July, the Legislatujbicoiivened at Au

gusta; and Governor Hall addressed t|> that body a



ft'

&|'" >.*!''

'.

J

message, marked by fervent patrijt^mjhigh religious

views, sound suggestions of State|p|)li(^, and earnest

appeals to the wisdom and intercity fjf the House.

After an appropriate opening!seifjence)^ the^ Governor

j
OoCaliilLnL

' '>/ ^''; $ -if?

'

.-

;;.>, x'Ssiletf>^\,--1*'s^t .'WKi'-''.'' ' =

" So great an event as that of ^|neral peace hav

ing actually taken place betw|eif the belligerent

.ivV ''^

"/.y.

,

^"^

powers, claims your first attentW. ikn event or-



-r_

"' S ^&' ^'

dered by the decree of Heaven, ari&lbrought about by

^

fsi '&. '4/o

*^

means which, through the variouiMtages of a tedious

vfe1 ' f-',

;\."

and distressing war, were evideiffi' n|arked with a

1

.' '"t% ?' i'"<r

concurrent display of Almighty po^er, graciously pre

siding over us and working wonders, inj our favor;--

an event which proclaims the United Spates free, and

sovereign, and independent, and stfrrpurided with the

blessings of an advantageous ana ^honorable peace,

will, when ratified, give us rank ;ikid dignity in the

grand arrangement of sovereign sta/tes and empires.

"The advantages of peace are so hurnerous and so

important that, whilst they demand vfrom us the most

devout and fervent expressions of/gratitude to the

Supreme Ruler of the universe, at|the same time can

not fail to inspire sentiments ;of |incer|st joy at the

opening of a scene so delightful ^n| prospect, and so

diffusive in its blessings; andonjfc^s <|bcasion I beg

leave to offer you-my hearty cbngr|tpations.

v !'* f I
<<v V

-vl

3. *J

I'

INDEPENDENT STATE.

i- f--

\%

-r _

a

; ?
.vlewjbf

=1-
;
the]

A-.

.?.!.'

^iro^,i.fgf ate

and

wicked

l^fes of

|nany|n the community, fit a|pears that some l|\|s to

irestraip vice andlencourSge virtue are of the highest

Importance to tile welfare oflthe State: it beiagtcer-

?

*'

-5*> '

"'-"' "

^&

l ^S'

-c-V? 'i

|ain toat almost ^11 the; e^vils of government ori^iiate

froin jiien of corrupt principles and abandoned^man-

^ej;s. jjln additio%, ^thereibreg to wholesome lal^^re? :

? (trainilig vice^ ev,fry enpduraglement ought to be^tvea-v

fo ^introduce .religion, a^n^ learned clergy to pet&rrn

r^ivine|worship infhpnoi* to 0<|d, and to cultivat^prin^

|jiples of religionland virtue^spnong our citizens.|l:Fo

|his purpose, it ^ill bejyourfvisdom to lay ane|l^^

tbunda|ion for eiadowii|g|seMbaries of Iearning^|no1i^

can ycju, I conceive, lay In a|;better,^ than by arrant

of a suificient tract of fandjfthat may, as infAher

govern|nents, iheE|after,^by lelse or otherwise, r|ise a

revenue sufficient to sup port such valuable institu-

*'

*.:

,. *" ^

:'''

-

"7|iv. . ;

iions,"|

f < '* it

I. T -,,.

t
1

V

%

The! backwardness

"-54-
of fthe plouse

-Sr'.f
of Assembly,

. 5.
in'.

taxingi- their constituents; and themselves, gave vthe

T"

vj.^

V-;

. ..*'-

lg|



' ^ ->.*, '-

Governor and hi^ Council sincere concern; so |nuch

so, that the Cipuncil,: |pn; |he 25th July, M83,

ient an address |to the flower House, remonstrating

against the smallness of the sjim proposed in theiax-

bill, " as inadequate to the great and pressing eiigen-

<des ofithis State," and suggesfing "the absolute lieces-

gity of a sufficient, as well as speedy tax being laid

upon the inhabitants of this State; or the government

-thereof must inevitably:fall into extreme distress>*and

iH

confusion." ThejCouncil urged the House "topaya

lax offat least oi|e-half?a dollar on every negro|%nu-

jatto, ir other slave; ^apd ;one-half dollar on jfyery

towu-l|t, in lieu |of thetiquart^r of a dollar mentioned 3

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--$EGISLA||vE MOVEMENTS. 343

T- '"

'

,' .' '

':\

in and by saidsHll." T^he Houe, howeSver, did not

agree with the Council; ^nd, onjtiie Slstfluly, passed

a bill, imposing jai tax " on) every lone hunotred acres; of

land, one quartejr;of a dollar; on every negro, mulatto;,

or slave, one qtfarter of i dollar^ion every town-lot,

the same; on '<fvery free! negro, iiinulattOj or mestizo,

one dollar; and|qn every finale injbabitant, of the age

of twenty-one, who does |hot follow some! lawful pjx>-

fession or mechanical trade, or who does not cultivate,

or cause to be" cultivated, fiveffacres of land, two

dollars." .:. |"l |

|| . I:

H

The subject <bf confiscation aijcl amerdement, alsb

occupied the atlention offthe Legislature^ and its de

liberations werejejnbodiedcin an ample and final law,

passed on the 29th July. |

?!>

t

The first act f'fbr attainting the^;enemies of Ameri

can liberty with high treason, and for'confiscating

their estates, both real and personal, to the use of the

State of Georgia!' was enacted on the 1st March, 1778.

By this bill, all persons residing in this State since the

19th April, 177% "who have refused their allegiance

to the governing, powers of the same/' were attainted

and adjudged guilty of high treason against this State,

and their estates, both reaband personal, were declared;

forfeited and confiscated. The first section of this act

recited one hundred and seventeen names, beginning

with Sir James Wright. By the second section, any

of the said persons returning to the State, or being

taken in arms, shall be imprisoned and tried for high

treason, and suffer death upon conviction. By the

third section, the property of these persons was "to

be discovered, and applied to the use of the good

people of this JState." |The fifth section created

.1

346

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT SEATE.

"Boards of Commissioners in each county, to carry

out the provisions of the third section/} The;remain-

-it

ing portions of this long act|were takfn up with the

necessary details for carrying it rinto J|xecution. In

October of the same year, the^Legislature repealed the

terms of sale in this act, an| made th|m more ^strin-

sent. The same Legislaturejalsofpassjd "Ah Acteto

^^

^^

' :\.

-.

"-fc

T ."" '

compel Non-Residents to return withiapi certain tinie/

or, in default thereof, that their estates he cDnfiscated.'*

'

rS

' v'

In 1782, certain persons, whpj in:the language ofA|

preamble, had "withdrawn |hemselves from thetdej

fence, of this State," "accented iprotejtion from i]|e^

enemy," " and, forgetting allfhe socialities ofrkindreli

and humanity, did assist in endeavoring to enforce the

laws of British government, andjoverlurn that mild.

--.

'

-y-

'

and equitable system of government which they had

assisted to raise, and which it was thlir duty to sup-

port," were amerced; some .twelve p%r cent., some
"-
eight per cent., "on the true and equitable value of all

estates, both real and personal.", A deduction from

this percentage was to be made, in (fase any one of

the amerced persons enlisted " any abl|-bodied soldier

for the Continental battalion;" thoughjall the persons

named in the act were disqualified fromjexercising any

political rights for two years.

|

The act of confiscation was also majde to apply to

"all and every person and persons who shall now be,

or may have been, within the British lines as British

subjects." In May following, this act;: was enlarged,

so as to embrace two hundred and eighty persons, all

of whom were banished from the State within sixty

days; or, if they remained, they were4to be arrested

and imprisoned, as guilty of felony; |nd, on convic

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 347

tion, "suffer death, without benefit of iclergy." "A

'

'

: -4V.-

<->*/

reasonable and temporary maintenance w the families

of these persons" was, however, required of the Com

missioners appointed to carry out this act, " until the

Legislature shall hereafter direct or order a fixed; sup

port for the said families."

3

-f

The Legislature of 1783 revised, and made -more

perfect in their details, these laws, settled the terms

of sale and payment, provided for the expenditure of

moneys so received,' created a sinking furid to liquidate

the State debt, adjusted the jurisdiction ~of the courts

in reference to the sales, and appointed Inew Commis

sioners, viz., Charles Odingsells, Hugh^Lawson, and

Abram Ravolt.

By these acts, a large amount of property, both real

and personal, was vested in the government of Georgia;

and though, by subsequent repealing clauses, the names

of many were taken from the laws confiscating or

amercing their estates; yet still negroes, plantations,

horses, stock of various kinds, and to a large amount,

fell into the hands of the Commissioners, and were

sold for the benefit of the State. The confiscated

property belonging to Sir James Wright alone was

reported, by the Board of Agents of the American

Loyalists, 1 to have been worth nearly .34,000, or

about $160,000; while many others, whose names

appear on the attainting and confiscating list, were

gentlemen possessed of large estates, real and per

sonal.

These laws of Georgia were enacted at the sugges

tion of the Continental Congress, and in accordance

"*'"*.

1 Wilmot's Claims of American Loyalists. London/1815; p. 47.

Il.tl

348

A INDEPENDENT

with fhe ^ion of ihe other colonial flegislatures.

By th| la^bf Massachusetts, as found pit two bills,

_

$-

iE?At '

three Jiuiidili

and

'*.
thirty-seven

personsvf.vJrj|Mfifer&-.fie. t)'anishel.-3,*

and

fi
the

"fv'S
esjltes

of

-'
certain

.

w;vS'. "-

.

"notorious f||nspirators"

confis|atedji New Hampshire banishedv'l^epty-six ibf

her iriliabitMts, and confiscated the esta-pfeof twenty-

' ,'?,;C

%, '-*

-

l-t' r^^^'; ^

' *T 4

eieht.l InlEhode Island several acts^erje passeli,

W "

^j;

'

5; '?

'

,,-"

T-l jf^fe?,1

''"

*

' -;l^ *

sequesterin^|and confiscating the prope|i^)f^ the l^ip^:

alists. | Cpiinecticutf also punished ^a]^|n|ees

the e4ates||' those friendly to the K4if|fbM: lai^

tax of^nin^^ehce per pound sterling on^ie;: estatilff

every paredtlwhose son was an adherent e||the enenaf;

,__-

* -,W' . '

t

.',',* ''.

'

.

New JFerse^|passed four laws in referencj|ft6 the per-

eons and |)|operty ,pf traitors, fugitive^ disaffecteli

person's, aii^ political offenders. In IjBinnsylvama,

acts of attafin\\der and confiscation were uassed ** '$&"''' ' against ninetyieightfpersons/ designated by nani^l Delaware

ordereii the| property of forty-six adherents to the

royal icause fto be forfeited to the StatejS Maryland,

by three statutes, confiscated all propertyfbelonging ;to

persons holding allegiance to the crowlfc Virginia

made laws -upon this subject, but less stringent than

in some other colonies; declaring, however, that cer

tain persons! should be treated as alieifs^ and their

property be-sold. The North Carolina! confiscation

act named over seventy persons; and South Carolina,

dividing, at ^various stages of the war,-(the- loyalists

into four classes : Addressers (or those Iwo hundred

'':

. . ; ;:-

v

ft'- )'

and teh whof" addressed" Sir Henry Clinton, after the

fall of Charleston, asking to be readmitted! as British

subjects), Petitioners (or those sixty-threl|4vho signed

EXECUTIVE TROUBLE!--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS; 349

a petition to Sir Henr|'t<|be enrolled ancf armeH on

the} royal side), Congratuijatoi-s (or those tlfirteeofwho

congratulated Lord Qoln'vfallis on the success oil the

British arms at Camdel),|ind the Obnoxious (or|bur-

teen others, banished *tas Ibbnoxious to the American

$? -

.1

'

i '.j. f" --.

'

'-

-'V;*j,,'

cause"), passed stringent Jaws against each, stripping

many of all their proplrty, and attainting themfpith

high treason against thfe State. ' \ %-

Gfeorgia, therefore, harsh .as her measures seemed,

but; acted in accordance \fith the suggestions of Con-

gre|s, and the views of |he sister colonies, in enacting

her|laws against the ob|io3|ious loyalists. \ ^

So long as wars existf, and especially so Icfcg asluch

civil wars shall rage irfa fiation, causing the plough-

shale of party to cut fits| dividing furrows between

those of the same hoiisehjold of political Jfaith, land

brethren of the same domestic hearthstone; so long

will: necessity, and the rules of war, plead for the jus-

ticebf such confiscations^ attainders, and amercements.

That many were unjustly condemned; that many

werf condemned without the privilege of a hearing;

thafc many were enrolled among the attainted because

they resided within certain; limits, has been 5 made evi

dent- to all. Nearly fifty names were, by various

rescinding acts of the several Legislatures of Georgia,

between the years 1783 and 1800, withdrawn from the

acts of confiscation andvamercement; and several of

these became ornaments to the bar and the senate of

the State, which once proscribed them as traitors. Had

Great Britain succeeded in the war, she would -not

only; not have allowed aflyj claim for rebel ldsses, ;fbut

would have even confiscated all rebel estates, asfthe

property of traitors to the cjrown.

|r

350

N INDEPENDENT STATE.



", 3f" -

'

The English (J^|rnment, as in duty bound, having

by J

its

adls ,>.

of

tyrlnlny J ^-:fpJ

caused

the

war,

and;having,

:"

7

by *

its aggressions, nfa|e necessary, as a measure of ^self-

defence,|jhese banfsjfments of persons and confiscations

of estajtfs, did so|i||hing towards allevia^g, the ^u|i

ferings Jf the tho'ullnds of loyalists who?|tere thi^&a ''

1 ---u- : O -^^-t

^~0x-'-

'

;^'' a'-' - ii ' ' -'^^', ,*"i 1^'

out,of -Affluence mild self-supporting occu^ions^tolf

*V 4 fi"

""& ^t?<i'

:* ' : *' r'^'-'^^^'^S'5',''

idleness|and wan^f Parliament appoin^d|*its"|i^g|

mittees of inquirlfe the claims of these loyalists, and

*^ L^l VF

-

v'

' '"''-

its Commissionersfto adjudge their losses;

''i"

"ii, ^!'\

"' '

loyalists, tbemsel^||organized a Board

which ,Sir James^fcigbt was made

-y? f

^*'^J"**,'

-

from, his-situatio|i|ige, activity, and zeal^^as

abilities-and largfproperty;" whose business it waite ".? **&'
press these claima|| payment, and secure,;just indenk;

nification for thelrjseverai losses. Up tb 1790, o^eip^

four thou< s' a nd claifm#s'*; had been made upon these Parliamentary Commissi^fiers, asking for nearly (40,000,00.0.

The amount allo|^3, however, was only about |15^vV

000,000. "Aftef |pong examination of his case, the

committee reported! Sir James Wright, Bart., to have

rendered eminent gervices to Great Britain, to have

lost real and pers|rM property to the value of 33,702,

and his office of |3|)vernor, value 1000 per annum."

Sir James did notclong survive his political misfortunes,

as he died in England in 1786, and was succeeded in

his baronetcy by;{h|s eldest son, James, who bore till

his death, in 1816,|his father's title.

John Houstoun jvas elected Governor by the House

of Assembly, onfthe 9th January, 1783.- This gen

tleman -was the |so>n of Sir Patrick HouHbun; had

been educated as^: j|f,lawyer, and early took sides with

the Liberty Party |gainst the Royal Government. He

'''

EXECUTIVE TROUBllES^LEG^SL^TIVE MOVEMENTS. 351

>'

v

''



V'

had proved himself worthy pf the ; several offices) and

trusts, State,

hitherto at home,

acnodnifnidJ:;-eCdontgorehl sims; faunKdtwheas

service now, a

so|$cf otnhde

time, elevated to the ^Executive chair.

i|

>..

.'' -2" -

1&*"1'"-

On the 1st of March, the Governor had the pleasure

of laying before the!ExecutivefCouncil, " desplfches

from Congress,' covering a proclamation or ratification

of the ^definitive treaty of peace?' | The CouncilJ par

taking of the happiness felt by the; Governor ofi this

joyful occasion, took ? immediate! order to give proper

publicity to this state paper> and cUrecte(i "thai it be

read and published by the Sheriff'ihrough the greets

of Savannah, on Wednesday^ ne3Ct;| that the militia of

the to)vn rand the vicinity; thereof, be paraded and

mustered on the occasion, and that the Governor ac

cordingly issue orders^ for the purpose; and farther, that

his Honor the Chief Justice be furnished with :a cer

tified copy of the said proclamation for his Govern

ment, and that he bfe requested; toucause the same to

be published and proclaimed in 'the different counties

of this State, at his ensuing ^circuit."

';

It must have given peculiar satisfaction to Governor

Houstoun, to be occupying the gubernatorial chair at

such a period of his country's history. His name was

one of the four which were signed to the first call for

a meeting of the friends of liberty within the province.

He was one of the three persons first selected by the

Provincial Congress, in January, 1775, to represent

Georgia in the Continental Congress; and for his faith

ful and unfaltering devotion; to the cause of American

freedom, His name was placed first on the list appended

to the disqualifying act, passed by the Royal Assem

bly, in Savannah, 1780, and is there styled "plebel

to--

352

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STAfE.

-

-:-<

Governor." |He now, n%t as a " Rebel" <(Jover|ior. but

o- &

-j"

'

" ^*'~'(v

as a recogni||d Chief fVIagistrate of aafinde||ndeB?

State, had t|e gratification of publishiaf thejjlreatyy"

by which GrHt BritainJ made peace with? the jolted

colonies; andiin accordance with which|hisf|ng-op-

pressed country took itsjplace as one of ^

In the Assembly which was now

; were " very violent struggles," owing to |he fa|| that

'several persons had be|n returned as me|mbei^|)f:

House, who had formerly taken protection i

: British Governor. The|r right to sit was

contested, and four orlfive were declared

,'

\,

*$'

" from their not havinglbeen long enough}

rican Government to nvake them eligible: to SQVimpor-

tant a trust/'- *

fc

4 -r f-^ ' *|F

In the midst, howev|r, of the troubles incident tor*

the unsettled state of afrontier province,nn that tran^

sition period, when military law had ceased, and civiF

law was but imperfectly established; the Legislature,

with a forecast which reflects the highest credit upon

their wisdom, took measures for the establishment of

a State institution of learning. On the 25th February,

1784, a committee of the Legislature was sent to the

Executive Council, bearing a resolution, requesting his

Honor, the Governor, ^ to grant eight land warrants

for five thousand acresi each, in the name of John

Houstonn, James Habersham, William Few,-Joseph

Clay, Abram Baldwin, William Houstoun, and ;Nathan

Brownson, Esqrs., or th0ir successors in qm*ce,iin trust

for the College that is to be established iii thiss%State;

that line or more of the said Trustees be requested to

proceed immediately, with a surveyor or suryteyors,

EXECUTIVE- TROUBLES--LEGISL^TlljIlloVEMENTS. |353

fl
and superintend the surveying of|thjf|sjiid land in eftch

county, agreeable to the act fbp|tli^|t>urpose m&e.

.->.''._

.

-.x. 4''''*' V

>

tv

That His Honor, the Governor, fbelieGraested to drW

an


order

'
on

5- :.'..
the

Treasurer,

in

-;
favor

" -fy- *
dllhe

-
said

--4-
Trusties,

for

'
the

i? ^
suitt|Qf

'
twenty

pounds,

^"
fo|

"' 'iV'' '

"

rf||?purpose

^?.''
of ^Hy

ing chainibe||ers, and defraying t|efft|eessary expei|es

off sur"i vey.i- nJip.j>i

.

,4 v A lj.?'v .>"' ' "

i'-'SfreK ,

The

S:.-V,:',%
ai|MK|fwhich

-
reference

is

S> "'"^?'W :
]^]^^|kde^is

'W-'
" An Iwjt

for laying ou two more counties|;o^e|westward,"&c,,

the llthfsec^yon of which readsA^'And whereas,

the eineour&gement of religionJa^ljiearning

object of grejit importance to *|i

must tend tcifthe prosperityrhaplin^pi

i. *'

J.

JL

/ *

J. JL . '*^~jp&"V(v

of the samelfBe it, therefore, enaet^tfy the authority

,'-'.

'

'

:*' l'.''3f.%i. vv

.



,^ */

aforesaid^thja| the county surveyprs|^n|mediately after

passing of t|i|s act, shall proceed fj|jj luy out in e^ch

county, twetfty thousand acres iofSapd rof the $rst

quality, in separate tracts of fivejthjfusand acres ea:ch,

for the endowment of a college or|se|i|n]ary of learning,

and which said lands shall be vest^ fin and granted

to his honor the Governor for thej^me beins;. And

3

v' *> -

**-/

'i'f,

John Houstpun, James Habershai^,-! William Few,

Joseph Glayf Abram Baldwin,! William Houstojin,

and Nathan Brownson, Esqrs., o'ami? their successors

in office, are hereby nominated and appointed trjus-

tees for the: said college or seminary of learning, and

empowered to do all such things/ as >to them shall Jap-

pear requisite and necessary, to forward the establish

ment ;and progress of the same: ahdiftll vacancies sl|all

be filled up-by the said trustees, i And the said county

A " *

f. --'^ '''--- '

;y; /

surveyors shall^ in six months after|^,^sing of thisfaet,

make return to the trustees hereinbefore- mentioned^ of

V ?'** .*,

f-

VOL. n.

23

354

GEORGIA Alt INDEPENDENT STATE.

regular pTats of all|sufti tracts as he shall have Md

dut and surveyed by fertile of this act*?' ^

>f

t JTo carry dut the provisions of this!; section of4he

ffct the Council, on Ihejfllth Marchy "ordered 4hat

*' \

"?' \J*^

nil Secretary of the JSt|je do immediately make4>ut

flflft warrants for thje l|me; that isfto^say, fouler

ive thousand acres e|chf|n Franklin Couijty,.and^tir

ftf five thousand eac| iAfWashingtonsCounty." ^|bis

t judicious plan T^as4|roductive offgreat and bene-

... ...

results,':

and

prepfed
L -f. r ;-js^

the

wayi- for "

that

more

oMfinite action whichj a^we shall seey took place 4he

lirsuing year| '-f ^

*f-*~..

-4

f iThe land kct^of %h^h the setting apart of these

large tracts of countifv flfr the endowment of a collese

V. '. ^
Constituted

one

;''

- -$'"

sectioi--4was

one

of

-
the1

most

important

Results of this Legislature. It brought under survey

the large cession of territory made by the Indians, to the

iiarth and west of Wrlkls^; laid out and organized two

new counties, and estM)li|hed a Land Court at Augusta,

to "be opened on tpie^first Tuesday in April next

1784), by

V,

J'u

his

Honor .^

thit .^ .;>.

Governor,'

or

the

Honorable

the President, with any^fthree or more of the Execu

tive Council, for thet purpose of granting out lands,

tinder and by virtue ^pf iliis act." This court was, to

s;it for three months, orileach Monday, Tuesday, and

Wednesday, to grant land and sign warrants; and,

each Thursday and Frida/y, for the purpose of hearing

C"-'t a- veats.

?" ''!'"'

ji ":It is significant of the Unsettled state of the country,

that it was deemed necessary, in consequence of "Ithe

foads being, at present, irffested with robbers," to order,

0n the 23d March, 1784|" that a guard, consisting of

an omcer and from fsix^fto twelve horsemen, be-for-

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 355

J

;?,'_,' s.

'!

"

''

'*" '

":.

nished by the commanding officer of each couilfy^that

is t<D say, the guard of Chatham :County to estbft the

President and members of Council to the lowe||litie of

Effihgham County: that the guard of Eftigham

.1 O

v'

<-J .

. ._&- ?

County be ready there, and escort them to the lower

.

.

'?'# -

linej of Burke County; that the guard of||Burke

q

'

.^, .. "="-'

County be} ready there, and escort tthem to thj| lower

line; of Richmond County; and, |hat the gfard of

Kicjlmond be ready there, and escort them ^ov Au

gusta. That a copy of the foregoing be senfHb the

respective commanding officers; and that |Eey be

informed,-at the same time, that 4hevPresid5fetJ and

-*

-

- -^Sj-'V ~

members of Council will set out from Savanfnah on

Tuesday, the 30th day of this instant, Marchjl And,

thati it is required that the several guards do |o order

themselves as to be in readiness at the several and

respective places, before pointed out for them^at the

proper times when they may expect the President

and! members of Council to be along, or one day

sooner."

>*

The Land Court was opened at Augusta, at the

time designated, by the Hon. John Habershani, Presi. !:
dent of the Executive Council, and a great number of

applicants for warrants appeared. At first, some little

order was observed; but, the 17th of May, 1784, being

the ;day appointed for the delivery of the warrants, and

the ^warrants not being fully prepared, the populace be

came exceedingly impatient, and were with difficulty

restrained from acts of violence; but, "on Thursday,"

says the clerk of the Land Court, writing a graphic

description of the scene to the Governor," a few evil-dis

posed persons hinted to the people at large,f|whbse

rninds, by the juice of the cane, were already inflamed,

356

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE, f

that there wai a more concise way of obtaining their

warrants ; th|y immediately herded, and, I must con

fess, looked formidable. tfFancy to yourself my dear srrj

the Honorable the President and members o|; Council.

four

or

five

in

- 1'
numberconvened

on

the

-%'

-

business- of

their countrymen, theirgsecretary or clerky|with 4uM .

assistants, in an adjoining apartment, re'adji to.'faint;

with excessive heat andf fatigue, not sufferejl ta ofen;

the door or window, whe|eby a little fresh airfmight be'

admitted, and 1500 or,lperhaps, 2000 men, set onir|

designing villains, approaching the doors with threaM

and menaces,! cryingvolrt aloud, that their fwarran't^ t-'

they would have at anyfrate.

I "^.:*f!8

" I once more venture! my humble opinion to the

President that it was absolutely necessary, tipd. with;

out hesitation to inform:|hem, that the issuing of the"

warrants was unavoidably postponed until] Monday

following, the 24th inst.f- at the same time Declaring,

that at the hour of ten/on the morning ofj the said

day, and not sooner, the> warrants would begin to be

issued; also that any of vthe parties concerned might

obtain them by appointing a person to receive them

on their behalf; this, with Colonel Clarke's remon

strance, seemed to app'ease them, and many went

home thereon. The Fat King, so called in-derision,

being somewhat intoxicated himself and making others

so by lavish treats, not pleased with the said postpone

ment, kicked up another dust, pulled down the notifi

cation last mentioned, and insisted that the .warrants

should be given out the. next day. They Were now

noisy as ever, and ready for any mischief; |he house

wag to stand but two hours at farthest. On) this the

President engaged that no exertion should be wanting

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMEMTS||357

to grant them on the Saturday then next t6ffolj|w.

This emollient produced, like Dr. Franklin|s|oi||on

the ^urbulent Thames, a second calm to ap^a,ra,j|ce;

but 1 degrade the most unruly tempest by a |bj|m.fj>.firi-

son with the savage disposition and brutal i^|mple^ of

lawless and-ungovernable men, subject to nc'f||o4!-f'l"$f!e)'*l, strangers to order and regularity, and averse |o|e^|y-

thing that opposes their will. Saturday being "e||foe

(though I cannot say that those gentlemen w^o/wient

A

O

/

*--'

..^ i'

ty?Ju '

;tq their homes on the notice that none should:issuf|be-

fore or until Monday morning, had an equal|charffe),

and lists being handed in, by requisition of tlijb|seySral

claims for warrants by each individual, and thf |)uf|ing

them up accordingly in bundles to be handed^outjwas

going on rapidly : a proposition was made byfthe niost

generous and most disinterested of men, the overflow

ing o|f a compassionate heart, though fatally^ unlucky

in the consequence, that several individuals,

waited but for their own warrants, and wheniobtaihed

would retire and give room for those who wanted many,

might have them. I dreaded the confusion that ensued

thereon, nor did I omit mentioning it; this having taken

place, the general vociferation was, ' Why can't Lget

my warrant as well as another ? Such a one has got his,

and I'll have mine.' My office was no longer at my

command ; the breach being made, the torrent soon

widened it, and he thought himself the happiest sper-

son that could grab the greatest number .of them.

The alphabetical order that I had observed was Boon

obliterated,

:

y

and

no

trace

of

regularity

O

/

or ^decorum ^-v, --. -.V >>;-

lief/t .;

"

'

|f |f. i^ * ' ^*/ -

" They soon had the warrants from my table; oil the

floor^ at the door, and on the highway. About ifour

''

358

GEORGIA A: N IfNDEPENDENT STATE.

or five hundred werefsoon missing by this outrage;

true, great numbers h|ve since been returned under

the pretence of oeing tfiken away by mistake, &c. &<&

The court have endeavored to remedy this evil also>

on petitions and testimony that they were so taken

away or mislaid. Duplicates have been made

them and transmitted fuO the two County

with positive orders nof to survey on a w a duplicate was issued for.
" I have been ever since busy on this work,

>3l --*
m^i '!$ --.,*.

the first, and it has bee|a almost too hard for

have been very unwell|fand still continue so." -^

There were no lessfthan five different classes5

warrants to be prepare^ issued and registered by thlf

court. The first, called# " Citi.zens' Rights," were on the resolution of tlfe Legislature, passed the

August, 1781, which declared, that " as many person's

were daily absenting themselves from the State, and

leaving their fellow-citizens to encounter the difficult

ties of the war with Great Britain, all who remained

and did their duty faithfully, should be entitled to two

hundred and fifty acres^of good land, which were to be'

exempt from taxes for ten years." Two thousand nine

hundred and twenty-three persons availed themselves of the provisions of this !act to obtain certificates which f

entitled them to "Citizens' Rights" warrants.

On the 12th January, 1782, the Assembly ordered

"that the Governor issue certificates to persons who,

during their refugeeship, had served their country as -I good soldiers, for two hundred and fifty acres of land,"

the officers to receive more, in proportion to rank. Six

hundred and ninety-four claimed under this act, by

i what were called " Refugee Certificates," the desig'fi

i. 4.

I

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES-^LEGISLATIVEil(jyEMB^TS. 3*5S 9

'

S"j*. '

*

IS: I ll

I

nated warrants. Another class of |p|imaj|b we|e

those who had served the State undjjrjthe flld Gori-

eress in the Continental :establishmentkand nearly;

c

'

'*- ;'v '"- 5 - * '-.

hundred persons received these " Co^fiBe

r



gv- X;_

.

cates," which entitled them to warrants for yfid..J

1

""



''<},?? '-f;'

s:-; "'}

A still larger ;>vclass of applicants ^res

were termed " Minute Men Certificated! e., iuch in

!

'

"

' IP -it

l|p

-:w *;

as were enrolled for service, and liableltolbe

!

:

*;f' " ?.

at a minute's notice, but who did not do

:

j." 1"-'- * *

-

service in the field: and five hundredlattd fifW-five.rle-

i



" ;.V'- 7*' -

(^*fi1' 1

-j?^*-"

ceived land warrants under this proviSiom offthe lam

:

":

-lit*''"'4'

'^' ". -^^

There were alsov issued land warr4an|s|to tne

sons, under the claim of " Marine ;<r||fic

^' :"?

3p*3f. - ' -"- "f.'

had done duty as part of the small niyial forjje in the

galleys of the State. Thus rapidly \%pa$ ""'"' /' thej|N?|<~erri'to|jTy'

- -

$:'

'.^JV;

-:J

acquired by treaty absorbed by the pe<fpl of f|e Sta^.

Persons outside the State also sougBi io seffie here,

I

g'-y, V:

3JJ.:

if, '

and General Matthews and some othe||gentlepien fro|n

Virginia, asked that a tract of 200,0||0facre|| be laid

off and reserved for them and others, agreeablf- as they

%

conceived to a clause in the Land Aclp vAs these last

petitioners did not comply with the plrovisions of this

act. they did not obtain the grant as desired!" in one

i

J

O

'? - '

r&

'f'

body of land," though many individuals of |hat Vir

ginia Company, the most prominent of wljom wfis

General Matthews himself, took up lands iri^Georgia

and became residents of the State. v |

i

.

'

.

3"^

'.-

General Samuel Elbert succeeded John Hofstoun hs

Goyernor, in July, 1785, the Legislature shewing i|s

appreciation of him, in placing him, b^nearlj||a unani

mous vote, in the Executive chair. i> E f| , -|

One of his earliest acts was to direct;; Colonel John

Baker, of Liberty County, " to take tfe|mos^ffectu|il

If.

3GO

I It

f*A :
If:

means, tojfecji|e tfie villains wh<i||arej at? tlilpfime as|

Isembled tSkwlen &e St. Ilia anfcSl^Maryl^lRiversf

*' "'"

S'

'<* " '-ispj.

*jp '"r;

'

^f' '~fk- "; ^/S.f

'"''

tprith4 nilmbl^of liesri^bes, fcorses^priii othei^firopert^f

1siu: ppoIsedj %to b,f&ffre BJ-eenv; st, o,l"e n f~roiInVft.hife- cj-tizeWn^l oVf t,1h"i."s*i

.^"*.'

^ :;?

^'-.T

jsHf-j'! '

$"

V"'-

'' __

^%: '-

*'

^

"^''i'^4' V"1

'*-""'&'

|Statef MthiPGowrnoro^Florid^w|s inalin| sevei|t

V.i

es teh |s ^11 into th 1 "'W

'&':. *'?

*'

'?

^"

f$. '"?

"

'^-

felfeit

tMs |e e St.

itop to such llfrderf pillage .and blx3s1ied.

&?T * i-

^x'j"

';?; * =-'- ^^ ,

.v'i* v" '

III

It was n>t >on |he|southern l

5He, ho^

ver,

tules were f<

Disaf-ii:'ed

fifiercenary: peions|^ere found tojbelat

?:~.

?,

J irf:* "S^.

'-Jg. , -5i :>

-V^g: -, V

the Indiani tidies, cbmtnitting outages of tlfcirossesli

:

" 'V ^r"

kind, -and *th|n

^ '% I

'^- & ;

atlribiiting: thein^tofthe

???""

**11 '

(|e{|rgians

stimulating t||s sa^age^s to .reveng^ aid dri^wig thenj

on to deeds oj^cruejty Jand |varlar wiich i|

the strong arm ot <mihtary; powe r^to feut dowft. i"l

i

'

^''^

P ' & *1 * ;i

"

:O

-y^.-

-.*. / /. f

-r"*i*

4"' r j- 1 '-V '- "-

f^i'i If

ir " ;'

t---he Go vern.o' r *M;s-en t Cpacif ic ",- talks"-j>|;yio t|.he Ind*i"a-:4n; s ,' and**li.

urffed the;?mdft

'-.' *-*



' -" &?

stringent ineasuceis

% tJ?

-;.

*--'

iif -iustace^ to
fS: V' rt:v i;*.-- ; i;

b& ^

pursued towards al|molesting the||n(Mans, or tirespass4

in 2^ upon theiMands. . '

iI

sjl

^

: L

*? ft. " V'

%* f-

'1;-'' -l;

*'

The Assenibly. |by ; an ;act passed on |he 27th

'

rK' j. * *e *^

"

* "|iji"' ^;

'f-' ' V _.

^t

January, 178&j developed ,almost^in|o maturity the;:

germ of a university,, found in trEei^ legislation the

jprevious year.f ; Tht bill now passeidt wjas entitled " Aa

Act for the more full and complete/ establishment of a

public seat of learning in this State^," a'nd ope,ns with a,

preamble, which for its sound principles, and as an

expression of the views of the political^ fathers, of those

days, well deserves .m record here. .;,;. | ^-k ,|

' " .':i.'

- : ks

*:



: **i: T

-P( *'- K

"'

! "As it is;th||distinguishing happiness of fr|4 govern^

ments that ci^il order should be the Result ofichoiceJ

-&- .

#_

f";r' ^v1:'

';

.;

-;;/ ^

;, r-.. -i\

7.V

a;;u d no,: t ne:ci?-essfi|ft%y/,7 afnd tshe c^-ommon'<^twiishes of^o-uthe ^pea"lf

?.



'JTv-' A,

^i-

'

J.

*i -

''

J

s

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES-LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 361

pie become the laws of pie land/their public prosperity

and even existence veijif muchldepends upomsuitably

forming the mitfds andHnorals 6f their citizens. When

the

f
minds of thje

peop'lJef

in

ge"n" er. al

. ;.'; $
are vicidusljr dis

posed and unprincipled! and their conduct disorderly,

a free government willfjbe attended with gre|itergcort-

fusions and ;evifs morelfhorrid |than the wild unjbulti-

vated state pf^ature^ It cant only be happy where

the public principles anlfopinions are properly -directed,

and; their manners reflated.> This is an influence

beyond the reach of Islfvs and! punishments, rand- can

be claimed only^by religion and!education. It should,

therefore, be amjbng th^first objects of those whofwish

well to the national prosperity/ to encourage and sup

port the principles of rfligion and morality, and'early

to

place

the

youth

"4^
undfr

the

fo'.rming

hand

of

*
society,

that by instruction, thej- may be moulded to the love

of virtue and good orler. Sending them abroad to

other countriestfor thlir education, will not answer

these purposes; it is too humiliating an acknowledg

ment of the ignorancelor inferiority of our own, and

will always beHhe cause of so great foreign attach

ments, that upon principles of policy it is inadmissible.

"This country, in th^ times of our common danger

and distress, found security in the principle and abili

ties which wise;regulat;.-i-5ons had before established in the minds of our countrymen, that our present happi

ness, joined to the pleasing prospects, should conspire

to make us feel ourselves under the strongest obliga

tions to form the yout|| the rising hope of our land,

to render the like glorifus and essential services to our

country."

H



!

The act provided tliat the general superintendence


-'j *".'
if"

r?i&

f8: tWf5J - '--.
'<V-M&$W "'&'" ^
: t 'iff^^f' \ .^-S^Hi-J!-1 >'/,, ' J-

' 'n' ' "', * " I'"'" -, ?&' '"

f

I*-'' *: g ', *:.' >*;

i |s*:-;-*..^".-'.*';t--.I

A*
^K--

i
,i

i.; -^
' V *i f !' ' - i
i.!; : St ;
-'.! .:

362

f-tNDEPENDE1|T1|^ir.A; TE. f

an<^regulatiori)ff^ie4nterature c|t|is Sta|Ib- should

beMconfided tofj|w>t> I bodies, one cqn^teig of|ihe Go-

veflor and ||ncii the Speake|>|;*the Jjouse of

' ,-,

^jS>. . '",

w.

* ]pL '5^T ;;

^'

Assembly, andUhe hief Justice, $efmed a 'fBoard of

...3 ;

if '

,%}';.

.-

.-si. jj' li;

Sp.

Visitors;" and Ihe other, consisting>of4J;i>hn Moustoun^

'-' %

"'"ijj"

,

'

*?".- fir '.^* ,.;

^ij.-

Jatfes 'Habershlm, Wifliam Eew,|:^i^b Cla|, Abram

n, Willifin J3oustoun,^atl^|^provvnibn, John

rsham, Aftel HolMes, Larkirfe|)4yi8, Illgh Law^-

.

'

'^-

-

'

.

'^'! ' .^:; "?:

'"v,'



"

sorifWilliam Gj|scoek, and Benjanfirii fpalliafefro, to be

calild the "Bljardiof Trustees." | pliese t\f> bodieSj

unifed, were ^ constitute ", The| |eiatus ^.cademi-

cu^fof the Uversityfof Georgisi ffhis 'Senatus

Ac^deraicus" >;-.

Ji^t8'; fb
';|- ,,

^consult ;

an^lajvise, f; ?|' |: '

liot
|V

only

upori the aflairf;of the |University|lu| also t| remedy

thei* defects anjii a.d-van;ce the intzer-exstts"-: of lfiterature through the State in general." Itl^ |r

l|he fburteenfh selction of this biUfafso declared that

"all public sci|pols- instituted, or |t4'^.e supported by

fund,, s or prublic l-yaon. e?yj s i n this Sta^te$+i I^Hjail be coy-nsidered as fiarls or mejnbers of the Univ|r|i|y, andlshall be

under the foregling ^directions and|regLiiation|."

;^



;**".



" ___

*;;

"V- ' V .

^f

___

At a meeting of^the Trustees, |n| August!^ in Fel>

ruafy, 1786, th| Board took stepsltb^ards laying out

a tdwn in Greene County, directing ftfat eigtft lots be

reserved for a c|urch, academy, coJLirJt-jiouse, find jails ;

and: that certam others be sold upon? specified condi-

'*

,

.- "i1- ':' L

f-

tious. This wats the beginning ofithe;iwn of Greens

boro, then the Contemplated seat of Ife University.

T'-j5he first me$e ting<p of the " Senat;u' s:>;?-f; Acaden$.iicus" of theptate, of v^iich; any record remains, was held at

Lollsville, in |Jovember, 1799. The; first Professor;

Josrah Meigs, ^tas elected by the $* Senatus Academi-

'.

~$i

-

*

: ; --

.?.

cus' the

salary of

Ia-

f'f w

I.

EXECUTIVE TROUlLES-LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS.

I
T-

|:

By ^n act of the Legislature, in 1800, the Genea

Assen&ly ordered Aat the permanent seat of the t||i|

versit^ should be in|the county of Jackson, Frankjii!

: '^-.

fr.

*.

' - . i. .

Hanco%c k.' Greene, ib. -lethorpe. Wilk' es, or Warren^ ^'

new sft of trusteesfwas nominated, and a

entitle! a "Board (if Visitors,"-was

^> :

tt

si s,t O^M t,h, e G^ overfnor, t.h, e JTudjges 01c t,,he

'&"

'"" '

'

Courtsf the Presidlnt of the Senate, the

' ,{' '

'I;

..

'

.

the Bfeuse, and -Senators from certain designated^

countiTe-s.

f*

;"



*

At Ihe meeting 6f the Board of Visitors, in

^\".

*-/ ---.

'

1801/^the Hon. Aram Baldwin, the

the Board, stated |,hat the funds of the

admitted the paying of a person as President,

duty i| should be tffore particularly to superintend

literature of the State; he therefore resigned his p<f|it

tion, ^nd Professor^ Meigs was unanimouslv electld;

J.

-V

^

*^

^f' ^- "

took tne oath of office, and " entered at once upon %e

duties|of President! by taking ;his seat as President|0|

the B' ofjard of Tru. st'i*es."2

.

-i(f>"

Thdugh the sitelof the University seemed fixecHai

14?



'-''. f!

Greensboro, yet, as'fmuch dissatisfaction appeared, the

subiecl was reconsidered, and the Board therefire '

,' g

;.

7

v.- ,-

appoirfted Abram| Baldwin, John Milledge, Jo%r|

Twiggs, Hugh Lawson, and George Wait-on, to selicl

*--}*-); '

LJ

.

J

L_J

'

'&'

a site|in Jackson IDounty (then including Clark af|(|

Jackso:n), and to contract for the erection of college

buildmgs to accommodate one hundred students. fl|h

Iii November, 1 SO 1, they reported their selectionlo|

the pfesent site, aril also laid before the Board a Gonj-

veyanpe from Mr. Milledge, of nearly seven hundl|(f

2 Minute Book of " Senatus Academicus."

m

36*

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT WTE.

acres of landj (fhat on which' Athens|j||w principally

stands), for tjie benefit of the Oniv

^Tl|e locatidn1 which at that time se fed so adverse

to llje demands of the population, it placed the

.- ' ' "i -*'

AL

V

--

colleie on the very borders of civilizatil

'.- -'-. \J _.

- /

'

$

lcm its western
.

fron^ar, now proves to be a mot adnH^ble selection.

'-^-" i*i '^j"r- ^'



'

><-^^'i! '''

Tfiferst B'J;"'7te'-V

commencement -

was held '"'

inway, x<*S'st," **

1804.

and

IhlJSercises of that day were held^l|der an arbor

formed of branches of trees, upon the l||mpus. Here,

intthis rustic chapel. surrounded;by the^rimeval forest,

an<l amidst a gathering of a few frien^6f the institu

tion, land a stilHarger number of persjljs gathered to

witness the novel scene ; Colonel G^pn Clark, the

Honorable Augustine T. Claytpn, Ge^ral Jeptha'V.

Harris, Colonel William H. Jackson, >fofessor James

Jackson, Thomas Irwin, Jared flrwinJfRiobert Ruther

ford, and "William Williamsoti gradl|lled with the

honors of the institution.

Considering the age of the colony, tljiplast settled of

the original thirteen; the position .If the State, a

frontier province exposed to incursiocfslfrom Indians,

French, and Spaniards : the feeblenesf~&t of the State, just recovering irom the effects of war|fand still suffer

ing from Indian hostilities; the unsettled condition of ,ij
government, when clashing interests a^tid rival claims

were jostling each other in high places, to the preju

dice of peace and order: considering thfese things, and

then looking at the broad scope on whicjfthe University

was planned ; the sound principles or| which it was

based; the zealous efforts of its founders to make.it

stable and efficient ; we must say thatfGeorgia merits

peculiar honor in being among the firffc of the States

to make provision for a State University! and in passing

I I I.

EXECUTIVE T10U

1'

it

f <:

LEGISLATURE MOVEMEN5'-TS. 365

TI.

J

I' -V
f

most wholesome lawslffbr securmgjto her slnsi the



"' "

'5

^*-

' '"

TM " -^ '

*"*"

i

^

blesisings of a li?beral e&it&b' cation"ton.l?~i- i%r' own soi'^l

Much of fhejthouglf and care <ff|Governpi| Elbert

was taken up w' yith thel?efj,'"ttlemen" t ofl&& dian dif-t$'

especially int odnnectiA with ithe Ititoceedin^ ^f the

*

;," " *>

%$>

" '??%

$; '{'(' i'-

Commissioners lappoiuied by Congrlss to tr^atlwilih

;

jsy- y% JrjT

:j^f.

/ i,

O- ,

^; 5;

*

the| Gherok^^fr11^ tb&Indians to|le south o|! t^eni;

proceedingspn| which^Georgi|,, ||d^ed, tool^ a| part

through Sta^e Commi^ioners, <but fvfhich were^ rievet-

theless, regarded by tpe ExecutiveJ^ith somf degree

of Uneasiness, : as if fef|ful thait tl|e|rights oflQeorgia



:j

:>' .

'S'i;'"

''

^ ' "v-1- 1

&''

'

^^'iJ"

might be trje^passed^pon, 0$ its?|true claims|oyejr- .''

looked: the> leaser palmer and; aulhlrity of tlelSta^e

':. ' -. '?:'

- f&

~'~'

''%

V* ";

i.

If

being made|to isuccuinj to the over|l|ad owing influence

of the General; povernjm en t. ^cco:rpingly, th| 'Execu

tive Council appointed! Edward Tqllair. William Few,

:'

^-

*

':.$

"f- '; ' i '

and James Jackson, toiattend at Giafohinton, $n Jeffer-

. -<,

'^

'-.-' 3

' '%

''

son County, where tie conventionl was to le^held:

- i.,-

'ffi

''

'* f:'

fr

'

"and there^take cognizance of ari^matter r|sp>ecting

the same, and.; to aidfand assist tHem, the sliid Com-

''V

.

9

missioners of |he Un||ed States, Irr forwarding their

business as far as they^fby the Articl|s of Confederation

and PerpetuabUnionJare authorizep to go; |nd th:ey

are strictly, ch'arged |b protest against any Ineasures

that may appear to tirem to exceecl the powers given

by the Confederation ^for^said, andjwhich m^y be con

trary to the Constitution and laws 0f the Stafe, and to

make report thereof ^ this Board.'!

| -v

This was the first step taken by the General Govern-

'. '' L

v' '

<$

\

-,?.

ment, which brought|it into seeming conflict! with |he

State Government; ajlid was the beginning (ff ?a sefies

of difficulties respect^ig the jurisdiction of tfie:;United

States within the limits of the Stjite, whichj is they



,v

366

GEOEGIA INDEPENDENT ST^TE.f: h

advanced, assumed, af? times, even threatf ni

and which were onlyfreally quieted wh% t{|<| Indians

were, within a fewfyears back,,t|emo^d,^ltogether

from the Commonwelth of Georgia. I " i

*

Among the pleasing duties which pertain^|to Geiie*

ral Elbert, at a time when the occupanc^p.f^Me gubjfi4

natorial chair was aitended Ivith iselfoteniifiiand llaf

J>.

"

-- 6-''. /,*;&.-iv-, __.

-~iV,

rassing cares, was thf notifying the Co|iht||c['Estai|i^

of the action of the Legislature, in granting hM twenty

thousand acres of land, "in testimony oi$th||r respect

for his meritorious services;" jand their furtfer action,in empowering him g$| receive an<|' "hold'-i|-the'^^' r''-'a ntST|-pin|

land, and in admittin|piim " to all the pifviljges, liber*

ties, and immunities d"-1f a free citizen of thi* is SI'it''ate." The letter of the governor, as ^vell %s l^e official

:

papers concerning thjfe grant^ were sentj, tothe ViceAdmiral by the hands of a special agent, ifohn Me-

Queen, Esq., who was|;directed to deliver th|ni to him , .w,i&fe:.:&*&?;*#: in person. The Count received the intelligence with;

emotions of gratitude.? "The mark of its) satisfaction/'

he writes, " which the State of Georgia was |leased to

give me, after I hacjr been wounded, was|the most

healing balm that could have been applied to|my pains

whenever they were the most acute." ""Nofhing," he

adds, " could be more .flattering than to be admitted as

a proprietor in a State that has so much'distinguished

itself in supporting the common cause." \ And he au

thorized the Chevalier De La Luzerne to take charge

of the property in hisjname.

v |;

From a letter to the Chevalier, by Count I^Estamg,

he intimates, as a purpose to which h6 intended "lio

devote a part of the proceeds of this estate, fdo erect

to the States, at the ejatrance of Paris, a

I

f
if

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 367

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.ft-

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the r*glI|ryvof the King' , and th*,ose patri.ots who' have

f

most; contributed to tbie epoch|of liberty."

'Wjbft the specific design of|he Count was we know

not.'! If he rising troubles in|,France, and his own

dutii|s|as la, Vice-Admiral of tiff navy, so absorbed his

timel.ihatibut little was leftA which to think 4*pon

'f "-if "/

- -.'

f!-l^.

""*

his American estate. ,|And wh|ii, at length, the French

Bevj|l||ti6it began its^ reign $$ terror, d'Estaing was

one fof the victims of repuKican proscription, and

perished under the guillotine.'!?

: Q44ne f 9th of January, 106, Edward Telfair was 1

electbol Governor of ^Georgia^Mr. Telfair, though a

*

nattfe$ ofI Scotland, v|i ad resiled in America nearly

f

f

thirtyjyears; twenty of which fie had passed in Savan

nah.^ Engaged there in mercantile business, he gained,

by hjs thigh and honorable course, wealth and influence;

he early took a decided course upon the great ques

tions ^hich agitated America,lind openly ranked him

self among the friends of liber%. From the time that

he attended the first meetingjof the "Liberty Boys,"

he Ka^ been uniform, consistent, and earnest in his

efforts! to}protect, make free, and elevate the State of

his a'doI ption. As a member of the Council of SafetJy. as onejof the delegates in Congress, and as a commis sioner^ to treat with the Indians, he had proved the

integrity of his character, and his great capacity for

business; and, having been found faithful in these, he

was, by the Legislature, raised to the highest office in

the $tate.

^

It w^as a time which required sagacity, promptness, andsjfirjnness; and he was enabled to bring to his executi^e] duties not only these qualities, but a ripe and large public experience, so tha|l he was enabled to pre

side over the State with wisdom and dignity.

'. '
-. f

I 368

Mifch of fcfeyfttime olGoyernor Ife$f$r was; taken up

'
in

-^' '.'

x" 1 ^'^"

piii3arinffi5sr;

"
and

-' "" ^"''
Warding

^' 'fr^-' *' 'r- ''
oils feylbis; prompt

and

"

$?

/: "t^^"

' "' " 'iT'

^ J^BI '^ ^.' ^

vigorlius5 meilfees, a threatened |d|cf%$th the Creek

.

'''4!': iV '.

4s;S!-.'

4' ' "' . \ '^''' ;' ''

Indians,- A iiftid, or |i wkvering|c^urse,fat -this time,

woi||jtjhave |)pved disastrous t<| ^|ey-|rontier settle-

gr|atly r4ardfed the l^o^lfr of Georgia.

yfes of tiel Council.la^feeomcaissioners,

; t-P^- '

\V ' T

4 <-^,"'it' ^.'t''' '

anc^^llitary/wi reference |to these fQ^||ened difficul-

ties,^iHbe ieund briefly statedf i|!vihe' cnapter on

'.'ST

AblSut the diddle offlfif6, Gove^iff^elfair received noticejffrom .tj^t: Secre|ar^||of Stat^e^llpii^ertain books

of record, belonging, at pas allese&M^m% office of the

>-'H .''

' '""'S;*-* ^

-ft -"

*-' '*?" :fffi''*.' '*"'/'

Secretary of ,||ate, were Retained i||iSavannah, con-

trary|tb an o|der of Ithe |Executi^;!Board,; who had

direc|ed their Removal folthe se|/t^j| government, at

Augusta. To phis, if was repli$d|$thaf the fiftieth

Article'of the iDonstitiMiorii made ea^h^cbunty the cus-

?, '

V ' '?' "'

.- ~9.'-( ' ^ '

todian;of its ofm records ;f that ttie|jpapers, which the

assistant of the Secretary vhad ordjerj to! remove, were

the records o Chatham; IPountyl from ^the; very first

-;,

-

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',-.

V J-t~ \jii-. '",'.-'

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settling of the fState; Ihat the remojv/al 0f them would

give f great digress" tp the inhabitants of that county,

as nine-tenths :pf the records relatedjto the property of

the lower counties only; and that a careful inventory

had been made of them, and that'.tljey were deposited

in th^ office of(the Clerk of the County.', This letter,

~.\;

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to th;^ Governor and;Council, was!signed by Joseph

ClayJ William: O'Brien, William |Gibl3Qnsr William

Stephens, Ricliard Wy^lly^Samuel; ptirk, James Jack-

sony :|t|d George Walton,-i-names of|ihe: greatest influr

ence |tnd respectability. ";We hope,?'-say. these gentle-

men^|this njp^ure w|lli|eet with|gQu)r^Honor's, and

f .; EXECUTIVE TRQUBLES-^EGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS.

the Honorable Council's!- approbati_on, being ^entirely

'consistent with fustice. foublie convenience, and the

f.\- ;

'

:.

*v

f-

T'. v ' 'V-' :

$rjirit of the Constitution!' ? '

I - |^

|| The Council, iho we ve|, thought otherwise'! JTKis

tlevent, in their eyes, assumed peculiar magnitude/froln

.*""-""-

'

'-

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j'_.

JL '

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Itlie character^ of jt he actors, and the official

iwhich many of them held; and therefore, on the

K-; _-

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|bf March| after a preamble, setting forth that ^

^seemed tending to anarchy, and an infringement fof

Jthe leading principles ofj the ^Constitution, the Boa, l^om the kirgent \necessi^ occasioned by suchj; unwar-

t

frantable proceedings, ano| in otder, therefore, ^hat t|ie

tfountain pf justice may|:un pure, and the laws apd

^ordinance's may : be fulljj executed in the cduntyfof

^Chatham,; have,- and do;; solemnly and unanimously

fresolye thereupon, as follows :4--

'-$'

'I* "That John Houstour| Esov., appointed to the office

k>f Chief Justice, be and|he is hereby suspended from

^exercising the duties o| the; aforesaid office ; that

Joseph Clay, William O'Brien, and William Gibbons,

:Esqrs., be and each oftthem are hereby suspended

ifrom the bffice of Assistant Justice or Justices for the

^county of Chatham ; that William Stephens, Richard

Wylly, Peter Deveaux| Samuel Stirk, and Janies

/Jackson, Esqrs., be and feach of them are hereby sbs-

pendecl from the office of a Justice or Justices of the

: Peace for the county of Chatham."

|u

This summary proceeding was followed by equally

vigorous measures. Eminent counsel were retained

by the State, in aid of the Attorney-General ; who,

without delay, was " required to notify the Chief Jus

tice and Assistant Justices in the county of Chatham,

his having in charge, fofc their deliberation, matters of

VOL. II.

t.
I

370

GE1 ORGIA-AN INDEPENDE' NT"

State importance; and, upofi a co|iltbe||g constituted,

that, among Mother niattersfand j^tigs]|he make and

t-;iff

demand, in the name of theJBtateJandljiy the express

* __

*'-' :-

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command of the Executive! aiM^oritB thereof the

..: ;

r %';

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immediate surrender of certain; |>tat|j|records, now

said to be in the ihands ||5fram^ B|jjpch, Glerk 1 of

thet aforesaid Court; and|||at|Mieir^onors be in

formed, that the dignity, ^|ere|l| an^peace of the

State, require immediate ojder tojbe Ifiken that the

*

1



:

"y-.: , J

7y'

'"^^'

aforesaid records be delivered to fte Sti^te Secretary."

"j> . ^

~<: '$.'

%$* '

These proceedings, howg^Ir, aid n<ff produce the

desired efiect; for the se^jfl A^ista;^; Justices re

signed their commissions; in5- d'-'' am' ^ftn" ff t'JeM's.; e was General Nathaniel Green. e, who,#'h: a-v inf'fci*y.-'beco"''<l$fl'/e a citizen of
Georgia, was, on the day after the|tssui^g of the order

for the suspension of the Gnief Justiceftand Assistant

Justices,

.
appointed

an

'.':.. '

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Assistant? pusti|j|

in

the

new

Court. So soon, however, as he learned|the true state

f

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tvff^

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'M*-*?

of things, he refused to ser^ve, and?-on ^oe 16th April,

together with Joseph Habersham,; resignoid the commis

sions which had been sent them b*y?:' thef-fG& overnor. The affair caused no little; pr orpul$ar coi"m&; motion; and
the real merits of the case "were ;ytery iMuch distorted,

in the personal bickerings and| party animosities

which it fomented. The ^^ Governor laid the matter before the Assembly in July;: though i^/was not until

the 20th of November that; the Secretary, having in

formed the Governor that he had^receiyed the books,

the Council, on the same day, "removed every order

and process directed in consequence thereof," and the

affair was amicably settled. Thfe geri|lemen of Sa

vannah were evidently in the wj*ongj>; for, by their

own showing, the documents which sthey retained,

**' v
EXECUTIVE TROUBLED-LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 3T1

*: . -

''

were not merely thosej&rtaining'to Chatham County;

but papers of the Truf|ees and; President and Assist

ants' of the Colony, aciiMg for the whole territory em

braced in the cbarterid limits' of Georgia, and also

records relating to property in other southern counties.

Their action was indfld " disorganizing in its ten

dency;" and it showel|the promptness and vigor of

Governor Telfair's ad&nistration, that, he took such

effective measures to Jpstain tfie dignity of the Go

vernment and the mlp/jesty of law. *. The circum

stance is an instructivetone, as'it shows how a? small

& . .-

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^

question, of local intetist, can act as the sharp ed;e

I

.

|l* , ':; i '

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of a wedge, which, ifffiriven home with forceV may

f^.% -

\,

cleave asunder whole communities.

In the midst of these^lransactions, an event occurred

which caused mournitfg, not in Georgia only, but

throughout the land. $



~

At the close of the jwar, General Nathaniel Greene

came to Georgia, to rfeside, bringing his family with

him; They took up their residence, in October, 1785,

at the plantation called:'" Mulberry Grove," fourteen

miles above the city, which had been presented to the

General, by the Legislature, as a tribute of respect for

his merits and services;

Iti this beautiful place, once the residence of the

royal Lieutenant-Governor of Georgia, John Graham,

General Greene looked for peace, usefulness, and honor.

At the age of forty-three he had achieved a national

reputation, and had received almost a nation's ovation,

as he journeyed northward the previous year to

his native State of KKode Island. With a mind, so

mas;culine in its power,7 that he was fitted to command

on the broadest scale ofimilitary power, he yet possessed

I*-})
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372

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

sensibilities, which war had not deadened, and which

long absence from his loved ones had not crushed ; but

which, so soon as he had sheltered fhis family under

the rooftree of their new Georgia Home, manifested

themselves in the sweetness of domestic bliss, and the

longing after those social pleasures, \yhich peace now

permitted him to enjoy.

! ^

f

Soon after his arrival at '?Mulberry- Grove," he

writes: " We found the house, situation, and out

buildings more convenient and pleasing than we ex

pected. The prospect is delightful,? and the house

magnificent. The garden is in ruin-s, but there are

still a great variety of shrubs and flowers in it."3

" This," says his grandson,4 " was the happiest period

of his life, the months of purest enjoyment that he

ever passed : they were destined to be the last."*

In consequence of undue exposure to the sun, at the

plantation of Mr. William Gibbons, -on Tuesday, the

13th of June, 1786, he became quite sick; and though

he reached " Mulberry Grove" that evening, and was

immediately attended by skilful physicians, yet the

disease proved incurable; and, on Monday following,

he died. General Wayiie and Major Pendleton, a

former aid, were with him in his last moment; and the

former, in a letter characteristic of his ardent nature,

and indicative of his deep affection, thus announced to

Colonel James Jackson, the melancholy event:--

" MY DEAR SIR : I have often wrote you, but never on so distressing an occasion. My dear friend General Greene is no more. He departed this morning, six

3 Johnson's Life of Greene, ii, 418. 4 Life of Greene, in Sparks's American Biography, new series, 392.

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 373

>

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o'clock A. M. He \iasfgreatlas alsoldier,--greater as a

citizen,--immaculate atsla friend. | His corpse will be at

Major Pendleton's |his! night; the funeral from thence

in the evening. ^The fhdnors--the greatest honors of

war are due his reriiamst You, 4s a soldier, will take

the 1 proper order on this rnelancholy affair. Pardon

this '.

scrawl, *

my ^feeliriars

*f

c

i.Of;-

are
A -t

but i-

too

much

affected. 7

because I have seen a|?reatfand good man die."

\i

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:.

It may well be supposed^ what sadness and regret

would be felt in Savannah-, at so sudden and unex

pected an events 1 One iemotiontof'sorrow seemed to

x

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pervade all hearts! The1own,|almost instinctively,

put on the habiliments of mourning, and prepared

itself to receive his precious remains. His body was

brought down the river|n :a;barge, and was met at the

tovyn landing by the military, by;the civil and judicial

officers then in the place, and by the whole populace,

wh;ich had resorted t(i: the fiverside to gaze upon the

coffin which contained the remains of him, whom but

one week previously,^ the}*"" had seen walking their

streets, in the full vigor of healthful and honorable

manhood. The funeral procession, long and sad,

marched with muffled^drums to the graveyard; where,

in :the absence of a clergyman, the funeral service of

the Church of England was read by the Honorable

William Stephens, and the; remains deposited in the

vault prepared for their reception.

This is not the place, to ^enlarge upon the military

character of General :Greene. His fame was purely

military; but, in that, he Stood-next to Washington.

This fame he secured, not -by victories, brilliant and

important, but by a series of services, skilful manceu-

f ,w... ^1? &tei 'il

r -,- &;$..
fen v M

'm'^- " *""*' '

jfe*-**"-

| ; lf: i|

f

J|!

|

If!

i -if
S -- ... :^|;
f- ': ||



;

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"II. -

3?4

GEORGrIAI!AN INDEPENDENT STl|T' E .'

a'I

.;; |;

^"/>

-: '*|.

vres, and prudentf yet vigorous, gene|alship, which |

enabled him to se|ure, at length, advalta:ges, greater |

perhaps than woiil| have resulted fromjilfew brilliant |

conquests. Had ]|e lived, he would (Jo'iibtless have -.*

been called to the |ouncils of the nationf; and, though '

he had already refused to be a member ftne Cabinet, I

yet his countrymen would have demanded, <in the I

*/

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Senate, the wisdom and 4he zeal whicl|w4re, so con-;ff

spicuous on the field.

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At the meetiiig|of the Legislature, in July, 1786, |I

Governor Telfair brought to the notice|of that body4|;

the complicated s#|te of the finances, anllthie necessity|l|

for taking such iicfion as would afibrd*|immediate re- If

liefl The State owd nearly a million ofMollars. under ;.

":?-

+*

d"'

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various claims, wlich the Governor thought might-"!

/

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" t_<

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soon be extinguished from the receipts (If, moneys and |

certificates due an^ owing to the State,Mf there could I

. ?

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at once be established a proper systenl in the Trea- 1

$

'-'''

'" '*

surer's department! To meet, howeverj" the present

pressure upon the ireasury, and to niakf provision for |

the sum outstandirlg in gratuitous claimjs," .the Assem- \

bly, on 14th August, directed that c: ibaper bills of ;

^

" i-

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credit be struck, under the direction offthe Governor ;'

and Executive Council, in such form, Ivith. such de- ^

vices,7 and of suchiyclenominations,^ as tK\.e- vy shall viudgOe I. fit, not exceeding 30,000 ;" and declared, that these >

should be a legal tender in all cases whatsoever. On

the 24th October,; the Executive Council appointed ^

Thomas Napier, Thomas P. Carnes, William Moss, ';

William Daniell, and Joseph Jackson, to sign the bills J:

of credit, which we|^e issued in denominations of twenty -f

shillings, ten shillings, five shillings, two shillings, one

shilling, and sixpence.

.

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**"-

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 3T5

': ~ '


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It|-was|$t tBe very time that Georgia was issuing

these billi|of credit, to relieve her debt-burdened trea

sury^ tha|, Washington, writing to Jefferson,) says :

"Spme ofJJhe-jStates are, in my opinion, falling into

very* foolish afod wicked plans of emitting | paper

monjjy." ^?ha|vmany extravagances were com|ait|d

on ||his subject/ by legislative enactment, in several;

Stat|s, is |r|ue jfand that thereby much financial injufyk

wasidone^fo the country, by showing upon what a I

flimsy foundation its credit stood, is also true; yet,;itS

must be rje.menjbered, that the whole currency of the?

country Tps deranged, and in a transition state; that;

the war Ijj^l b||n carried on mostly^ by issues of Con-f

tinental Mils qji't of the national treasury for nearly

threg hunbred |ind sixty millions of dollars; that these

bills^ or, ati least, three hundred and fifty-seven mil-

iI -

*, ^

V.

'"'"

*^

lion| of tjiem,|had so depreciated'that five hundred

dollars of|papejvmoney only passed for one of specie;

i - '

tv

*?

that>these3|osse]s fell most heavily oh the suffering sol

diery andjcivil officers; that the several States also

raised moiiey by issuing Provincial bills; that, after a

while, thesse par|ookof the general depreciation, were not

received as/leg^l tender in sister States, and, at length,

caused enormous losses, in which the public faith of each

State seemed almost compromised, and its credit hope

lessly ruined. |Influenced by considerations like these,

Governor Telfair hoped that, by gathering up the differ

ent liabilities, calling in these Auditors' certificates and

Continental certificates, Governor's and Speaker's war

rants, &c., and ^funding them, upon the basis of .a new

issue of money!secured by new and adequate securities,

to replenish the exhausted treasury, and give confidence

to; the languishing credit of the Commonwealth. At the

;'4H*4
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376 5

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

,,

II

i^ that the Assembly in Georgia ordered these bill's inff

fjEnglish money, Congress was just legislating upon thef||

Question of changing the currency of the nationf-8c||.-.

4-Jhaji instead of pounds, Shillings, and pence, the money^.

fpf Recounts should be dpllars, dimes, cents, and niills|j|

|mni;had not yet established its national mint, wher^.g

Ifftife decimal coins wefre to be struck, though |this

Institution was founded! and its officers appointeS-ii

If ':- ''

':

.

;, '-

||)ct|ber of the same year.

t

|| i At the expiration of the year for which Telfair^wa|

felected Governor, the Assembly chose to succeed )ai

la man who had but recently come into the State,,ib |rwj| ho> had rendered goofi-t servi.ce i. n the Conti.nen~j t*'a-^

cause during the war, as a distinguished officer of ,th^g J

? Virginia line,--George Matthews. Whether fighftnMtk.-.

^with the Indians at Pleasant Point; with the Britisi|fp '

' at Germantown; or contending with the malaria onE

;ihe|Chesapeake; or the) hardships of a prison-ship

"thefiarbor of New Yorlf; General Matthews haddislfi'

played singular courage,;-sagacity, and fortitude. Hav-$f

mg ;served in the southern army under General Greene,"|J

he imitated his great commander, by settling in Geor-||"

fgia,'and had been but little over two years a resident^!

an what is now Oglethorpe County, when, so conspi-p

&:-:

;^cuous were his merits, that he was elevated to the

^highest office in the State.

I- The Governor was soon called upon to act with

:vigor, in suppressing a corps of runaway negroes, the ;

leaders of which, having/been trained to arms by the"

^V.

f

J

<J"

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,

f.

^British during the siege of Savannah, still called them-Pv

'-:' L .?'

^-*

*--' -

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'i''"'

; selves the King of England's soldiers,5 and ravagedijl

6 Jackson's letter to the Governor.

I.
EXECUTIVE TROUBLES--LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS. 377

'



'

Aif-,v'.

both sides of the Savannah Rwer, plundering and

murdering, to the {great alarm Jpf the people; who

also feared that the ^presence of this body of freebooters

would lead to a general and bloody insurrection of the

slaves in that vicinity. Colonel Crunn was bordered to

break up their camp, and disperse or capture theni^

On the morning of the 6th May, 17S6,6 Lieutenant- 1

Coloiiel Hxwell discovered their Encampment on Bear s"*Vr-.

Creek, and informed Gunn of t|e fact. A space of

ground, about half a mile long arfd less than four hun

dred: feet wide, had been surrounded by a kind of

breastwork, jfour feet high, madefby piling up the logs

and cane, which they gatherecj from the cleared

ground. The only entrance to fhis inclosure was by

a place which would admit but dne person at a time;

and a hundred and fifty yards-ill advance of this was

placed a sentinel, to give warning of the approach of

danger. *-^

As soon as Gunn discovered the sentry, he

<-,.

v'

ordered Lieutenant Lewan, with) eight men, to rush

on, followed by fourteen of theT light infantry, with

charged bayonets. These brisk ^movements were fol

lowed up by Captain Tatnall, wjith a detachment of

men, on the rightj and Major McPherson, with some

South Carolina troops and fifteertfCatawba Indians, on

the Jeft. As soon as the negroes ;isaw the troops within

their lines, they fled; and were pursued for about two

miles, in all directions. Many were killed, many more

wounded, their baggage and provisions were taken,

and,; having sent Lieutenant-Colonel Howell to search

the swamp with a detachment of;;men, which they did

as high as Zubly's Ferry, Gunn| at 5 P.M., burnt all

i



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6 Letter of Gunn to Jatekson.

378

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.



i?

their houses, twenty-one in number, And destroyed

their crops. Thus, in a tour of duty|of four days,

and without the loss of a man, was the. State cleared

of one of the most dangerous and fet-disciplined

bands of marauders which ever infested its borders.

Great praise is due to Colonel Gunn, % the prompt

ness and judiciousness of his operationsjin this impor

tant affair.

I * : ^rf

In the course of his efforts for the prevention of a

war with the Creek Indians, Governor Telfair was

brought into an interesting correspondence with John,

Sevier, the first. Governor of the so-ealled State ,of

Franklin. The history of the State of Franklin be

longs to the annals of Tennessee; yet,-being in some

points interlaced with the proceedings of the'Legisla

ture and Executive of Georgia, it is important to know

briefly the facts connected with its organization and

temporary existence, in order to understand aright the

policy and measures pursued by Georgia.

At the close of the war, the United States were

burdened with an enormous debt, and harassed by un

fortunate, and really needy, creditors. To relieve itself

of these, Congress proposed that such of the States as

owned vacant and unappropriated lands, should cede

them to the United States; that these should be dis

posed of, for the benefit of the United States; and

thus, out of what was now waste territory, the debts

of the General Government could be paid. North

Carolina, having large tracts of land, embraced in

Sullivan, Washington, Greene, and Davidson Coun

ties, lying west of the Alleghanies, did, : in June, 1784,

cede them to Congress, and authorized her delegates

to execute a deed of conveyance to the United States.

EXECUTIVE TROUBLES-^LEGISLATlVE MOVEMENTS. 379

Thus virtually cut off from the parent Still by the

'

'

*''

:B'*r

law, as the western counties had long beenflirom all

i

' -

;-

-^a}^'

sympathy, with the more favoreH east; ftd being

"*;'

'

'

<:$!;$



placed in that peculiar iposition, :;of what ||as been

well termed "political orphanage," when th^|mother

State had offered to give up thefvest, and|fhe Gpn-

gress had not as yet accepted the cession, andfextended

over it its paternal care; the iiihabitants^tpok the

matter: of government into their own hands, and

i

c

^

":



3V ,

called a Convention, to decide upon what Measures

'

'V

r<

:

\%,

should be pursued in tteir anomalous posi|i0n. At

this Convention, it was resolved "|ia declaref|fte three

western counties independent of NBrth Caroffia," and

a committee was appointed to draw up articles of

association.

-

':

*$l

While these western settlers were rapidlylprogress-

ing in their movements towards the formation of an

independent State, the Legislature of North l||arolina

repealed the cession act, and made other provisions in

favor 6f these ultramontane counties, which -it was

thought would be agreeable to them. Despite these

conciliatory measures, a new Convention met, orga

nized, adopted a Constitution, gave to the new State

the naine of FRANKLIN", elected its officers, ,-placing

John Sevier in the Governor's chair, and thus launched

it upon the troubled waves of'political existence. It

was not long suffered to float there. The mother

State did not tamely brook this rebellion to its autho

rity ; and after various and laborious effort^; after

many and serious conflicts as to courts of judicature

and the authority of laws; and after a struggl^ which

continued until the last stronghold of Sevier'sj;govern-

ment had been by force of arms taken, the yeiir 1788

380

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

law the extinctiob of the State of Franklin Jand tie

Return of the western malcontents to the bos<|m of the" I

smother : ;.

country. 7 v

$

- ; ;* :

M'i- I

. ;.- ../.

5j/;.

* During the existence, however,fof this uniqite Stale,

?there*were several circumstances which bfl>t!ightfit

linto somewhat close relation^ with Georgia, Ijjnd ^ttlu

^fplace$ it under our historica^purview. On ;ph!e 2||i

A< ugus.t,'8 Governo. r Telfair ajddressed a lette-;l *' to *-&>f fyernor Sevier, in which he|states that "the

llndians have

>--
fthe

pe'. rsons

committed murders- and depredation$fbni

and - proper?ty

o':|;"

ci-t: i.zens

of

>;
this

Sta'^J'':Vie-1|1^f

>which; have caused the Legislature to adopt-measulefl

j '-';'

*' -'j;;";1 -' '''

'

^-i:

^- '^i;^

for the better security thereof/' " It being sviggeste|l>|

he adds, " that you intend to march a body of nifenl

'"'

-'"

' .

*'." "*

%. -V

against O

the
'

Creek '

Indians, '

I

flatter
-

mvself v

itiwill V;

tend ;',

Igreatly to the success of both armies to be^in thjeir^

movements at one and the banie time." The time

designated by the Governor, was the 1st of November,

though that was to be a subject of conference betwejenq^^^'

him and Messrs. Dixon and Lett, who had been ap- ^gf

pointed, by the Legislature, Commissioners on the ^

cpoamrtmoufn' Giceaotir.ognia,. repSoesvi.niegr,

was as it

gdri.dea, tclyonfpildeeansceed'

at in

htih~ :-mis,

;fwfjt

1^1 ^

and a desire for co-operation; and he responded cour- |. !^|

teouslv to / .

Telfair: 7

though ..the O

correspondence 'IT

had H'-^

-

/%v:; ^-^?^v.-.".

resulted in no practical benefit, when Governor Tel-tft ^

-"

^"' -'-"=; "^

fair's term of office expired, and George Matthews :Jf ; ^l

succeeded him.

if- \$f -,'JJTf;'s-,

In Matthews Sevier found a warm friend; and %e-Jj'-^f

sought to make the ties more lasting, by commissioning ^2

0 .-

-

c' ^



V ?w. -'%S

7 The Annals of Tennessee, by.J. G. M. Ramsev, A.M., M.D.

; phia, 1853.



. 8 Original letter-book of Governor Telfair.

Phil&elv I

EXi ECUTIVE T. RO>UBLES--LEGISLATIV?E;. MOVEMENT),S. 381

'

"

A"-'

*

I1

. '?~

Major Ctesar Augustus George Elholjn to visit G|orgia,-

and |lay before the Governor and Astembly the Jaffairs

of tne State of Ffanklin. This geiftleman, a l|>le by

birth, an officer in Pulaski's legion^ who had fought

for Georgia in thejsiege of Savannah|and distinguished "

himself with Coldhel White in one df the most flaring

t

,;^.

.

,, ;;;'

v

% Ci

pieces of strategy during the warylon the O^echee

River, so ingratiated himself with Governor Majthewa

andithe Legislature, that he was received by the Exe-

tcahuusteisvIi'iaaetsimnCotthuoenictrihlmowseTe-.;Vie' tthainromgusa,nrdak' nshdoi.msfo,hiotmhnoapu^iarr:t"ewSduacshci.esinssvofiiSfrtvt-:oendtehntoe-

j
'(

State of FranSlirf" was a reigning feast.

I

|

___ "'.',

_^|

-,;.-.

"-

On the 3d February, 1787, the|committee lof the

Assembly to whom had been referred Governor Se-

vier's letter, recommended to thef House u thut his

honor the Governor inform the Hon. John Sevier,

I

.}*

-.-

V

'

Esq., of the sense this State entertains ofj their

frie'ndly intentions to aid in the |adjustment5of all

masters in dispute between us and- the hostile; tribes

of Creek Indians;;" that Major Eliolm is " a ^person

entitled to the thanks and attention of the legisla

ture;" and they recommend that'f-the Governor give

a substantial evidence of their appreciation of him, by

a gratuity of 50.

t

f

[When, later in the year, Governor Sevier sought to

prop up his declining government, he despatched

Major Elholm a second time to Georgia, with plenary

powers, to secure Governor Matthews's mediation be-

twieen Franklin and the parent State of North Caro

lina; and when the various papers directed to Governor

Matthews and the Speaker of the House w|re laid

before the Legislature, Major Elholm was requested,

ii,
.....jsjl' f
^.%$;

382

GEORGIA AN ^DEPENDENT? STATE.

by

-%
tie

:|
Executive

f
Councpl,

to

;H

'* -

sk|tchfbtit

a

plan

- 3, ;S
of ope-! |

rations for l&e suppression of Creel: ^hostilities. He; |

.$-

^^Ti1

^^

''



'?'v i"*"

f ' "^

toldhem th|,t Franklint" woulcl^ moe}in concert with1 |

the i3peratipns of your military fcfrdes, against our {

comifrion erieiny; and for that purp6s(3 a detachment^ *

of Swards-I)f a thousand men, wpfaccoutred, now,

walts^Vour Excellency^ chief fmovements and com-;

*- "-*?W?

' ^-

*^'"

*>

*' *

* '*'

* The Assembly passe<| a law to raise three thousand,

men| and empowered tie Executive to call for fifteen?

hun dred more from Franklin, fheyialso, as suggested

by Major El|olm, granfed thellandjiii what is called

the ibend dfi the Tennessee, o| th|tf portion of the

northern part of Alabama between' the Tennessee

Kiver and the southernlline of the State of Tennessee,

- *T

*|-'

d

'.

>'-,

'

*'.

to the officers and menj from Franlpin who did mill-

V-

/

'.'.

Vj

taryfduty in this mofement against their common ;

enemy. Lieiitenant-Cofonel George Handly was de^

puteel by the Governor to return ltov Franklin with

Major Elholm, and to act as Commissioner on the part

of Georgia, ih the preparations then (going on for active

exertions in the field, f

"f

The field, however, was never taken. The recruit

ing of troops in Georgia, to form its army of three

thousand, was stopped^; by the appointment of Com

missioners from the United States -to treat with the

Indians; and the desire of making one more effort

for peace, before the Slate was compelled to proceed

to the last resort, a declaration of war.

Pending; these negotiations, the cState of Franklin

ceas|d to exist as a body politic.^ Governor Sevier

hadjsubsidedinto a private citizen of North Carolina 5; ;

andfGovern(jr Matthews, having finished his gubernal ] K.m *-|: w^:

:
*'

If?

-.

EXECUTIVE TREBLES--LEGISLATilVfif 1 MOVEMENTS

torial term, retired also into privatellife. Jeavin^ the

i

'

-&'-'.'

*

"^ '-^'".

^

reins of government in the handi|of|George Handly,

the 1nepA hew-i.n-laf&v of General If>l: bltjflc't;' a soldier of

proWess and .a civil officer of merit, ftho, on the 25th

I

^

"

.

t\- "t#-,''

'- .-'

January, 1788, fvas elected Gtfyejfnor of Georgia.

Prior to his election, however, th^ j^ssembly had, on

tGhoev9ei rtnhoor.f JGa;neunae-rr&ayl, Jcahcoks'se'-onnGweansertf?ae--lejl"|Cai*'mbuets'tJhai.crtkysoyneaars*s

of age; yet hadfhe so distinguisjieff himself in the

field and at the Bar, that, unsolicited7, this lionor was

confe! rred upon hf&m by a4' arsre m' aiforJ'^Iy of;' t^he House.

i

'

*

- '*"

*^

/. *^

/.-K-'- .---pi'.

-' '"

" To the astonishment ofjhis frien<djs,^ho believed him

to be influenced by an ambition'nof ealily Satiated with

;



T-

'*

'- 'v^*" **

public honors, G1e?; neral Jack. son r*h; oatestly :' refused an

office, which he did not think his ale or experience

i

?-"

is

,% %"P--

. r

entitled him to.f He confessed, lwi|h great candor,

'

&

H'

'$.' *fei.'

that such an office was too weighty fdr his shoulders;

i

J',.

;

'CJ

*/ iV->"

'

and ithat no honest patriot would assume the duties of

'

.

.

'& L



.$,&*

an appointment -fhich-he had nof tfie talents to dis

charge."

9 Life of Major-General James Jackson, byi

Augusta, 1800.

|

f

I. P. Charlton, pt. i,

Pi, \

r"^-&^^?f&



Bf v-:
m^'^K

r. it'
,-Ct ^r j

CHlPTER III.

REVISING^ THE CONSTITUTION--GENERAL CLARKE S

|

SETTLEMENT.

IN 1785Jfthe State of South Carolina petitioned .

Congress, liI- jsak tfatS iinnpg- t.hlA at-'Jnd-imlfT feerreennrc .es : exist4.ed-, 1bet. ween Safei.

CJ

V ' 3&

;^

''4''

""

itself and Georgia, concerning its boundaries; the said

States respectively claiming the same territories; in

particular, that South|Carolina claimed the lauds lying

between the line of JJTorth Carolina and a line to be

run due we|t from the mouth of the Tugaloo River to

the Mississippi; because "the River Savannah loses

its name atlI"t.he mouth' o'f the Tus^aloo." South Carolina also claimed " all the lands lying between a line

to be drawrlrfrom the^head of the St. Mary, the head

of the Al|tamaha, ihe Mississippi, and Florida;"

which lastlmentioned tract was also claimed by

i"

':.

Georgia; aiid praying Congress for a hearing and

determination of these respective claims. That body,

on the IstJJune, 1785, assigned the Sth May, 1786,

for the appearance of the said States, by their Agents,

and to proceed in the premises. 1

When that day arrived, the subject was again post

poned untilfthe 15th.^ It was not, however, until the

4th September, 1786/ that the Agents of the States

^. . : l Jourfial of Congress, x, 190.
''

I;

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

385

attended, and prdffuced their credentials for adjusting

this difficulty. Ipe Agents representing South Caro

lina were John fj|ean, Charles IPinckney, and John

Bull; those re|||esenting Georgia, being William

Houstoun, GeorgllWalton, and iWilliam Few. fonf-

gress then resolvej, tliat these Agents might appJln^

by joint consent, ^immissioners qr judges, to const|t|ite

a court for hearing a/nd determining the mattelepn

question, agreeablj| to? the ninth article of the Qon-

fede:ration. As tjiese jgentlemeri could not, in conse

quence of certainf difficulties, arrange for this cqiirt,

Corigress, at theirjtequest, selected three persons fr^m

each of the UniteJ States, and from this number nine

If.

were finally takerifby jet, viz., Alexander Contee Han-

son^ James Madi|on,r Robert Goldsborough, James Duane, Philemon ipickinson, John Dickinson, Thomas

I

McKean, EgbertHBenon, Williatn Pynchon; and

these were constituted; the Court. This Court were

directed to meet ii| N<?w York, on the third Monday

in June, 1787. In; the mean time, however, the two

States, being desirous of an amicable adjustment of

their disputes, severally appointed Commissioners--

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Andrew Pickens, and

Pierce Butler, being selected to represent South Caro

lina ; and John Houstoun, John Habersham, and

Lachlan Mclntosb|to represent Georgia; to meet at

Beaufort, in South Carolina, on the 24th April, 1787,

and! there, if possi'ble, settle the question of claims

and boundaries. ? -L-

?

After a session iof several days, and a full under

standing co all the joints at issue, the Commissioners

agreed to six articles; by which all the lands lying '';
nortlh of a line drawn due west from the head of the

VOL. II.

25

386

GEORGIA AfeNDEPENDENT STATE.

most northern branchi|f the Tugaloo to the Mississippi, 'J

were by Georgia yielded to South Carolina; and all^

the lands claimed by|South Carolina :|yirig eastward, *f

southward, southeastward, and westwiafd of a line

drawn from the headiof the most nort&ei&y b.ranch of

''

.-.-j^'

'?: S; .1.

the|3Jugaloo west to tne Mississippi, we>rej:r%quisheda

tolfhe^State of Georgfa. ' '-' JN^il ''"-^^'-Ml-

'ifphis treaty was ullanimously ratifieid|by Congress^

onjthe 9th August of|fche same year; an<Ijthese agree-JJ

merits were also conjjrmed in February, 1788, by aj

ratifying act passed|fby the Legislature ?of Geprgia.fl

Thus this dispute wa^amicably settleo^alad one source: J

of irritation between^hese sister Stateiwas-removedri

"'s'**1*

**

''':'

The year 1788 wasfrendered still further memorable

in Georgia, as withinjt Georgia signified her approval!

of the Federal Constfijtution,7 and t. ook.";. in- it-' iatory mea'"^? sures for establishing^ new Constitution for herself ^

The Continental Qbngress, on the 2> 1st February^

1787, adopted a resolution, declaring itljerexpediency^

of calling a Conven|ion, "for the sole and express^

purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, andi

reporting to Congress, and the several Legislatures^

such alterations andJprovisions therein as shall, wheri;

agreed to in Congress, and confirmed by the States, '

render the Federal Constitution adequate to the exi-1:

gencies of government and the preservation of the.

Union."2 Georgia saw the necessity, and approved the

plan, of a general Convention; and appointed as dele-;

gates to this body,|William Few, Abram Baldwin^

William Pierce, George Walton, William HoustounJ

and Nathaniel Pendleton.

vf

, : iA

p^ffHf- -

^';

2 Journal of Federal Convention. Boston, 1819: p. 6. :i5

.',



''

*r

I

REVISING ITHE CONSTITUTION.

387

I The Hon. William few was the only delega|e from

Georgia present at the opening of the Convention, on

tfe 25th May. MajorfPierce took his seat on t|| 31st

May; William Houstotm, on the 1st June; andjj|brani

BJaldwin, on the. lltn June. Messrs. Walt|if and

Bbndleton did not attend. Of these raembeH Mr.

\

''"'

,'

"<? 'i4-

Baldwin took the most prominent part; and heionly-

Y~ -

-

' V"

^" b'V

wfth Colonel Few, signed the draft of the ConstS^itionj

as! it was proposed for ratification to the several States,

on the 17th September^ 1787. *

Jj

lAgreeably to the request of the Congress f>f the

C|nfederation, the Legislature of Georgia, on th^26th

October,-called a Convention, to meet at AuguMa on

thfe fourth Tuesday in December, to consider thles pro

posed Constitution, "and to adopt or reject; anjr part,

or? the whole thereof.!' This Convention wasRcom-

{','

"t-

'



'*: ;'-

posed of the leading linen of the State; andsiJohn

Wereat was elected its {President. After due cqnside-

ra.tion of its several articles and provisions, the -Con

vention did unanimously, and without proposing any

amendments, on the 2d January, 1788, "fully and

entirely assent to, ratify, and adopt the proposed Con

stitution;" and, as the last name was signed to the

ratification, the good news was announced by a salute

of thirteen guns, fired by a detachment of Colonel

Armstrong's regiment, stationed for that purpose op

posite the State House.

;

Georgia was the fourth State to ratify this ::great

instrument, which gave shape and permanence to a

government, for which the Americans had been strug

gling against oppression for twenty-five years ; and to

I

re itch whicb desirable end, they had wet the spil of every colony with blood during the war of the Revo-

^
m
f;. .

.'*
"S:

388

GEMGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATEJ

lution. Iif inference to this {prompt actifm on the

part of Georg^. President W|re)at, as the oficial organ

of the Condition, writing |o|Congress, sjys: ^We

hope thatiithklready compliance! of this Statl with the

"' ' :SS

"

3", " .

'

$$

recommendations of Congress, and of the la|b National

Convention,; will tend not foiMy to consfSdatC the

*

Union, but; /promote the happiness of odi common

f

"' i ".*'

~T^- TM .;,,

-

" .!fS*;"

.'

country." . 1 - t

f |'

' ff'

It was also; found necessary] in order tojfbring the

State Gover.nmK ent. into harm"f o';n. ious ae ction;^is, witli the

I new Constitutibn. and to reniedy certain defects expe-

;. r: . ,,-^.- 7

''?-;''''; :.?'

"-^

J-.' *

rienced in tjbe|practical workings of the Sta^ Constitu

tion, under which the Government of Georgia had

been

' : '*'
workingisince

17773

v'
t4

If .
ijevise

that

.:"!'

:

instrument,

or construct afnew one. Accordingly, the ^gislature,

on the 30th M January, 178^ resolved, <fthat.they

would procee^ to name three fit and discre|t persons

from each -county, to be conyeileci at Augu|ta, by the

Executive, as Soon as may be after official information

is received that nine States Have accepted the Federal

*"

-

*'*". '

*.:.

Constitution; jand a majority of them shall proceed to

take under their consideration the alterations and

.->

i' ?/

.'.''.

amendments that are necessary to be mafle in the

Constitution of this State, and to arrange, digest, and

alter the same, in such manner as, in their judgment,

will be most consistent with the interest ajid safety,

and best secure the rights and liberties to the citizens

thereof" v

;,

I

On the 6th pf October, the official letter of the Sec

retary of Congress, stating that nine States had ac

cepted the Constitution, was laid before the |Executive

Council; and| accordingly, ^Governor Hanidly called

the members ^nominated and ^appointed by tfie Le^isla-

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

389

'

v

ture, to meet at jLugusta, on the 4th of November,

"in prder to carrjy the aforesaid resolutions ofjthe

General Assemblyfinto execution." The Legislature

was called, by proclamation of the Governor, to meet

at the same time; |this earlier period than usual :1pmg

designated because; by a resolution of Congress^glec-

tors for the first President and Vice-President oflfche

]

;,

. . -^: ; '

United States were! to-be chosen in each State oM'ihe

i

.

*-A"'

first [ Wednesday in/' January, and were to meet'fijfand

cast t1heir ballots fo''r these officers on the first Wed' >n" esday in February, s6 that the new Government ulider

the Federal Constifution might" go into operatic^: on

Wednesday, the 4th March, 1789. It was necessary,

therefore, that thef Legislature should provide a-Way

for the choice of tbfese Electors, which it could nof do,

if the matter was delayed to its usual time of meeting.

The Convention | nominated by the Legislature"; for

the revision of the ^Constitution met and organized! by

choosing Governor jHandly, who sat as a member from

Glynb County, as President, and James M. Sirnmons,

Secretary. The counties of Chatham, Effinghfam,

Burke, Richmond, fWilkes, Glynn, Camden, Washing

ton, Franklin, andJGreene, were represented by |wo

or more members; and, after what they term "serious

consideration" and "mature deliberation," they agreed

to arid signed a form, on the 24th November, which,

by order of the House of Assembly, was printed; #nd

five hundred copies ; thereof were to be "sent byfthe

Executive to the different counties, and distributed

among the justices fand field-officers of the militia^ to

be communicated toHhe people for their consideration."

The work done by; this Convention was, however, to

be revised by another body, created by a resolution of

390

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT f-VSS T-; 'ATE.

the General Assembly, composed of t|ee persons from

each county, chosen by the inhabitanjp! thereof on the

first Tuesday1 in December, who werefto meet at Au-

> _

"iiW

gusta, on the 4th day of January, 17j89, " vested with

full power, and for the sole purpose|jjbF adopting and

ratifying, or rejecting," the Constitution 'framed by the

Convention appointed by the Legislate.

The second Convention met : in January, and pro

posed certain alterations to the fornxiaid before them.

These, by direction of the GeneraljAssembly, were

also made known to the people; aipi Governor Wal-

ton

was

directed

to

call

a

third

Conv?e-' n?:" t'.- ion.*

"

to

adopt *

the said original plan or form of government, with or

without, all or any, of the alterations! contained and

expressed in the said after-plan of January last."

This Convention met in the TowrifHall in Augusta,

on the 4th May; considered the several articles and

plans before them, and on the 6tE,! having accom

plished the work, waited in a body upon the Governor

in the Council Chamber; and the President, William

Gibbons, of Savannah, delivered inlo his hands the

Constitution which they had adopted,-, with a request

that he would be pleased to deposit the original in the

archives of the State, and cause it to be promulgated

to the people. Governor Walton replied :--

" Mr. President and gentlemen of fhe Convention,--

The Constitution for the government of this State,

which you now deliver to me, shall have the great

seal affixed to it, and be deposited in the office of the

Secretary of the State. It shall befannounced to the

people at large by proclamation, andha sufficient num

ber of copies printed for the use of/the several coun

ties. I hope and believe that it will be productive of

REVISINOjTHE fCONSTITUTION.

591

good and happiness^ the objects of government

'ialid of society." = I

i

vr- f^J"

*^

;-?

-'

It] The act of formallj| accepting the new (tonstitution

fby the Governor from Mr; Gibbons, the President of

I>:m&'.*e

Convention,

was! announced
' %, f

to

the

t.-.o' ,-w" n

bJy

a

Isalute of eleven eunl. in ^honor of the eleven* States

I y, ?^

3

ta * ' had thus far acceded to the Constitution of the

United States. - '.! |

t-:, ' '

IsilThis Constitution, iwhicn was nearly identical with

4:SI



' ?

5-

J

l|iat framed by the prst fConvention, in ^November,

|3g88, was a great irbprovemerit on the ^Articles of

fi^77, and showed. $rbw much the people had been

fought political wisdom by the experience of eleven

of self-government.t Several organic changes

also introduce^, as Ho the constitution of the

l^eneral Assembly,-|the flection of Governor, the

^military organizations offthe several counties, and

of the law courts ^and Iproceedings therein ; all,

illowever, for the goocf of the State, and to make the

tijastrument more conformable to the Federal Constitu-

;:t|Qn.

I \

f Ir-The new Constitution was to take effect and be in

full force on the first ^Monday of October, 1789, when

the elections for senators and representatives, pre-

.scribed by the second and third sections of Article

it

;'

Jfirst were to be held.;

f The first General Assembly under the new Consti

tution met on the 3d ^November following; and orga

nized, by the election-of Seaborn Jones as Speaker of

rthe House of Representatives, and Nathan Brownson as

president of the Senate. I

^f^The next day, agreeably to the provisions of the

second section, Article II, of the Constitution, the

392

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

I General 'Assembler proceeded to the election of a Go

vernor. The House of Representatives tballo ted for

three persons, and sent to the Senate the number of

votes cast for each; the Senators then cast their

ballots, which, when counted, were equally divided

between Edward Telfair arid John Houstoun^ On the

9th November, the Senate? again balloted; and unani

mously elected Edward Telfair.

.-. :- r

The inauguration took place in the House of Repre

sentatives, on Wednesday,-the llth November. The

Governor elect; Governor Walton, and the now ex

piring body, the-Executive Council; together, with the

Senate, accompanied by the Secretary of State, bearing

the great seal, entered the legislative hall, where the

oath prescribed by the Constitution was administered

by Robert Forsyth, one of the Justices of the county

of Richmond; and Edward Telfair was declared the

first Governor under the new Constitution. .. The House of Representatives on the same day,

through a committee, presented an address to his Ex

cellency, congratulating him on his appointment, com

mending the new Constitution, and assuring him, '''that

in all their deliberations they will steadily endeavor

to keep in view the public good."

A few days after his inauguration, Governor Tel

fair sent a message to the Assembly, pointing out

the necessity of certain additional laws, in order to

carry into full effect the provisions of the new Consti

tution. He also urged upon the Assembly the neces

sity for laying a tax upon the people for the support of

the Government; of reform in the Judiciary depart

ment; of a revision of the land act; and of adopting

such measures as would give security to the frontier

settlements.

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

393

Scarcely had they entered upon the consideration of

thes| important topics, before they were agreeably in-

1 terruptect, in order to keep, with all the people of the

United States, their first national thanksgiving, since

Y*

*$

^^

rtheiado^lion of the Federal Constitution.

<M tl||;3d October, the General Congress, sitting in

;Ne|fpJ|k, had appointed Thursday, the 26th No-

vemerJJ|o be set apart as a day of public thanksgiv

ing ^nd%rayer, in order that the people of the land

migft acknowledge, "with grateful hearts, the many

> and I signal favors of Almighty God, especially by

affofjin J them an opportunity peaceably to establish

a fbijn Q|| government for their safety and happiness."

Wsishingfon, with a heart ever responsive to such

pioufe-;en|otions, issued his proclamation for the obser-

vande oj> the day; and the General Assembly of

Geo%ia,: Svith commendable promptness, resolved, on

the 3.6th?November, that they would; "on Thursday

thej ^26th; instant, attend divine service, agreeably to

the ^proclamation of the President of the United

States:"dand the Rev. Mr. Palmer, then officiating in 15
St. I|aulgy Augusta, was " requested to prepare a dis

course and form of prayer suitable to the occasion."

At the appointed time, the General Assembly met

at |the State House, at 10 oclock A.M., and there,

being joined by the Governor, the clergymen, and the

officers of State, a procession was formed and marched

to St. Pauls Church, where the services and dis-

courcse were listened to with great attention; and the

thanks of the Assembly were subsequently presented

to Mjr. Palmer, "for the well-adapted sermon preached

by hjm <|n the occasion."

Itfis interesting to find this most distant member of

394

GEORGIA II* INDEPENDENT STATE,

the Union so ready,||hrough her legislative^ Ass|mbly,

to respond to the resolution of Congress^^nd t<| meet

her sister States around the altar upon whiHh tlfe reli

gious sentiment of tlfe people would lay^ii|; tribute of

national praise and f|anksgiving.

4^|||--Jit v4f v

.On,the 8th December, 1790, the Legis&ljfre it^Med

'

'^^V'

^'""sV*' '

'-^'

-^ '

the^ .State into threejpongressional distri<3ti|^ du^^iag

that the counties of CEmden, Glynn, Libert^Ch^th^li,

and Effingham, shall|compose the lower^|stric|;|;he

counties of Burke, ||ichmond, and Washi4gton| sHall

compose the middle district; and the ;countie^!*of

Wilkes,

-
Franklin,

<-'&
agp

Greene,

the

-,'. . $"
upper;d|stricf;

:^':- '-'
^-nu

the first Monday in Jpajfouary was appointeda|ihe aaytfor

the election of represientatives to Congress.* The elec

tions were accordingly held, and James Jackson ^as

chosen for the lowei|district, Abram Baldwin fbr|tjie

middle, and George r]VIaUhews for the uppef:district. :

Thus the new Con"'.Ts- titution was carried out -'*: in nearly '( .j: .'.'*' all its provisions, and; the Government, under the judi

cious management of Governor Telfair, waks becoming

gradually strengthened and consolidated. There were

still, however, many dangers threatening the}: State

from the French and Spanish governments online

south and west; and evils of no ordinary ch^rapter

marred the harmony of the legislative councils, ;and

impeded the free action of the constituted 'authorities

of the State. The subject of the finances of theJState,

so complicated by reason of the various issues of pa-per

bills, their depreciation, and the different kinds M^cer

tificates presented at, the Treasury, was full of embar

rassment; for it was mo easy matter to settle thi e"iht

'

,,

v

?*

"-- ;.iCJ

.

iV', _ ,-y

years accounts of troops, constituted as the ; Au|er|ban

army was; operating in so many States^^called||)ut

I>
i.^

pEVISING THE CONSTITUTION. -

395

under|;such fvarious proclamations, and receiving in

payment so|many different kinds of bills or certifi

csuatb'eIj.^ee.!<f!$l.'

hGi,sogv:&reerantorexTpeelrfiaeinrc,e hi.onw; efivnearn, ci.barloumgahtttertos,

the and

wa,s %nabledlffco arrange the operations of the Treasury

upoi|l| wellpdjusted plan, by|which the State indebt-

edne^couldfbe fully known, and provision for its liqui-

datiolfFbe judiciously made. 1

?

itti unsatisfactory relation's which subsisted be-

VI ' V--V*'

I?"'

"

?

.

tweej|?the Jitate and the Indians within and near its

bqixle|s; th|:beginning of a conflict with the General

Geveftimenifas to the right <if jurisdiction over the

Indians, an^ the lands cededf by them; and the rise

an|i ve|arly development of systematized schemes for

stripping th% State of its unoccupied territory by or

ganized associations of land speculators; were causes

of grlat disfruiet to the Governor, and gave constant

^J . ^-e

i^.J.

'

J

^_i

ernploymenjl to his mind and energies.

Infthe rMdst of these passing cares, the Governor

and the citizens of Georgia were privileged to welcome

to th|ir Sta|e the illustrious Washington.

'Orilhis accession to the Presidency, in 1789, the

General Assembly presented him with a congratulatory

address, tot which he gave a suitable reply; but

i

"-j *

I''--

*-J

X / '

th'e jieople,%who had thus approached him through

tLeir^representatives, were now permitted to see and

hear'him, and give him such a welcome as was due to

the Chief Magistrate of the Republic.

j The President reached Savannah on the 13th May,

179;1| and was received by tke civil and military au

thorities
I. ..'.;:
whiffl it

of^the town,

w|s possible

with all the
'.
for them to

display
rj
bestow.

and honors The occa

sion fwas offe which drew to ^Savannah persons from

I-

111 ^ ff- .

396

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

the line of the seaboard and tlie surroundid^

as all the citizens within reach-were anxioul, by their

f

.-

-v# ^ i

presence and congratulations, fto testify their respect

for the Chief Magistrate of the land. J ThfJpapei| of

the day present a glowing account of the p|oceedjugs

consequent on his visit; and evince the ie|ljtnlara|ing

effect produced upon the people by beholdMg ori| to

whom had been confided the management!^ the^var

of the Revolution; and on 'wh'-om had bee'n"--.'!-,4 devo~l-ived the onerous work of presiding over the Gov$|ninent of

his country.

f

|| I

In reply to the address of the Mayor-andflLlderinen,

Washington said: " While the virtuous lc|>nduc| of

your citizens, whose patriotism braved all^hardships

of the late war, engaged my{ esteem, tMhldistrejsses

peculiar to the State of Georgia, after thef|peace|;ex

cited my deepest regret" Such a well-desel'ved com

pliment, and such properly-expressed sympathy, was

peculiarly grateful to Georgians, and made ^afdeepfim

pression on their minds.

|I

Leaving Savannah, Washington, with |is suite,

journeyed to Augusta, the seat of government, under

escort of a troop of horse sent by the Governor. I-He

arrived there on the l>ih May, and was pnet, ^five

miles from town, by a large cavalcade of officers and

citizens, with Governor Telfair at their head, |vho

welcomed the President, in the name of the- State, to

its seat of government and to its cordial hospitalities.

Two days after, the Governor presented a formal: ad

dress to him in the State House. The affectionate

and laudatory language of Governor Telfair %xpre|sed

the general sentiment of the people; for the inhabi

tants of the upper counaes vied with the|lowei| in

I

REUSING THE CONSTITUTION.

397

i

'%+'.

.

Sf '

testifyin||their Appreciation of|his august character.

Iii the course of Ihis reply to Governor Teliair. Wash-
irigton said : I?"* " I& * ball .a*lw* ays refain '''Hf,'. the mosf e|pleasing

remembrance off the polite anof hospitable attentions

which I |h ave received in my |our through!Georgia,

m.

and duri|^ my^tay at the residence of your govern

ment." m .-j; -

t/

-~ '-$*>

I The E'v$ident--*'left Georgia, onJ'' his return, on Sattfr-

'3'YA

'*.' '

H

day morning, being accompanied to the bridge by the

Gj overnor#,l;and oth< er officers: wf^io there took leave of mm, withVail the civic and military ceremonies which

I

'

*

.;

I\

the occasion denianded.

j^

?

;

j Underfjthe working of the ifjew Constitution; and

sharing ^ith the other States the advantages secured

b|y the Federal ^Constitution; |he political aspect of

I

.-\- '-.-"

V



-&j> .

Georgia l^ecamei more composep; and the judicious

measures^lpf Governor Telfair tfnded to augment the

populatioh, revenue, and reputation of the State. It

was, however, no easy task tof bring into order, and

adjust to; the satisfaction of allfparties, inhabitants of

such widely-separated districts! who had but little

sympathy5 with each other's pursuits; but little inter

course with each other in social life; and who were

but little-accustomed to act together for a common

end, irrespective of sectional interests; so that the

legislation- might be as broad as] the boundaries of the

State, and so nicely adapted t> the wants of all, as

that eacn should feel the benefits, and none the op-

pression^|of the common laws of the land. Still, with

all the drawbacks arising from the want of homoge-

neousnegfl of material, hannonyjpf industrial interests,

and agreement as to the true policy to be pursued, in

referenccffto the currency, the Indians, and the disposal

. : '-!!!'"!
$&. miif%e

. I'

391

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

QJ| the unoccupied larids, the State ^steadily rose froml

We almostr -crushed position in t^hMh 'the war left it,fj

"Si

"."

*'

S vl "'

:

"*

2;S

a||d gave~snarked evidences of jfenewed : activity andfj

jfThejelection of Governor for|the term commei|cingII

was a closely contested One. Th|j three ||ajnes,|

the Constitution required should be prefented|

*

;'

*.' '.' * ; "fi: 'a

Senate by the, Houge of :Representatives|fvere|

Telfair, George Matthews, and; Jared Irfvin :|

;jilfair receiving twenty-one votes, Irwin seve|een,;|

aid Matthews fifteen. The Senate chose ^George Mat^Hi

thlews; and he was duly inaugurated, >& seeond^iime;t|

-?-i.-

'

*f

*-'

-i= '-

*' &}

&%

Governor of Georgia."

&'. :-' 4-f

fThe record of- Executive proceedings during^ thisff

period is mostly occupied by orders and details; is t6||

the calling out, organizing, and posting the milifcia|andl<i

oQier troops, for the protection of the J State a^,inst||

th5fe In dians and SApaniards;' the former o. f. whoml^were^S-ffti^iii'~ j>cpinmittmg most barbarous ravages on the frolitierl^ *

settlers, and the latter trespassing upon the territory!^

and rights of Georgia.

-;|No other State had so much to impede'its

ment, depress its energies, or so much frontier trdublejfjlf

to: absorb its growing resources and harass its indreas-? II

*...*-'

<~>

'-' .

':-" iV'gf

ing population; yet, despite these impediments^ thelffl

laying out of seven r>ew counties in one year, \vas a||ft

cVh^'eering token of prosperi* ty.

|'^

f' " !^fVf^|(!

jgBy several acts passed in 1793, a new county, calledtS?'

--y;

v

A.

'

/ f

,j,

J jj.'*',.

Hancock, after the President of the ContinentalCon-tfbff

>J ;

.

-,

gtess, whose name was first subscribed to the

'%fs?J&ti*

t^?n of Independence, was laid out from parjs

Washington and Greene. Another county, to

i^. honor of one of Georgia's bravest sElevolut;|(Jiar|^i

.f>:;





' <."I?.j'. f.-i'iifi!*ps;i-1

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

399

officers, was givjen the name of Seriven, was made out

of Burkefand Effingham. A third, comprising por

tions of Wilkes and some adjoining: counties, was

named Wa* rren, in honor of the <hero of Bunker Hill. The fourth county,was ;ealled;Dglethorpe, and was

origin allyjcomprised in Elbert arid Greene. The fifth,

destined lo bear a name which Georgia has everxle*'

I

'$-

;

' .

;

.

'?

lighted to honor, and which is associated with her

military almals from the time of Oglethorpe, the name

of Mclntcjsh, was laid off from liberty County. The

sixth, wh|ch was called Bryan,* after the venerable

ani suffering patriot, Jonathan Bryan, was taken out of

Chatham |County. The last, named from the chivalric

General Bichard Montgomery, who was killed while

leading tr|e American troops against Quebec, was taken

off from "^ashington County. In these counties new

to'vns wejre established; public-buildings of various

kinds were erected; and an impetus was given to in

dustry anH enterprise which greatly tended to draw

in settlers], and diffuse over a greater area the hitherto

straitened;population.

:

In order that he might understand more truly the

real situation of the frontier settlements, and see, from

actual inspection, what they needed for protection and

defence, Governor Matthews, in January and Febru

ary, made an official tour through the northwestern

frontiers, ? from Ward's Mill on the Tugaloo, to Carr's

Bluff, on ,the Oconee; a distance of about two hundred

miles. He found a great part of this boundary line

exposed to the Cherokee Indians, and nominally pro

tected by only two posts, occupied by the Federal

troops. iHe communicated to the Secretary of War

i

'i

his views? as to the necessities of this section; and sug-

400 f.

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

gesfpd, as his plan of defence, |hat there should be

stations at-every twenty in iles, garrisoned by an offi-

cer,pe.rgeant, and sixteen priva|es; half a troop of

horse Ao be posted at each alternate station; who

sJ* i '""

*

'-'

'"v

sholpd -perform a scout every day to the stations on

eacftside; and thus he thoughtJthat by two troops of

i*:~i1?s.~* i*-*' ' *

'"'

^"^

y

*^

'

hor|f^{and two companies, of infantry, he could .cover

thefflistance of one hundred andf seventy or one hun

dred and eighty miles /on the Cherokee frontier.

Along the more thinly settled outskirts, on the south-

;/v_ O

/

';

v

'

western frontier, bordering on the Creek nations, he

suggested a larger numbet of men, as being needed to

garrison the forts and protect thel settlers.

The suggestions of Governor iMatthews were only

partially complied with. ;His letters to the Secretary

of War were strong, earnest, and at times bore hard

upon Congress and the President; and his indignation

was quite aroused, when he contrasted the lavish ex-

penpiture of men and means on the northwestern

frontier, in comparison with the stinted aid furnished

to the equally exposed border lands of the South.

The firmness and promptness of Governor Matthews

were well tested, by the illegal and dangerous conduct

of General Elijah Clarke, in attempting to establish a

settlement on lands, reserved for the Indians, on the

southwest side of the Oconee River. General Clarke

had,been one of the most active officers in Georgia; and

had: given evidence of his military qualities on several

marked occasions. But when he found that the treaty

wh^h General Twiggs and himself had made with the

Creek Indians, in 1785, was set aside, and new boun

daries, less advantageous to the State, were declared

by the treaty which was concluded with this tribe at

RET^flfiNG THE CONSTITUTION.

t 401

New York in 171|||^betweeifthe President, represented

''^il^'c?'-

v'

"

-

*

by General H. I5||j|x,' Secretary for the Department of

Wur; and Alexjfttler McGillivray, representing the

various branchesloj the Cyeek nation, on the other; he

became greatlyatHensed. &nd determined to take for-

I

(--1

t/ JT.;J ' ^i-j.1

7 fi> -^;

- ^.

cible possession ofpie tefiitcpry, which he conceive^ haji

been so improper^^urrenie^ed. Such was the military

popularity of General Clarl:, though quite illiterate,

ancl uncouth in Uifs manners, that no sooner did he

l
1

... ;-v.iV
; ?' ^"~

>' -. " /

n,

'. -1."';

make known hisf^an thanimany restless adventurers

IO'ociounedee,haisndstpalnadnjjijf^f*ll:' athnedmmi-ei a'-J^rvcehsedonwthiteh cheidmedaclarons^'s's.th';;:e

It was in M||| 1794j -pthat Governor Mattjiews

learned of the existence Qfjjthis settlement, which he

supposed to consul of adventurers " who had; em

barked in the French interest, and that in a short; time

they would of themselves disperse."

So soon as he >^as undeceived on this point, he or

dered General Irwpn, on the 20th May, "to direct the

sellers immediately to remove;" and he was \ soon

af;er informed that they had complied with his re

quest. In the ntiantime, ; the President had taken

prompt measures'to terminate this illegal settlement.

General Knox, the Secretary of War, wrote to the

Governor of Georgia, on the 14th of May, urging that

toe most " effectual measures be taken to prevent en

tirely the expedition, and:bring to punishment the

authors, actors, atid abettors; otherwise the United

States may beconfe responsible for the consequences."

Lieutenant-Colonel/Gaither,r of the army, was alsb au

thorized to co-operate with the Executive of Georgia,

in such way as wojild bestisecure the desired end.

On the 14th oQJuly, Governor Matthews learned,

VOL. II.

26

P~ IS

402

GEQRQTA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

M-

., -,<:
through Colofjel Gaither, that General Clark had en

camped with'lt party of men on the fsoutliwest side of

the Oeonee, Opposite to Fort Fidius. *& Being requested

by General Itlvin, on the part of Georgia^ to remove,

he positively Tefused; and, on the 28th 'f>f Jufy, the Governor issued his proclamation, -as follows:--^f

-Whereas,fl have received official information that

Elijah Clark, lEsq., late a Major-General of the 'thilitia

of this State,%as gone over the Oeonee ^River^ with

intent to establish a separate and independent govern

ment on the tlands allotted to the Indians for their

hunting-grounds, within the boundaries4^ and '-juris

diction al rights of the State of Georgia, aforesaid, and

has induced numbers of the good citizens of the said

State to join Mm in the said unlawful enterprise.-

"And whereas such acts and proceedings are not only

a violation of the laws of this State, but'tend to sub

vert the good order and government thereof; I have

therefore thought fit to issue this, my proclamation,

warning and forbidding the citizens of the said State

from engaging in such unlawful proceedings, hereby

strictly enjoining all persons whatsoever, who have

been deluded to engage therein, immediately to desist

therefrom, as they will answer the contrary at their

peril. "And I do further strictly command and require all

judges, justices, sheriffs, and other officers, and all other good citizens of this State, to be diligent in aid ing and assisting in apprehending the said Elijah Clark

and his adherents, in order that they may severally be

brought to justice."

.; -r

Clark accordingly surrendered himself to the ^au

thorities in Wilkes County, who, as they stately "pro-

EEVJSI&G THE-CONSTITUTION.

403

" .

t?-

'.;'

ceeded to the m^tfoaturel consideration of the cause.

andi after

an

<" $ '
ex$Mnation

\
c|f

^!'
tie

laws

of

the

State,

-l '
and

theJtreaties madelsEttd lawsfeasled by the United Stated,

'' !
do give it

as

4 ':':
ourUecided

fx |-

^

ifhai)imous

.

.

I

opinion, that the

0.

>-..* '

ft 8

4

: '

said Elijah Clarlsfbe, and if h|reby, discharged." ^f|

Tie effect OfJhis:dischl;r*e was to embolden

and;

his

$ ; '
partisarifl^mnd

;
th}e

'-'
Bresident

Go^rh- o* r ti o em- bi-di di y txhi e iSli5l*iif'&ia . aridi .call in the aid; xj

the | Federal troops if ned|ss|ry, in order to disperse?:

thefsettlers. ^/- - -f--|

|'|T

The designs Of Clark bfcarae quite popular, arid it

was believed by Many thatfSthepmilitia would not malch^

against him.

- f .'<,'.

-i &

'^ '' '

Accordingl)| the insurgents pressed for

war-d.] their operations, Advance, built houses,

estsabli?s' hed a fort called an<| b|gan a regular and

F'ort iride^

pendent settlement.

-I |

'

A Committee of Safety! was appointed, a board of

officers elected, of which |E.f:Bradley was president,

whilfe Clark was '-chosen the |major-general and com-

mander-in-chief of the settlement. Several garrisons,

within communicating distances, were established, mili

tary stores were obtained! arid the most determined

resolutions taken to sustain the undertaking. "lam

determinedly fixed," says f General Clark, writing to

Colonel Walton, " to risk everything with my life upon

the i'ssue, and for the success |f the enterprise/'

Before Governor Matthews- in accordance with pre

sidential instructions, resorted to force, he once more

tried the effect of negotiation, and sent Generals Twiggs

and Irwin to Fort Advance ; land General Gunn and

Mr.'Oarnes had also an interview with Clark at George

town . : " I proceeded," says Qeneral Twiggs in his of

ficial report to the Governor^ "to the unauthorized

I

ha

404

GEORGIA AN INDEPEND|NTl|JATE.

Vi_

_' t .

;.},-. ?..

^ hi

settlements Ion the southwest sidejbfW&fOconte River,

T tf

r; ,.

yii' - $f-

-tfrv> ,

'

ami in the pesence of General E.fDlaJ|fafod hf| party, I

'1! r * - -. r/

read the teller from the War DeJ&rtflffiit to {pour Ex

fet :

cellency,- together with Judge "V^altd|^s{charge to the

grand jury ^>f Richmond Count3|*antit|ie la^ opinion

o the attofney and solicitor-g&nerMil Aftlr a full

;.,-

""

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/

*--' :S '. "

?;' t Si- V'1

~&g'''

explabationlof the papers above ;|eci|f I enjjired into

atriendly conference with E. Clajk alfilhis ajherenta,

pointing out to them the danglr of>;t{ieir enterprise

without the^ sanction of the State. Notwithstanding

all the arguments which could He advancedjihey still

persisted inlheir undertaking. iEastfe!findin|| nothing



"v

'?' " ;l*i- ~f 4' '

3ft" 1.

could be done with them, I ord|re(ip^em 1^ remove

within the Itemporary line betwjpen^isjand fee Creek

Indians. General Clark called onvhis5p|6cers^o collect

the opinion/of their men, whicft theySdid,^,nd gave

me for answer that they should maintain thefr ground

at the risk^ of their lives." Troops^ bt)th State and

Federal, were therefore concentrated at Folt Fidius,

-

",C

'

'fi*

on the Oconee; and such a disppsition?made|of them,

and such demonstrations of determination and force by

them, that (General Clark, uponJthe;pifDraiseJfrom Ge

neral Irwin, "that if he would evacuate the *post, him

self and his men should be protected in their persons

and property," marched out of the place, and the State

troops took possession of the works. On the 28th of

September they were set on fire, and together with

Fort Defiance, another of Clark's posts, and several

other garrisoned places, were completely deriiolished.

On the 12th of October, 179|, the Governor could

write to the Secretary of Waif, "We posts are all

burnt and Destroyed, and the whole business happily

terminatedsrwithout the loss of |>lood;''t If ;;.

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

405

The conduct of General Clark in this affair was ^reprehensible in the highest degree. It was a viola^tio[h of the rights of Georgia, of the Indian nation, and of the United States, which had pledged its faith to the Indian tribes to secure their lands from occupation and intrusion. The plea that the grand jury of Wilkes jhad declared the treaty at New York inoperative, and ithe proclamation of Governor Matthews illegal, was a mere subterfuge; as these justices being in the inteJrests of Clark, acted without proper power, and disicharged their prisoner without due regard to the infterests of the State which they were sworn to protect. : *The misconduct of General Clark did not cease with the termination of this expedition. Irritated by the failure of his designs in making a settlement at Fort Advance, and condemned by all right-thinking men for his unwarrantable course, he was placed in a condition tokbe approached by those, who, stimulated by sym pathy with the French in their revolutionary proceed ings, and sharing with them a hatred of the Spanish nation, had organized a party called the " Sans Cu lottes," to annoy the Spaniards, and to do other things contrary to the laws of the United States.
General Clark joined this party, and received a com mission as major-general, with a pay of $10,000, in the French service. With a band of adventurers, he made incursions into the territory of his Catholic Ma jesty in Florida, and established his camp at a place called Temple, on the St. Mary's, in the fall of 1795. The French consul'in this State, Citizen Swares, dis owned any connection with Clark, assured Captain Tauche, who was detailed to operate against Clark, that he had no French commission, and that " if the

lit;-
5. ,,-... : f

tit

406

GEORGIA f INDEPENDENT STATE.

French Convention flfM a lien on the Floridas, they

well knew iow to plain and execute without involving

';

*?,

neutral powers."3 Iff

The onljiresult of peneral dark's movements was

to seriously-disturb thce harmony and peace which per vaded - the southern fboundaries of Georgia, commit

many wanton depredations, and then be compelled,to

abandon all his schemes and return to Georgia, hum

bled, defeated, and disgraced. The 7th section of jhe 4th article of the Constitution

directed that " at thjefgeneral election for members of

Assembly in the yeajrjp.794, the electors in each county

shall elect three persons to represent them in a con

vention for the purpose of taking into consideration

the alterations necessary to be made in this Constitu

tion." ' .--.-

^

Agreeably to the provisions of this section, a con

vention met at Louisville, in Jefferson County, in May,

1795, and was organized by electing Noble Wimberly

Jones, President, add Thomas Johnson, Secretary.

This body continued/in session two weeks, and most

of this time was spent in debates upon the rate of ap

portioning senators -and representatives,--the contest

being between the lower district and the upper. It

.was finally settled that the lower counties, consisting

of Camden, Glynn, Mclntosh, Liberty, Bryan, Chat ham, Effingham, Seriven, Burke, and Montgomery, should have twenty-five members; and the upper dis trict, made up of the counties of Richmond, Columbia,

Wilkes, Elbert, Franklin, Oglethorpe, Greene, Han

cock, Washington, and Warren, should have twenty-

/. .

._ s,"

-""- ?'

:-

9 Tauche's letter to Governor Matthews, 1st October, 1795. i

REVISING

407



'"

"!.

-'

j"

six members; each cpuiaty fhaving>: as jDefore, one

senator. -. : i

| i: | |- . -

This body, afterlan excltedtbut rather Unprofitable sess-.i1on, adj. ourned o$n the?' ' 16th |f>f May,: havi.?n g ordained

and established sm articles "as additions.and amend

ments to the present Constitutfon, to take eifect and be

-!

"i* r i;,'

-V .;g

,- /



in full force-on the first Monday in October next." The

*[

:'';

'*

%' ?:',. ~,*



''-t

" '

priifcipal articles were, thai th^senators were to be cho-

senlannually instead of trjennfally; all elections to be

made by the General Assembjy, were to be by joint

ballot of both Houses ;:at.new Apportionment was.made

of {representatives | the^Ajssembly was to,|neet annu

ally on the|second|Tue|d^y iiij January, instead of the

first Monday in November; Jthe seat of government

waSi to be removed fromjAu^psta to Louisville; and

projvision was made fern furthest alterations iof the Con

stitution in the vear 1798. I

*

I

'

^>

''

Jv

The change which the Convention made:in the time

of the meeting of the Generlil Assembly^ caused, at

the time, no little excitement,-:and but for the judicious

cor duct of the friends of rdey, might have resulted in

most serious consequences, f;

|

Governor
I

Matth ews

ha; 'd

B:.; een

elected 'by
:J

the

As-

sembly on the 7th of November, 1793, agreeably to

the 2d section of the 2d article of the Constitution;

and by the 1st section of that; article, his term expired

on the 6th of November, 1795t The Convention made

no provision for his holding over until the meeting of

the next Assembly; and therefore, by many it was

conceived that Georgia was noW without an Executive;

anjd government, so far as it ^depended on|a Governor,

was at an end, until the election should be; held in the

January following.

\f

|

m %&["
v;.

408

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

Had this emergency occurred at any other time, it might scarcely have been noticed; but then the whole State was excited In reference to the speculations which were going on in western lands, and the bill which had recently passed the Legislature; and every occa sion of advancing the interest of these land compa nies, which had been organized for the purchase of the western territory^ Georgia, was eagerly seized upon and turned to their advantage.
On the 9th of] November, 1795, a letter was ad dressed to General John Twiggs^ by James McNeil, in behalf of his fellow-citizens, in which he states that they had consulted on the subject, and, " viewing with the deepest regret the political condition in'which the government is placed by the late Convention, from the 6th of this instant to the llth of January next, and doubting the civil authority, conceive that they are under a military government, or that they have a right to assume the reins of government until the meeting of the Legislature." He then requests General Twiggs, " inasmuch as the Governor did not exercise the con stitutional power given him to convene the Assembly on extraordinary occasions," as the oldest Major-Ge neral, to " convene the Legislature at as early a period as possible, to quiet the minds of my fellow-citizens, and retain that order and harmony which is indis pensably necessary in all well-regulated governments." Some of the most respectable inhabitants of Columbia County also signed a paper, in which,they say : " Con ceiving the situation of this State at present to be alarming, and that some measures ought to be taken without delay to prevent impending evils, we, whose names are underwritten, will concur in such steps as

.REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

409

may be taken to convene the Legislature at as early a

period as may be." General Twiggs consulted with

r



~ &'

General Jackson on the subject, aild his letter gives

striking evidence of the: intense desire of the people of

the upper counties that he should act according to their

wishes] But he prudently declined; and while the

people twere discussing the exciting questions of the day,

the second Tuesday im January, 1796, arrived, tlie

Legislature met, Jared Irwin was|elected Governor,

and the momentarily impeded 'government was again

set in'tfull operation. A more inflammable, or a less law-

abiding people, would, in these twolmonths, under tKe

influeh|ces which were then at work, have set in motions

if nofccarried to completion, agenciesjwhich would have

overturned the government and given up the State to

anarchy and misrule.

;'. r

i-

,' ':

'.''; .f-^
;:,, -, ,^



**: i-w?J*-

^-J 1 -^ .." VVT\gpr <'., 1-> -
<lip$ill

CHAPTER IV.

W -fig?

N - i : ; I. S:E;T-' TLEM EN T ? OF :IN'D.IAN AFFAI'RS, 'i$';

tojthe troublelnncident to the warjwith Great

Br^tain, were those which? arose between,^eorgia and

thfe Indianftfibes. |

I 4t

;To::givef :a history of these Indian difficulties, the

various tui*ns in ^ their; treaties and negotiations, the

skirmishing-like warfare so long kept up |>n the fron

tier, and the many harrowing details of massacre,

cruelty, and destruction, which were perpetrated in the

white man's settlements, would require fmore space

than can be given to such detail; and therefore much

must be left untold, and much more beMeft to the

imagination, while the historian sketches'a brief and

confessedly incomplete outline of events connected

with the Indian afiairS of Georgia.

^

So soon as a war with the American Colonies ap

peared inevitable, measures were at once .taken to se

cure the Indian tribes on the side of Great Britain, and

we have already seen some of the proceedings of the

Indian agents towards effecting this end. i;

f The Indians were unable to comprehenjtl the princi

ples involved in the ^Revolutionary struggles, or the

policy pursued by ministry and commanders in con

ducting tliefwar. * WEen they took sides with England,

T

tf" -;

SETTLEMENT OF

411

f. $

it was for gold, plunder, andlpeM>n|lniteies$: and

O

W'

' v

-- ty- '' ''-?*"" iSf'1 ' &"-: - V! ^ "'"

the ai;n of the British agents|wa||dMectjp^ |stimu-

lating such passions in their foreaitslasJMfiJdimake

*--*

JL

^.

^ '. '-"

V- .'. i*f-

-Jt^wyt-. i1-.'rfiajfi ^|'-

them most full of? hatred towards thesAmler^,ns, and

i.

"'.-

';'

''

jSi 1 "-^.' |r('

:-

most anxious to glut their passions ffqr: pell |i|f(tfblqodi

When the war^with Great Britaim ^vas ibrol^llt ;tb a

t.'

-

-^ '*

',''i

. '?

'^- "5^"^TM^'$^','-: " -''^

close, the assiduous attention^

towards the southern tribes

withdrew themselves from the ^nations^ or Remained to

stir up trouble and inflame desj.res4fpF|furtQeifcafnaffe.

i

*' '

'- ''' ''"<"." .-';*

^ ' *l-'"' ^ -' ;; '

In the pacificatory measures w^hich2|r^nspfeedpDetween

the Americans and Enfflish,xtJ|e Ijldlans ^eiil^ift <un-

|

''-

"

*'- rj-

'v"J'V'' '&'*?.''

'S'."-. *%S^ ' $ '

-'

pacified, and their causes ofi^rie^D&e iioi^|essed;

"

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"

^': ^''^' '"'

and thus, as the odean continues to heave andlroH lousj

I

'

-'',':-'

$

'$ ' -

Q

after the storm which vexed it has ipassfd/feway^ so

-f. -Jr

,^; '^i , / '

there remained ini&eorgia man^disturbanc|s o^ginated

by Erglish machinations, and :;Still|showing |heir evil

results, though the exciting cause Jrad lonf s|nc^i been

removed by the treaty of 1783j ^ ff 0 f' | t

Ma:ay Tories aiid traders fbundlt to tlfeii| interest

to keep up the hostile attitude ofJthe frojbti|ir tribes,

with a view to private revenge for f losses fanfthe war,

or for personal aggrandizement, by monopolizing the

trade or lands of the Indians.

A party of these men, just at the conclusion of the

Revol utionary war, met together, and fbriiied; a settle-

ment on the Etowah Elver, at the moutli Of Long-

swam o Creek, in ;Cherokee County, and meeir to the

Indi.an town -of that name. . >. ; ; , Si f'i'- |f' 5

__ (

/





-^ $?: ;-; -. '

TheI se prersons were mostlJy d esrpe' rate me;*i,^Mh- 6'5',ha'v-

ing imbrued their hands in Whig! blpod^n% gutted

themselves with Whig spoil, had fled thithjrl^th such

property as they could transpc|ft,|^iiMy^n|isting of

412

GEORGIA All INDEPENDENT STATE.

a-
negroes and horses^ |nd there organized themselves

into a military band, finder the command of Thomas

Waters. Iri small ?l parties, these Tories, taking with

them a few Indians, mjide incursions into the surround

ing settlements, and |ven extended their forays into

South Carolina, dail^; stealing goods, cattle, horses,

and negroes, and almost 'daily murdering those who

opposed their course. 4 5

' : ?

Their depredations! induced General Pickens to

apply to the Governof of South Carolina for leave to

conduct a small army into the Indian country, to

drive them away, andjto chastise the Indians. Leave

was granted; and fPickens immediately wrote to

Colonel E. Clark, by express, requesting him to

meet him at Long; Creek, with all the men he could

raise, on Monday, the! 16th of September, 1782, with

thirty days' provision!. Clark received this letter on

the 6th of September! the next day issued his orders,

IT

and, on the 17th, male the required junction, at the

head of ninety-eight!men, including ten volunteers

under Colonel Isaac IJackson, of Richmond County.

Pickens had raised and brought over three hundred

and sixteen men, including officers; the whole force,

therefore, numbered but little over four hundred men.

Resting for a day only, to refresh the troops and con

cert future measures, they renewed their march on the

morning of the 19th, directing their course westwardly,

through the woods, to the Chattahoochee River, and

crossed at Beaver Shoals on the 24th. As they ap

proached the scene ofsaction, General Pickens directed

that the two companies of swordsmen, commanded by

Captains Maxwell and Mapp, should march by turns

in advance^ and that mlence should be observed by the

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

413

fvhole line. All plunder was to be: equally divided; land strict orders were given that the aged men and women, and the young children of the^Indians, should $>e spared. After crossing the Chattahoochee, they ftruck an Indian path, and made two Indians prison|ers, who told them that eight miles up the river were {several Indian towns, while twenty ;miles before them ivas Waters's settlement. Colonel Robert Anderson, fvith one hundred men, was detached to march up to <|he Indian towns, piloted by one of the Indian priioners; while the other Indian promised to conduct fPickens and the rest of the men through the woods to fLong Slwamp. Without a pathway, they marched till late at night; then rested a few hours on their arms; lind by daybreak, having resumed their march, they Reached the Etowah River, where they found a small Indian village, and made one Indian prisoner. Colonel /White, with a small party, was ordered down that river, tjo capture some towns on the east side; while IPickens and Clark crossed over, and after a march of ten miles, came to Waters's town at Long Swamp. But the watchful Tory, having learned "from his spies the ?approaoh of Pickens, had fled with his booty. The General now aimed to secure the alliance of the In dians; and having taken several prisoners, he treated them kindly and sent them to the several chiefs, with requests to meet him at that place on the 17th of Oc tober, to deliver up the white men among them, and to make treaties of peace, promising to spare their itowns if they complied. In the meantime, Pickens kept his troops in motion ; and Colonel Clark marched ieven as far as Estawnalee, sixty miles froin Long {Swamp, in pursuit of Waters, who iiad camped there

414

GEOB&r IA AN INDEPEND-,ENTt. STATE.

>f

for a l|w days,dbut who fled when fgain pursued, and|

conti^lied his^ight into Florida!! Many negroes,'

horsefl peltry, and a few white met! were ta'ken from-

the marauders; and by the 17th, thf brigade was back

at Loljg Swamp, to receive the Jnc|ans, who had pro-:

mise<|j|o meet there in order to n&keja treaty;; -Twelve;

?head|iien and over two hundred others came hyan<|i

%nadel|b treaty, ceding most of itheir lands, and protj'

misingl to meet at Augusta any commissioners that}

>might|be appointed by the Governor of Georgia M*

"ratify^he same. They.also agreed to be at peace witli

/

v '>*

-

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.

O



'!;-;

1.

,,.'^.

the Americans,/and to suffer no mxfre disaffected meft

.ft

-

f

-SS

-!&

to dwiill among them. } it

;%

Thi"s^, treaty was no sooner sighec|^"| than the General-"''-

issued! orders for returning; and ol the 22d of Octo^;

ber thje troops were discharged* atlLong Creek, nearj

the prlflce where theyJ had rendezvou*sed on the 17th of'. September. Thus was accomplished the design of this;

expedition. In thirty-three days from the time this"

small |army left Wilkes, well mounted, indeed, but}

carrying nothing but their arms'and their saddle-bags,

without a tent to shelter them, or bread and salt meat

to eatj and subsisting entirely onfparched corn and

fresh foeef, without salt; they had penetrated into the

depths of the Indian country; had rputed the maraud

ing Tories, destroyed many Indian villages, made a

treaty^of peace with several large Itribes, and had se

cured ifor Georgia all that country which lies between

the western fork of the Chattahoocbee and the upper

waters of the Savannah, without tne loss of a single

man,%nd without one being sick or|wounded.

1^

ij

.**

Am ^bn. go

the

matters

which

earlv engrossed

/-:;

O

the

at-

tention of the Legislature in January, 1783, was the

f* -

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

It 15

state dp1 the Indian tribes; and, oh the llth of Jaiiu-

ary,tft IJouSe ordered, " that his honor the Govertior

be recfueftedj to prepare immediately and send a talk

to thefkiigs and beloved men of the Creek and Che-

' ifl

rokee tiations, and inform them that it is the desire*of

%ii __ -X".-'

./

;'-_

this |ati| to^meet them in Congress," "in order toi|e-

inandla:essibn of land as a consideration or atonement

for thlir|many injuries, and to renew our treat^lof

peace fanjd friendship with them/' On the 21stfof

Janiialy fthe ^ House proceeded to ballot for commis-

sioneY|J;t<| hold this Congress, and chose General Mc-

Ihtoslg1 freneral Twiggs, Colonel; E. Clark, Colonel

Williafjn $W, Edward Telfair, Jolin Martin, and Ge

neral p.. Elbert. Five of these, with the Governor ^(if

the enjergencies of the State would admit of his being

preseif ;i),!were to "constitute a Board, vested with foil

poweri ariH authority on the part of this State, to treat,

confer! aril agree with the aforesaid Indian nations, %>n

all matters relative to a cession of a claim of land, and

to negbti|te and agree on such other matters and things

as mav be conducive to the mutual interest and safety

yf *; .

^

orn a1l1l|Apar&ti,es.))

"it >

ThdCommissioners met in Augusta; and, on the 31st

of Mfiy, Concluded a treaty with the Cherokees, based

on that of Long Swamp, and securing all the advan

tages and"boundaries which were conceded in that, i

In iN^vember, .1783, John Twiggs, Elijah Clark,

EdwaM ITelfair, Andrew Burns, and William Glas-

cock, Commissioners appointed by authority of the

State,tmeit a deputation of the head men, warriors,"and

chiefs|bfjthe tribes of Creek Indians, at Augusta, and

formed; afbrief, but effective treaty, running new boun

dary liners and obtaining large accessions to the terri-

416

GEORGIA IN INDEPENDENT STATE.

-if-
tory of Geofgia.

.'"

>;-

IJie lands Uhfjjs obtained were, by

the act^of tie Legislature, in iFe|ruary, If 84, laid out

into two new counties, called ?Frjftnklin and Washing-

*J|''

$

.

-**!

5;

ton: and alLand Court was Ordered to lie opened at

'.'

.v.

V

"

3v

-v

^

Augusta, oflf the firlt Tuesday ^ April,'Consisting of

",the (governor, or Ifresident pf tie Executive Council,

and thlee members if the samei^ A large portion of

the new acquisition jwas reserved!: for bounties to the

citizen soldiers; seamen, refugees,|and others, who were

entitled to iand byfany resolve |>f Congress, or act or

resolve:of the Statei While^these lands; were being

surveyed,

"'-
t)|e

. $'
India|is


were:

q ui.?|0';

*
peaceable,

and

the

old-inhabitaiits of f^ilkes Couiily removed to their

former lands and slttlements; but this quiet was of

short duration. ThJ? restless and bloodthirsty Creeks

began hostilities again, in May,p785, in Knox's set

tlement, killing the| inhabitants,-burning the houses,

I

stealing the <eattle, and whateverftelse they could carry

off

I

I

; f J ' .

it

Colonel Clark heajrd of this incursion the next day,

and, raisingoa small|party of men, hastened after the

Indians, overtook them before they had gotten thirty

miles, killed: one Indian, wounded several others, re

took the stolen projperty, and returned to the settle

ment. The alarm, h.owever, drew to the frontier several

companies of men, who put themselves under Colonel

Clark, and were by trim so stationed as to protect the

inhabitants and enable them to build forts for the se

curity of themselves and families. By dividing the

men into squads, and putting them on turns of duty

of ten ?daysieach, Clark made the burden less heavy

upon the mjilitia ; aM by sending out scouting parties,

and keeping up the] utmost vigilance, he was enabled

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

417

Ho give such protection that little damage was done

land much confidence restored. A new treaty was con-

f eluded with these Indians, at Galphinton, on, the 12th

fof November, 1785, by General Twiggs and Colonel

JE. Clark, Commissioners on,the part of Georgia; and

Hhe same year a treaty was made at Hopewell, on the

f Keowee, between Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew Pickens,

IJosepl. Martin, and Lachlan Mclntosh, Commissioners

Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, on

Jthe one part, and the head men and warriors of ail the

iCherokees, on the other.

| Treaties with the Indians, then frequent, and coun-

;cils wi h chiefs, then of common occurrence, have now

Iceased in Georgia; and therefore, as a matter of his-
,!
itorical interest, it may be proper to give more in detail

'/than would otherwise be needed, the proceedings of one

?;of these councils, as illustrating the talks made, the

ideeds done, the usages pursued, and the influences at

rwork, in procuring the consent of the Indians to the

treaties and cessions of land which it was the object of

;these conventions to secure and ratify.

; The following extracts from the Journal of the Con

gress held at Hopewell, Kiowee, in December, 1785,

and January, 1786, between the Hon. Benjamin Haw-

kins, General Andrew Pickens, Hon. Joseph Martin,

and General Lachlan Mclntosh, Commissioners Pleni

potentiary of the United States, to treat with the Che-

rokees, and all other Indians south ward of them, within

the limits of the United States, will illustrate this sub

ject and give an interesting view of such proceedings.

The Joprnal was kept probably by Benjamin Hawkins,

and to :it he has added explanatory notes:--

VOL. II.

27

f

418

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDNT STATE.

It1..'

I

HOPEWELL ox KipwEE, thefl^th of November, f785. |

The Commissioners of the Unitf<3|States in Coifgres|s ,;

assembleilJappointed to treat witif |he Cherokeesl ana

*%T
JP?V

%- -" *L

'

T.. ;S

:

-/

j|

all otherflndians southward of th|ir| within the irnits

of the United States assembled, f | I I f.

Preseift, Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew Pickens, J<>

- ' - f

' } T'"

~f- <,

f

seph'Martin, and LachlanMclntosi, -

L

.

^ '_

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From Ij. the State of N. ort, h Carc".^|lm^ a, th.e HonoT.J,.rab. l^e

William plount, Esquire, who pro<Juped his comm|ssion

as agentIfor that State. > , If

||

The Commissioners ordered a return to be made <|f

the Indians, and there werb five hjundred^ The|hea|:r

men and warriors having tinfbrmecf that; the preseiit

representation of their tribes WEtsf not complete, bi|t

would be so in
f/
treating swith

a few them

days^ until

it wasl agreed to postpoife

the

Yr -*"'-
\ylfole

!.-' ^
representation

should arrive.

;

|$

|. |

November 21st, 1785.--^The headmen and warrio|s

of all the Cherokees assembled. I0>rdered that tjie in

terpreters inform the Indians th$t?the Commissionefs

will meet them to-morrow, at ten ^o'clock, under tlfe

bower erected for that purpose. -|, -

I|

November 22d, 1785.---The Cotnmissioners assem

bled. Present, Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew PickenJB,

Joseph Martin, and Lachlan Mclntosh. Froip tKe

State of North Carolina, William Blount, Agen|.

From the State of Georgia, John King and Thomas

Glascock, Commissioners. From all the tribes or towns

of the Cherokees, the headmen and warriors, llames

Madison, and Arthur Goody, Interpreters. r t

The Ipommissioners delivered lire following address

to the Indians:--

f^

f|

Headmen and Warriors of all the Cherokees: We

w'"' ,,\Wf:?s i

I

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

419

are the Inen whom you were informed came from Con

gress to|meet you, the headmen and warriors of allthe

Cherokees, to give you peace and to receive you into

the favor and protection of the United States, and'to

remove $s far as may be all causes of future conl|n-

tion orjcjuarrels, that you. your people, your wiles

and yoii| children, may be happy, and feel and kif|w

the blessings of the new change of sovereignty dvier

this land, which you and we inhabit.

?|

We sincerely wish you to live as happily as we So

ourselves, and to promote that happiness as far as^is

in pur power, regardless of any distinction of color,: or

of any I difference in our customs, our manners, or par

ticular situation.

This humane and generous act of the United States,

will, no doubt, be received by you with gladness, and

held ir. ^grateful remembrance, and the more so, as

many of, -your young men, and the greatest number of

your warriors, during the late war, were our enemies,

and assisted the Kino; of Great Britain in his endea-

vors to conquer our country.

You yourselves know that you refused to listen to

the good talks Congress sent you; that the cause you

espoused was a bad one; that all the adherents of the

King of Great Britain are compelled to leave this coun

try, never more to return.

Congress is now the sovereign of all our country,

which we now point out to you on the map.1 They

1 "We used McMurray's map, and explained with great pains the limits, of

the United States, as well as the occurrences of the late war, and we believe

they comprehended us. Some of the Indians had visited the Six Nations ;

some had been up the Wabash, and down the Miami to Lake Erie; and

others had; been at Fort Pitt, Natchez, Pensacola, St. Augustine, Savannahy

Charleston, and Williamsburg. . I"

B. HAWKIKS.

, --. q ,-if"---
' &'!?&-
''if* 1;
If if ,5.

420

GEORGIA -AN INDEPENDENT-STATE.

want none of your Hands, or anyth|ng else whicl^li!^:

longs to you; and-as an earnest dJTjtheir regardlloif

you, we propose to enter into articles:of a treaty,|)^rf

fectly equal, and conformable to Jptiat we nowltel^

y u -

;

' 1f

.11 f

If you have any grievances to complain of, wejwill;

W

V ' ^3

^v '."-"'*

"$;''

IT' '$

hear : them, and take such measures in conseqigen|^

thereof as may be proper. We exjtect you will s|fe|kj; '*""''

your minds freely, and look upon u| as the repres|nla|

tives of your Father and friend, the|Congress, whqjwill:

see justice done you. You may now retire, and rejflec|-

on what we have told you, and letfiis hear froinlyouj

to-morrow, or as soon as possible. | "

|l | I

November the 23d.--Present as yesterday. |;.f |

After sitting some time in silence,fthe Tassel of (ShaM

arose, and addressed the Commissioners as fbllows|:-|-|

I am going to let the Commissioners hear wKat< I

CJ

CJ

,;l

>;* --'.. '

have to say to them. I told you yesterday I wou|d|l<|

this to-day. I was very much pleased with the|ta\ll|

you gave us yesterday; it is very <3ifferent from wljia|:

I expected when I left home. The:>headinen andfwirj

riors are also equally pleased with it| Now I shallfgiy!

you my own talk. I am made of this earth, on

the Great Man above placed me to possess it; and js

I am about to tell you, I have had in my minf. for

many years.

\

it?'

This land we are now on is the -land we were fighf-

ing for during the late contest,2 and the Great |;Man

2 Hopewell is fifteen miles above the junctiofi of Kiowee and Tigalop.

It is a seat of General Pickens, in sight of Sene.ca, an Indian town ;|-a|lite

commencement of this late war, inhabited by one hundred gunmenfbut at

present is a waste. Dursets Causas is forty miles east of this, and tliatiwas

the eastward Indian boundary till the treaty of 1777. I-

& I ,| B.

';.

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

421

made i| for us to subsist upon. Yout niust kndw the

red pe Jple are the aborigines of this land, and that it

is^ut i few years since the white people; found |t out,

-I am|of the first stock, as the Commissioners know,

arid a tnative of thisrland: and the white people are

ndw li|ing on it as bur friends. From the be|fhmng

of^lhe first friendship between the white and rljcl ^>eo-

plejbeps were given as an emblem thereof; anc| these

are- thefbeads I give to the Commissioners of the thir

teen United States as a confirmation of o*ur Irienldship,

afid asfa proof of my opinion of what you yesferday

told us| (A string of white beads.) * f'

f

The |Dommissioners have heard how the white peo

ple; ha^|e encroached on our lands, on every side of us

thalt th%y could approach.

I

*! rediember the talks that I delivered at the Long

Island of Holston, and I remember giving our lands

to Colonel Christie and others who treated with us, and

':?.'

:



":

<

in" a dinner compelled me thereto, in '1777. ? I re

member the talks to Colonel Christie when I gave the

^'

.

.:

lands |^t the mouth of Claud's Creek, eight springs

past, fit that treaty we agreed upon the line near the

mouth |>f Limestone. The Virginia line, and part from

the mouth of Claud's Creek to Cumberland Mountain,

near the Gap, was paid for by Virginia. e^ Frou| Claud's Creek a direct line to the Chimney-Top

Mountain? thence to the mouth of Big Limestone, on

Nalickickey, thence to the first mountain, about six

miles IJcom the river, on a line across the same, was

never paid for by the Carolina which joins the Virginia

line, I; wish the Commissioners to know everything

that concerns us, as I tell nothing but the truth. -They,

the people of North Carolina, have taken'our lands for

:;t its

422 !

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STAiHsmB-.

no oSonsidera ion, and are now makingllieir fortunes

'ft

"

/



QJ '^Sy^i

out 6f them. I have informed the Coi^iissioners of

the l'.-i".ne I ga^*re 'up*,' and the people of E'$l&f$&tth ''Ca' rolina

andjnrginia'liave gone over it, and encrllched on our

Jf

^J

.*. -

^^

*

$s^5jfj

land| .expressly against our inclination^They have

gon|j;pyer the line near Little River, |l|l, tljey have

gon^oyer Nine Mile Creek, which isjj^ jiin0 miles

fromjour towns. I am glad of this opp<^|tinity!of gei-

tingl'edress from the Commissioners. I^)ongress had

notjinterposed, I and my people mustJffave moved-
"f-
They have even marked the lands on thllbank^of the I" vf river" near the: town where I live, and froi"|M||Sh: ence down

in tEe fork of the Tennessee and Holstojfl +

I have given in to you a detail of the|^use and en-

croafshments of these two States. We ship be satisfied

if we are paid for the lands we have-giv|f|up; hut we

mV

willfnot, nor cannot, give up any moref||I mean the

line f gave to Colonel Christie.

ijjj

I have no more to say; but one of ou|jfbeloved wo-

men; has, who has borne and raised up ^arriors. (A

string of beads.)

:f|

The War Woman of Chata then addressed the Com

missioners :--

i||f

I : am fond of hearing that there is a;; fpeace, and I

hope you have now taken us by the hand in real friend

ship, I have a pipe and a little tobacc'O to give the

Conimissioners to smoke in friendship.;^|I look upon

you^and the red people equally as my children. Your

having determined on peace is most pleasing to me,

for I have seen much trouble during thej|ate war.

I'fam old, but I hope yet to bear children, who will

gro^ up and people our nation, as we are now to be

under the protection of Congress, and jhall have no

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

423

more d sturbance. (A string, little old pipe, ancjsome

tobacco .}

;
y

,?;-



*

Pj^,-

The talk Ifhave given is from the young warjiors I

have raised in my town as well as myself. Thley re-

I

,,'

4/

.-

/

's^i, 4/

joice that we, have peace, and we hope the chfpn of

friendship will never more be broke. - (A stifmg of

beads.)

1A



^jj&

THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE TASSEL. We waft the

boundary of your country : you must recollect ylurself

and give it to.us, particularly the line between y||i and'

the citizens, with any information you may haje on

that subject.. If necessary, you may consuli^your

friends, and inform us to-morrow, or as soon as possible

I

''''.

A ^K<

with conveniency.



TASSEL. I will let you know the line to-morr(gv. I

have done speaking for this day.

H

Mus JCHANAIL, of New Cusse, in the Middle fjettle-

ment. I speak in behalf of Kowe*, New Cusse, and

Watoge. I am much pleased with the talks between

the Commissioners and the Tassel, who is the bjloved

man of Chata. I remember the talks given dut by

you yesterday. I shall always, I hope, remembej? that

if we were distressed in any manner, we shouldlmake

our complaints to the Commissioners, that justic^ may

be done. There are around us young men and war

riors w'lo hear our talks, and who are interestedfin the

success of this treaty, particularly as their lancls are

taken from them on which they lived entirely by|hunt-

ing. And I hope, and they all anxiously hope, it is in

the power of the Commissioners to do them jpstice. The line mentioned by the beloved man of Cha^i, is in

li

truth as he expressed it. I remember it; and it was

I

-L

'

':?

formerly our hunting-grounds.

|:

" !'

I

424

GEORGIA AlT INDEPENDENT STATE.

The encroachment! on this sicle of the line have

tirely deprived us of our hunting-grounds : and I

the Commissioners vpll remove the white'people^

their own side. Thif is the desire of the three

I i speak'for. The s|ttlements|I mean are thosjfjoni

Pigeon River and Swananb. It was the desire bMhel

'
Commissioners

that

'':.
the

'

'"

Indians

should

"* """
tell,all fueii

-'.

'

$,;

-* "' .

-*v '



grievances, and I h<|pe tney will do justly i

When any of my young men are hunting on their .own :Jj|J;4J

grounds, and meet tie white people, they (the svwt *i w-fc j-1 <- - *-h j~J *~b-t f\ *-\ 4- 4-1 f\ w-*T-\ i ! s\ <-*/"*/-\ r\ I f\ T r\ f\tr f Tin Yrf r\ i T/^-'-A-1^' '^^..'':T-v>"X,

people) order them off and claitn our deer. (A stringi>fjliii

o/f whi i ti e bi eadis.)\

''4^S7'

,-"v ."-'

.-L

.-C''-

" ..'"'.'- -'

4.?i;":.-'.t^^^fiii^?^,!^;-tA -^^ ^^"^ ^

CHESCOENWHEE. I |m well satisfied with the talks of |

this day. I intended to speak; but as the day is far I ip rt

J

&

*

spent, I will decline if till to-morrow.

J;

& :W! ^^

I will go home, | ft 4|

and consider on it. | ^- \

November 24th, l|85.--^-Present as yesterday. ' |

TUCKASEE. I remember the talks when I made peace, f

I have appointed Chepscoenwhee to speak forme to-day.|

CHESCOENWHEE. I f?"reioice that the Commissi'oners?\ have delivered theirj talks to the headmen of the dif- :;
f;
ferent towns. I am in hopes that these our talks will v

always remain unbroken. What you hear from the

representatives of the towns, the young warriors will,.

invariably adhere to. I am in hopes it is now in the

power of the Commissioners, from their talks of yes

terday and the day before, to see justice done to us:

to see that we may yet have a little land to hunt upon.

I was sent here to "settle all matters respecting my

country; and, being under the protection of the ^United*

States, I shall return|atisfied. We have been formerly ;

under the protection|of ***** Great Britain ;|

and then, when I saw a white man, I esteemed himf

OF INDIAN AFFAIKS.

425

a friend;

that the Commisioners of Con

gress wil^s<eej|$at tfmes may be as formerly. I wish

what I sayfm^fbe fdeemed strictly truf, for so it is;

and that Ifn^^lwlys be looked on as a friend to the

thirteen'lMite^lStaltes. and that they will "see justice

-...' f-^i' .('

.^

'

*

'

V

done me. ^

\ t;

i :

The taftlS^lhelCommissioners are the most pleas-

"' "' rfi"-0"l^ '\-

**'

f

*

ingio Sy^fhey dw^not want any lands. Formerly,

when I had pejace-talks, the first thing the white people

expressi ed wi afsc*l?4:- 1^de-; s^ir;-e for our lands; -I4' am in hopr'es you will adjus^:and|settle our limitsjso: that we may

be secured*aa||ie possession of our own^ I will abide

^i '$ii'-^; ^'

-J'

by what mB|jrto Bas been said on ^this subject, but

cannot cede aiiy more lands. (A string of beads.)

TASSEL. have shown you the bounds of my coun

try on my iriap^which I draw in your/presence, and

on the map of thef United States. If the Commis

sioners cannotfdo nje justice in removing the people

from the fbrk^of Erench Broad and Holston, I am

unable to get it offmyself. Are Congress, who con-

quered the King of Great Britain, unable to remove

these people? I am satisfied with the promises of the

Commissioners to remove all the people from within

our lines, except those within the fork of Holston and

Frenct Broad; and -I will agree to be content that the

particular situation?of the people settled there, and

our claims to the lands, should be referred to Congress,

as the Commissioners may think just, and I will abide

by their decision. ;;

UNSTJCHANAIL: I ifind my people are to extend the

line; and although lour claims are well founded to a

large portion of the'mountains, which are of little ad-

varitagje to any but hunters, and of great value to them,

426J

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

yef I am willing to extend the line to the southward! f until we come to the South Carolina Indian boundary|| | ;| and we have a right, founded on the treaties at Dewitt'S |'J Corner and at Augusta, to make that line as far as thej ; || south fork of Oconee, our boundary against the whitej -1 ^

November 28th, 1785.--rThe Commissioners assem|f Ji; blecl. Present, Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew Pickens| t'f^^r

Joseph Martin, and Lachlan Mclntosh. From thej

Staje of North Carolina, William Blount, Agent. FroinJ

th^ State of Georgia, John King and Thomas Glas%

cock, Commissioners. The Headmen and Warriors o

all^he Cherokees. James Madison and Arthur Coody,;

Sworn Interpreters. Major Samuel Taylor,: Major,

William Hazzard, Captain Commandant John Cowan,i

John Owen, and George Ogg, merchants, with several^

other respectable characters.

t

The Commissioners produced the draught of a treaty,;

on the plan they originally proposed to the Indians,

which was read and interpreted to them with great

attention; so that they agreed that they perfectly un

derstood every article, and would with pleasure sign,

the same. Accordingly, two copies were signed by the

Commissioners, and.all the headmen,--the one for the

United States, and the other for the Cherokees.

Previous to the signing, the Agent from North Caro

lina and the Commissioners of Georgia delivered their

protests against the same.

After the treaty was signed, sealed, and witnessed,

the Commissioners told the headmen .that Congress,;;

from motives of humanity, had directed some presents |

to be made to them, for their use and comfort; and.

I-

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

427

#'*

i

tjaat fpn the next day they would di|ect the presents to

be distributed accordingly.

f

*

I November 29th.--Present as yesterday.

J

? T tfe Commissioners ordered a^retiurn of the Indians,

ft-

'

.?

":

and |here were nine hundred 4nd eighteen; and,goods

to tie amount of $1311 ^ .were ^distributed a|iong

the Ijfeadmen of every town, v |

'A

f Tl|e Indians having expressed a|lesire to say spine-

thingliurther to the Commissioners^ they attended ac-

cordifigly.

.

;I

j.

TASSEL. I will now inform yoii: of some further

t I "

'

JV

i'

comj|l?aints against your people. IJ remember^ the

treaty with Colonel Christie, and in all our treaties,

that |ye referred the Long Island of Holston for our-

selve% as beloved ground, to hold pur treaties on. I

remember the Commissioners, yesterday, in an article

of tnjl treaty, demanded all their property and prison

ers. |I am now going to make my pemand. I desire

tliat Qolonel Martin may be empowered to find and get

our -prisoners: he is our friend, and he will get them

for us. I am now done my talks, and I hope the Com-

missi|;ners will be as good as their promise yesterday

in this treaty. The white people have taken so much

of our lands, we cannot kill as many deer as formerly.

The ^traders impose on us greatly; and we wish our

trade-JiCould be regulated and fixed rates on our goods.

Our traders are frequently robbed when coming to and

gong" from our nation. John Bouge was among

others, robbed of about one hundred and fifty pounds

sterling worth of leather, in the St^te of Georgia.

TUSHEGATAHEE. I am not a chief, ^but will speak for

my country. I shall always pay great regard to what

I ha|e heard respecting the treaty, as well as what

i?--'

428

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT JSTA/rE.!

f* 1

may

be

It
sennas

from


Congress

* -
hereafter f

*'-^
aM'^,s

I

anf4j

within the limits of the United States. I sl|il$alvvays-l

?:L&

.'.. , >.

&.,- ' ;"-

* ft!

expect theiff protection and assistance. i|urj young

men and w'afriors have heard what has pasfedf I ex

pect as our^loundanes are ascertained, Con^rlss may |

be infbrmelpbf them ; and that, as peace isf low firnilyf

establishediland we are all friends, w^may'f|ff|alldwet^

I

to hunt on e'*a* ch oth' er's land without m*'' olesta:ffi\t-i' "!oi^'n. O' nl*"

my part, benig in peace and friendship with you, FJ|

shall feel myself safe wherever I go.

! "V

*M

--?'



V-'' "

''?&''

Many of ffour people on Cumberland andfKentucky j|

have their ;^orses on our lands: arid should%e find|

them,' I w' isn-**> Colonel Martin to receive NEWOTA. ft am fond to hear the talks of the beloved Jj

men of Congress and of ours. Your Commiss'Loners||

remember the talks, and I shall always endeavor t6||

support the|peace and friendship now established. I ff

remember thfe talks by Colonel Martin, and I promised ^'

to be attached to America; but, until the present, I was ^

afraid to be/ in your country. I am no^ perfectly |f

happy, as you are to protect us. Your prisoners I will||

deliver you|: Formerly, Captain Cameron saw justice j

done to us m our land; he is gone, and I now depend^

upon the Commissioners. If anything depend on mej'

to strengthen our friendship, I will faithfully execute||

it. You are now our protectors. When I go and tell|

to those of 6|ur people who could not come to hear your |

talks, whattl have seen and heard, they will rejoice.I

I have hearH your declarations of a desire to do us anylf

service in ;|pur power. I believe you, and in confi-1^

dence shalljrest happy.

:

f|

?<i



=fpj

We will give you provisions for the||

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

4-29

road, and wish you may be happy. ; We will send up to Congress all our talks.

While peace was secured with the Cherokees and the Choctaws,the Creeks continued restless and trouble some, and, in the spring of 1786, recommenced hos tilities ; but they were speedily chastised. In October, a Congress was held with the nation, at Shoulder-Bone Creek (a branch of the Oconee, m Hancock County), John Habersham, Abram Racot, J. Clements, James McNeil, John King, James Powell, Ferdinand O'Neil, and Jared Irwin, representing Georgia, and fifty-nine chiefs, headmen, and warriors, representing the Creek nation.
The treaty thus made, was signed on the 3d of No vember, 1786. The several articles of it required that the six murderers of the whites should be put to death; that i'ull restitution of prisoners and pillage should be made; that the old boundary lines, established by treaty at Augusta, in 1783. and in Galphinton, in 1785. should be marked out; and lastly, "in proof of their good faith and sincere intentions to perform the beforementioned articles, and for the security of the inhabi tants of the said State, the Indians agree to leave in the hands of the Commissioners five of their people." " The said Indians, during their stay among the white people, shall be provided with comfortable diet, lodging, and clothing, and be well treated in every other re spect. '
For a few months the Indians behaved in a friendly manner; but, instigated by McGillivray, and taking advantage of the differences of opinion between the United States and Georgia, they violated their pledged

f

430

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT

iI
* ^.&-*;-.

faith |and renewed their acts of violence! In a

sent tb ther| in the spring of 1787, thf ExecuivJ|

Counc;<,;il s: tatftg, "Not a single article of th%$ treatyJ ha^ l as yep been|complied with on your part|' though in

full i^lialficeiipon the faith of the Indians| four offjthfl

hostages! haA been sent back to the nation, the fiftl

hav.n'"!$f&'i. ^ ;$m' n'"iiitted

suicide

.
in

the

presencef!

of

-.
his

If

If

jif3j,%^ '.;';.

',*?.

A

,

V','.'.

-

Wilhout asserting that Georgia had doiie nothing t|

,



.

'"

+'. ''

*'

provcpe thejCreeks, and without attempting to defend

all it|> legislation upon Indian affairs, orlall the niea>

suresiiSw. hichl;'w ere pursued in obtaining |t* reaties Jand " '-

fJ:
cessioiiis

:'
of

--"
Ia"nd7yet

.
it

must

be

confessed

%.
that

..
the

i"-" . S".
chief

|5- '':''

*,'

'

,. IS'-

causejbf the fdifficulties between the Greek nation Sinct

the

^ ~r.~

-,/

Georgians

was 'Alexander

'"-
McGillivray,

:>L '"^
whose in|

fluencje oyerlhat nation was almost supreme. &

This man, who played so prominent a part in Indian-

negotiation s.vand ruled so regally over the Creek mal

O

4':

.

//.

O

/

v'

-,

"V

tion, was the son of Lachlan McGillivray, a|?Scotchinan|

residelnt in Georgia, who had amassed a large fortune

as arf Indian trader. His mother was ;a half-blood

Creeky of high rank on the maternal side/; in the tribe}

of the Wind; though her father, Captaiii Marchand,

was the French commandant of Fort Toulouse. Thus

the blood of three nations coursed through his veins.

At the age of fourteen he was placed at school, in

Charleston, South Carolina, where he was ;,carefully in

structed in English ; and some years afterwards was

remoyed by his father, who wished to make a merchant

of hiin, to the counting-house, of Samuel Elbert, after

wards^ General, and Governor of Georgia, in Savannah!

::'- .
Young

- -
McGillivray

soon

discovered

:
that

he

'-
had

"*^--
n(|

tasteffbr business, though he pursued fhis liteprjf

SETtpEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

studies with gj|pat eagerness and succesl. Before the

breaki ng out b ||he Revolutionary war, le returned to

his na tve wo $& on the banks of the Gjbosa, and was

'iMI

"'-

hailed by hist^tternal tribe as their chief and leader.

When hostilitfJs were decided on, he <was offered a

colonel's comdl|ssion in the British interest;! and he

co-operated willtthe emissaries of England in: attach-:

}'- * I

-ii^N-

O -:

ing the Indiai|l|to their interest, and Engaging their

services for theHvar against the Americans. .-



.\_

''4'-'^:,

f

The defeat :i& the British, the confiscation of his

:'

*jj$- ' .

'

f,

.

'

father's large Wtates, and the animosities which the

I

P?i'

*'

wifir had excite||jand cherished, left McCrillivr^y in no

very amicable ^ood towards the United States; and,

though! he wasft|>o shrewd to appear violently opposed

to-its interestsflpet his conduct was often suspicious,

i'

'^-?

"i-

always selfish,^id seldom such as was^productive of

good, either to Me Creeks, to Georgia, orMo the Union

tj

'

-iV ^fi"';1.

'

*----

'

at largs.

|^

\

.

Shortly after||he conclusion of the waV, having met

with T\ rilliam Bin ton, a Scotchman by |)irth, a Span

iard by interest^ merchant by profession, and a mem

ber of the greaflcommercial firm of Panton, Leslie &

Co., of FloridaJMcGillivray was induced, under the

promise of sharing in the profits of this trading house,

and of large ripyards and honors from the King of

Spain, 1:0 enter|||ito a treaty with the representatives

of his unost Caijiblic Majesty, pledging himself to ad

vance the interests of Spain in her American provinces.

For this treaty l||jwas made a Spanish commissary, with

tbheeforraentkhi eantrdeaptaywviaotf cGoalolpnbeli.ntoTn;hisanwdasthien- Jinufnlue-e,n1c7e84o,f

McGillivray in dissuading the tribes from, sending head

men and warriors; to the treaty-ground, was the reason

II

432

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDEfcjJj&TATE.

why sOgfew towns of the lower Creejtgwere represented

at that*ftCouncil.

.I.-ff f^

'I*.' $ ,

It was in the power of McGillifr4y at any$pie.to

>



i

"p.;".' ""9^

'%]. ' 5'

have niade peace, and kept peace w|th Georgia | but it

did noisuit the purposes of himseifAnd maste1?^ and

hence"-,^|iu' nder

pretexts

specious,

bu^'''t|^alse,

he

^' "X
^ep^t

thq

bordeiflands in continual troubleJiefnbroiled

in

^.
sonie serious

disputes

with

the

.
FMisral

..
Government,

and

-l'5r
kept

the

*
frontier in

a state

%-.' *?:'
of^perpetual

*'
Cernient

and alarm.

.

Hj,.

II

' fflt %'

/'

TheJ attempt made by the Unil^id States Cbnimis-

sioner,|Dr. James White, to negq^aie a treaty ?with

McGillivray, at Cusseta, in 1788ja%d the eforts of

Governor Thomas Pinckney, of Sci|i^h Carolina, to ef

fect the same end, were alike thvyarted by theange-

nuity and address of this man, wlio,|under great pro

fessions of regard for the authorities of the rllnited

States,.cherished the bitterest animosity and revenge.

An attempt was made by General Pickens and Chief

Justice Osborne, as Commissioners of |he United States

for Indian Affairs in the Southern Department, to

meet the Indians, in 1788; but, being frustrated, they

issued the following talk to the headmen, chiefs, and

warriors of the Creek nation :-- _;

We last year appointed a time and place for holding

a treaty with you to establish a lasting peace between

you and us, that we might again become as one people;

you all know the reasons why it was not held at that

time. :;

\ \:

We;now send you this talk, inviting you to a treaty

on ytfur bank of the Oconee River, at the Rock land-

ing.

wished to meet you at that place on Jthe 8th

SETTLEMENT' OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

433

-of June; but,lasthat day is so near at hand, you might

, not all get notice. We therefore shall expect to meet

you on the 2(Jth day of June.

-> {.

We have e|anged the place of meeting frotn that of

.last year, soifchat none^of you should have Reason to

complain; it4s your own ground, and on that|land we

wish to renew^our former trade and friendships, arid to

remove everything that has blinded the path^between

you and us. -;



We ,re now governed by a President who is like the

old King over^the great-water. He commands all the

warriors of the thirteen^ great fires. He will fhave re

gard to the welfare of all the Indians; and when peace

shall be established he'will be your father, and you

will be his children, so that none shall dare to do you

Harm.

.?

I

:

We know that lands have been the cause of dispute

;between you and the white people; but we now tell

you that we want no new grants. Our object is to

make a peace and to unite us all under our Great Chief

Warrior and President, who is the father and protector

of all tl.e white people.

Attend to what we say.

Our traders are very rich, and have houses full of

such goods as you were used to get in former days; it

is our wish that you should trade with them, and they

with you, in strict friendship.

Our Brother, George Galphin, will carry you this

talk. Listen to him: he will tell you nothing but

truth from us. Send us your answer by him.

'

ANDW. PICKENS,

H. OSBORNE,

t

Commissioners of the United States for Indian

Apri] 20, 1|789.

Affairs iu the Southern Department.

VOL. II.

28

f

434

I GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

This; 6p>rtj however, was jafeortive, as McGilliyriay

declinedji| make a treaty ;VaJid not only so, ^ut he

took me|Jures to thwart Geii|ral Pickens in ibis at

tempt ^tofthake a treaty withf the Cherokees.ff "Do

.'. ft- *!&:$&-

**

' f1^

.

'* /.

you ncitiieY' he says, writingito Panton in reference

' ^''jSiQ^S?:'^1

yi

'

!*"'

' '''

'

to hisffunless in defeating thesl measures, so impprtaiit

'''"*Xifel<*^s<

* v*

''

' sJ*l .'.to;,.1

to ^^1 and the United f^ates, /fmy causdjpff^?;;

umpA S" tn-' lf?$cr ingoinfof these conq-iu{?ei. ror- s of the old *f'tffVias^ t*"e~f-i*s~'

of. the new world, as they call themselves, to bend aiid

-

'

'...*-

'

---j.,?

supplicja^ffor peace at the feet of a people,lwhom,

.1,

shortly felifore, they despised; J|nd marked outffor de-

structionp - ^ ;,|;-^ ; .;> ...: ik^ -'-^

Unwilling to relinquish tfief efforts at Indian^pacifi-

'&,, -. -J

X

f -' JJ -

"

y -> J.

'

-

fl \' '

J

li A

I'

' ""

cation, other and more honorable Commissioners were

- ?;.' .

,

'?

"*

associate^ with General Pickens, and appointed |o treat

with Mc|rillivray. These weife General Lincoln, who

had served as commander of the Southern army during

the Revolutionary war; Cyrus Griffin, a former Presi

dent of fthe Continental Congress, and David Hum

phreys, one of the military family of Washington, and

subsequently minister to Spain. These persons sailed

from Nefv York, August 31st, for Savannah, in;a vessel

well laden with Indian presents; and, having reached

there on the 10th of September, in safety, they pre

pared to- enter upon their duties, by sending word to

McGillivray of their arrival, and requesting him to

meet thjem, on the 20th of September, at Rock Land

ing, onlthe Oconee. To this place they accordingly

repaired, with their escort, a company of United States

Artillery^ under Captain Burbeck ,and pitched their

tents, o|i'the 20th of September, 1789, on the eastern

bank o| the river.

^

livray, with two thousand warriors, gathered

|SETTLEE1T OF INDIAN

435

---

-

llaround him to display his power, and overawe the

H?';'- I , 'M-

".'?-

.

.'?' ;

i*C?' o' mmiss?ion";j- ers. en- .la. m"?.ped on the western bank of the

f)con<2e:i aid. aftertpeferal days spent in private inter-

TV -

- J'

. 1?< ;'V '

:

'

H^H-vui'=ecwh sIowcc'iatsEii^bMns,ctGhiel'-|l^bi- vurs*a;iyn,esasndof tthhee Cfoorumnacltiiltiwesasu.esunatelroend

^_VP i""

;'. { vj'j

.* vp'j', *. *"

*'

^

' '

24th $$ September, by |he Commissioners

the <iijiej$ a drajight ofa treaty which, they

||)rjppose as the b|sis^.pf paciftcation. At the time of

fits deli v(jry| the Indiains seemed plejased ; but when it

fwas talked^over in|the council ;of the chiefs that nieht,

{_.'.;>

.

|

"".'.'

* 1^*

'f

'- '

,

'

"

.

0issatisfactipn appeared, and so. increased, that the next

feprning J^Gilliv^ly^rote tqjihe Commissioners that

|jhe bciundjaries proposed did ndt satisfy the nation, and

lihat the chiefs haS resolved to break up the Council

^ a nd"d-,e,p'.a rt|

f : 6; -;

'



A

If This announcement took the Commissioners by sur-

W '
j|rise,

I
and

'*
they

^ ;
imniediately

";'
addressed

a

note

to

J
McGil-

implpring h|m;to prevail on the chiefs to re.&'' * Instead of this, however, he abruptly broke up

|he encampment, ar|d, under plea of seeking forage for

Jjtis. hoi'ses, moved back several miles from the river ;

two dajp after,|from his camp on the Ocmulgee,

Me wrote to '-the Commissioners that he, had determined

Vv

?

7'

|o return to; the nation, "deferring the matter in full

peace till next spring." " We sincerely desire a peace,

But we cannot sacrifice much to^obtain it.'

's$i It w i is f with 0great'. mortification, a. fter so much toil find expense, and so large expectations of fruitful re-

s'ults, tnat the Commissioners were obliged to report to

ttie Secretary at War-, tlbat" The parties have separated

^ithout forming a treaty."

|J General Lincoln and party returned to Augusta, on

tie 2d of October, and: there spent several days in in-

^"a-" ""

-

'11:.

*- '

*"

1'

v

'w~ m,-.
m
V- y
^:
SP-".

436|

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

veftiga^ing; tHe character of the treaties already made

*ii '

'?! -

". "? *''.

"'

ingjwhich ffiere had been circulated such false

so jinj|notfsi; to the honor and integrity of Georgiajf|i!

T^eirjppo|f upon this subject is important, as it Ml^ |

deieriliffchei Bourse of Georgia, and shows the flimsirieslftJl

i|j. *jp?v i': -.-" '

,

"%^ft";|%

of|th^|attempts of McGillivray and other intereste^M

pa|ties|to misrepresent the facts, deny the conclusions^! J

an se| at nought the binding authority of these treajf|||

tie|. :f? Th^;GJbmmissioners beg leave further to report|||

that, ^tfterffhe most accurate investigation in

pofrerjgto make, after consulting the best documents,||^p

and having ^recourse to credible depositions, they arel| ^"

unablejto discover but that the treaty of Augusta, inf|

th|. yejir 1^83, the treaty of Galphinton, in the yeatftf

17|5, and ;the treaty of Shoulder-Bone, in the yearjl

1786, were, !all of them, conducted with as full and as||

aufhorized representation, with as much substantial! 1

for|n a%id apparent good faith, and understanding off f

the business, as Indian treaties have usually been con-ii'

?\

-'A.

'

*/

; ;',

du|ted|or perhaps can be, where one of the contracting! I

patties! is destitute of the benefit of enlightened so-f I et *'! .

cie|y; Ithat the lands in question did, of right, belong^!

to the lower Creeks as their hunting-ground, have been^ i

ceded iby them to the State of Georgia for a valuable? :

V

^ 4/

<_

"

cofisideiration, and were possessed and cultivated for I.

some jjears, without any claim or molestation by any; ;

part oj the Creek nation."

| ;

|The| Commissioners left Augusta on the 6th of Oc-| f

tofeer, fan d reached New York on the 10th of Novem-^f

ber; and, on the 17th, made a full report of their fruit| t

less mission;; f In this report, they state that they "art| f

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN;;AFFAIRS.

437

Decidedly of opinion that the failure of a treaty at this timejwith the Creek nation can be attributed only to iheirprincipal chief, Mr. Alexander McGillivray;" and sustain this opinion by six strong reasons, showing the deception, duplicity, selfishness, and falsehood of this ehiefy who, for private ends, thwafted all the efforts of the tfnited States, and imperilledj|he peace and pros perity of Georgia. At the very time, however, that he was sngaged in this business witli the Commissioners qf th$ United States, he was, alsoj as we learn from his letters to Panton (written only a few days before the ixiesting at Rock Landing), seeking to draw still larger honors and emoluments from Spain, by operating on the f aars of the Governor of Florida, by threatening to loose the alliance with the Creeks, and on the avari cious views of Panton, by intimating the necessity of his withdrawing himself from the partnership with that trading house, which had so long supplied his nation with food.
i Washington was unwilling to plunge the infant re public into the horrors and expense of an Indian war; and he c etermined to make one more effort to secure peace wi ;h the Creeks. He was justly incensed at the audacity and perverseness of McGillivray; yet, as no treaty could be held with the Indians without his au thority a!nd consent, he sought, by new and more pri vate overtures, to secure the friendship of one, whose ill-will could track the whole frontier with blood;-- whose favor could make that same frontier peaceful and secure.
On the day after the Commissioners had reported to the President the failure of their negotiations, he sent General Knox, Secretary of War, to Colonel Marinus

438

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

Willet, an officer who had served with distinction'tjft' the Revolutionary war, with Ja request that he would undertake a secret mission3 to:the haughty"chief. "Me consented, and, embarking atj New York, on the 15fji of March, 1790, for Charleston* , he landed>i'n"{'li'a-" 't'* elfyf'te after a passage of fourteen days, and immediately?diP rectiefVd^'Thiis s?teps t.owardjs t.oiie resi.d,enc^e--o^fV(^jr^enfeiTM|il. Pickens, in the upper part of South 'Carolina. 1" flf reached that place on the loth of April, and tarried there about a week, in conference with the General, 'to whom, and to whom alone, Washington had permitted him to confide the nature of his mission, and from whom, as from one fully conversant with'Indian'af fairs, he gained much practical knowledge as to the best mode of carrying out hi| important mission. ^
General Pickens was a perfon in whom McGillivray had confidence, and with whom he corresponded; and no one, therefore, was so well qualified to advise Colonel Willet, as this sagacious and experienced Ge neral. On leaving South Carolina, Colonel Willet made a detour through the Cherokee country, guided by an Indian, called Young Corn, and attended by a single body-servant, and at length reached the Killebees, one of the Creek settlements, on Friday, 30th April. There he had the satisfaction of meeting Mc Gillivray ; and, "I went to bed," he writes in his jour nal, " happy in being under the same roof with the man I have travelled thus far to see."
McGillivray impressed the jColonei quite favorably. " He appears to be," he says, " a man of an open, can did, generous mind, with a good judgment and very

3 "A Narrative of the Military Actions of Colonel Marinus Willet."

New York: 1831,

:

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

439

tenuous memory." The Creek jphief was gratified

witllt he speciatmark of attentionifrom the President,

'''$

A

"*?'".

'.

.'a 1 '..

'

in sliding to ijm such an acabasladbr; and after se-

verajldays' conference with the secret agent, he ap-

poirfild a council of chiefs to meetrhim at Ositchy, on

thel|i"fSit"h of"' M" '"a'%''.'.'

' i H* tc '

.'.

Me ceremoioV of the tyacfcdritifc having been con-

"MTl'fI. i

'

" ~fl&*r

'''

'/''"> ' " " V"'

'

'

'"'

"

ducjip with dul form, ia4h^ greatfsquare of the ^own>

the ihiefs assembled, at eleven o'clock on that day. to

-..;/-.'

. ;

/

--

', - -



"

V*

hear what Colonel Willet had to propose. " I am come

5/7^\"j

,



*"

^

.' ( ^ **

to y|p," he said in his speech, fffrdm our beloved town

(Nep York), Ky order qf outibeljbvied Chief^ George

Waiiington, td"invite ^ou tola treaty of peace and

friendship, at a bouncil-fire in our beloved city." After

stat|i|g the wishes of Washington for the prosperity of

the fejd people, and his desire to form a lasting treaty

of rjelace and amity with them^ he; informs them that

the itfnited States wanted none of their lands, but

wou; secure them unmolested, would promote their

and contribute all in its power towards the wel-

fare^|nd happiness of the nation/ He concluded by sayilij: " Brothers, I stand before iyou a messenger of I

peaeelj It is your interest, and it is our interest, that

we ishould live in peace with each other. I promise

myself that you will attend to this friendly invitation,

and'that your beloved chief, with sucfi other of your

chiefs and warriors as you may choose for that pur-

poseyswill repair with me to the council-fire that is

kindled in our beloved town, that we may form a

treaty which shall be strong as the hills, and as last

ing || the rivers."

f -V

Ha-ving delivered his speech, he; withdrew, and left

thelshiefs to confer together. Anfiour passed, and he

440

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT'STATE.

was called again to the council, and informed4j||t his-

talkihad been acceptable, and his

to. & Brother," said the Hallowing King,

;'

*

behalf of the chiefs to Colonel Willet, "

'-'"

'

*

came; from, our beloved chief, George

invite our beloved chief to a council-fire, i



,

lov^ejL town. The-road is very long, and

is -firy hot; but pur beloved chief will go

and/such other chiefs and warriors as

.""'



pointed for that purpose shall go with him.

all that our beloved chief shall do, we will

Wew:i(s.h./you may/, be prreserv e_ d from^ everJy will?count the time our beloved chief is

when he comes back we shall be glad to see himjwithl



'

.'- ""^'^'

':

a treaty that shall be, as strong as the hills, $ip$ last??

as long as the rivers."

f || :f

On the 21st of May, Colonel Willet met ^||)ther

council of chiefs, at Nickabache; and, after th||cere-l

rnony of the Hack drink, delivered to them |g talk5 -

similar to the one spoken before, and received^Jh an

swer nearly the same reply, from the veneralji and

influential chief, called the done all that was needful

WtohsietecuLreieuthteenaconnt.fidH1e1nacveinogf

the Indians, Colonel Willet and McGillivray, wit3ii|eight

warriors and some few attendants, started from||Little

Tallasse, on the 1st of June, for New York. f& long

journey was before them, and the brief record? of it

which Willet gives in his journal, is peculiar!^: inte

S;-.v'

resting.

. ||:

On the 9th, they reached the Stone Mountifn, in

what is now De Kalb County; and Colonel Wi|$et as

cended to the summit. On the 14th, they reac hSMe-d the house of General Pickens, and were warmly we1^|med.

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

441

Here they remained a few days, until &|>me otherlh-

dians joined them; and, on the 18th, ^|he party^in-

creased to thirty Indians, left the hospifeblefmaniion

of the General, on their northern progress!;. -.

of the Indians rode in three wagons, andlribur|were|6n

horseback; Colonel McGillivray, his nephew^twoijlr-

vants, and interpreter, with Colonel WiMetVGeriljn

man John, were also in the saddle; While Collar

Willet himself travelled in his sulky.

-5

The party attracted great attention as they passed

through the towns and villages, and were everywhere

kindly received and entertained, particularly; at Gfl-

fbrd ir; North Carolina, Richmond, and ^Philadelphia.

At Elizabethtown Point they found a sloop in ;waiting,

to transport them to New York. It was' about noon,

on Tuesday, the 20th of May, when they landed nfear

the Coffee House, " and were received with great splen

dor by the Tammany Society, in the dress of ~the]r

Order," conducted up Wall Street past the Federal

Hall, where Congress was in session, and with much

pomp 'and parade were escorted to the President,

After their introduction to the President, "the In

dians, with additional parade, visited the Minister of

War and Governor Clinton, and then repaired to the

City Tavern, where an elegant entertainment finished

the day."

The party devoted some days to the scenes and ex

citements of their new position ; and then measures

were taken to bring McGillivray and the chiefs into

such relationship as should make them disposed "-to

treat with the United States. At first, the negotia

tions, according to the President's request, were con

ducted informally,--a measure rendered necessary,

AH lNDEPENDE|fT|STATE. f

*

'- i



'

i"' .1

'

i"

Iperhaps, hy the fact,Uha% no soonbr fid the Gdvernor-

iGeneral of| Havana learn of the In tended;, ifisit of

iMcGillivraJltb' ' New Yprk, thanj! h| despatched the

f~.

^Secretary cjfj East Florida thithfr; f who, beifig iurfnished witfi^a large sum of monpy^funder

jsible purpose of purchasing a caiigofof

|directeU foluse hid mon% and hiffdnfluence,

>;

. " '- '.

>.

v^

-^;. ' ^

fcer of his ;C)atholic ^Majesty, to freyent

1 ffrom forming a treaty with the United States}; or,, if W%?* '"
|not able to^accomplish ^hat, to embjirrass his negotia^

ftions, and fender-them as nugatory as possible; 4|i^

I On the ;0th-of August, the Bresfdent notified itii

"'

-.- ^r

" ** ^* -A- '

~j.'' "i

- ' " "i ^Hl-

; Senate, thsltlthe laduisiShent of thelterms of a treatlr

( f

'



*

-i

'j '_- .

,.

'

with the Creeks was fa;r advanced, and that the time

*

had arrived when the informal method, hitherto pur

sued, shoulxi,.give place,to the regular form of negotia

tion; and;hence he nominated-General Knox as a

Commissioner tq, conclude the treaty with the Indians.

: General Knox fbunof matterstalteady shaped and

prepared, so that his labors were merely the formal

I:

acts of putting the articles in due order, and, with the

I Indian chiefs, signing and sealing the same with the

) usual formalities.

*

The next day, therefore, Washington communicated

to the Senate the treaty which had been made, and

; stated: " I flatter myself that this treaty will be pro

ductive of present peace and prosperity to our Southern

frontier, and that it will, also, in its consequences, be

the means of firmly attaching the Creeks and the neigh

boring tribes, to the interests of the United States."

He also, in this message to the "Senate, expressed the

' hope that the treaty would " afford solid grounds of

satisfaction * to the ^State of Georgia, as it contains a

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

regu ar, full, and definitive relinquishment, on the part

of thefCreek nation, of the Oconee land, in the utmost

extent: in which it has been claimed by that State, anp

thus extinguishes the principal cause of those hostili

ties, from which it has more than once" experienced

such sfevere calamities."

Tf>

| treaty which the President laid befbre'lthe :||.

nate'por their ratification, was signed by Knox, sojle

Commissioner, on

l

'

the

part of the
A.

United .

States, and ^"''V1'

McGiillivray and twenty-three chiefs, in behalf of theS^

selves'and the whole Creek nation; and, having f|i

ceived; the confirmation of this body, it was proclaimed i

by tM President, on the 13th of August, 1790. ft

This treaty did not give satisfaction to Georgia, antl

was the occasion of much discord between the Sta^e

and 'the General Government, as well as the occasion

of much intestine trouble.

$
If

It has been seen how continually the Creeks kept

up their depredations upon the frontier, stimulated ^r

connived at by McGillivray and others in the Spanish

interest. These perpetual irritations had caused

Georgia to call forth her citizen soldiers, and also'to

appeal to the General Government for Federal troops,

to repel aggressions and protect the frontier.

\{

The minutes of the Assembly, and the letters OrHhe

Governors, show how much thought was bestowed upbh

our Indian relations, and how feverishly anxious the

Georgians were made by the persistency of the Creeks

in their predatory, and often sanguinary, warfare. >

With mercenary speculators grasping after Indian

territory, on the one hand; and Spanish intrigue, stimu-

lating'savage passions, on the other; it was no cause of

woncer that so .many atrocities were committed, and

444

GEORGIA Af INDEgENBE

so much done to inflame bo&

I";

red

man

with

mutual"liha* te

'
and

re

Jr*

"t**-V--

^*''

less," says Governor Waltonf..wfetlpt

"":

^ -\

*V ,- '"^^T^

"f

"

V.- **'' *

-V'" "-''

llth March, 1789, "for comtientaBls oil traniacfenf?

'

7

^

4&.

-:5-'; -^^i:

;V

, ^JA;i---;. ^- '-

dressing the Presidet of e

SC1 avannah1 , tilhe G/^ overSn"-or

tressing to me to be -finder v$e iiiejsitjfof ;i t hi e cit,izens ofn briavann-^ahv , ti-hi^i^/it <^.|t.ii^rJ^iros-piaect,>s.:. 01 fp'&ef

have changed to inevitable war.r'^T' he' late

ments for an

attack

f..

.

.

'



isiCpon

us\ * .

dl-:m;<lsi4*tj.s. traife- ,'

''
thai; MfarH , f - ty 3&..S

from the Indians bei<|n: g~ dis-pt;'osei-^ f|tl;jme. e..l. the o,-.'ffefris^ o'1if|:|i

peace, they are determined! for) ; 'v^r."' iAfteri string;?

"that the Government, as \|ell|a^Wie Cbmmissiojiieri:*

of the Union, have pone everything irf their pd%ei?^

this

year
>

(1789)

\

/

to

,|
bring ft O

Q 4 -J|S- 0

about .

iatfeaty,";
;,; {^^' ^ 7 .

and

:-. r '% ,f;--
"that it
?- |,. .^

is demonstrated beyond th| pdss|Klity:of doubfing|;

that the war is wholly continued fin the partf ofithB ;

Indians,"

he

adds,

"

I

t-
jhave

di;irect-'>ed^lfvj'i.euter. nant-C: . olCpne<l3"V

Fishbourne to aid yoiir arrangements for the defence of your valuable town, vIf: hich I|-si.nfVeerf^v>y' hop e w.iltnd\t b' e%)

exposed to any dangef." I \ |:

^1

During the two previous y6ars/as^ppears by a return";

of depredations, macje by fjoverrjfor Walton tofther

United States Commissioners, ?0(^ber 4, 1789,feth4

Creeks had murdered eigHty-twe&ersOns, wounded^

twenty-nine,

taken

*

'K'*' ' Ssjl'-,

.

prisoner^ one Hundred

' >-i5< 1.
and i^

v"

burnt eighty-nine houlses, and cairrpi away

iSi' r^1*- i'~ fe

IfSETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

445

i X
cattle anjijgoods to the value of many thousand dol

lars, fp

$ ;;

Howe^ltiair the ^promise held out by the treaty with

I ftyS'^'

L

.

. '

the CreeM^at New York, seemed to be, in its provi-

"tit^f-:

'

*

sions, yej|||here were two causes which led to con

tinued d||ffirbance ftetwefen Georgia and the Indians:

one, gro||pjg out of *the treaty itself and the other, out

of the1 vcnllfacter of Jthe cliief McGillivray.

It had||een all along asserted by the Creeks, as a

cause of ifieir hostilities,^at the treaty of Galphin

ton, in N^einber, 1785, was made by only a portion

of the cb|gfe, who iiad .njo right to act for ihe whole

nation ; t^jt4he lanHs ceded by that treaty were, ceded

under thejflnn'uence of threats and the implication of

force; andljthat they really did not comprehend, at the

time, the fvjalue of the cession which the treaty de

manded. tlFhe answer to these charges is found in the

JK-'f.

'

O

full remta^ipn of them by George Walton, as Governor

of Georgi||- (letter to Commissioners, October 4th;

1789), analby the report of General Lincoln, Colonel

Hump irejjs) and the Hon. Cyrus Griffin, the United

States Cominissioners, who, after careful investigation

of the subj||it, declared that the Galphinton treaty was

made withfa proper representation of the Creek chiefs;

that toe Is&ids were not ceded under threats, or fear,

or force; ^gd that all the doings in reference to the

treaty wer|^ according to the usual forms of such ne

gotiations. |4 These opinions, by men who had no inte

rest in Georgia, supported by the views of the very

intelligBntfGovernor of the State, and by the unani

mous voic4?bf the General Assembly, were, however,

virtually ignored in the treaty at New York; for the

whole claiiijof Georgia, arising out of the Galphinton

'-?& &K'

*TF"
">;*

446

GEORGIA AN Il^DEPENDENT STATE. I

treaty, "offand to the eastward of a new temporary

lint, from th| forks of the Oconee and the Ocmiilgee,|n

a^uthwesihdirection to the St. Mary's Rivir," ^as '"' '$&*

' '&!j?- "'

-*"*!'

"

* 'Jf-

'''"

-i:

yielded up J|y General Kjaox^s McGillivrayjand tfie

chiefs under? his influence -absolutely refused

f:3&i- \ ' - -jj'.

;i: =*'"

'

3S .

,if his concession was regarded as ajisu:

am b^ the Unit^|tates, of land, thje^ti^^r >m-

had already been||^tinguished^by Oeo:^" ^^:t

conse'quently belonged to Georgia; and

cifment wllich this produced drew after it mostijfiis-

aitlous consequences. t;

r|; . Btt

i:'&

"^ *

S'?v : : '

.',^':- -

i;l""i*l't

broufftot Ovvl

the

Indians;; nearer -'"; r% "*''

'

t-:o

'.the

whi.;t|le

se;j;;.Si

melDts on the Oconee; itf&rave them licensejito

^"- '*

"*:-"." -

"-' '^ 'V-

' -.?.

otl|er treaty stipulations;lit lowered in the|r minds

their idea of the power .and rights of Georgia^ it pro

voked the uBTustifiable ^settlements and milit&ry oceu-

|f - - -

--;.; )

--,' ,; ^

> ^ - -'.|. .'

pation of the disputed territory by General Qlark j|it

excited hostilities and bloodshed along the! frontier

' S'v - .

;

V ';





vT

/-:

linp; and was an occasion of continual annbyancelto

thd citizens ^and government of the State. 1 ?

McGillivray, upon whose promises so muclt reliance

had been placed, and whose honor was in the keeping

of Ithe highest bidder, found himself soon opposed and

weakened by the machinations of an adventurer, whose

history is as romantic as the shifting scenes of,the most

expiting drama.

j;

L Augustus Bowles was born in Maryland, in

, and when a mere lad, joined the British army,

infwhich he; was appointed Ensign to a provincial com

pany. He-: was present with his corps at tjie battle

of|Monmouth, and, in the autumn of 1778, ^mbarted

atfNew York, with his company, first for Jamaica, and

thence for^ensacola, imliorida. A wild, thoughtless

^SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

447

boy, unfit to be intrusted with a=0mmission, his reckless

conduct brought upon him mortification and disgrace.

He had no$ been a year in thefarmy,- before Ms name

was stricken from the roll: and the young .Ensign,

friendless and almost penniless,%as turned adrift from

?-

>; -

'*

yi-

' -*'-{'

the garrison, and abandoned to|$ie dangers and vicissi

tudes of a| frontier life, in an ^inhospitable clime.,and

- *;,

\ *; _

.

" . __

: '^'^.i

^

"ytf'-" ^ **

rdmong savage tribes. f Turnin^tway iWith disgiistfrom

bis fbrmer friends, and flinging his uniform into the

sea, lie attached himself to a pjjrty of* Creeks, then at

Pensacola, and about to return||o the Indian Ration;

and with them he, penetrated tojfche frontier of.|Seorgia.

In a few months, he returned tojensacola, discontented

with his uncivilized companions; and, after suffering

many hardships along the coa|f, he again fell in with

a party of Creeks, and returned with them to their

' * I

;.

3'"

wilderness homes. Here he remained for two years,

during which period he acquired their language, mar

ried the daughter of one of the. chiefs, and was taken

into fi avor bJy the headmen of the nation. When war was declared between Great Britain and

Spain, he repaired to Pensacola with a war party from

the (Dreek nation, and was kindly received by General

Campbell, who reinstated him in the corps from which

he had been expelled. Here he fought bravely, and

did good service, until, on the reduction of West Florida,

he went with the troops to New York, and there re

mained on parole until exchanged.

Having received a furlough :from Lord Dorchester,

he again repaired to the Creeks, visiting, on his way

thither, his father, a planter, in Maryland. By the

Creeks he was warmly welcomed, though his stay with

them was /brief, as he shortly fwent to the Bahamas,

& 448

where the versatility of his nfind

.JWjitt* 1

v

' r'&t:

establishing hMi on the stale, asj a^ftBttfaatfr and

actor; andi am-oS|nt-g the people: oWf XJNT ew-F^-Brvso^jR^el^nii?ifEf'-L'-' a' s

'"
''if -'

"&!$'

'S; . *'.'.' ' ''?^8|fTf'S>- %|Sji

portrait painter! These occupations, }^|^e||| were

only masks, .t| cover up this^ real",*,>

- ' 'Sf

all the

j, through ,,,,,, ^^1ents^$|hej^ _ ^^ ^

carrying.on; a|(id, though at,Jfi& t|me'v^^||G^^a^g:

aroused against Jhim, and th^ ^and^|ii:^^|t|^^slan^^" >s

presented 'him *as a dangerous} and Isustetedjperson. f

JT

-">'

' "i,fe

S

^'*-- ?':' -Jf-aS ' %''.*-

whom it behooved Governm|nt

; adroitly

boldly vindicat^

cayan /

Royal /

Herald,"

r ??-

/

his
-

injure*! */ -"-"^

reputa *T %j:t

^* *%$&*&$$$.*%:

in a vessel charjered by him, & setiail, ;|^r-St.|V[arks^| "

in Florida; and, having arranged with JhetCr|eks to,|

meet him therjj he was enaMed, ii^ th^|feceji>f ,the>|

Spanish authorities, to la,nd his contrabaiid goolis and I

A

'

tf

/

"S-Ji

:"

s>.-'

i--' -X^

-

"*

'."

i*(.

".

"*: "

.'

*-V

"'

secure their transportation to 1|ie Iudian|Gpuntriy. |

These

trading
v

voyages
'

he

repeated;

y

?'

aifcl
,;

at
'. : '

lait,
-|t 7

hav^
' K

ing taught five Indians the art cjf seamansl;ip^he|)ought

a small vessel, atmed it with six four-j)ounders, manned :

it with his Indian sailors, andf then.* as c%ptain^of the '-.

"

JE'

'-

if' "S'-

piratical craft, he cruised abouj the Bay|)f Appalachi- -;-

cola, capturing whatever he could take, and even fight

ing off the Spanish Guarda Co|ta, which ;had be^en sent

t

from the Havan-a to take him.1

I^

The large reward of six thousand dollars, andififteen .

hundred kegs of taffia (rum distilled from molasses),

was offered for Jiis capture by the Spanish authorities;

/but he evaded^his pursuers, an|i, temporarily abandon

ing the sea, he returned to the?Creek coilhtry, ihd was

<-J

.J

- :/.-.

.

'?'-t*--' V ' ^-O?"--

elected one of 4he chiefs and qounsellorsfof thej|iation.

This step brought him at on|e into rivalry; with, and i

SETTLEMENT OF INDlM AFFAIES.

449

tfc
opposition to, McGillivray, an<$|was the oriIgUin of a ,.

a :.'i

prosperity of the red people andphe white. ;

& MeGiHivray, so soon as he lealned that Bellies was'' ^3 ssutnin1 gJ,,i'chieftain's authority^!r dered him"|IP|<t ' r>,?l eave -

fhe iiat|fcojQ^-which Bowles did^hough in'^nanner;!

to turn to h^liltimate

^roceedling to New Providence,^ne of the Bl*avhamas, wherfe ILord Dunmore was Governor, he so ingatiated

^imself with that officer, and sfepresentedjto him

;|fee desire of the preeks^r allia^pwith Engl^id, and

fbeir wi' lingness, if aided by Engla^3, to break with their

;; Spanish and American friends; thalpiislordship ^nt him

?0 England, at the head of a delegation of Cre|ks and

i^herokees, to represent their caseljit the British Court,

a%d secure its favor to his plans. ffAccordingly| he ap-

jpeared in England, as the " ambassador frcijm the

united nations of Creeks and Chlfrokees to th'e Court

xxf London," being appointed, as ^ras stated, ^Iby the

-!..',

O J. A

'

gg

' ;V J

WianimoI us voice of twenty thou||,nd warriors^ ready

td hazard their lives at the commlthd of their Beloved

brother, son, and chief."4

: r His mission, however, was notjas successfal as he

had anticipated. He received, together with the In

dians, valuable presents, and excited much public cu

riosity; but his plans were not? approved, and he

returned to New Providence, to si%k back, for a time,

into a privateersman, directing hif attacks principally

against the vessels of Panton, the%ommercial-partner

f1

' -'

1

1

'..^"Authentic Memoirs of William AugustasJ^owles, Esq'r, Ambassador

from the United Nations of Creeks and Cheroke^.to the Court o

London :^Ennted for R. Faulder, New Bond Stfe MDCCX(5l.

VOL. II.

29

$? ^. % t
r|r l:.
-!?-.:

-'" -f fi
i ' '^j. -V

450

GEOB&IA AN IPi>EPENDE$^!5lllB|?

*t

%I -

!f|:e.-

r;; iI fST t *ii

of McGillivraj^ several -|]

made himself iffih and influential witfl

appearing aifli% the Crflks, as thf^^f a :plfty;

he made a boldi:stand a^inst McGill|^|a^whose in*

fluence he-succeeded in lessening, and-S^e^iii a|ainst

andVTai>parentl^yielding|lb it

to New Orleans! and did^nOt return uniif thi> strongest

..

^ f

-

'$& &'-:

*^ *'- -

remonstrances %ad been-fent to

for his pusillanimous con^uct/andHir^ifi Mn

back and reas$|rt his iii:ift|i-vacated|l^ts||' aridl

Bowles gave irfut throufl the Ifidiil^pi, thl

was an accredited agent^the

the Americans,|when thly^ made peaeewip

had no right toftake theffndian landsyi^cluse thi

dians were under the power of the Crb%n|which did

not cede their tends wittffthe territory of the thirteen)

colonies; hence^ that the^mericans bad ^o rigMTW

^

" '?' ''

their soil, or their services, and must be?held as intru-

'



. : *

'T

ders, whom it was the fluty of the Inlians to drive

away.

*

'^'

'I | 4": '-'i

The Government of Great Britain, when Called upon

to state whether they acknowledged Bowles as their

agent, distinctly repudiated him. Mr. Hairimond (his

Britannic Majesty's Minister to the United;States), in

a letter to Mr. Jefferson,'Secretary of State, assured

the Government " in the most explicit manner, that

the assertions said to h aye been made % Mr. Bowles,

of his pretensions having been encouraged or counte*

nanced by the Government of Great Britain, or of his

.f

''I.

... ? '4 :

having been ^rnished jy it with arm| and ammuni

tion, are intirely withoi^ ibundation.'r

I
SETTLEMENT f)F INDIAN AFFAIRS

Sv
451

iBetween the usurpations'6f Bowles, and*the double-

i'

* .

,yg.

delling of McGillivray, the treaty line, a agreed; upon

atfNew York^was notfrun^ The Unite|| States ap

pointed surveyors and |pmniissioners; bill theyiwere

not permitted to act, inconsequence of these intestine

Govemmetft fi|t called upon4o do-all in

___

V$"

i'u

?

,;."..

to crush Bowle^iand to throw Itsf supportin

McGillivray; J$t fte latter was unworthy of

anjlconfidence, and his tiesitating and tortuous cburse

wa|%tiie occasion of mucli trouble both to ^he Indians

ancpto the Georgians; ^a&lthe cause offnlost - of the

difl|culties of the StatejGivernment; ; aiwjt gavf the

Felferal Government coi^intal anxiety and" alarm.

Bowles, now styling hftnself " General," was at last

cap|ur^d by the Spanisli authorities, taken to New

Orllans in chains, and tnence sent as a state prisoner

to Malrid. His capture (removed from the Nation one

element of discord, thougfiit did not contribute towards

the| accomplishment of Ihes purposes of the Federal

Government, viz., the |establishing of well-defined

boundaries, the protectiofi of the frontier, and the se-

curfngj of peace among th$ Southern tribes. ? '

Owing to the supineness ^of Seagrove, the double-

dealing of McGillivray, the freebooting settlement of

General Clarke, the intrigues of Pan ton and the Spanish

officials in Florida, and|the irritated feeling of the

Georgians at the way in fwhich their wishes had been

disregarded and opposed the stipulations of the New

York treaty were not carried out; and the horrors of

a border warfare with savflgevtribes still hovered over

the ^Southern frontier of Georgia.

;

III 1793, McGillivray, ^having returned the previous

452

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT&TATE.

autumn from New Orleans, wherl? h^ had been ;<k>ur-

teously entertained by the Frencfi Governor, replirect

once more to Pensacola, to enjoy-fhe-jhospitality of the

Spanish authorities, and the counsel |of his merchant-



-If '

-\f.

friend Panton. It was his lastf visit. Alread^fe

feebled^n health, he was taken ill on his

FloridajTand died, on the 17th Fe|)ri|iry,

house of Mr. Panton, eight daysfafter his

Pensacola; and was buried, with civic and masonic,,

honors, in his friend's beautiful garden, then

of the blossoms of spring, and gfeenjwith the

glories of that land of flowers. : | ^

McGillivray was a man of strings/natural

which, had they been properly ctiltifated, wouldfhave,

made him eminent; and, even| though imperfect^

developed, he yet exhibited diplomatic powers whieli

A

'

/

A >.

-~

J.

i1 .

enabled him to baffle treaty commissioners, Indian

agents, heads of departments, Goferifors of States^ and

even impose on the carefully fformed judgment 6f

Washington.

I-

?

As a chief^ he lacked vigor ancjdecision; and, lower

ing himself from the position vfhich he occupied, as

the head of the confederacy of Creeks, he stooped to

engage in trade, and bound himself down by:such

commercial fetters to Spanish merchants, as weakened

his influence, drew off his attention from state affairs,

and caused him to turn all his efforts towards enrich

ing himself and extending his tfade; while the inte

rest of the nation of Creeks was /unheeded, except

when some great outside pressure roused him to action.

He was, moreover, a great dissembler; and so adroitly

did he manage his dealings with the Americans,, Eng

lish, French, and Spanish, that leach feared to ?break

SETTLEMENT OF INDIAN AFFA^S.

453

t

f'

with

him;

~>
5|hile

each

distrusted

-2v
his|loyalty,

andr;

watcted him^vith ill-concealed suspicionl;

|

__

.?$?*',

A -1& %$[

'&

His inde<jif|bn, and mercantile tramn||l8,:were the

cause of mucfi of the troubles which spjjlong afflicted

-



. - "M,"

" &

... ;*

Georgia :%Mfe his want of promptness!and energy*

enabledtBo^es -"" w_.

- ~^V>-

almost

to

beI ard

him tin"^

his

native*;

I v" . * &

vj*-

V-^:

forests, aiid ^fell-nigh wrest from him t|te; scept^^

the nation* If-

-."JJ , " ;!

As for Bowles, after still further escap|s and adven*

tures by landitnd sea, he ended his lifejas a prisoner

of state in the^dungeons of Moro Castle^n Havana.^i

Ma :ters hadfnow reached such a crisis ifeat Governor

Telfair,

'. . '-;?
having applied

to

ft'

""'/;"

the General Government in

vain for such aid as he thought the exigencies of the

frontier demanded, resolved to conduct fthe military

operations of the State himself; and sumrifpned a conn*

cil of general officers to meet him in Augusfa, on Thurs-s

day, 8^1 August, 1793.

|

.J

The councils-consisting of Governor Telfair as Com

mander-in-chief, Major-Generals John T^iggs, James

Jackson, and Elijah Clarke, and Brigadier-Generals

Glascock, Morfeison, Clarke, Irwin, and|Gunn, took

into consideration what measures were proper to be

adopted for the; safety and protection of tlje citizens of

the State. They determined that it was jaecessary to

make an expedition against the hostile tbwns of the

Creeks, in October; and that, for this purpose, "at

least two thousand horse and three thousand foot

ought to be ordered to camp for the objec|s that may

arise, in the intended expedition," to serv^ after their

arrival in camp, for sixty days. 5

* Americyan State Pap* ers. IT,* -In.d."ia--n Af.fairs.*,' S$fy.tO.

454

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STA^E.

This line of operation was not agreeabj^toMie views

of Washington, .who directed the Seci^ltfel|of War,

''"
General Knox,.to say to Governor

; -

' ;*

utterly disapprov'ed the measure

.

reasons inifull lor such disapproval, and

uhnisdAedret,saikr,'ee,nt*hat

the .$/

offensive -.

expedition -. -,-;

shoM

This letter put a stop to the active

were going on to carry out the views oif^thj|tmilitary

council, and drew from the Governorf a^

blended remonstrance and appeal, expresswe

deep disappointnient at be,ing compelled||o

pursuing the only measure which, in hisppij||on, c||iili[

give ease and security to persons and property alpng

the frontier. It 'required great forb' eara.nc e .6-Iti" t'he par't"" of the Georgians to refrain from carrying injto ex|cur

tion the plans devised by the council at Augjsta; and,

irritated as they were by the manifold annoyances to

*

*

"-

*W^'

f

which they were subjected, through the (||plicity of

McGillivray, the machinations of Bowles, tl|| timidity

of Seagrove, the recklessness of Clarke, andlHhe ima

gined supineness and indifference of tt|| Federal

Government,--they displayed a commendaqle submis

sion to law and authority, in ceasing to prejs forward

the expedition which had been so enthusiastically

planned.

|.

In this feverish and unsettled condition thje relations

of the

Government, the

State, and

the

:?
Indians, con-

-:f>

tinued, with occasional exacerbations and re'%m& issions--

now breaking out into bloody hostilities, an|l now, ap

parently soothed to peace--until 1796, whe^ WashingT>V
ton, having made a treaty with the Chfrokees, at

Holston River,Jand quieted all troubles ^fith them,

SE TTLEME" NT OF INDIAN AFFA1ES.

45o

|t..to establish friendly relations with the

t||| restless Creeks. Having determined, in

the request of the General Assembly

another treaty with the Creeks, the

&lthe
rt\g-;j,

25th

of June, f

1795, *

nominated --

to
'

the

Hawkins, of North Carolina, George

^Pennsylvania, and Andrew Pickens, of

t, " to be Commissioners for holding a

le Creek nation of Indians." The place

selected^IbrS-holding this treaty, was Coleraine. in

-'^iV, 3^:1 -#/ "\r-t-" *"'

O

/ /

/

Caitilpn|go|nty, and about forty-five miles above. St.

Federal Commissioners .repaired, in

Lj|| ;j|there they were joined by three Commis-

sioheirs|<ii|^ ^e part of the State of Georgia, viz., James

Hendrifeks, ifames Jackson, and James Simms.

ie |bjm|l conferences were opened on the 16th of

anci w,ere continued from day to day, during

wnicn Speeches were made to the Indians by Benjamin

Jv,

>;;! -'fVStff TV" ,

J

J

Hawfeins,ton|the part of the United States, and General

'"' 5-1. ''X ':'. t-i

Jam e*sj Iy:Ja*t.ek%s.'on,7 on btehalf of the Georgia Commis-

sines| ^h^datter pointing out to the Indians, with

gr6at| force, fbheir faithlessness to former treaties, and

presenting tq them a long list of grievances unredressed,

an<i p^ rojpertj unrecovered, directly contrary to the pro-

visioiis jbf tHe New York treaty.

After nia^y anxious conferences with the Indians,

a treaty was concluded, on the 29th of June, and

siogn-. ed",j by/ the : .-;. . Commissioners of the United States and thes' ch'flie?f s --wn^o represe. nt.ed the Creek nation.
The IStiate Commissioners protested against this

treaty;, unjlet seven distinct heads; and so decidedly

right, as it respected the unconstitu-

'Hit-

456

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

tionality of the government's oBjaining cess^na^pf

land from the In&ians within the|territorialMiitsiof

the State, that when the treaty wajS before

for ratification, in March, 1797, lhat body -m'

modifying^ proviso, which obviated^ that

feature, and gave to Georgia pre-fmption i

left untouched her territorial sovereignty.

-.>>

~f-

'-



**%$' ^"^

In Washington's speech to Congress,

1796, he says, that the meeting of Greeks, at Co^ame,

had for a principal object the pur|hase of a -**---'*''*

their land by Georgia. It broke up without ij

accomplished, the^'-.nation having previously ii

the delegates agmrist it. All the| benefits we^^^^

treaties were confirnfed^ and peiM&- isi|i|pi

was

obtained

to

establish

among*-' |^h- ' e

Creeks

,i?*'.
r";

houses and- military posts.

|

-^|^ti|?'

The inefficiency of this treaty wjas soon seenjf The

troubles were varied as to place anji character^ut yet

they continued; and it was not ufitil several ;;|]|ea|ies

had been made, and many negotiations with the

Creeks entered into by Georgia a"nd by the General

V

V-J

-*T,'

V

' V.': C

x

Government; that, long after the beginning o

tury, and within the administratioii of still livfng Go

vernors, the Indians were removed Jrom GeorgiaJ-to the

homes provided for them in the West ; and with their

removal came peace, security, and ^population. ??

f
I

I

*

CHAPTER V.

TAZOO SPECULATIONS.

'

FEW events in the history of our country,|none. cer

tainly in fhe annals of Georgia, involved greater prin

ciples of |aw and equity, or were moresexcifing to all

classes offtt'.the community/ ,~ from Massachusef-t. ts to the French settlements in Louisiana, than the ^azoo sale.

The nues|ions pertaining to this matter welre among

the grave|t which can exercise the mind of |he jurist

and Ithe statesman. They involved the rights and

independence, as well as the honor and integrity of the

indi\iduaf State; the authority and jurisdiction of the

Federal (Ibvernment; the privileges and immunities

of the aboriginal tribes; the contracts andftssociated

powers o| several great landed companies; and the

claims of Spanish, French, and English subjects, along

an expose^ and exasperated frontier.

!

For m^re than twenty years, these questions, in

some form; .or other, were agitated in our courts of law,

in our legislative assemblies, in the halls of ^Congress,

I

***".

*

.

S

';.

CJ

*

and in the councils of the Cabinet,--shaping^ in many

respects, the political aspect of the times, and, directing

the measures which were finally adopted in jhe settle

ment of tne vexed questions of Indian titles and Indian

protection^

I

r

if

3:.

458

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

I-

.

-

S

t

.

The southern portion of the present United States

had been claimed respectively by England and Spaip,

on|he ground Jpf original discovery. An attempt was

mape, in 1604,^to settle, by treaty, the pretensions ilof

each of these powers to America, but the parties could

notagree ; and the claims were kept in abeyance un|il

thelyear 1670. when, by the 7th article in whatlis

8fj..

''&?

callbd the " American treaty" between England aM

Sp|in, it is stipulated that the possessions of the Ei|g-

lisHlCrown, as they then existed in America, were to j)e

confirmed to "the most serene King of Great Britaif|"

*'

o

*

with " plenary right of sovereignty, dominion, possj$-;

sion, and propriety."

'jjj^".

Gharles II, in his first charter to the Earl of Clarendfn

~r'

**'.* v

ant^seven others, granted to them "all that proving,

territory, or tract of ground, called Carolina, situate,

lyitig, and being within our dominions of America," and

between the 36 and 31 northern latitude; and "south

wes'-' t in a direct line as far as the South Seas." Two ' "*,' yesirs after, by a second charter, dated 30th of Juije,

1665, the King removed the southern boundary line,

so -as to cover the country claimed by right of dis

covery, and fixed it at 29 northern latitude. This,

then, was the southern boundary of the English pos

sessions in America five years later, when the treaty

was made between Spain and England, -- the 7th article

of which, as we have seen, confirmed to the English

King all the land which he then claimed.

Jn 1729, the territory covered by these two charters

of G? harles II was,' to the extent of seve-^ n-ei^ghths of .-.it,' surrendered to, George II, by the heirs and assignees

of jt'hose who held the province as proprietors unc|p

i
-1t?;*.

.- YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

459

the sai||?ch0ers^ and thus the land, to 29 south

latiti di^was^einvested in the Crown.

Five^iiom^s later, on the 9th December, 1729,

Robertpohni|pn was commissioned as Governor of this

surrenc^ed ||rovince j and, though no boundaries were

stated, ^et b|| title, as well as lawj his commission

covef ecpje ^fjfiole territory claimed under tjie charters

of the SeHo

In

tne Lords of the Committee of Council,

appoihte|| to^onsider the petition of Lord Percival,

James |lettf|rpe, &c., for a grant of lands in South

Carolin^ibr Ipie purpose of establishing a charitable

colony, f%por$|d favorably, and recommended to his

Majesty||p gr^nt to the petitioners that tract of land

lying i>ejweeri| the Rivers Savannah and Alatamaha;

and aecq^diiigly, in the charter granted to these gen

tlemen, ||t 17*p, the boundaries of the new colony of

Georogia t?w^--^re . ".?Hf1ixed b*y^ those rivers on the north and south, "Ijnd westward from the heads of the said rivers

respectively in|direct lines to the South Seas."

This cliartey was surrendered to the King in 1752,

when it ||ease(i to be under the government of the

trustees, |fnd was erected by the Crown into a royal

province||f -(,

In :hel|commission appointing John Reynolds Go

vernor of |he colony, the same boundaries were recited

which wefe recorded in the charter.

A practical aspect was soon given to this territorial

question bjy th settlement to the southward of the

Alatamaha of a party of seventy or eighty men, under

the leadership of Mr. Gray, at a place called New

HanoverH^Lieutenant-Governor Ellis gave Gray a

license to!

at the St. Marys River, and to trade

tHowI

460

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

there; but this measure was reprehended by tie Lords .-i,?f>,
of Trade, and William Pitt particularly ^dejlored it, :&'

"as it may disturb^tfrat peace and friendshij|||hieh at

present so happily subsists between his Majfsty and if
the King of Spain,-^no limits having, as ^appre

hend, ever been finally settled between the twcf crowns

in to

btheisb^rpoakretnofupA--m^er" iroi/ct ab.e"caTushee

.settlement it was on

was,^f.brdered Spalish sbil|

m

for it was conceded that it was on English ground-- but because it migh% by its proximity to Florida, give

umbrage to the cour| of Spain;

||?

It was well Mown that ^General Oglethofpe had

;;.

.



;tg;

made settlement^ south of the Alatamahaj'Shd that

lands were claimed Sunder his rule even tofthe St.

John's; while the establishment of Fort Wijliam, at

the south end of Cumberland Island, and thefkeeping

up a guard there by- a detachment from his Majesty's

Independent Company in South Carolina, under direc

tion of the Governor of South Carolina, proved how

Great Britain regarded her legal right to that territory.

The grants made by Governor Browne of large tracts

of land to the southward of the Alatamaha, the caveat

of Governor "Wright against such proceedings,^and the

issue that was taken thereon by the Lords of Trade,

complicated matters very much; but the treaty of

peace of 1763, between Great Britain and Spain, and

the cession of Florida to England by that treaty, set

at rest all questions of boundary.

$;

Florida was now divided into East and West Florida,

and each was erected into a royal province. The

northern boundary was fixed at 31 north latitude;

and, on the recommendation of the Board of Trade,

the jurisdiction of the Governor of Georgiaiwas ex*

YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

461

f
tendedf|ve||fthe territory lying between the southern

brancbjpf |ke Alatamaha and the northern boundary Sf.i. Srti^
of the I|lor||as. By the same treaty, also, the western

boundaw %|Georgia, instead of being, as heretofore,

I

AV.

'fci^ i'

the Jfoiijh f|ias, was now made to be the middle of the

Biver^iissifsippi.

:

<&;,

' ' j*Vf f f

By 1^ t^ty of peace concluded between the -United

States SlndflCrreat Britain, in 1783, these were the boundaflives R"-V'e. cognized by the latter power, and ac

cepted,;!^ ftie former, when the mother country ac-

knowlei;ged|our existence as an independent nation.

Rely|hg;Jjjji these facts as full evidence of her title

to thiSijperfitfory, the Legislature of Georgia, on the

17th F^brulry, 1783, passed "An act for opening the

land ofi|ce,find for other purposes therein named;" in

the 1 3 fcl section of which the boundaries of Georgia

|

"?.:

. ?.'.



L are thus#- reci* t. ed: "That the limits, boundaries, jurisn, jandjauthority of the State of Georgia, DO, and

did, and)x)f fright ought to extend from the mouth of

the !3ivr Savannah, along the north side thereof, and

I

-ji

' "

up the m?os*tunorthern stream or fork of .the said river,

up to its head or source ; from thence, in a due west

*

1

.;

s

__

course, to the River Mississippi; and, down the said

stream bf the Mississippi, to the latitude 31 north ;

from thence^ in a due east course, to the River Apala-

chicd)la,|or Ohatahoochee ; and, from the fork of the

said River Apalachicola, where the Chatahoochee and

Flin ; Rivers meet, in a direct line to the head or

sourci e o=f the southernmost stream of the River St. Mary; and, along the course of the said River St.

Mary, to the Atlantic Ocean," &c.

T ie (aim which South Carolina had so lon made

to the tfftctlof land lying between the Alatamaha and

I
^ !
-*2- i*&l. -I\i'
it -.f'.
J.%* ll

si-

462

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

th

n1. the St. Mary, because not originally included in that

-1 |part of Carolina which was erected into the indepen-

ent colony of Georgia, 'was relinquished by South

^Carolina, at the Convention of Georgia and South

^Carolina Commissioners, which was held at Beaufort,

fin 1787; and thus the last impediment in the way of

|the full recognition of the|jurisdiction of Georgia oveV

Ithat portion of the territory was removed.

'f

I From these statements 'it appears that Georgia was

|the legal proprietor of these lands. In proof of this
I. ftehe could appeal to the cession of Florida to England
.? ;by Spain; to the Royal Proclamation " for establishing

the governments of Eastfahd West Florida, and ex

tending the southern boundary of Georgia," in 1763;

to the new commission oflGovernor Wright, in 1764;

to the 2d and 9th " Articles of Confederation and Per-

/



.-

petual Union between tfre States," in 1781; to the

Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, in 1783 ; and to

the 3d Article of the Convention of Beaufort, in 1787.

The Federal Government 'fully recognized this right of

Georgia, in its official intercourse with Georgia, in its

several acts of Congress, and by the instructions given

to its treaty-making commissioners.

In February, 1785, the Legislature passed an act,

erecting a large tract of country, bordering on the

Mississippi, above and below Natchez, into a separate

county, which was named BOURBON ; and civil and ju

dicial officers were appointed for that new county; but

the intervention of Spanish claimants and settlers pre

vented the carrying the act into effect, and it was r|-

pealed in February, 1788.

^

Shortly after, a company of persons, stimulated ~by

the thirst for gain, organised themselves into an assi

YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

463

8.
elation, called " The Combined Socie*ji..t*yf ." Its members were sworn to secrecy, and the object of it was, by

means of certain influences broughtfto bear upon those

in authority, to obtain from the Sfate large grants of

lands, either for immigration or for sale,-1--in either case

for the end of making a large sum of money out of the

transaction. Such a secret could nd| long be kept. It

was brought to the notice of the Gofernor and the Le

gislature; andits divulgence thwarted the plans of the

society, which was soon disbanded, f-

~

It existed long enough, however^fto do serious mis

chief], by inflaming the cupidity of~ffie citizens, by ex

citing visions of landed property, orfgolden gains to be

realized in investments in western l|nds, and by fami

liarizing the minds of the people witn the underhanded

dealings of land speculators and political gamesters,--

absolutely demoralizing to any state? or people.

The evil effect of such measures sdon appeared. In

1789, Thomas Washington, Alexander Moultrie, Isaac

Hugee, William Clay Snipes, and certain others, asso

ciated together as "The South Carolina Yazoo Com

pany," and applied to the Legislaturelof Georgia for the

purchase of certain tracts of land belonging to Georgia.

The principal promoters of this scheme were a certain

Captain Sullivan, of the late revolutionary army, who

headed the mob, in Philadelphia, which insulted the

Old Congress, then sitting in the State House, and who

had taken refuge in the Mississippi territory as a fugi

tive from the penalty which the la\v would have in

flicted on him for his crimes; and Thomas Washington,

whose real name, however, was Walsji, and who styled

himself a citizen of Georgia, but who was really a

swindling adventurer. These two ni^en, bold, reckless,

* 464 ;' GEORGIA AlflNDE PEN DENT STATE.

^unscrupulous, with grlat address and,zeal, made suchi

V ' i..."

i

K*

^J ^* .3V5"

'

*

ft rdpresefttationst of thlfdesirableness of these western

| lands, and the facility||>f peopling them and bringing

I them into a^profitablelfnarket, tbat many, besides the

Ig^ntlenien of Georgisjand South Carolina, wei-e led 1^

|a^ay Ay^their schem^; and " The Virginia^azoo |j||,

f^pmpllpj^^ltt the heajlfof which was the justly cele^i

tbfatecijPatrick Henryfed " The Tennessee Company^^^S^

".

^.

^.

_____



, 4; .f

^'"tif-

'

I^re'-prese\nted bJy Zechar'l%a>h Cox and others., made appli- -""%.$'..",,?.'

1 cation ^it the same tifip with the Carolina company? ,^|

|-; fijr grajats of land froiv the State of Georgia. ; Peti- !*|^

|tfens from 'these coi^ianies were presented to the

f Senatej on the 20th ||fNovember, 1789, setting forth

{the advantages whichiwould arise to Georgia from dis-

; posing fef their westerEpands, and offering to purchase

I on certain conditions. 'IfiThese were referred to a com; mittee \ and a bill toilnat effect was shortly after in

t

troduced into the Sena|e, and sent to the lower House,

on Monday, December 7th, for their action: The

r. House was then engaged upon the Judiciary bill, but it

> was the next day set ^aside, in order to consider the

I bill for^disposing of th|^State lands; and a joint com-

! mittee'was appointed! consisting of one member of

I the House from eachvlcounty, to report specially on

: "the merits and propositions of the different companies

; proposing to become purchasers in the said territory."

Another company now appeared, and presented its

claims,--" The Georgia Company," composed of citizens

who were unwilling to see such large tracts of land

passing into the handsfof Carolinians and Virginians;

while those most interested--the inhabitants of Georgia

--were only to a smia|i extent admitted into these as-

I sociations: This cornffany, however, entered the field

YAZ00 SPECULATIONS.

465

'?

' 7:-

.:

too late, jhe agents of the other companies, working

with indormtable zeaj^ and feeling]thal each day's delay

imperilled ftheir schemes, pressed forward legislative

action with%tgindecentffthaste. N e-arlyv all c>.ither business was suspetifled; andj though the minority were able

to retard the precipitate action ^which $he majority

seemed to|desire, yej they only held bafck the result

for a few diys. When, in committee of'the whole, a

motion wasj made ixx insert " The Georgia Company"

with the other applicants, it was lost; the same fate

befel a motion to increase the sum demanded for the

f;'

:l-

v. .: -

4-.

lands; and| it appealing to the ^minority that there

'."-

'4- '

-.'.

was a deter>mination-. to give the lands :to the three

companies $jt a nominal value, and without allowing a

fair competition, they suffered the bill to pass as it

came from the Senate;^ without opposition.

Thus, in the course of nine days, a bill of such great

importance Itvas hurried through" the House of Kepre-

sentatives, and every attempt to make theileast amend

ment to it was frustrated. It received the signature of

the Governor on the 21st December, and the " Act for

disposing of certain vacant lands or territory within this

State" became a law. ; By this bill it was enacted that

a tract or part of the territory of Georgia, now embrac

ing the middle counties of Mississippi, comprising over

five millions of acres, should be reserved as a pre-emption

for " The South Carolina Yazoo Company ;" for which

they were to pay the State in two years $66,964; that

a tract, or part of the territory of this State, bordering

on the Tennessee and] Mississippi Bivers, now known

as the northern counties of Mississippi, embracing over

seven millions of acres, should be reserved as a pre

emption for *|The Virginia Yazoo Company';" for which

VOL. II.

30

466

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT S?TATE.

they were to pay $93,781 within tw|> years; that a|.

third tfaet, or part of tHe territory oflthis State,lying

along the Tennessee Elver and Bear) Creek, being a |

portion! of what is now ftforthern Alabama, containing >

nearly Jthree and a half fnillions of acres, shouldtfbe re- J

served^s a pre-emption |br *^The Tennessee Company;" |

for wh|ch they were toj pay, in termis similar to the|

other Companies, the s|m -of $46,876; Thus fifteenf

and a half millions of acres, or what .proved to:be in |

fy '

;. A

-|i.

reality over twenty millions of acres, were sold to; three |

companies for the paltry sum of about; $207,000 \ |

The I passage of thisfact drew out strong remon-|j

strances from the mindirity> and from " The Georgia!

Company," which had ijeally offered a larger price and |

more valuable securitie|.

i-

|

Under the provisionslof this act, the South Carolina f

and Virginia Companies paid into the treasury somef

small sums in paper melium, but the full provisions of |

the law were not complied with by any of the com-l

panics, ;and the contemplated sale was not completed. |

Thus the schemes of Washington, alias Walsh, came i

.f.

O

'

'

to nought. He himself! was shortly after arrested fbr|

forging a large amount lof Georgia and Carolina paper, I

and, being convicted an| sentenced to death, was hung

in Charleston in 1792. $ .

.

k

The companies which had obtained these grants:

were greatly incensed at the course which the matter;-

took, and not only charged Georgia with acting in bad)

faith, but even entered suits in equity .against the States

in theg Supreme Court^fbr the purpose of compelling!

Georgia to confirm the contracts " fully and absolutely."?

While these suits werejpending, an amendment to the|

Constitution of the Uiiited States passed Congress^

'f

SPECULATIONS!

467;

December 2, 1793dec1armg thafjpMfe judicial power;

of the United Stalf| shall not bf^lrued to extend

to any suit in lawJar equity commen|(ed or prosecuted

against one of the fjnited States irjIc^izeBfs of another;

State, or by citizens] or subjects df^ti^ foreign State.";

Accordingly all proceedings|there|i^)if canie to an end."

Undeterred by thes^-failnresy pre|);d|afionSon a more

extensive scale were made for ne\tf efforts, having for

their end the sameSgeneral Qbject|;|a^|t, at the session

of the Legislature IQ November, l|^4pproposals were

again made by several parties forj|jei|purchase of >the

western territory MCrebreial Tn%|e irere referred to

|

.*; Vv

-

As $ S?

a joint committee fif both Houses;fp7lo, on the 3d of

.

December, reported^ ^as their

ithat it would

be right and proper^to sell a;part fe% Western terri

tory of this State during the presentfsession. They

are also of opinion, that it will be blstl to sell to com-

VV

.-

?- % ;

panics; they therefore report that|t||e^;are of opinion

it would be right and proper,; and wqulfltend much to

the advantage and population of th^ tate, to extend

the limits of the present boundaryfinfe as far as the

River Ocmulgee; and^ that an appropriation should be

made therefor, together with an -Application to the

General Government for the holding of a treaty. Your

V i|-

"

committee further report that they h^av|fe taken under

consideration the several applications!made for the

purchase of certain tracts of country therein described;

which, they are-of opinion, are liberal and right to be

agreed to; but this report is not to conclude the Legis

lature from receiving-and accedinglloj^ner proposals

which may be deemed more advantageoifs to the State.

V

.-'-'

-tJ 4

"; -

7

should any such be made during j|oi|"fjpssage of the

bill."

463

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

-

.

A liiinority refort was presented arifl'isffereplas an

amendment to the report of the

',V

' -$"

-

it wa^urged thaf "it is not consistent wj|)i|t||Jjinte

rests <|f this State to accede to the proposals^-ajle by

the pfesent companies, or any part of thio^^t this

tirne.1| This amendment was disagreed ^ip^^i the

bill, :^ reportedjby the majority, was pif^^a its

passage.

I ;

*':^^^'

The* companies applying, and incorporati|||j their

claim! and terms in the bill, entitled, " An? a^^eclar-

ing tlie right of|the State to the unappropri||||k ter

ritoryjthereof^" &c.,f were "The Georgia

" Thepeorgia Mississippi Company;" " The

Company;" and " The Virginia Yazoo CompanJ||

these, |>n the lltlt December, was added, "The|Sorgia

Union;r Company," composed of General TwigHf Wil

liam Few, John Wereat, William Gibbons. JM'&c.,

".'

'

*

.

f

'\ -f-if

^*rVJ

who made certain proposals to the committejeifor a

tract of land, supposed to contain at least twenl||three

milliofis of acres, and for which they offered tlil sum

of$5(,000. ^

If

The^ committee, to whom was referred this ]#|t pro

posal, Jreported, '* That on examination of the bounda

ries of the district proposed to be purchased;by the

above-named gentlemen and their associates, it appears

to be -composed of the two districts proposed ,'to be

purchased by the ' Georgia' and ' Georgia Mississippi

Companies,' and no more; that the sum offered is

$90,000 greater than that offered by both the other

companies; and ; that the new company proposes to

reserve for the citizens double the amount indicated

by the other companies; and they submit the ad-

I: \> * :

1T

Irtfa IS S J<: K f

_ _-_._JJMS^_-JS&___L-___O 1 -.-,-----*

.

ri
it';;
I

YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

469

!- -

-

:-j-

.;-,'

vantages and Disadvantages of each to tie decision of

til JHouse," I

' s |' : '

if?he application of the Georgia Union Company, not

withstanding their larger offers and mojre liberal re-

-: ' I

'

'U

' ',v -

selves, was, hdwever, rejected by a vdtelof---ayes 12,

nafs 14. ?. -I -

;f|

Mi^irious^umendments were offered tofthis bill by

:.*;*? i

.

_

j

/

tl|d)3e opposed fo this measure, hut they were severally

vciited down byla steady and determined rnajority, and

life bill was passed and sent to the Governor for his

''

X '.

'

'"

J,j:.

signature. Fearing that Governor Matthews might

it, the'leading men of the several companies inte

rested addressed a letter to him on the f 5th Decem

ber^ in which they sought to show the ^policy, expe

diency, and advantage of the bill,--setting forth these

inHrief, but strbng terms,--urging his Excellency not

to interpose his executive authority, and intimating

hoty; unpleasant it would be to him to hiave the bill

passed over his tveto.

*

Despite the urgent appeal of these parties, the Go

vernor, on the 29th December, sent his dissent to the

bill 'to the House; in which communication he stated

his objections to it to be: "1st. I doubt whether the

proper time is arrived for disposing of the territory in

question. 2d. If it was the proper time, the sum offered

is inadequate to the value of the lands. 3d.^ The quan

tity reserved for the citizens is too small in proportion

to the extent of the purchase. 4th. That greater

advantages are secured to the purchasers than to the

citizens. 5th. That so large an extent 6f territory

being disposed of to individuals will operatejas monopo

lies^ which will prevent or retard settlement, popula

tion, ^and agriculture. 6th. That should such disposi-

470

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

tion be made, at j least one-fourth of the lands should

be reserved for the future disposal of the State. 7th.

That if public notice was given that the lands were for

sale^ the rivalship in purchasers would most probably

have increased the sums offered."

^

After reading this dissent of the Governor, a com-



'

7

mittee of five was appointed to confer with his Excel

lency upon his message.

The next dayJ.' Mr. Watkins,7 from this^ c' ommittee,' ftt1%IS made the following report: " That so intimately con

nected is the ( act for appropriating a part of the un-

located territory of this State for the payment of the

late State troops,' &c., with the bill returned to the

House, the same cannot be separately carried into

effect without a dangerous anticipation of funds already

pledged in the most solemn manner to the soldier and

suffering citizen in a common cause; or a derangement

of the finances of the State, which the Legislature view

with the utmost regret. That on comparing the pur

chase contemplated by the several companies with

the map of the western territory of this State, they

find that eighteen millions of acres still remain the

right of the State for future appropriations, indepen

dently of the immense tract of country lying eastward

of Chattahoochee, and within the temporary line of

the Indian hunting-ground. That his Excellency the

Governor's reasons for dissent, being founded upon

opinions as to legislative operation, and not on consti

tutional grounds, a supplementary act, embracing the

objects of this report:--

" 1. That the whole sum of $600,000 deposited should II

become subject to the immediate use of the State, and

be considered the first payment; that the Governor do

>;

YAZOD SPECULATIONS.

471

Jthsrejipon issue grants to the several applicants, taking fmortgage on the territory sold to secure the after-pay-

<<That the furth|r sum of $10,000 be added to the

Ifu adMlready appropriated to the extinguishment of

claims south fbf the Qconee, and eastward of

- ".*'.

-

|the^^attahoochee. ""?

I }" 3i:That a fair and equal representation in the seve-

IraljCAmpanies
/ . -i '' *3&v;'

be

.therein "~;

provided and secured to

the

|cifize|p, subscribers for the land reserved, on the same

ibotilM with the original purchasers:

'i- " ' '-:'P:

; O >'

1

"

4f| That the furthjer quantify of five million acres,

n

aiIvPi^j;itihtioounsantod,--thealrfetwadoy

million five reserved by

hundred and the companies

*for t"i~-e- citizens of Ge','o rg<->ia,j--to be subscribedt for and ' held in trust for the use of the State, subject to future

^disposal, and represented in like manner (if assented to

Iby th| companies) as tenants in common with the pur-

-chasers,^--affords the State an additional check on the

monopolies apprehended, and should be deemed an ade-

iquatej re serve on the part of the State and the citizens

thereof; and your committee are clearly of opinion ought

finally to reconcile the several objections of his Excel-

leacy^the Governor. Your committee further report

:that his Excellency has conceded in part, and that a

further conference is appointed."

On the question of agreeing to the report, there

were-t-yeas 20, nays 8.

The following morning, Mr. Watkins brought in a

further report, in which he stated that they had ad-

justei(| the matter satisfactorily with the Governor;

)%*Hiat the committee had prepared and brought in

1

472

fi. HII

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

a bij| "embracing the several objects therein con

tain]!." f

Ilfiwas objected that, by the rules of the House, no

billg&f a general nature could be introduced, unless a

previously appointed for that pur-

jposejp andgpiat, as the committee in this instance were

?not|||sted $ith power to introduce any bill, but merely

;to confer with the Governor on the subject of his ob-

jectilfng to fa bill already passed, therefore the bill

jrepo||ed bylthis committee could not be taken up by

ythe Mouse, j

TJjjjia objection was overruled, and the bill;? entitled

" Ai||act supplementary to an act for appropriating- a

part||>f the! unlocated territory of this State for the

payi&ent^ofithe late State troops, and for other purposes

therein mentioned, declaring the right to the unappro

priated territory thereof, for the protection and support

of tne frontiers of this State, and for other purposes

therlin mentioned," was read the first time in the

Hou||.

T|ns was* an ingenious grafting of a rejected bill,

improved, indeed, in some of its features, but still

grea|ly objectionable, upon a bill, in which the in-

habi|ants of Georgia felt a deep interest, and for the

passage of which they were most anxious. It was a bold

policy to make the vetoed bill a rider upon an unob-

jecti|hable bill, so that they should sink or swim to-

gethfir. The plan produced intense excitement, and

threatened serious commotions.

Wbile the new bill was pending, the '* Georgia Union

Company" again addressed a letter to each branch of

ihe legislature, inclosing proposals for purchasing the M
?K5:V_

a*
Sf '

! YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

473

-? *

f>f the territory specified in the vetoed bill,

It offering &B Considerations for the same, "a deposit

y wajjgof ffbrfeiture) of $40,000 in bills of exchange

PhViIfi&$. -e-- lp.*h. ia-,'

a| '-

double

usance, with

indisputable

to -the-; State the residue of the

TJ amounting^n the whole, to: $800,000,

the first day of December next;,. promis-

tofreserve 4,000,000 acres to the State, to be dis-

-fff-, i

'<$!>. .

'

.

';'



.'

||)sed <fi as this,' ot a future 'Legislature, shall direct;

al|bttto reserve 4,000,000 for the citizens themv

^Thr^irgh^theqiin^fluence of the agents of the other e^mpaipeSj .this proposition, by which so many and ^eater|advantagesiwould come to the State, met with al little^favor as their former petition. The Legisl&tfre, goaded on by an outside pressure not easily with stood, within three clays after bringing in the new bill, d| rathe* the old bill slightly modified and riveted into afpreviously pending one, passed the same; the scru ples of fthe too pliant Governor were overcome; and, on thef 7th of December, the bill received his signa ture, arid became the law of the land. | The ^preamble of the bill recites, in various paragraphs,; the several grounds upon which the State based its right to the territory which it now disposes; and then enacts, 1st, That the State "is in full possession aiid in the full exercise of the jurisdictional and territdiial right, and the fee simple thereof," of these western lands. 2d, It grants to James Gunn, Matthew MeAllister, and George Walker, and their associates, called 'ITHE GEORGIA COMPANY," &c., " all that tract or pfteel Ipf 4and, including islands, situate, lying, and bling, within the following boundaries,--that is to say:

I

474

GEORGIA iAN INDEPENDENT STAfE

Beginning on the Mobile Bay, where thf|ifati|iide 31

north of the equator intersects the .S$|H&; inarming

thence upL the said l>aJy to the mouth of Iff.a: &s, e -?l?l*ett,>:saw:'

thence up Lake Tensaw to the Alabaiia B|ve>, in-

eluding

Curry's

and

all

/ "'

~ &&.

other islands th|iin|f%ence

up the said River-Alabama to the ju|ic|ion||Q| ;ithe

'



& '"'

&*' "t1

Coosa and Oakfuskee Rivers; thence^| tt^jQposa

River above the Big Shoal, to where itjtiter^cts the

latitude of 34 north of the equator; |h;ence a due

west course to the Mississippi River; thence dpwn the

middle of said riverlto the latitude of 32| iO'^thence

a due east course toy the mouth of Toml^gbeei.gRiver;

thence

down the

"-

-

mi.;.ddle of

the

said

v''*, ""'"

"*

f

rivejfr i-fto riit;vsvyiunc-

tion with the Alabama River; thence doypi;the>m-iddle

__

"p '-'

*" '

fa>. r--/;

of the said river to the Mobile Bay; thefice down the

said Mobile Bay to/the place of beginiijg,u -|br the

sum of $250,000,--150,000 to be depositejlln the trea

sury previous to the passage of the acti, ncl Ahe re

maining $200,000 to be paid on or before| the first day

of November next. The 3d section direcfs^that when

ever the said company shall produce tophe Governor

a receipt by the Treasurer, that they h|tYe deposited

the $50,000, then grants were to be issued,--the last *i
payment to be secured by a mortgage Igiven to the

Governor on the whole of the land so gVanted. The

next section requires the company to reserve, for the

use of the citizens of Georgia, a million of f acres; and

the next directs how the subscription m6ney shall be

received.

|i

The 6th section of the bill grants to Nicholas Long,

Thomas Glascock, Ambrose Gordon, and iThoinas Gum

ming, and their associates, called " THE JaEORGiA^MIS

SISSIPPI COMPANY," for the sum of $155,QOO/",aIkthat

Y&ZOO SPECULATIONS.

475

tra<|| ofkcountry, including islands, situate, lying, and

being, nfithin the following boundaries,:--that is t6 say :

Beginning on the River Mississippi, at the place where

thejffatifude of 31? 18' north of the equator intersects

taeisaiile: thence Sa due east course to the midclle of

ffi:' '%, "

v

"|

,

4 River ; thence up the micldieflif the

saifrijvlr to where it intersects the latitude -of &? 40'

H&*--

$"'-

' ':

nor||i of, the equator; thence a due west course salong

the|&eo)rgia Company's line to the River Mississippi ;

theMee liown the middle of the same to the place of

f>-*y'

%.

-

J.

-'

nip.

;

I

: Ijfie |T.th and 8th sections relate to the mortgage to

'i^'.' if

'

.



be gfven^ and the >, quantity of land to be reserved by

then|> viz., 620,000 acres for the use of the citizens of

The ^th section grants to John B. Scott, John C. NigMteijgale, and Wade Hampton, called " THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI COMPANY," for the sum of $35,000,--$5,000 previous deposit,--" all that tract of country, including islands, situate, lying, and being, within the following bourfdaries,--that is to say : Beginning at the Missis sippi- River, where the northern boundary line of this Statue: strikes the same ; thence along the said northern boundary line due east to the Tennessee River ; thence along the said Tennessee River to the mouth of Bear Creek ; thence up Bear Creek to where the parallel of latitude,^ twenty-five British statute miles south of the northern boundary line of this State, intersects the samse ; thence along the said last-mentioned parallel of lati|tide,,across Tombigbee or Twenty Miles Creek, due wes||to|the Mississippi River; thence up the middle of the.fsaicbriver to the beginning." This company was

IS :

476

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATll

:

3fr-

f'

nearly the same as the Virginia Yazoo Company, hav

ing only changed its name.

||J

The 10th and llth sections regulates tie" mortgage

to be given, and the amount of land to be {reserved.

The 12th section enacts "that all tnat tract of

land, including islands, situate, lying, and b|ing, within

the following boundary lines: Beginning affthe mouth

of Bear Creek, on the south side of thelfTennessee 30V.
River; thence up the said creek to the mcJst southern

source thereof; thence due south to the latitude of 34

10' north of the equator; thence a due easf Course one

hundred and twenty miles; thence a due ^ijprth course

to the Great Tennessee River; thence upline middle

of the said river to the northern boundaryfline of this

State; thence a due west course along the|said line to

where it intersects the Great Tennessee fiiver, below

the Mussel Shoals; thence up the said river to the

place of beginning, shall be sold unto Zaofiaria.h Cox,

Matthias Maher, and their associates, cflled ' THE

TENNESSEE COMPANY,' and to their heirs find assigns

forever, in fee simple, as tenants in common, and not

as joint tenants, for the sum of $60,000." f

This company were required, by subsequent clauses

of the bill, to give their mortgage, as we|e the other

companies; to pay down as forfeit money, $12,000,

and to reserve 242,000 acres for the citizens'of Georgia.

The 18th section requires the grantees: of land to

"forbear all hostile and wanton attacks on; any of the

Indian tribes; and keep the State free from all

charges and expenses which may attend th|; preserving

the peace between the said Indians and l|e grantees,

and extinguishing the Indian claims to t|ie territory

included within their respective purchases!'

I

.fAZOd SPECULATIONS.

477

1?tie 19th secfion IBirects bow the money arising I

1 1:

'^

if

*

j

?f

froi these sales sould be invested.

*

20th requires |settlements to be made on the |

lands granted, within {five year? from the extinguish-1

men! of the Indian tilles by the United States. A I

\''&-

;^v

?$

'.'

'

'-.. ?1

44; ^phet 21st.? section s|ts apart ff10,000 towards the |

|f extinguishment $ thlse Indian titles. The 22dfh*-1

|rect| that none of tbe territory granted shall be dis- |

^?pos<sd of to any foreign power j land the last declarjes |

||thaijt|the remaining lan|s ungranted, estimated at about |

and halfcmillions of acres, $hall be reserved I

>J-

:S

,



;i ^f-

apart for me belient of tb^ State, "to be granted |

otherwise |dispbsed of as a future Legislature 1

'j; may|direct." % I

'*-

I

O|i the 26th of Jaiuary, the Governor issued his |

;f proclamation, grafttin^ the designated tract to " The |

^Georgia Mississippi Company;% and thus thirty-five |

^millions of acres t|eregranted to these four companies |

Ifor the sum of $500,OQO; or less than two cents per |

.f. It^may well be Jsuppbsed that such an act could not

; pass ^without calling oi|t earnest ^remonstrance and de-

;rcided opposition. ( Among the -earliest remonstrants

^were William H. Crawford and other citizens of Colum-

v

"=

.

;bia County, who, even^ before the bill was signed by

the Governor, presented to him a petition, praying

<tha; his Excellency would "negative the said bill in

-due form, inasmuch as we do conceive it to be bad

*

^

policy to give a grant to^the company purchasing before

the full amount of the purchase-money is paid ; that if

;a grant should be given, the grantees may (if they

Ithinll proper) refuse toj give a mortgage ; and, even if

/they ^should, the mortgage can** only be foreclosed in

478

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

that part of the State where the territory in question

doth lie; and, lastly, whenever the territory is sold,

the price or value thereof would be greatly enhanced '"

by giving notice to all citizens."

I

This ^petition expressed the views of many citizens. f

Others objected to the bill because they were thereby, |

to a git&t extent, debarred participating in the grand |

speculdlion of the several companies. Others, because f

they held that there was no necessity so urgent as to *.

require this enormous sacrifice of territory; and others v

still, because they saw in the bill only the legalizing

of an immense swindling scheme to rob the State of

her invaluable lands for the benefit, not of her citizens

in general, but of a few bold and unscrupulous specu

lators, who were willing to advance their own fortunes

upon the ruin and dishonor of the State.

(

The people, so soon as they heard of the passage of ,

this bill, and began to discuss its merits, and under-

stand its provisions, were aroused to a sense of the V

great injury which had been done to their own inte

rests; and, as there was developed to them, step by

step, the various means, and bribes, and machinations,

which were set to work to bring over, or buy over, the

several members of the Legislature, to vote for these

measures, their indignation rose higher and higher, and

vented itself in presentments of grand juries, in violent

newspaper warfare, in stinging personal invective and

insult, in threats of corporal violence, and in scenes of

actual bloodshed and death.

The whole State was heaving with excitement. The

bribery which had been so openly used by men high

in office, on the Bench, at the Bar, in the Senate; and .

the corruption, intrigue, intimidation and violence

YAZOO SPECULATIONS.
which had been employed to gain over the Legislature to the plans of the speculators, constitute a dark page in the political history of Georgia. One of the most zealous advocates of this scheme was James Gunn. This man, -who had risen from almost obscurity to power, by .truckling to the vulgar tastes of the popu lace, and - by some show of military genius; was at the period of which we write, a Senator of Georgia in Congress, and his presence there was needed to guard the interests of the State. Yet, sacrificing all public considerations to private advantage, he remained in Georgia; repaired to Augusta; and, by his influence and efforts, at once overbearing and unscrupulous, he became the main manager of this nefarious business. Having secured the passage of the bill, he then re paired to Congress, which he reached only the last day of February, four days before the constitutional close of the session; and there sought to carry out his Georgia schemes, by involving the General Govern ment' also in these questionable transactions.
ThIe other Senator from Georg*__^ia was General James Jackson. This gentleman had been urged to take shares in some of these companies, and was told that "he might have any number of acres he pleased, to half a million, without paying a cent, provided he would put his name to the application."
But he firmly opposed these offers, and told the pro posers, "that he, not they, had fought for Georgia, and the right to that territory; that he fought for the people, and it was their right, and the right of future generations; and, if they did succeed, he should hold the sale void, and would resign his seat in the Senate,

480 '.* GEORGIA AN, INDEPENDENT STATE.

fe.''V.-. ::/'

'^i .

'

I ; :- .

*

.

|oike||home, and iheadfhis fellow-citizens, and either

lose Ris life or have the^act annulled."

-,.

'VSf

''

'-^r1

!

'if; Saving made an inlfiectual attempt to return to

Georgia in time to take; part in the Convention for the

-^H; ". ",l.'

'

f

rl:>v- i"sifn ofethe Constitut' ion, which was tto iake place

jilie yet exerted hia pen in behalf of the oppq-

me whicShe had declared, in the Senafe

>



- -s

States, to|be "a conspiracy of the darkeit

aaracter and of deliberate villany." He immediately

series of articlel, which he published over thfe

i||glia|tire of c< 8cillius,|- and, in eleven numbers, he

^^mpied -5 the policy^the legality, and, the constitu-

fionality of the enormous western ^grant,--a grant of

land to a few individuals, containing more square milds

ihan-either of the German principalities, and of greater

extent than some European kingdoms." These letters,

Which = calmly and learnedly reviewed the whole pro

ceedings, discussed all the constitutional questions

involved, and showed the practical operation of the

fill, had a great influence in directing and settling the

opinions of the people,: and enlightening them as to

the real points at issue.

* When the two Senators returned to Georgia, Gunn

was regarded with indignation. He was in several

places burned in effigy; and, in many parts of the

country, did not dare to appear in public. But

General Jacksou was received with marks of public

approbation ; and all eyes turned to him as the leader

who could best retrieve the error into which the State

had been led, and redress the grievances under which

it was burdened.

I Yielding, therefore, to the solicitations of the friends

of peace and equity, and more anxious to serve his

YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

481

country than to occupy its high offices, he consented,

at t|ie request of the best citizens in Chatham (founty,

to Resign his seat in the United States Senate, and

acclpt a nomination as Representative for that county

in the*next State Legislature. He was eleetfd and

tocS: his seat. The ILegislature met on theifeecond

'V'

: cj .

^. ''' -

Tislsdayan January, 1796; and, on the 14th, dSVernor

Ma|thews sent to both branches a message, inrwhich

he;$jius speaks" of this transaction: " The Senate and

He use of Representatives are now constitutionally con-

ven|d for. legislative deliberations; and at a time, too,

when the minds of our fellow-citizens are, and have

beeri, for some time past, more engaged in discussing

the fonduct of the last Legislature, on the subject of

the^lact for disposing of part of our western territory

to certain companies, than perhaps has ever been ex

perienced since this State assumed rank with her sister

States. It will, no doubt, be amongst the most im

portant matters that may engross your attention, to

inquire on what ground this act was founded, and if a

constitutional and legal remedy can be applied to calm

the minds of our fellow-citizens on this interesting sub

ject. J In my opinion, it requires, and, I flatter myself,

will deceive your most serious deliberation, whether a

law can be constitutionally made to repeal another

that has been so fully carried into effect as the one

now in question, the companies having paid into the

treasury the whole of the purchase-money, and can

celled their mortgages; and whether, if repealed, the

remedy may not be even worse than the disease. But,

if a law can be devised that will constitutionally repeal

the one referred to, and guard against future murmurs

and well-grounded complaints against the repeal, I have

VOL. II.

31

I
If

m-'&
{ ^if^' :M:
"f,-.t!.
11 _

482

GEORGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

no doubt but the man you may honor withtthe appoint

ment of Chief -Magistrate will readily deem it a duty

cheerfully to^cooperate.

*

%H$ vs-. ..-,

" It is a matter much to be regretted -(considering

the unfavorable light the act for disposing^ of our west

ern territory has been viewed in) that,the spirit^of

party^sejitment and personal reflectionilsjbould cha^e

run so <Kigh in many instances. The public-mind-has

been inflamed by unfair representations, and our news

papers have teemed with personal abuse and invective.

This, I remark, from having experienced ;the public

slander.; Endeavors > have {been made ^toi calumniate

my character by false reports, such as^Wthat the

motives which induced me to give my assent to the

second act proceeded from private interest, regardless

of the sacred duty I owed to the station I filled, and

the rights and interest of my fellow-citizens.' Con-

seious of the purity of my intentions, and supported

by the justice and integrity of my actions, I have

treated with silent contempt those base and malicious

reports; and 1 now defy the blackest and most perse

vering malice, aided by disappointed avarice, to pro

duce one single evidence of my ever having been inte

rested in the sale to the amount of one single farthing.

But, whilst I treated with neglect those reports so

injurious to my character, I feel it a respect due to

you, and a duty I owe to my reputation, to give you

a candid and fair representation of the motives which

actuated me on a subject which has so much disturbed

the citizens of Georgia.

"On the 25th day of December, 1794, an act for

disposing of a part of our western territory to four

companies was presented to me for my concurrence.

t SPECULATIONS.

483

Afterathe ; most majjire; reflection my judgment was

capably ofj IithoughJ| it iny^dtity to refqj| my assent,

and iassigned my r^sons, which, I floored myself

woul^ljiam postpon||l any .further legisl^ye proceed-

ings^in^the :law.jintj the next meetingjo^the ?flouse;

wasfjitistakeni The firstiTOsfefehat oc-

^ifji' ''-.

"jf

'^V-

i- - ;-:_

o ihe ,y.^

-mem/- bers,

whenel::;f*?-he

till

was

returned with remarks was. that I should fife impeached

"

" ";

'3%-f

' r~

'$?

for ;an4unconstitutioi|l act:;tyet. the morel cool reflec-

~ \* ' ;^.

tf-'YC

*f

*

^':'5T''

tion of*-the House tejwninatejti in appointing a commit

tee) : jt^^confer with;;nj on n$y jobjections^nd to know

if i i-wa^*s in the powe'tjj^1lof i he^"-L.' eeislature t^uframe a bill

for the^sale of the lands which would mee^my concur-

>; ft .

. SJ<'

,

:-

jj.it. >

rence;. i On the conprence, I was led to Relieve, that

the committee was^convinced that myreasons for

rejecting the law di(||not proceed from Eojgcutwe arro

gance, QT from any \||sh to bring into ac^on a power

heretofore dormant -jjjj| our proceedings, orjfrom a pro

pensity: in me to do ,a|i act of so great a responsibility,

but from a convictioff that it would tend|to the real

interest of the StateM: The reflecting minf will easily

perceive how muchffthe responsibility would be en

hanced by rejecting a bill that the Legislature might

pass for the sale of tj|e lands after being in possession

of my remarks, evenfsupposing it to be similar to the

first. But, when it ^appears that three of the most

important objections fl had made to the first law were

removed, I think ther| is no man of cool, dispassionate

reflection, that would4iv*have refused his ass"^et1nt to.-it for any reasons short of fsti clear proof of corruption in its

passage; through theiegislature, and no stjph, informa-

tior, ever came to my ^.owledge. After all phe:popular

clamor ithis law has^ccasioned, I should ^[epart from

I

484

GEORGL AN INDEPENDENT STATEJJ:

"">.- $&

'^i.

my usual candwto say I have fever blantecl myself

' i' %,'^ ' ' *

' ^^.''K'

*

either for an <^||T of the head or a corrufjln in the

heart; and, orl&|similar occasion, should^el myself

perfectly justifiedfn pursuing a similar cond|||t. Much

has been saM^alljput unascertained milHofcof <acres

being sold^and that more than fifty millions of lacres 1



- n^

*''*H "^

i -I*-"'*

t

I1

"//*!

Ml?.--3iCi- i-

/*

:

are disposed of ti| the n WiJrC&->A- if.* W ,* HH-- , i compan*ies<;'bi y mi 1 atiit^'p-t^wt.^-i..-*: AA f*St-er

having thought iff my duty to act on the second bill,-'!

ordered the Surveyor-General to furnish lime with as

accurate a map ^ofi the country contemplated^ be sold

that any documents he had or -could proliire woufd

"f '',*$

"

*"S.y?' "

afford. This wia|| done, and is nf>w on/th^Sle of the

Executive; from|which, it will appear, tHeJfe were no

more than twenty-nine million four hundrejl thousand

acres in the whofe aggregate tract that ties first law

'>;_.

*-/ vJ <-J

-

_

^^

had in view, andl'one-fourth of that quantity is now

reserved to the $tate, and subject to her disposition.

This is a true state of facts, so far as they|have come

to my knowledge! and, if it may afford you|any useful

hints in your deliberations, it will give me pleasure.

"The time fb| which I was appointed Governor

having now expired, I liave to request thatf should an

opinion prevail in the Legislature, that the duties of

that important office have been improperlyjconducted,

a committee majr be appointed to examine the pro

ceedings had therein."

I

The committee, which the Governor suggested, was not appointed. His term of office had expired, and he

had sealed his political fate by signing the, obnoxious

bill.

, I1 !

-

i-

Jared Irwin wjas elected to succeed Governor Mat

itmhepwosr,t'aanntdwtohrek:l"iefn;. gtriuslsatetudreto

at once them.

Sporocthebe,'.?droeudgtho

the had

I

"t'fe


!

A;

SPEGifLATibNS.

385

.-

.f1;



beerl the change in$f|e public mirfd as to the measures

pursued by the lastliLssembly, th^t nearly every meBii-

ber, returned by the! several: counties, was pledged to

vote-for the repeal of the obnoxious act; and not only

so, b-ut most of the||ounties|held|public meetings 6n

the|i|ubject, and sefii instructions] to their repr^sentar

f ' *&'

<

*' '$.'-**'?

' "*!V'

'\

'"

'"'.

tiveg to use all meaff! to annliil th act; and petitions,

remonstrances, resolutions, and presentments, agairifet

it, Were sent in fronal all parts oflthe State, and were

7 |v

V ,*:

* 1- -

-y

*

~&".

piled upon the Secretary's ta|)le. f:

* - ||;:

On the 15th of J^uary, ajlargefnumber of petitions

which had been senf|in to th% Convention for alterirlg

the Constitution, which sat in|May|previous, and which

were-by that body referred to4he Legislature, were, by

order of the House, Mid befbife it; $and also other peti

tions, from the counties of Hancock, Greene, Burke,

Chatham, Emngham| Scriven, Washington, Camden,

Warren, Franklin, Bryan, Columbia, Mclntosh, Ogle-

thorpe, together with-..the presentments of the grand

juries of Liberty and|Burke, were presented and read.

Whereupon it was "Resolved, That a committee, con

sisting of nine members, be appointed to examine and

report to this House, .respecting the validity and con

stitutionality of the said act, who shall have power to

call for such personSj papers, and-documents, as may

be likely to give information relative thereto." " Re

solved, That the petitions, remonstrances, and present

ments, addressed to the late Conyention and present

Legislature, on that subject, be referred to them."

This committee were appointed by ballot, and con

sisted of General Jam^s Jackson, William Few, James

Jone'si John Moore, David B.vMitehell, James H. Ru-

486

GEORGJ1 AlNDEPENDE&TM

therford, David^Einiimel,

Franklin. 'oft^ l -

This commiiee entered uponl

promptness, atidf energy. Theyf mi|

many obstalilesjand were

the enra^l uctvocates of

theyiwe^;:aot" the men il

of alsjitsisi^s, or turned "aside"

impotent rage of thosev whose iniquities were recoiling

,,'.*, .: *&'

upon their own heads. ''

On the 22d of\ January, ;Geaeti|^^pi frora the

und1e' r tiThei* r seri'o'-"us

are compelled to declare, that tHe fr|udf corruption,

and collusion, by which the said act wHs ifbtained. and

.

'.\

y^ jX

**

the uneonstitutionality of the sanil/e^Jcels the utmost

depravity in the majority of the lale "-Legislature."

"It appears to your committee,ihat|he|public good

was placed entirely but of view, 'and private interest

alone consulted; that the rights of the present gene

ration were violated, and the rights of posterity bar

tered, by the said act; and that by it, tne bounds of

equal rights were broken down, and the principles of

aristocracy established in their stead. The committee

(whilst they thus with shame and confusion acknow

ledge that such a Legislature, intrusted with the rights

of their constituents, should have existed in Georgia),

cannot, however, forbear to congratulate the present

Legislature and the community at large, that there are

sufficient grounds, as well with respeeJt to the uneon

stitutionality of the act, as from -the testimony before

the committee,:of the fraud practised to obtain it, to

pronounce,.that the same is a nullity in itself, and not

YAZOO ^PECULATIONS.

487

binding or obligatory ori the people of this State: and

-$M they flatter themselves Jjliat a declaration to that effect, f; by a legislative act, willjcjheck that rapacious and ava-

ricioqlp spirit of speculation which ha^in this State

overlpped all decent bounds, and whicji,i it were to

i ^^" -

"|* .'*"

"y- "" '"'

contifffie. would totall^lanmhilate,moralityiand good

1 *--5?'<^-'; ' *

'

V&;r 'i, '

;-

*%-:#; "

-! ^

fai|h|||om*among the e|bfzens of the State."f^phe com-

initte|| for this purpose! jbeg leave to report,.' An Act

for"d|claring the said^fusurped act void, and.for ex-

pUDgntg the same fromj;j;he face of the|public record;

and ^htey also herewim|report- testimony taken be-/

fore ifhem, on the sui^fect of .the fraud practised to

obtain rit."

IV

$

Th|?bill was then introduced and read the first time.

Iniiti-'progress through;lhe House and Senate, it under-

wentfmuch discussion |tnd some modification; but it

finally passed, by a votteiof forty-four to three, in the

House, and of fourteenfto four, in the Senate, and was

concurred in by the Governor, on the-13th of Febru-

arj, |796.

i':.

i

This act, commonly fealled " The Eescinding Act,"

was drawn up by GeneralJackson, and displays marked

ability in the discussion of the great constitutional

questions io which it relates. The preamble declares,

that ? the free citizens of this State, or in other words,

the community thereof, are essentially the source of

the sovereignty of the iState; and that no individual,

or'body of men, can beientitled to, or vested with, any

authority which is not expressly derived from that

source; and the exercise or assumption!of powers not

so derived, become, of themselves, oppression and

usurpation, which it Is the right arid duty of the

peopJ0, in their representatives, to resist, and to re-

*
f:
I

1-438 1.
.

GEOR<C: .Z >5S*'5f

store the rights

"That the

I only fbundationifthe legislative power or a



'"-; v; v^S^; -,. " iA' .$. "' * s. : ' '

3>'--'-' 4I* M r\Oc*lO cUrtTl '3 CUI-UT-fcU.r't-.')*^ lQ.^'fVK.^-^'idlfiti'^itYl'* I'"''cOtQij 4t"lVl'"elr"-"lov4C-(v5" XW'3iyc"i*i^ll": ll :/O^Yl'-^^"- /W C'?' SU' f iIC'I^lSyf-rI'iIt^

I pressly ^ari^tSj'^^^g^tutp -0^

\V_

"

I essential

Is"

source

are

TJj,* ---- ",

-! _V,.

oil sovereignty and the

' !^*" '-^

>>';. *^

-'

.

VS>"V-

rights,,Jf^the

v" *"^ ""'"'* i'^F^^^y ^- "J-1" '

-^ :



-;:.-

".

-

...

, .,-

Iconfininff itself tdsne powers with whichMKa

sS

O

' >W>'-- '-" ^ *'''>''

''' '" ;""'-"- " ^

I was constitutionally ..invented, did usurp a

Ipass the obnoxiotis act, cofeary to constitutipnp? jfl,a-

|thority and repiiiant to;;|he jdemocratical *|o rf

^government of the| State. p?hat the act is repu^bant

|to the 4th sectionjjith article of the Constitution |)| the

| United States, and|toithe lfi|h section of the 1st aijicle

tof the Constitutionjof this State: that it was a virtual

JY

' .

'-: .

'%*'

|transfer of the s<|yereignt^ and jurisdiction of|the

IState over the territory disposed of ; that there w;as no

|necessity or pressing urgency for the sale of sucii an

limmense tract; arid that it exposed the State Jto a

['

'&

"

~*^;"

fgreat loss of revenue from the relinquishment of taxa-

ttion." The bill then recites, in a clear and succinct

"_ -

>..

:/

!;manner, the ground on which Georgia bases its right

-: to the western territory; and states, that "the same

; and every part thereof is hereby declared to be vested

fin the State and ^people thereof, and inalienably but

*f~."i> '

:

'~'-'

|by a convention cgllejd by the people for that express

-purpose, or by som|i clause of power expressed by the

f people, delegatin^iich express power to the Le^sla-

fture, iu the Constipation." I

"

J

V^,v-

'

-*-

SPECULATIONS.

489

1

,K' ', VjS aSflSG-

*.

It theril/pi^eWl to state, that fraud had been prac-

:i ;fe- -,p-$$"

( V-

*

tised to "J^s'i''bt' a' %ln ' H'*iso&ls bill; and the evide:'j?nces of such

fraud, es||bbli|h^ thereby cause whic1| "would be

sufficieaiin efjuift reason, and law. foiatvalidate the co'1htra<-^|^f-v'fre''^:;p8' ^'->'gwosing it to be const.i't"u;^jional, which

thisI . L'f-'^e'&^?ilft'a.-~t-i^f'{*;r#,eSS*e^'-c' lares it is not." lil'5sv~ -t>ig'-" in this

long prettbiilaS down the principles Jin^wEich the

" !"?'J'-Slt-" ''>^;' "^f'

*

;-: .

act-was b4sed,fhe||ill declares--Be it therefore enacted,

1st: Thatlthef aci|>f the 7th January, I|95, entitled

"A;n Acti:::.suiil,-pt leSlffgTentary> ,'" &c..' " be,' and-lgthe same is

herjeby, declarjed?iiSill and void," &c. ^1

^" ': : **$!.. 'tWjj--

'f

The 2iJ| enjaet^^ clause orders this alt to " be ex

punged frbm Ithejllace and indexes of lie books of

I

r $' *r=-"v



record of Ihe Stalel: and the* enrolled law or usurped

\

^

'J-F -^V^; "

'

act shall then |>e |^blicly burnt, in order that no trace

of so unconstitutilfial, vile, and fraudulent a transac-

i

.'' ~ ^"^>

tion, other than tie infamy attached to it by this law,

shall 'remain ill thjljoffices thereof?'

f

The 3d plause feects that none of the laws, grants,

deeds, agreements|&;c., respecting any contracts under

that law, shall f>e itmitted as evidence in any court of

',

' i;

-i !-*"'

. '-'

law! or equity, lo establish a title to the said territory.

The 4th section||requires the return to the compa

nies; of the: money a|hich may have been paid by them

into'the treasury, if

The 5th;asserts||hat the right of applying for, and

the extinguishment^!, Indian claims to any land within

the boundaries of tKis State, as herein described, being

a sovereign right^s hereby further declared to be

vested in the peopl^ and government of this State, to

whom the right of|pre-emption of the same belongs.

The last clause Ifequires that this law *be promul

gated by tHe Governor throughout the United States,

490

((

frud

the nature's of Ihetfc: will

On

man of ttpe vlnyestigating

o^ii

western of the may be
"

on the Journals s&given
^^

base means by whic1i ?the Yi^itsloftte people were at-

tempted to be barte"" red."

Acc|irdi^ly, '-

*^ "

J'^pl&'"

some

twenty

affidavits^showing pfnore* or iessjfr3i|f,- were spread on

the Journals. It is not necess&ry,!ffowever, to repro

duce any o- f them he'": re, ' " '.rlt c'* an^t"'-s-er~Hij$i: no good end to parade before the public'now, the ^raes of men who

in times of intense -political ^"pstri\~fe w'fl:e, re held up* to i^snominy and reproach, especially aginany of the per

sons thus branded"weTQ subse~<bf~ ue.n*!>ll*y received into public favor,--one having been siijce the act elected

President of the Senate; four, members of the Senate;

four more, members of the House; two, elevated to the

bench, as judges; one, made aijustice of the peace;

and one appointed a trustee =t>f ihe University of

Georgia. :There were circumstance^ both inculpatory

and exculpatory, which, had they lf|en known at the

time, would have added to that |ataj|gue names which

now are esteemed 'Spotless, andfwbifpi would have re

moved from it names which ifow|are branded with

legislativetcondemnpion; r I H

YAZOO SPECULATIONS.

491

Two dayJ s after the act was concurred in by/ the Governor, both branches of the Legislature adopted a report, presented by the committee to whom was refer red the mode by which the^ records^were to be ex punged of all traces of the ^usurped act, and the act
,--suggesting "tfiat, where it cafepossibly ithoutFinjury t&other records,ithe^same
shall be expunged from the book of records, by cutting out the leaves of the book wherein the same may have been recorded; a memorandum thereof, expressing the number of pages so expunged! * b6 signed by 'the Pre* sident of the Senate, and Speaker of the fiouse of Representatives, and to be countersigned by the Secre tary and Clerk,--which memorandum shall be inserted in the room or place of such expunged pages, in such manner as the President and Speaker may direct. That where records and documents are distinct and separate from other records, the same being of record, shall be expunged by being burnt. That the enrolled bill, and usurped act, passed on the 7th day of Janu ary, 1795, shall, in obedience to the act of the present session, be burnt in the square, before the State House, in the manner following: A fire shall be made in front of the State House door, and a line to be formed by the members of both branches around the same. The Secretary of State (or his deputy), with the commit tee, shall then produce the enrolled bill and usurped act from among the archives of the State, and deliver the same to the President of the Senate, who shall examine the same, and shall then deliver the-same to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for like examination; and the Speaker shall then deliver them to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who

;

..$
. ifcSP

I

GEORGE AN INDEPENDENT

shajll read aloud^lfie titlf of the samey a^plliall^thenf

dejver them to-4l|^ Messenger of the

then

THE'

PRSERVE

! AND MAY EYERYTPEEMBf /TO f

INJRE THEM ERi&[ AS TESE CORRUPT

conloMity with tins programme ^

, the saiife day, sertte^

that^they

revive them in the Representatives' Hallylin order to|

proceed 4o the duty presfribed. The Senat|-jproceeded{|

to |the Hall, andfthere^bining 4he : Representatives maiched 4n ^proclision^^io ^the

'|f.
bylthe



' ?.

,~S?

committeeVfleariiSg

the

-
proscribed "lH|ls ;Iri"their

J

iH-

*

J>

i -

^'-'

halds. When they realhed the spot where the fire ^

'.* V



^

;*-,

\

w kindled, the committee delivered thefts to thefl

Prlsident of the Senate: H That officer handed them toA'

?
thej Speaker

of

.'
the

T:
House,

by

whom

they

-
were

passed

;

int| the hands ofI the Glerk, who gave them to the

Messenger,--who, tuttering the prescribed%vords, laid:

them on the fire, and the Legislature stood in solemn

einpe around until the documents were ?burned to :

ash^s. -

> ''.

":

;v

'"',

'

-

'

Tradition states that the more enthusiastic friends of

the-rescinding bill resolved that the usurped act should

notj.be burned by common fire; and, therefore, with a

sunjglass, one of them drew down fire from heaven and

kindled the funeral pile of the condemned documents,

which were thus, consumed as by the burning rays of

theflidless eye of Justice. No authentic document of

thefday alludes to^uch a method of kindling the fire,

though it is not impossible, in the ardor of the mo*

meat, that such may have been, the fact.

The scene, asidetfrom such a romantic circumstance,

YiZOO SPECULATIONS.

493

was sufficiency striking and impressive^ vf The sudden

revolution ditfpublif opinion in one^ear> iy which the

citizens}so changed|their views upon the*subject of the

western^territory,was a marvellous reaction in the

-::-

- ' tr * '3j-i

"" .'

T^ passing of such anrajjtj rescinding

theipoings of a previous legislature by

obstacles and dangers so numerous, was still more

astounding as an iifdex of the people's will. The ex

punging from theljrecords of the State ?lthe acts and

doings Ipertaining^ the bill for disposing of the west

ern territory^ wasffa higher manifestation of feeling

than had ever and one which

bheaedifflrakrneolwy nbeteonedxoisnte

in in

Georgia before, any legislative

assembly; but, the| ordering of these documents to be

burned, the legislative procession, the formal delivery

of them from the archives of the State, through its high

officersvto the humblest servant of the Representatives,

the solemn appeal to God, as the papers were laid upon

the fire, and the stillness which marked the few minutes

whicfy it required $o consume them, was a spectacle

not only never beheld in Georgia before, but unknown

to any Assembly on this continent; and it indicated,

as nothing else could, the intense sense of indignation

at the dishonor cast upon the State, and the equally

intense desire to burn out the infamy; purifying, as

by fire, the archives of the State from such fraud-be

gotten records. <l

It was a scene wprthy to employ the pencil of some

gifted artist; and a; picture that should, as far as pos

sible, reproduce the old State House and its surround

ings; the features (and dresses of the men of those

times; the circle just formed around the kindling fire,

tih^iiua^nd purg%herseSHKii

'K&K.

'

*

5

' '\

' W-

. pf Georgia|rere

therebMrevoked,v and ilhose ^eiaiBaa /summarily^ re-

*^-.".j"___

_

&

*.?

' '-?/

. > -"H

V

jectedvffThe riews oE ^ie|Tescin|dn^;ac^pras; ta them

an ast(|ii|iding|measure.^|Some|pfj|j^e; companies had

dispose^|of parts of their)lands lo ofher companies at

a great||dvance on theirs|)urchase.r^Eheglands them-

";

'^.'W"

- .v

rf;i

(_- ^'"-'f,/ ' '*,**

selves |^d become suddenly enhanced ;|in value^ by

reason |)| the Spanish treaty, which Confirmed the ter

ritory, Juiiniolested by tlie authority, of |he King of

Spain, |<| Georgia; and the New England Mississippi

6bmpan|:, made up of many reliable and excellent

men, h|i| already invested large sums in the grants

which Md been issued. >

,-

-**-s; All A,s^- "rJ-sons thus interested viewed the act with dismay*^ . f?E'."-he friends of the; former bills were loud in denounemg it as a fraud, overtopping even their own

sorcalleljfraudulent actjvand it excited ^intense ani-

mosity^d t)it|erness throughout the> Union. Several

pamph^fs weife^written pn bo<^ sides; suits at law

were ei|tredsin various courts: appeals to Government

. ":

% *?<;

'" '-. ' .'

'

'.'i -

*

;

were seii in,frpmidilfereM quarters; and the eontro-

f

435

versy Deiweett*tne<^companies aipis^Tej^'gia.was maratained^Cor^g^ieraf yeiars. It is ic|>tf^je^ssa^yi4o follow the res^s^oftthis Annulling actfth^^i ;^11 its tortu osities ^la%|and - "$'.%*'-'' '' ?-' " e' qsr uity; or
i^|erej;v|nad( force.

ceedings of thg two Legislatures: svere ficratinized with

an analytical .skill tfiat brought every -|ict;;toJtbe cru

cible; yet, af|er .alkfhe war, of opinioii|i and the clash

o inter^stjs^ajjad thii thunder of|rv:ollejing|pamphle%

and.the xjrir&inatiofi|aiid reciimi^tao^oMndiiiduals^

the welt-grouoded and sober judgment of, the people

has settled .do)wn into the opinion thaj the act of '95

"if

&

'

-

was an abuse| of legislative authority^|andi a wasteful

and shameful^surren^er of territorial rights; and that

the act of '96; was necessary, as a self-protecting law,

to bring backf alienated .territory, to efface; public in

famy, to settle the y great question of/constitutional

rights, and to> vindicate anew the title| of ^Georgia to

her western territory.

|

In March, 1798, the subject having been brought

before Congress, a bill, entitled, " An act for an ami

cable settlement of limits with the State of Georgia,

and authorizing the establishment of a government in

the Mississippi territory,'"' was passed, empowering the

President " to appoint three commissioners,--any two

of whom sh,all have power to adjust and determine,

with such commissioners as may be appointed, under

the legislative authority of the State ibf Georgia, all

interfering claims of the United Statesfand that State

to territory situate west of the Ehattahoochee, north

of the 31 of morth latitude, and southi^of the cession

*

^v

t >
SKS>: 1K"
IV

INDEPENDENT STATJ!.

id States by South

,alio to obtai

ept, through said

oig)therw^| pquishment or cessionlp

rj|ny paij^

:erritory, botji as to j

if claim

|inder the State of^ojppe

..&Km$sm$':%-$rI~r'isdiction of'm''h' e sained

'%. ,

, . __.,,,. ^,.

by

G"Me?l.rsia.'--"r: th,--Mls: e?,|W fe>-r the United States

ison, -Alterlrallatin, and Levi Ti jKa-'S'1.*^ *

,

j-; A -li '^ ^^5i' i-^*l Tl j

'/"T TT



and

of Georgia being JamesJlackson,
J~:' ,.?.-.- ^jjli, -^^; .

ni^ioners,i''t^^^par'eftjl' and^ld'eliBlir'ate^eo^^ence,

entered intoifc leiliwention, or agreemenfevllfii Mr.

'"Sft.

' 'i& i* ~'lffif"*'-

^*

<v -ffi~j$/!

Jefferson, the! BSsident, laid Ijefbre Cons^esSjin the

:|?r

:. ' ^s "t fiS^'

'',"'. 5" ,*SJ^;

26|h of Apr|| |^|2. Agre'ealjlyitd^thigisCon^lhtion,

Georgia cedef nj|st of her western territory^o the

United State|fo|he sum of $1,250^000^--^igress

agfeeing to <fen||Jn the titles^of all actuall|tettlers

wi|bin the c|de^4erritory w^ were there |0or to

Ocfpber, 179^; ageing, also, to extinguishJfbr^feorgia

the|Indian titfc lofthe country between the AlJtemaha

"|E:

' 4' "' '^f'

*

:.

'"

anj the St. Marjgs, and all other lands in Georgia.

Congress app|ove|i these measures, the cession was

majje, and t%nc^brth the contest of claiman|S was

transferred fr<|m (leorgia to the Federal Goverjt^nent;

anj there it jemiined for many years before'i! final

disposition ofj|he-%hole subject was made by Colgrcss

in

I:

.

~

,''

CHAPTER VI.

THE CONSTITUTION OF 1798, AND CONCLUSION^- ',.

'

*\.

- *&' -,

* "-: :-;

IN accordance with the 4th Articlef|f the Amend

ment of the Constitution, established af Louisville, in

May, 1795, there were elected, in the year 1797/'three

persons from each county to form " a Convention-- for

the purpose of taking into consideration the further

alterations and amendments necessary to be made in

the Constitution/'

j

k. f>

Before the meeting of that Convention, the term of

office of Governor Irwin had expired; and James

Jackson was, on the 12th January, 1798, a second

time elected to the Executive Chair. This honor he

did not, as in 1788, feel at liberty to decline, and he

was accordingly inaugurated into his high office.

Considering the prominent part which General Jack

son had acted in opposition to the Yazoo sale,--being

regarded by all parties as the principal person in crush

ing these gigantic monopolies,--this election displayed

at once the opinions of the people as to the measures

which he had introduced, and their confidence in him

personally.



The Speaker of the House, in communicating to

him the fact of his election, said, " Your appointment

TOL. II.

32

'!'
I|9S

!'

*
~<f^.:i'^%/

&:'. ;- .-il, * '/ -^.Jv^n-
^ s-?Vi-jf^*'C^'
3s^ .'..''-.

'?:. GEORQLLJAN^fepENDENT-'ttim ;'.

'I

"' 'Wf :- '

^

jply a latge maJQi^ of^Ke House, ej '**.-"^|)he great |iconfidence. whieji,^ie peJ||sentatiyes;^Mi^eopleJ re-

&)ose in Vvou. IPThe^crilicM posture ^#81*TM PflRTMivo ^.^_

*^

f i*7

^v&!."' :^

W^

rs it rieculiar^v necessai-t that

^pf this j|tatej||pulct be ffled by t

land apm:6iviB>ataiotisnS| YQur^repe^R^eJ^rtio^ in

;i|<--'*'

&S$"*:^-'f-^Vff'

"

i&*'it

'' *

$i3j)'re**!i' ' ^s" ' '"v? '

pbe se^^^ou| ;cou^y,^aje^n^^n||^a d^ibt

honorajfy conferred upo|ipoii j and t.^oil will *di fe->naan'rgneesr'^'--''jfIt-ahse .sdih'?-ua"*ntlJilte"-gs'"i|^->ft-ef g.i;e"^*iviBfet-frm'ailp- 5sVo-art,^its''i/t>ta'nclt,^i^fotii.ip-ni^&n.s:'-t in such" a'

llntelligeiice,

.^5 *'

^r ?

.

^Jtions toibe decided^; whi^penianded 113! wisdpm ;

many concurring event^|iich; i| r^c^^d great pru-

|dence and energy^to co^pl i and di^^il|ies|to be, ad

justed with the General! feovernmen|l Ihe ; State of

,y

;

.

'$'$ ;- '

".'*%$ "";:

aSouth Carolina, and thelivdian tribes^f^jich taxed the

i'-i

*

" ''

sSifc.- '

'

. .- -* .TjSSw-vi*^'

%rowers o. f his st, atesm-^ ans'Ylip'- ; . but in ea$"'i^l'l"i*'e maintained

|the honor of Georgia, a^iljhis own offi<|a| dignityv

; Many of the questionjfwhich then largely occupied

:the public mind, were lojfaj and- fempojt'ary, and are of

fbut little historical valiie :; such as depredations com-

'..;

Srv': '

'-'f

fmitted by the Indians: difficulties connected with run-

\-

**

~i~ '' '

-

' -.I"

'.'/ning thfe Indian line; troubles incident to the Yazoo

i .

_

' ?

t" ;

land Rescinding Acts ; the!:settlement of|a proper militia

system ; the apportionment of representatives ; and the

raising and investment of^State funds^

, The subject which rosj| in importance above all the

lothers, was, the e^ident|pecessity for || new Constitu

tion for the State. "Experience had shown some serious

*

* .gt ';

,'

j defects in the jCoiis|ituti^i;;of 1789, wh|ch the Conven

tion at Louisville^ m 17& was not abjje to remove, on

,T I
CONSTITUTION Ol?4798

account of |ecent

inteXn?' se excitement .occasion- Ce?d by>tl*the

&L

-.'.< ,.

>*..

/>;

of thl Act for the?

e.*rn f That s"S-:oi-,M?..*|I- ntion&f therefore, in theic*?*.
#session||nade)ut few amendments

;tle instrument to

iseEi.delibeffion oplhe Convention

^ected tom^lf in 1^98.



I Much of tibil excifement, which

"V-

"$

-f&i,

i|on in 1795^J|iad jessed away; and the

their represenjativefe/were; prepared, to-

*

'"'* .-:!%*'f:

~-^l-

JL

.

*.

.-

.

-^

energy and :dipreti^,. The delegates

Mention, met?ifi|LouisVille, on Tuesday, the Stlifof ilay,

J

, - -ft-

fjf.

*

V*

""$? -'

' - - $ V '

J L"

- a-"

"?

' i' "'''

' '?r~'

ajpd twenty-one counjies were represented ^|fiffcy|Bix

Efiembers. Jai^d Ii|Fin, the la"te Governoiffwhac ^ad

s^ned the Res|indin% Act, was elected by liillotRe

sident, and James MS Simmons, Secretary, fc 4

'-''

'

"$

.^T

*^

; V '

, S*-'

|After appo^ting a committee, "to prepar^ and^e-

port such rules|as miy be necessary for the g|od oriler

and government of the Convention," and resolving t^at

it-would attenft Divine service the next day, ". atMl

't~

K

^

*Vl

'*'''''

o|:lock, in conformit$|to the Proclamation of jthe P|e- f^ In I /v.r*!^ - *- ^*y-t.^TV-%V^^ T ^ ^L 4-j^\ -H-* y% 1J****./ I ^* *v^ *- 4-^ f^tn ^%* k?-i l-s. ^\ LXi>v

sijlent of the United States," the Convention aojourfljed

till Thursday, f On Tfhursday two more counties wetre

represented, ancl a code of rules was adopted for tie

government of <ihe body.

? ,. |f:

^On Friday, IfLth of May, the Convention ^resolvlsd

to take into con*sidera?tion the Constitution and.$samenM"*? ments, section |y section; and on Monday fgHowinJ,

resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole^lapon i|;

and in this way the^ sat, day by day, until the E0|h

off^May. Sorne|pf th| more important sections were,

referred to conjmittees, to examine and report; all

:-W

500

GEORGIA 4M INDEPENDENT -.IS

propositions, howejver, were litst discussilbin commits

* * $.i;.,

;.'-' '

$- \

-''*%' " '

tee ofJibe whole, aiad then repotted tOjithiaConvention,

I

!&' *-'

"' $,-^*-

'

'' '"'i"" ii^"^ -" ;>'- i- *"' 1 -'

whichflook finall&tion upon* them, fittre several

parts

%K J

' '-

i

(dj the Constitution

r I';-
wer^not

' "-l! ->^
passe^in

- . <; '
the^rder

in which *thev are now arfenged^%"SK)mniit^. of

;|vV, - j, ' i,,!/

:',' d

'-.;->".-;l^jj.

'-,'.'!. -A .

was chairman.? Waslalfeointed^o ar-

'

^v

' ?i. 'M'^A^vit '

,,,-:

sections itoder Mielfliypef articles;

'3ff'-' * ' : ' ' '^QMS*?'1'*^ "

'"

-d-,one, and t.he s'aSm,i e b e iniig; 1Jc~'<eSfie-g rossedT"upon

v"

: V,.'

^'J MJV

*

six pa|jes iof parchment, wasjread, article by article,

and ttifen .signed, . the members being .refilled upon to

I^S^' s

'

'*$$*

.

' ''yf-

*

*

sign b^jounties. ^t was sigiied by all,H||cept General

Gunn^ri<3amden>*|and ^olonelsThbn^^Glascock, of

RichtEoidV who asked and received -lea^e to decline

signing^ because by the 23d|Section ofrticle I, the

State (|aimed and reasserted its right of^ossession and

jurisdiction over territory which they! claimed as

grantees; under the usurped act of 1795. |

A co|Qmittee was then appointed, consisting of James

Cochrajn> of Liberty, Jesse Mefcer, of WilSes, and John

Morrisoh, of Burke, to have the great seal; of the State

affixed |to the instrument, and to have tl|e same depo

s, sited in&the oflGce of the Secretary of State) This being done, after voting the thanks of the Convention to

the presiding officer, Ex-Governor Irwin,fthe body ad

journed sine die.

I

The|signing of the Constitution was announced to

the public by the discharge of sixteen rounds of artil

lery; find the people everywhere received it with

peculiar joy.



t

It islnot necessary to analyze this Constitution, but

it is prpper ito state, that, while it took as its basis, the

Constitution of 1789, with the amendments of 1795,

it is yelfc an independent structure, erected by the able

CONSTITUTION "OP 1798.

501

hands, to whom was intrusted by the State ttfe diffi

cult, yet-honorable task.

-.* ^-*,>?..,-; V

The principal actors in the Convention wereJJames Powell, of Xiberty, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House; James Jones, and;gDrJ'!|rebrge Jones,' of Chatham; General Jackson, t^feal^ occu pying the Governor's chair; Peter J. ~ son; Rev. Jesse Mercer, of Wilkes; Robert "Wkins, of Richmond; Benjamin Taliaferro, of Wilkes ;Waiiies Cochran, of Liberty ; Jonas Fouche, of Green'f liam Stith, Jrl, of Warren ; William Barnettjbf bert. Each of these gentlemen has 'the hblor of having framed one or more sections of the Constitution.
That defining the territorial boundaries and declar ing the contemplated purchases or sales of the Western Companies "constitutionally void;" as also the 1st Section of the 3d Article, defining and establishing the Judiciary, were written by General Jackson. The Article on the Executive power, was the production of Mr. James Jones.
That requiring self-purgation of all fraudulent at tempts to secure election, to be made by Senators and Representatives, was by Mr. Robert Watkins.
That calling for a Digest of all State Laws and Or dinances, within five years, was proposed by Mr. Jonas Fouche. That respecting freedom of the press, and trial by jury, honesty in office-holders, and security for honest debtors ; and that for the promotion of the arts and sciences, were suggested by Dr. George Jones. That prohibiting any further importation of slaves, was penned by Mr. Games ; and that securing liberty of conscience, in matters of religion, was written by the Rev. Jesse Mercer.

iffe.

502

EPISNDENT

To borrf jurists of
ItTi Thas rendered the

oie of

ekpefience of-

of|the Cons

few 'fhaDges/ aril|

in

' T'Vii-

'SJS^'

... i-,-.**.*:- :.-.;.. fg3ik;,.

and"r'"'

t-^.

^" 17

~ ' i-jSv.''

-

;J

-ijl

'

^- ' ^^

com*plemem'*- of th..e> f'-is^frSisbv eft? wi$l. l long i remai-;;n to e. vi!*n; ce

the political sagacity,; the judicial wisdom, and the

elevated s^snian|B|Jof|th^e Georgian&feho

ihese.inemfeab^lSHwiAni^'- * *w#':Tr ^t

Thus h4 beerifril^ tlace| the histoi^of Geo^ia,

from its discovei^|by|5jrdpeajis to the adoption of^ie

Constitution of if9SftMThis period seems TO be a nltu-

'i . i'pli



*!'.-

, ' '

*

ral terminus for the Mors ofIthe historian!

The events since tha day are too closelpinterwoven

*'- w&f'/-'^/ -i' - *'?.'

. * ' fcC-1

s^i'-

with the transactions1 6f more^recent leeislatibn. o^too

immature *i.n the1i'r results, or ' "S:;" '''"' too much'"- c\ onnec% ted

with

the

f
statesmen

\ A'
off the

,4
present

- ':
generation,

%.
to; be

ripe for the histori' c'hajSrjves.t...-

^

1

i*?

The pathway along; which we have travelled^ in

~-

SP'

,

j '

&

tracing this history, |has been a devious j one, ?but

exceedingly interesting and instructive. It has! led

us into the far pastjf among French chieftains ^and

Spanish hidalgoes ; amid virgin forests and Indian

tribes; now we have pfssed the prisons of the unfortu

nate debtors in Londo% or the homes of the persecuted

Protestants of Salzburg ; )and now we have journeyed

with them over ftielsSriny ocean, landing with them

on the bluif of YamacSawj and following them in their

Letter 'from Hon. Joseph Henry Lumpkin.

-I

503

new homes in tt|e colony, whfch merey erected on these

shores, that rthe| poorjand ttie un0r|auate might find

rest and peace..! v f- &.' . :j>- . ..

The,

* '. :*'
histomlof

-yi
Georgia.

';
is

the-

*
record ?x>f,

striking

- if ~ .- i,'^

jjg

\fJ

r*.,

.'i. I',.*, " " - -"

.',,*

'-

^~

providences. -Qfhe colony, b&sed upon one ^:ihe great

principles ;qf^(}||rifltia|fity^l^ been

amidst *ali wkiSsitudes; mhp though

^^

& *

' - "Yv'

^*'

verge of ruin, h|s yet^Jby thej interposing hand of God,

been relieved, restore^ and lifted up to its present h%h

position.

.f , J| -.- ^ --,'. ;. v. v, . .'.,*^'

We have seeli *the|nuEsliig of ^btarityJjecome^the^

foster-child of ^oyati^, and;^|ough ^Is&tened M ;^

by the scourge fef wajr, for its leanings to liberty, we f:

behold it at la$t st'atiding erect and free in the man

hood of an independent Stale.

These changes in fits corporate and political life,

have been marked by events of deep interest, and of

~ ;*'

>' f

lasting importance; 'aind the attempt has been made

to arrange them in such a manner, and portray them in

such colors as shall best develope the inner and outer

life of the State, and give it a truthful and enduring

biography. Once freed from Parliamentary shackles,

the ravages of war, the depredations of Indian tribes,

the intestine strifes consequent on imperfect legis

lation, and the conflicting interests of a people not

yet fused into one homogeneous body politic, the

young State rose gradually in all the elements of na

tional growth and prosperity. In proportion to its age

and its population, it has furnished as staunch defen

ders of liberty, as distinguished soldiers in the field, as

learned jurists on the bench, as eminent statesmen in

Congress, as valuable members of the cabinet, as judi

cious ministers at foreign courts, and as patriotic citi

zens, as any colony of the Old Thirteen.

':.t>,*':?;''i-i; ;VS*:'

504
;-t i

. . IGE0RGIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

'?* "

$1'

, Georgia takes rank among tMt States

1'!:v?'h- '-"
If

": ^' "ltf$fii-l^est amount of ,toiinagt ei?^Jjjf^- Agrir

cultureiibiit life exited her in the variefcaill^alue of

*

'f'^^r <v A' *$&'*' ' "' ' **

"*' " ' ; ' "'ti'*ijS^1;-

her promti|l|& InManufactures, she is fesii^pBg to

number of, her mills -and spines, v In Mnr1m'ing^ypPf-'il!liflt^^i neMy all? the i

min. ir' a"tvfl^^^,^..

:f diligence in multiplying||er

leges, A^jemfes, and Schools. In religious privileges,

there a^--^uJb^peven> States which can show || larger

buildings and accommodations. In.

Itiiellieence > of iheriipeopleiMie has ';&$&$.""

In th^good|brder of her internal governmenlf in the

law-abidfng (^aractei1 of her citizens, in the freedom

from th0!e!in(tre shocking crimes which blot tie fair

rl'r**- V" 1

^i'

^^

"

^i

fame ofJfnan;$ other States, she presents her|elf for

-I'T^. "

*;'

-



.^

h' igh con-tfvme' nRsa. tion. *. . .

.<

. ^v|

In thj jsurgings of political opinion, whicb have

unsettled? for |i time, other States, Georgia hats held

true to the Constitution. In the convulsions Iwhich

$:. , ; !?'

'

?

have threatened sectional ruptures, Georgia has been

b* . . i.-

'



I- . .

ever on me sioje of Union. Her weight in thelpoliti-

cal scaleihas been fully recognized, and her position

as a power-wiejding State has been acknowledged by

Executive favor and Congressional influence. 4

Such % her} present position. God has bestowed

upon her|a^territory, which for situation, fertility, and

beauty, |b ^unsurpassed. With an extended line of

sea-coast^alongvthe outside of which stand so I many

"< i""'; 'i

''*''

"

^

island-sentiftel|J from the Savannah to the St. Mary's,

she is deftinedlto possess a yet greater commerce than

now fiilnls^*$QL- e' r pSo' rti,s- . *>'

fir

m<^JWV, -

s

CONCLUSION.

365

Withjjjnoble rivers, which grvfriber a water-power rarely QSu^.a^iTlTe-dJ, ^^suh_e -w_i:lnl bi^e. --^.tiitj ta increase

inland .tonnage and her busy 'factories to an almost

unHmi|jp extent With a climate ranging from the

cold ofpflie Alleghanies to the tropical heats of Florida,

her 380lfi easily .brings forth theeeereal igrainsCof ,the

S-.jr.gS;,-, ''',-'' -- . ''

'-

""

, ; ., *v , .-: >.'

Northf|ie products of'the Middl^ gtates^ ani|,tyB great

staples ,.-;o?* f t" he South. With! a population rapidly increasing, her waste

places will soon be filled with a busy yeomanry, and

her miiies and workshops with industrious artisan!^

iS. J w^

,'.

"

' ',-, j,"

' .-T. '^JtrtS- '

HerMnes of railroads covering, with tljeir iron^lra-

eery nearly every section of the State, will rapidly de-

velope her mineral resources, her agricultural wealth,

and herj mechanical products. Her system of common

schools,|projected and soon to be introduced, which

shall make it possible to give to every one the bene

fits of ajcommon learning, will make her children edu

cated and enlightened. And above all this, and better

than all this, with the legend of her Great Seal,

"Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation," as her guiding

motto;|and with the smiles and protection of God,

through whose favor the Colony was planted, and by

whose care it has reached its maturity--Georgia shall

more than realize the dreams of its founders, in all

that gives to a State true greatness, anil enduring

glory.

'
m-1

4-
*~M

.



186-319.

/? f

Action of, with reference to plundering,

Acton; list of members of the Provincial 241. Report of the Committee of, 279;, Acts

flCongress of 1775, from the district^ 105,

affirmed by Provincial Congress, 293.

.jr^319.



^

'^'?" ' '

Powers of, 298. Proceedings ot, 303; >ie-

Acts of Assembly, affirmed by Prdvinoial Cbn- fferences to, 305, 306.., Royal, of 1780, 317,-

%re8s of 1776, 293.

v "?

X321. Called to consider the defenceless state

Acts of Attainder, 386, 386,388, 389. f

| of the Province, 321,322. Called by friends

Adams, Mr.; prediction of; 142.

:

|-of George Walton, 323. Proceedings of,

Address of the General Assembly to the King 324. Action of. denounced by subsequent

fson the repeal of the Stamp Act, 51,'52. Of ^Legislature, 325. Reins of Government re-

&-the Commons' House to the King, 66^ 67. Of /sumed by, 326. Preamble and resolutions

Wthe Council of Safety to President Bolloch,

3|295,296.

'

i

v concerning the Council of State of 1779,320, ';327. Confers upon the Governor, or Presi

Admiralty Courts, 113.

V

dent and Council, power to act when oat of

Agnus, Mr., Stamp distributor; arrival-of, 45. the limits of the State, 327, 328. Requests

f'Takes the oath, and leaves Savannah, 46.

the Governor to order the embodying of one*

Alabama, fort, intrigues of the French at, 18. " half the militia, 328. Censures General Lin

ilRenioval of French rule from, 26. i-

coln for the removal of the Continental

fi-

Aiatamaba, the, 19, 29, 80, 55, 154, 163, 275,

!;276, 277, 459, 460, 461, 496.

*

troops, 328. Removes the seat of govern ment from Augusta to Beards' Fort, 328,

Alien, Rev. Moses; treatment of, 183.

329. Pronounces the proceedings of the Su

"American Declaration," adopted and ap- preme Executive Council illegal, 329; Pre-

jjproved, 108.

, sented by the grand jury of Richmond

^American Treaty," between England and County, 329, 330. Convened at Augusta,

(Spain, 488.

1780,1782,335. Address of Governor Martin

Anderson, Colonel Robert, 413.

_

; to, 335, 336. Adjourns for want of provi-

Andrews, Benjamin, member and president of . sions, 336. Meets at Ebenezer, and removes

4,the Executive Council, 301.

to Savannah, 336. Backwardness of, to tax

Androa, Sir Edmund; attempts at taxation by, their constituents, 344, 345. Royal, 351.

.,37.

" Struggles in, 352. Order of, respecting "re

Arbuthnot, Admiral, 240.

fugee certificates," 358. Act of, for the more

Armstrong, Colonel, regiment, 387.

full and complete establishment of a public

Articles of Capitulation at Siege of Augusta, seat of learning, 362-362. Decides upon a

!" 264-267. Of Confederation and Perpetual permanent site for, 363. Orders issue of bills

'. Union, 365, 462. Revision of, 386.

of credit, 374-376. Report of the Committee

Ash, General; defeat of, at Brier Creek, 194- of, on Governor Sevier's letter, 380. Chooses

;1i19987.. Remarks upon the conduct of, 187,

James Jackson, Governor, and George.Handley, on his declining, 383.- Action of, 389,

Assemblies, circular letter addressed by Massa 390. Organic changes in constitution of, 391.

chusetts to tbe provincial. 62, 63.

Minutes of, 443. Governor Telfair's message

Assembly of 1760, 19. Of 1761, 19, 20. Chief to, 392. Attends divine service on day of

Justice G rover's intrigues with, 23. Pro- thanksgiving, 406. Change in time of meet

-eeedings of Commons' House of, 41, 42. ing of, 41)7-409. General, 455. Change of

: Governor Wright'a address to, 49, 50. Pro public opinion as to the measures pursued

ceedings of, 58, 59. Punishment of, 60: Issue by, 485. Reference to, 493. Vide also Com-

f of bills of credit by, 60, 61. Acts of, for or- mans1 Souse of Assembly, General Assembly,

",vdering and governing the negroes, and en- . House of Assembly, Legislature, Royal At-

5>,conraging settlers, 61. Tendencies o to sembly.

^independence, 62. Difficulties in the way of Assembly of New York; resolution of, con

4 the legislation of, 62. Instructions from, to cerning taxation, 38.

Dr. Franklin, 64. Address of, to the King, Assembly of Massachusetts, 58.

66, 67. Dissolution of, 68. Action of, with Assembly of Virginia; adopts resolves of non-

:.; reference to taxation, 70. Struggles of, with ' importation, 70.

^Governor Wright, in regard to the speaker- Astrolabe, the ship, 228.

7 ship, 70-73. Meeting of, 83-90. Prorogued, Athens, 363.

*R/;.K$&*&.?-V*?C'.?,
|.$&:/-
N&
."

"'':!-'..:',-^;:-->^->~'^v^.^-m.u:^Jm^firj%;5.-k^^-,;-^-r.-"-"/ ->---^v

508

:-$$?$$&&&

Board

..

Angnata, 19. - Congrea*

of Mils of credit,

at, 27-30. -fa

of Chief Justice

Ing of C^cks hiid

Lsnd ; 189,

nMr( .

,191,192. Abando;

; 202,220. Siege of direct"taxation;.

3 ofj 240.

Tories, 243i 24T,287,28;!27(V273ji299. "Seat

- of government removed to, 305. Informal

.meeteng of the A8^in>rf8t,806,320. Mi-

governrdmeerendt itro|irfc'ir"lGd!i':

1,328. Seat of ,828-331. Meet-

- ing of friendsis

'i i i_ TM -

"_' '7- TTr* -fc

,r._^

ealesSon

blMe
> delivery >of,^'_ .Meeting of ;the
*.f I"*"!, t .ABCV-i^ 'f\ _i ?-'-'.

,, (EieOtitive Council in
^8cenes at, on the 'Britain, 69,70. : Coritnbutions from Georgia f-warrants, 355-358. gent to, 100, British driven from, by means
"of ;th Cniyeralta' Xof powder furnished by, Georgia, 104. Arrithe PederaT i^al of.troops'from,127^131." :''" Boston Port Bill, 73, US,ll6.( v ,,; Bonrbon Connty, 462. , |a- *,, .- ,v 3 Bdussole, the ship, 228. ^ ' * : ;. ,: -' J&pw^n, ^Captain, 403, ^0^ 135,161'Commo-
IQTt^i'*jt ffv'*^j pftr'-''i^'jicTQ.D6r- Of^UlO'' PfttTiPdlM

JB-i^aVc'o^n!, W Wr.i,l^liia' m3i,l*JVr~,'. member of the ,r ' 'iV' ? ^^i-^ .^r

^.J^^Mt^^^^^^^^^g^'K ' Bowles, WiU^am^Angustaa, sketch of^ 446,463, Boyd's defeat.and <l"*1^i''-TM" 1^*"'' "?&*&'*

Bafllie, Robert, retnrned ft member of 019 Com-

. moms' House of Assembly of 1780, 319. "<- Safety in CJarke's settlement, 403.^ t 'f |

Baird, Sir James, 173, IfSMI^WS, 196. -'-

.. .

Baier, Captain, 135V ^blon^l'W. Wounded,

tibatOe o^ i94-J?8.241.

170. Major, 199. , . .

Brisbain, Adam Fowler, member of the Pro*

Baker, Colonel John, ordered to disperse the vincial Congress of 1775,105. -

banditti on the southern frontier, 359, 360. British Legion,, at siege of SaTannah, 203.

r Baker, John, Jr., member of the. Provincial British Rangers, 192. ,: . -p ..*,,^.,,^.(..^fcai.,,fv-

Congress of, 177.5, 106. , ',.,&; -r ,i. = . 4 ." Browne, GoTernor, .460,f'J-- ' 4i K-Vvft^'?**!*' '

. Baker, William, ST., member of the Provincial Brown, Colonel Thomas,-153,186; 203.S Takes

. Congress of 1775, 106. :.-.-"

possession of Angusta, 243, 244. Besteged

Baldwin, Abram, appointed Trustee of the at Augusta, 247-231, 255. Again besieged,

State College, 352, 353, 362. Resigns presi dency of the Board of Trustees, 363. Ap

322506.-267, 274, .276. Defeat o(,>*2'8,J. 0-'2'-8''2", 2"8.5",

pointed to select a new site, 363, 364. Dele Brown, William, compiles table of progressive

gate from Georgiato the Federal Convention, commerce of Savannah, 332. ... ... ^ .,,-:-.

886, 387. Elected representative to Congress, Brownson, Dr. Nathan, member of the Prorhi-

. 394. United States Commissioner, 496.

cial Congress of 1775,106,149.. Elected Go

Ball, Edward, member of the Provincial Con- vernor, 335. Appointed Trustee of the State

. . gress of 1775, 106.

College, 352, 353, 362. Chosen President of

Barclay, Captain, 129, 132, 135.

the Senate, 391.

Barnard, John, member of the Provincial Con- Bryan County, formed, 399, 406, 485.

. gress of 1775, 106.

Bryan, Hugh, member of the Provincial Con

Barnett, William, member of the Convention gress of 1775,105.

, for revision of the Constitution, 501.

Bryan, Hon. Jonathan, chairman of meeting

Barnwell, Captain John, 103.

at Savannah in favor of non-importation.

Bear Creek; negro encampment on, 375, 466, 70. Displaced from the Council by order of

476, 476.

the King, 70. Member of the Provincial

Beanfort, 103, 208, 210, 223, 385, 462.

Congress of 1775,104. Member of the Con n-

Beaulieu, 202, 214.

cil of Safety, 126,133,144,155,149. County

Bentalon, Captain, 217, 235, 236.

named for, 399. s

Berrier, Captain John, 158.

Bryan, William, member of the Provincial

Bethizy, Vicomte de, 219.

Congress of 1776,104,105.

. Bethlehem (Pa.), 233. <,

Brydie, Dr. Darid, 124.

Big lk, leads attack pn^

U's Fort, 84. Bugg, Lieutenant William, 127.

Bill of Bights, adopted- approved, 109. Ball, Colonel Stephen, 133,141,142.

Bills of credit,

13' 0, 131, 374' Bnlloch, Archibald, 63. Elected Speaker of the

. 375.

,-

Assembly, 73. Signa call for a meeting to

Blackatocks, 252. '.

sympathize with the Bostoniana, 77. Chosen

Black Swamp, 194. .

President of the Provincial Congress of 1775,

Blonnt, William, Agent of the State of North .104,129. Elected delegate to Continental

Carolina at the Indian Congress 'at Hope- . Congress, 114,117. Attends and takes his

well, 418, 421. "- . '-.' ,.:^.- ,;;- J,>-Att.J -, seat, 119, 125. Dr. Zably's letter to, 120.

Board of Commissioners, appointed to tread Letter of instructions to delegates to Con

with the Creeks and Cherokees, 338.

gress, 129,130. Answers letter of Sir Jamea

iEV

m
._...,..,. . -^.-'J.

W,' A> t^VSfaftSrVS
wM --'^'

;>i
^offte

, 132. uCommatidg Carr, :3sent- to 'Great Tybee
Cbarleston, of, intercept 155, 166, .291. lef 21J,223;1 of ri "~* ; 813. BesultsS
Charlton'8 (T.tT."3
^S83.: ; '' "" "

Wright,102,

Congiitrition,l~,

y,188, 181,: 246, 269,270. Est8>- Buildings in, ele--.

. ^Wished by the Constitution, 299. y Required repreeenta|iyes of,|

> fto furniflh'a guard' for the escort of the Pre-

T :feident and Executive Council, 355. Proceed- Ch^rc^^artei^&Fi?^?. ;' -jngS.of the representatives o 806,310,389, #quest^ to furnish* "guard for a

m

; "' -i894, 899, 400, 486, 600; 601. i? H#-SB"=4&W5^-1 .tho President end Executive: 1 _

; Burke, Edmund, 69,

.. Controversy, respecting^thd 'teoofds^

,. Congress of 1776,106,4}5. :, 3 *sx

496.

: : Borton, Thomas, member of rthe Provincial, Cherokees, the,: 18,, 24,, 27, :29;. ^Propose to

J Congreaa of,1176,106. ' .,, ;V -

liquidate the traders^claims by a cession, of

' Butler, Colonel, member of the Provincial Con- lands, 83. Number: of gunmen of, 93. ; At-

;1 gress of 1776,106.

" ,-. xi: tacks,of. on the froatiers, 144. 249,266,274,

Bntler, Klisha, member of the Council of 275. ,,Expedition^ against, ,283. Commla-

/-I1".', !'.?*" . i-'

._. -*.*

-

' * ' -'..

,

'-1 '

,'*" v1 .----

' sioben appointed by Oongrew to treat with,

-; ; Butler, James, returned as member of the 366,399. Congress with, 415. Treaty with,

|< Commons'House of Assembly of 1780,318. 415, 429, 440. ^Washington's treaty vita,

' Butler, Joseph, member of the Provincial Con;,

U gress of 1775,105. Declines taking his seat, Cherokee County, 411,438.

? 106,107. ' : - - .C. S^ ..: t^-f: Cherokee Hill, 18U 221,.^..

* 3,-

Bntler, Pierce, appointed Commissioner, for Chescoenwhee; speech,of, at the Hopewell In

.: /

8S8o5u.th Caroli'na on the's"bouVnda''i- y,,'d;isputes,

dian Congress, 424,428.^ Cheweg, 283.

,'':, *

&-,., w-i ."..-

Byron, Admiral Lord, 227. .

Cbickasaws, 27,29. Number of gunmen, 93,

274,275. . ; .- ,

..-:

Caldwell, Lieutenant, 154.

Chimney-Top Mountain, 421.

Call, Richard, elected Surveyor-General, 340. Chieholm, Thomas, member of the first Exe

Canada, American expedition against supplied cutive Council, 300., Elected Surveyor-Ge

', -with powder from Georgia, 104.

neral, 383. ,,_... >' .-

Cambray, Colonel, 201.

ChoctamB, 27,29. Number of gunmen, 93.

Camden, Lord Chancellor of England; county Choti, 283. . ^s:,

named for, 300.

Christ Church Parish, 88. Name of, changed

. Camden County, constituted out of the pa- to Chatham County by the Constitution, 299,

: rishes of St. Thomas and St Mary, 299, 300. 318,318.

.f.

Proceedings of the representatives of, 306- Christie, Colonel, 144, 421, 422, 427.

310, 389. 394, 406, 455, 485.

Church of England; ministers of, side with

Cameron, Captain, 174. Colonel, 428. ''.

the mother country, 341. Burial service of,

Campbell, Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald, com read over General Greene, 373.

mands expedition against Georgia, 170. Cap Church-wardens and vestrymen; choice of, re

ture of Savannah, 172-178. Takes Ebenezer, commended by the Legislature to the inha>

181. Issues proclamation, 181,182. Plans bitants of Chatham County, 342.

capture of Snnbury, 183, 184. Takes Au Clark, Colonel Gibson, member of the first

gusta, 187,189.:,General, 447.

graduating class of the University of Geor

Campbell, John, Crown-Agent for Georgia; gia, 364.

,

publishes tract on the taxation of the colo Clark, Captain John, wounded at Musgravea'

nies, 42.

MillS. 246.

..:*.;:-*.:.

Carnes, Peter J., 403, 501.

.

Clark County, 363. .,.>;;

/Carolina, 160,161. Secret committees of, 163, Clark, Lieutenant, 173,:,,. i'* / , -- " . -

' 181. Reward offered for apprehension, - of Clarke. BrigadierHGfeneral, 453.

.- .

;: patriots from, 182, 183, 222, 225, 268, 273, Clarkej Colonel :ElHah, wounded. 164,190,191,

; 812, 313. Frontiers of, endangered, 314,316, 198. Siege of ^Augustm 245-250. BetreaU

330, 331, 334, 458, 466. Tide North and to northern edge-of^Georgia, 252, 255, 257,

,: South Carolina.

283,356. Settlement on Indian reservation,

Carolina Light-Horse, 203

400, 406. i-Expedition against Water*, 412-

Carolina Regiment, 164.

.!

414.Li,1 Expedition agahist the Creeks,'416,

Carolina Troops, 141,157.

- 417, 44(S, 461, i53,454. ** - <-

Carr, Captain Patrick, 276.

Clay, Joseph, 80.,? Member of -tits CouncQ .of

Carr's Fort, 188.

Safety, 101,121. Member of the ~ ' '*

BI
m^mi^f^li-*-;
^i;.-> ItlrM.,:-"

Il&l&&Vfr1 ;

Empowered tiv Council,
.-;81t"te College,

*r$N$&p3Jul^&i-s" '- f--rof.n"t

.-*- *;*W>-1 ..lJg^^6fflSP3S*>

* ""' '" " "

. AugustineiT^iroember of the

" Ithe UniveiBity of

seats in the itton, 239, --.>-W

Congress of 1776,166. great. ,, ; >* of the

agaJnst

Commissioner for

#*p-'.

aber^fthe Proti0cial C^lin^forSSmtntof _ .--- .-.,-,,_--*S' "'- f?'4--lM-. - v ' '' pates with Georgia, 884.^Action of, with ree^spur Island, fortified,21. < Stamps sent to, ferenee to the boundaries, 384-386. Calling *" qrittf^46^ 47ji!32,141,^292." .;^i . - fjjatf Con vent ion for therevtsioh of the Aro-
p John, member otthe'first Exeentive Vdes'of Confederation; by, 886, S87. "Letter ' of President Wereat to^the, 888; Resolution of,: 889. Appointment of a day of public ' - ' and Jirayer, by the, 393,894. ^ 400,419,42),

'^' ?4-t6h6V,4-B67m,I4t7s"9'd.^'lAec<tiiSOat>'4fori"l''t4h9ei8lfe-e^W--em.-ej$nt gof

Congress (Provinci

ttsajnerrialigtarutes of 1T60, 63, 64. 4 %v.~. " Mincial- Congress?*'* &"<&'*' ' "* -

BmtmiaaiongMi appointed to check the massa cres on the Florida frontier; 337. Board of,

Co8n9g4r.ess* ional.TD**i.'sVtr\ i. c-t.is-;aSSKta-^te.

divided Into, :- ;' --'-v,

appointed to treat with the Creek and Cbe-B*ee nations, 338, Board of, appointed to

Co8n4n8.e"e"t'ic?nA~t,s-&la5w-'s vo*f,'trte-lKatiiyn*g* t'o*th' e, To>ri-?e's,

cury out.,pwisionsof the Act of Attainder, Conway, Secretary, circular of, 47, 66. - '"

Ka-347. 'Appointed by, .Congress to treat

3b the Cherokee8,365, 882. Appointment Cooper, Captain, 192. -* -

mff to settle boundary- disputes between Coosa Kiver, 431, 474.

Snath Carolina and Georgia, 385, 386,,,4 62.

{SrUamentary, loyalist claims upon, 350.

Appointed V by Congre&s and by Georgia to Constitution of the State of Georgia; the first,

teat with .the Greeks, 417; iJbnrnal of the ratified at Savannah, 1777, 29& 5 Synopgis of,

tmeeedings of, at the Congress at Hopewell, 298, 299, 300, 306, 807, 80S, 311, 324. Revi

9. . Subsequent efforts of, 432-434. sion of, 327, 329, 330, 342, 365, 368, 388-391,

: of,: fruitless, 435^-437. Snecesa of, 392,- 394, 397, 406, 407, 488, 497, 498. Revi

Protest of Georgia Delegates against sion of, 1798, 499-602.

&s action of, 455, 466. Appointment of, for Constitution of the United States; the Conven

lae transfer; of western lands, 495. 496. -

tion called for framing, 386. Delegates from

Cammittee of Correspondence of the Commons' Georgia, 387.^ Acceptance of, by the States,

BEHJSB of Araemb}y,ordered to lay before the announced. 388, 391-397. Amendment to,

eB.ifm the^%co: mmanicationa of their Agent,

466,467. . Continental Association, the, 90, 91.

Com-

Ganmittee of Correspondence, authorized by .mittee chosen to enforce, 101, 111, 112, 113,

Bis Provincial Congress to inspect entries of 122,123.

fee Custom House, 112.

Continental certificates, 358, 375.

Onamittee of Intelligence, appointed, 121. Continental Congress, the ; approval of the

Cannnittee or ' Assemblyman, reward offered

course of, by the District Congress of St. Andrew's Parish, 86. Appointment of dele

House of Assembly ; conduct of the gates to, urged by the same body, 87. Reso

er p&Al. Answer to speech of Go- lution of thanks to the members of, 90.

^aaior Wright 50. Unite in address to the Delegates elected to, 91. Address of, to the Eng, 51, 62;: Zeal of, for their prerogative, Parish of St. John, referred to, 92. Hesi 3L Obedience to the Mutiny Act required tancy on the part of the otber parishes to

aby the. King, 59, 60. Action of, with reSirence to-;the Massachusetts letter, 64-66. .faMregs tothe King on their being dissolved Sj-the Governor, 66, 67. -Straggle with re-

adopt all the measures of, 93. Permit Dr. Hail to take his seat, 96. Letter of the Georgia delegates to the President of, 96-98. Instructions of the Earl of Dartmouth with

fecfinee to the Speaker8flip.:.?l-7a Prooeed- reference to, 99, Solicits powder from Geor fe^ of, 1775, 89, 90Bi;Prorogaed by the Go- gia, 104. Day of fasting and prayer set apart snor, 90,i 95. Conrened^ by BIT James by, 106. Measures and recommendations of,

Wright, 318. List of members of, returned, adopted by Georgia, 109. Delegates elected ^.319. .. Proceedings of, 319, 320. -^Address to, 114, 117. Committee appointed to see

f: Governor W.right to, 820, 821.^Knal ad- that the resolutions of, be observed, 117. Jnzmment of, 322. -:-=.,, .<.:'.< 'A/4^--; -" ' Attendance of Georgia delegates on the ses

asresB (district) of St. Andrew'* Pariah; sions of, 118, 119. Purposes and plans of,

fsnoeedings of, 86r8&;

. . .; &;> betrayed by Dr. Zubly, 120. Georgia com-

.

$ 123.

,-notiee of tbt acceding of Georgia to tbe Qe- at the IttdJan, Congrefiaat Hopewell, 426.

-___,_jjett6rsaeiy, .^ersU Association <aM the appointment of rv>*ii<mfea>MM*^*MU^!!SiE.V*^v :3t'i',<>>3!-:i.i#^
jdclegatea^iSK&iif 'Delfigates: from .Georgia

..a -.*
M

- attend, sl26j|!?Qeorgirtettalion raised V 10

.jfbf-thtf Provinc{al; 0on-

order of, ISf.s/Dele^tes to, chosen, 12fi, 139, gressof 17

iiOT, 123.^ Betnrnwl as

140,141^14^148,147,150. EnHstnwnt of member of; "^* ' House of AMBrn-

two additional batUlioni for Georgia, OP- .WyoflT

ISO, 182, 220^ 243, Ooz,Zaebar

8^ * 823, Letter

pandl to tha-Presldent olj 824, ; egainstthe Yi

.Creek Indians

I

^gte:

Ordered from Sooth

Savannah, 178, 179, 185.

ConTentkrn of Georgia, 151.

Treaty1 signed with, 85:s'Nutnber ofgunmen

Convention (National) fox revision of the, Ar- of; 93. Aid in attack ;6n';GreatTybee,-136.

ittfeles of Confederation,1886-388. *.* *>&"&:, ^Turbulenc* 6f,:g69."^JPpoj>bsal.for exehan'ge" Convention (State) ratifies -the Federal Const!-

s

! tution, 387 j:3S& Proceedings of, appointed , of, 280;-Threatened war witb,368,'aProposeif

to revise the OonflUtution, 388-391; 406-408, expedition against, 380-382^ .Governor Mat^

- '480, 485, 497-401. - - ** ..' thewa'a plan ofsdetence againstj 400.5 ~ ''

Cornwallis, Lord, 247, 330. ^-

Council of Safety (at CharlestonVI *#

.1

3

ter toQoTeriiorWnght,!^.

ton, 417. Tteaty at- Bhoulder-Bone Creek,

and executive power vested in, 126. 'Names 429; Chief canse of the difficulties with, 430-

of members; oi 128, 127. -Order the arrest 432. ^"Talk" Bent to, 432, 433. Cession of

of Governor fright and .others, 127, 128. - lands by the Lower Creeks, 436. Efforts ol

.1 Besolation-bt- concerning importation of , Washington to prevent a war, 437. Mission

gnnpowder^m, ISO. Vigilance of, -182. of Colonel Wlllet to, 438. Treaty with, at

., -Eesolatwo p^ coaeemlng burning the city, ~ New York, 442-443, 446. Depredations 'at,

'^133. Kesolirtion of, eoBcerning btiming the 444, 448, Bowles attaches himself to a party

vessels, 135; V Put nndsr arrest- the mem- of, 447, 448. Appears at London as ambas-

bersof theBpyalConnciI,13a. 8end troops eador from, 449. Returns to, 460. McQUlinay

to Great Tyhee Island, 136, 137. President at the head of, 452. Expedition agajnit,

Rntledge's letter to, 144. Committee ot, ap determined upon, 453. Treaty with, 455, 466.

pointed to ebtrfer with General iee, 149. Creighton, Alexander, meeting of merchants

Declara^onTof Independence laid before^:! 61: i sand traders at the bouse ot, 90.

Action thertfon,- 161, 152. Organise a pro Crittenden. the spy, killed, 284.

vincial marine, ,152> Confer upon President Crown Agent, 62.

BaUoch foU'Eiecntive powers, 155. Elect Croger, Lieutenant-Colonel, 210, 238, 248, 24%

Button Qwinnett President, 156, 800. In 255.

trusted with fall paver daring recess of Pro- Crumer, Christopher, member of the Provin

vinciai Congress, 291. Powers of, defined, cial Congress of 1716, 10&. .

293. Address o<; to Preaident Bnlloch, 294- Cumberland Island ; grant o^ applied for, 30,'

296. His Kiply, 296, 800, Confide their 460.

books and papers to the Executive Cooncil, Cumberland, Mrn nominated by the Govern

and cease- to xist, 301.

ment as Colonial Agent, 68, 59.

Council of State of 1779 ; odiam oast upon, 328. Cnnningham, Major John, 254, 285.

Council, Sopreme -Executive. Tide Bxtcttiint. Currency, paper, depreciation of, 243, 327.

Council. ' ?.'

v Cathbert, A. Daniel, 88.

Cottneil (Royal):; removal of Chief Justice Gro- Cuthbert, Isaac, 88.

ver, 22, 23. Action respecting the Stamp Cathbert, John, member of the Provincial

Act, 43. Address of, to the King, 61, 62. Congress of 1776, 105.

Decline recognising Mr. Grath as agent of Cuthbert, Seth John, Secretary of the Council

the Province, 59. Mr. Bryan displaced from, of Safety, 101, 291. Member of the Provin

70. Troubles with the Commons' House of cial Congress of 1775, 105, 124. Empowered

Assembly, 72. Propose conference with the to act as member of the Executive Council,

Lower House, 89. Advise the offering of a 308. Chosen President pro ttm^ 311.

reward, for the* detection of those who had Cuyler, Mrs., 106.

broken open the King's magazine, 100. Reply

to the address of the Council of Safety, 124. Daniel), William, authorized to sign bills of

Arrest of Governor Wright in the midst of, credit, 374.

128. Letter of Governor Wright to, 131, 132. Darien, 162. Tide St. Andrew'1* Parish.

Members of, put under arrest, 136. ' Queries Dartmouth, Earl of, 82. Instructions ot, to

addressed by-Governor Wright to, 317?*:Ao- Governor Wright, 99. - '

tton of, 318, 319.

. - -iv*> - Davies, Myrich, empowered to act as member

Court of Appeals ; appointed by the Provincial of the Executive Council, 308.

Congress, 126, 231.

. f^f^t Davidson County (North Carolina), 378.

Court of Claims; -establishment of, recom Davis, Jenkinr member of the Provincial Con-

mended by Governor Martin, 330. > --i.^-. gress^of 1776, 105.

Court of Sessions, or Oyer and Tenniner rtime Davis, Larkia, appointed Trustee of the TTni-

of holding, appointed by the Provincial Con veraity of Georgia, 362.

gress, 294. -<

-: * De Brahm, John G. Wm, employed, 23, De-

m .- - - ^^^^^m^^r-^^^^^^-/-

|pj%Sp^;' ;' *S% -. '

^'/''"'Y .^.'v);-'."-i:1;jy,^K

.'>;V; :";,""itt--""?s^.-.-"'.

Delaneey's Corps (Ncw:roik5Folniit*eTBX 172,

,$64, 243, ' . .,$.v)i&&.&fci<.

.

l, Colonel, ~meti

Elll^ Governor, leivegCSavahnah,
iV^jtlJi Xf +m^AH -<lA^i^O^'^tf''/l^V^^it^^

innel, 'Davidj iiSlS..'-Sketch of the fife of, 226-228. -" Receives the Yazoo Sale Bill, 4 igrant of land from the Legislature, for me- England, 131, 156. Claim ofi to the southern-

I&veanx,"Colonel, imember of the :Provindal English Revolution of 1688; ;bne of the results

^45-|S).|ai^-Hia/*fs

?.,-3?;s' :

from off-ice-, 86-9. '-

er,-:246 418. ^'

, Mr.^ appOlnted'Comralgsioner by Qeor- fipaittee of. appointed to ^wait on ; General

;rg3ai to tict. with QovernorSevier against the (Pjfiyne, 273,288. : fAppointment of, and de-

Indians, 380. ... .^.-ajv-,-'.-?,^- . .#: ;-,. :>ifitjng of duties in the .Constitution, 298,

Dobbs, Arthur, Governor of. North Carolina, " " ' ion of, with respect to*a>union with,

SSffi*-',. .- -:--'v-i ' .SSffi-ii^S^rf'S-.ii" -v-ji-iiJS? '

Jth Carolina, 302.*6ivediet8,toriaT powers

Dpbarty, Jack,- a ^>y ; taken prisoner, 284.; j' ,._;the-Governor, 304,305^<Bemove seat of

Dooly Colonel John,; 1 27, 187; 188, 190,' 198. 'government to Augusta, 305. -Members of,

^Empowered to act as member of the Exeen- .'empowered to act as a-Council for the State,

;t|ve Councili 308. : .^^ . . - -- ,-

306. John Wereat and others em powers dby -

Dooly, Lieutenant Thomafi^ 127i ->

the Convention in Richmond County to act

Dorchester, Lord, 447^ ***;.:, +*.: . - as^Supreme Council, 808, 809. Dissatisfac

Dpnglass, Samnet, returned as member of the tion with, 822, 323. Rival Councils ap-

iCommons' House of :AfisembJy, 1780, 319. -,poihted, 323. Publish 6 declaration of their

Db'ftley, Lieutenant Thomas, 127. ' f - >-,- -powers, 323, 324. rAtfemptfl -of Walton's

Drayton, Stephen; member of the PrOTincial Council to traduce thercharacter of General

Congress of 1-775, 105. Memb' er of the Coon-

Mclntosh, 324.-- Power conferred upon, to itransaet budneea when out of the limits of

Dray ton, William Henry, appointed a Commis- the State, 327, 328. Adjourn to Heard's

eioner by the General Assembly of Sooth Fort, 329. Death of President Wells, and

Carolina, to. bring about a union with Geor- appointment of Stephen Heard in his

igia, 311. His reception at Savannah, and place, 320. Adjournment of, to Augusta,

subsequent proceedings, 30% 303.

842, 343. Address to the Assembly with re

Dumbarton, Scotland;' -Barony of Keith in, ference to a sufficient and speedy tax, 344.

226.

Tike measures for the establishment and

<.&

endowment of a State institution of learn

East Florida, 145-149, 442, 460, 462.

ing, 352-354. Require guards from the va

KaBtlndies, 226, 228.

rious counties from fear of robbers, 353.

Eaton, Thomas, builds first wharf in Sa Proceedings at Augusta, 355. Appoint State

vannah, 52, 53.

Commissioners to treat with the Indians, 365.

Eaton, Major, 257.

Proceedings relative to the retention of the

Ebenezer taken, 181, 182, 193, 194, 216, 268- State records in Chatham County, 368-371.

;270. Germans at, 273, 275, 276, 279, 287, Action with reference to issue of bills of

319. Meeting of Assembly al, 336.

credit, 374. Receive Major Elholm, 381,

Effingham County, established by the Consti 382. Expires, 392, 416. Letter ot, to the

tution, 299. Proceedings of the representa Crfeeks, 430.

tives of, 306-310, 336. Kequired to furnish

a guard for the escort of the President and Fan'Ejhawe, Captain, 44.

Executive Council, 865, 389, 394, 399, 406, Farley, Samuel, 80. Returned as member of the

485;

' .-- .-. ' .

Commons' House of Assembly of 1780, 318.

Efflngham, Lord, oounty^riamed for, 299.

Fauquier, Francis, Lieutenant Governor of

Egllntoun, Earl of, 2a.-Bifel^r.!.^^*. - ;-

Virginia, 27. Correspondence with Mr. Pitt

Elbert County, 83, 245, 399, 406, 601.

concerning raising a revenue from the Ame

Elbprt, Samuel, member of ^the- Provincial ricans, 39.

Congress of 1775, 104. Member of the Coun Federal Constitution, 386, 397. Vide Consti

cil of Safety, 123, 127. Appointed LSeiitenant- tution of the United States.

Colonel of the Georgia Battalioni'127; -Ap Federal Convention, 385. Vide Convention

pointed committee -to ; supply! arms "and ^National).

-ammunition, 130,' 157. -Brilliant exploit of, Federal Government, 451. Supineness of, 454.

L3W_i^.|i. j._ . ' 'itt _ AI , ^.<ai-^^, iii. Jy-S. J--^,-^-. -;----v-.--?

;' uSff^^^V^$& fti;0t?";w:^JfWtf:

**SSSSS4*J';'"'' '-'' - : - * "' "i'J^.'U' '

""" l^jtfi-r"'

.Bf^^^Ws<sf|$lp:s?^:? ^:^." --.'..-,iA";.'.:^?S.-\JL,-.. -.,^gi$fe.

rity. andSfSfisd&ilott: oL fevotvedfliB-".:=>^g'^^V*v-^*V-1-*'^, "^'''-J-i?'"-'-^"-' ---"'''^-'"

.a_X--^-***=5TvSit4 1it-.:.-_--__ _I__A. _*.-y^'iiiai'-. -,- JfMittftW'','

,404**

in-breaking up

Finley,"Captain, 261. -

.

401,402.

Kahboninej'LlentenanfcColoDet, 444. gf

Galatea, the, ship of war

Fieri, John, smember 'of-the -Provincial xObii- Gallatin, Albert, United States Commasioner, '

.49^1irf^is^8gS^M^aa^^
Florida, divided into two provinces, 2$93;:123,' 6adlocehieS,;;:ULiieju^teidnaiii ii^JuG^l^
^l^i^El.Vrl'x^^?'^ 4

otthe Continental Assocla-"

Florida~ ^ the,"- ceded ;to England b-*y Spain, 25, tion to be trablished in, m 5 General,Asssmbly; meets at Savannah, No-

Fbntanges, Vleomte dej 200, 219. FoisytbvRobert, 302."-' -_* :- ;-'-. .-w-.

.,;, vember, 1760,18. Dissolved, in consequence /;of the'death of :George U, 19. /Convened,

Fort Advance, 403, 405.

<?>. 'j.;,

C'Mareh, 1761,19,20,-Takes action on Isstrtog

if'BUls.of erediti;20i.^Intrigues of ehie/Jus-

ti Arthur,^ member of the- firet /Executive v tiec'Grover with;-23; Commons House of, iCooncil, 300. ifev .;<* **-> --.i. -.-(> *,?>;< -^ ., convened by the Speaker, '1765, 41. Pre-

Fort Angasta,. royal. Americans stationed at,

eyented- from sending delegates to the New 1 .York Congress by Governor Wright, 41. "-Dis-

Fort Barrington^rangera stationed

miss their Ageu^ 42.- Con vened by the Qo-

" '"""" "r, 49,60.,' - Aefion,;Of. on repeal of; the

r Act,49i*2. ^Repudiate the " Mutiny

Port-Defiance,

67." Controversies of the Commons'

Foit Fldins. 402, 404.

'



House- of, witn the Governor and Counefl.

FortOalphin, 255, 256.

68-60. Relative strength of "Hoytliats"

Fort George (SunbTiry), rangers stationed at, and " Liberty Boys" to, 69. Compliance

68, 184.

with the " Mutiny Act" required of, by the

Fort Granby, 255.

King, 69,60. Proposition for increased issues

Fort Grierson, 248, 256, 257. Captured, 258.

of bills of credit, 60, 91. Acts of. concerning

Fort Howe, 164, 161, 163, 170.

negroes and settlers, 61. Difficulties in the

Fort James, 84. - - ,

- . tv way of the legislation of, 62. Benjamin

Fort: Mclntosh, invested, 152. Snrrenders, Franklin appointed Agent, and Committees

163.

of Correspondence with him chosen by, 63.

Fort Mobile, 255.

Proceedings of Commons' House of, 64^68.

Fort Orangeburg, 255.

Controversies with the.Governor. 71-73. Re

Fort, Tonyn, 163, 167.

solutions of, 69-90. Adjourned and pro

Fort "Watson, 250, 255, 258.

rogued, 90, 95, 96. Resolve of Provincial

Fort William, 460.

Congress respecting, 116, Report of Com

Fowey, the, ship of war, 172, 202.

mittee to, with reference to the capture of

Fox, Joseph, retamed as member of the Com Savannah. 179. Endeavor to preventjpinn-

mons' House of Assembly, 1780, 319.

dering, 241, 242. Organic changes in the

France, treaty between, and the United States, Constitution of; 391. Request Rev. Mr. Pal

200, 226j 227. -Troubles in, 367.

mer, of St. Paul's, Augusta, to prepare a

Franklinj Benjamin, appointed Agent of the sermon and form of prayer suitable to the

Colony, 62-64. Presents address of the day of public thanksgiving, 393. Results of

Commons' House of Assembly to the King, change in the time of meeting of, 407-409.

68. 337.

-

Request the-President of-the .United States

Franklin County ; land set apart in, for the to make another treaty,with the Creeks, 485.

-endowment of a college, 364, 363, 389, 894,

.f :-. . , r

?406. Laid out, 416, 485. -/,-r* r- General*ABsembly,of :SonQi Carolina; resolu

Franklin, George, appointed on the Committee tion of, proposing union with Georgia, 301.

'on the Tazoo Sale Bill, 486.

:-

General Congress, the, 92. Dr. L. Hall attends

Franklin, the State of; sketch of th"e history'

and ^admitted to a seat, 96. Letter to, 'vDelegates of Georgia, 96-99,145,

Frederica; royal Americans stationed at, 55,

: Appoint a day of public thanks-

H60;^FOrt of, ordered to be secured, 130; *

2. '^Hde' Cbnaneutal Ctmgrtxi?^

Freeman, Captain William, 188.

General'CpntinentalCongress, 182. , ...-

Freeman^ Colonel Holman, 245.

-'' General Government, brought In conflict with

VOL. II.

33

mores the Indians, 29
Act;m ! Aspmpro

Qommltted " nentaKCoa
take~ their geate

t&'fCessio- n ofir'l*an^d'rsJ-'

of its cTiiefJjieeuUve, 143, Menaced, with 'J ,143,,144.^C6niferenoelbfilk?
*TM - --. , .-i^'-^t^^^

^ ^ .....^ffr...f. f .F.^^.^.

wilS!ir?i

1W9.ri!g"hPtr6f'moroh tion:- of'v'Lie'utenanWJovernor , Sir H. Clintonfs

17ft; :

duct of 'first

- fenceless state of, 173* HepOTt of a Commit

from, nun by

tee of the QeneTftV Assemblj on the capttiro

' 24. " 'Adv_anta

rf the B^te:o^;l79;ftTb^Britai in^tn^Sa,

Re^stablisiment of Royal OoVernment In.

'.^bf,' SiPthe . SoBthern^

185. SklrBilsbe3-in,Sl88-190, 192. Defeat

dians, 26-29. Enlar^ment ^f;tte bo'nnda- of General A8h,'197Tl9S. French fleet arrive

ries of, 29. Plans forthe coibniiation of, 29- off the eoast of, 201, 202, . Eower part oi; in

32. Position of, under administration of ixjsw^ou of the TJrjtishv !^ 224, 227., .Pa-

Governor Wright, 33. JForeshadowings ofthe laski removed fet235. ; Proteg 6f, the JBiecn^

>-B!^li^on;^'^^^^^imo]r^J|h|CM^ .of tire Council .of.iagilngtJUie.rsnioTatl&f

Assembly o'fjCpnvenedril.ySyilliamKnox, troops, 240, l)arkept p:eriod:bf the historj-.oX

'Agent ot, dismissed from .service, 42, 43. 241. Incarsions into, 242. Left without

Stamp Act peculiarly oppressive to, 44, 45. government or soldiers, 243, 246. Paitis&n

Whole "province aroosed, 46. Invectives and warfare in, 251, 252. General Morgan's ad

measures of the Carolinians, 48. Injustice dress to the refugees of, 253, 254. " Attempt

of these measures, 48. 49. Address, of the to secure Augusta, 254, 235, 257, 268, 269,

Council and Commons' Honse of:Assembly 270. Suffering In, 271, 272, 273, 281.', free

- to the King, 51, 52. : Oommerce and popula and independent, 289. . , Loss of property ,nd

tion of, 53. Prosperity of, described By the negroes at the embarkation of the Loyalists,

Governor, 53-56. Assembly of, refase com 2S9. Establishment of republican govern

pliance with the Mutiny Act, 57. Samuel ment of, 290-297. First Constitution .of,

"Grath appointed Agent of, 59., Troops with- ratified, 298. Great seal of, 300. Proposal

" drawn from, 60. Peculiar grievances of, 60, of a union of, with South Carolina, 301-303.

61. .Difficulties in the way of legislation for, Incursions on the southern seaboard,. 305.

" :- 62."B. Franklin appointed Agent of, 62, 63. Proceedings in Richmond County, 306^311.

Action of the Assembly of, on the circular Letter of the Council of, to General Lincoln,

letter of the Massachusetts representatives, 311-315. Re-establishment of the royal

64-66. Dissolution of the Assembly of, 66. government in, 315-322. Dissatisfaction in,

Address of the Commons' House to the King, 323,324, 326. Republican, reduced tx> two

66, '67. First subject of royal vengeance in. counties, 329, 330. Deplorable condition of,

70. Struggle between the Governor and As sembly of, 70-73. Sympathy of, with the

331. " Observations" published by the dele gates of, 331-333. Dawn of a better state of

Bostonians, 76-80. Indian affairs in. S2-S5. things in, 335. Indian hostilities, 337. L.

Sympathy with, the other Colonies, 86-38. Hall elected Governor of, 338, 339. State of

Provincial Con gress^bf, 88-91. Resolutions of the Carolinians to hold-no intercourae

religion in, 341, 342. Acts of attainder of, 345-349, 351. Establishment of the Univer

with, 91, 92. BeasonsMr3u^ihesitancy of. sity of, 352-354, 359, 360-365. .Brought in

93^95;. ^Letter^of th^oIlfgWotlto tt10,*- conflict with the General Government, 365,

neral' 'Congress,

366. Grant lands to Count d'&taing, 368,

erected in, 101. Conditio'nrpf, misrepre 367. Tel/air's administration, 367. 358, 371,

sented, 102, 103. Capture of .the powder- 374. Issues bills of credit, 374-376. Refer.

ship, 103, 104. P

' 'pvincial tkms of the State of Franklin with, 380-382.

Congress of, 104-116, Zubly's deiectwii. 120. Addresses of the 'Provincial 'jCo'n

.Governor filbert elected, 383. Boundary disputes of, with South Carolina, 384-3S6.

to the Sovernorr and";^p1fet^l?iS 122. Shares in the Federal Convention, 386, 387.

: - Oins ConTentToii%rrevW<m of Constitution, OfeefflngS under n*w ConstituDiyided intoCongrcsslonai l3-
Wisitbf Washington to, 893/397. ^ JndJanravages ID,J 398. New counUesMn, "898, 899.*<Jlarfes>s settlemeBt in, 401; 4*8,
405, 408. Excitement ln^ 40?, 409. Indian diffieoitles, 410,411. Cession of land tof414, TM^ltfdil^^^

?a^sat3tf46UC...

-

~ie-ire-"pag*liD tonfttJ^TandI^^acfkeno^wibledigr5!

fewi^* ^VwiA^C; " ~ * *

Subsequent efforts to secure the lands of, --4W-472. Passage of the bfll, 472-477. m* 3fcttement in, 477-479. Cbuirseof ^QeneraTI "-James Jackson, 479^481. Message""6f;$1be

Greene, Generelj Sward,254. Sac, fmtflA:^ CorigirL . ..._.__.
glslatnre to, 338. ^339. V Reply, 339, 340. Appointed and declines -office of Assistant wjustlce in CbathtelCourt,;370r ~ " i fc371-373. Sketch^ofjharacter of.

^486-489. Expanging ofthe Records, 490^495; Green, GeneralfdrCanidenX 600." -.* Cession of Western lands to the ;UnUed Greene Ctoun^, 83, ^62, S63,389,394, ."States, 495,496.. Oonstfttiii>**'nftix&ifiii* 2. Concluding reina

Georgia ^t

Georgia Brigade, 154v 187,158,163. :. Grenville, George ; bill fir granting and" ap

Georgia Company, the, 468-474.

"**". plying stamp dating on America. 40, 41, 69.

Georgia Continentals, 152,157, 200.

Grierson, Colonel. 243, 244, 247, 248, 267, 258.

Georgia militia, 296. '

' ' '- Assassinated, 267; .

v.,-F

Georgia Union Company, the, 418, 4G9, 472, Georgia Mississippi Company, the, 418.

G^ riffin,

Cyrus,

appointed Indian ., . .

Ctanmis-

Grover, William, first Chief Justice of Georgia,

Georgia YazooCompany, the, 461 468.

appointed, 22. Resigns bis seat in tbe Coun

Gerard, M, 201.

cil, 22. Conduct of, disapproved of by the

Germain, the ship, 203, 215j 216, " *

Council, 23. Bemoved by the King, 23. Ef-

Germans at Ebenezer, 182.

fects of his eoursej 23, 24.

Gerridoes Plantation, 173. House, 174. Gnnn, James, 282. Expedition ot against

G"ibCboonngsre, sJso"soefp1h7,7653,.10M6.ember of"th-e P-rovincial

runaway negroes, 377, 378. Interview with General Clarke, 443, 453. Complicity in

Gibbons, William, member of the Provincial Yazoo ppeculations, 473, 479, 480.

Congress of 1775,105. Member of the Coun Garistersigo, 280, 286.

cil of Safety, 126. Of the Executive Conn- Gwinnett, Button, chosen delegate to Conti

ell, 308. Signs letter defending the retention nental Congress," 129. President of tbe

of the records in Chatham County, 368. Council of Safety, 155. 300. Expedition

Suspended from office, 369. Plantation of, against Florida. 156-158. Duel wjtb Gene

~372. President of Convention for final revi ral Mclntosh, and death, 158. Opposition

sion of the Constitution, Jjj0, 391.

to union with South Carolina, 302.

Gibson, Robert member of the Provincial

Congress of 1775.105.

Habersbam, James; opinion of Stamp Act,

Girardeau, John Bohur. member of the Pro- 44. 45. Waylaid and threatened, 46. Ap

vincial Congress of 1775, 105. Member of pointed on Committee of Correspondence

."the Council of Safely, 121.

with B. Franklin, 63. Acting Governor in

Glascock, Thomas. Commissioner of Georgia absence of Governor Wright, 72. Struggle

at the Indian Congress at Hopewell, 418. with the Assembly with reference to the

426, 474, 500.

Speakership, 72, 73. Appointed Trustee of

Glascock, William; forged letter from. 325. the State College, 362, 353, 362.

Appointed Trustee of the University of Habersham. Major John, 276, 277. 289. Ap

Georgia, 362, 415. Speaker of the House of pointed Trustee of the University of Georgia,

Assembly, 426, 453.

362. Appointed Commissioner in boundary

Glen, John, 77. Elected Chairman of Provin disputes, 385, 429.

cial Congress of 1775. 88. Member of the Babersbam, Joseph, secures military stores at

Council of Safety, 101,121. Member of tbe Savannah, 100. Membcr.of tbe Provincial

Provincial Congress, 116. Elected Chief Jus Congress of 1775, -104. Member of the

tice of Georgia, 294, 313.

Council of Safety, 127.? -Appointed Major of

Glynn, Counsellor, county named for, 299. the Georgia Battil ton, 127. Places Governor

Glynn County, established by the Constitu Wright under arres^,128. Appointed com

tion. 291. Proceedings of the representatives mittee to supply aniJS and ammunition, 130.

of, 306-310, 389, 394, 406.

Attacks the " Hincbinbroke," 134, 201. Mem

Goldsmith, Thomas, returned as member of the ber of the Executive Council, 308, 355. De

. Commons House of Assembly, 318.

clines appointment as Assistant Justice in

Gordon, Lord George, 245.

Chatham Coonty, 370.

Government House (at Savannah), 151. Hale, Major, 28t. ^ - "

Governor, the duties of, defined in the Consti Hall, Ly man, delegate from St Johns Parish

tution, 298.

-to the General Cbngress, 92. Presents his

"dovernor8 warrant*," 375.

credentials arid takes his seat, 98. Delegate

516

from Georgia, to the Continental Congress, House of Commons, resolution rof, declaring

114,117,129;^ Elected QoTertiOT of Georgia.

'838.' Maasnrea for promotion'ofreligion and

moraUty, 341,34\2'U' Address^ of, to the Leiris- Honstoun, George, member ofithe> Council of

Safety, 101,123. Member of; the -Provincial

Hall, Nathaniel, reiornea______ ,, ._. Congress of 1776,. 1Q5 10Ti-*W ^f- {* -

Commons' House of Assembly of 1780,319. Houstonn, John, 77,80. .Merober of th Pro

Halifax, Earl of, appoints ^William Graver vincial Congress o 177ft, 104. Delesrate to

Ctoh, i4e1f.Justice, 23-i'L'tee,t&te>r$o&fO:*arernor Wright

the Continental Ooognss, 114,117.'129^ -At tends and takes bJsseaV119;125j:>Dir.;Zu-

Hancock, John, 70^ letter;from, received at bly's letter, toj iaOid44ir^Qovernorpi&a67,

Savannah, 151.;

173. Member of the first Execotive Council,

. riancock County p|oiine^898,406,429j 4*6. 300. Elected Governor, 303, 360.-Afrent of Handly, Lienteni 3fe.t2aiiJi?x__L. os9 Eieo Georgia in boundary disputes, 340,341,351,

HatemdmGoonvdejrno' *r*^";

36i Appointed Trustee of the State College, -352,353, 369,362.sSuspended 'from office of

Hammond,?:'

Minister to ^ the Chief Justice, S69. Commissioner oa boun

United 8

dary disputes, 385,392. -fv^f.f-f ..i.ffji?,

Hampton,

Houstoun, Sir Patrick, 303, 350.

Hardwicke, removal of seat of government to, Houstoun, William, appointed Trustee of the

19. ^w'&.-Ki-r.-' .-

State'College, 352,863. Agent of Georgia in

Hardy,-Capta,in,-iei.

settlement of boundary disputes, 38o. Dele

Harris, Francis Henry, member of the Council gate from Georgia to the Federal Convention,

of Safety, 101. -Member of the Provincial 886-387^ . ..

Congress of 1776,10S, 123: .- <v- .-

Howe, Lord, 200, 227.

Harris,:General Jeptba Y., member of the first Uowe, General HoberV 131.153,154,158,160,

'graduating class oftheUniversity ofGeorgia, 161,16& Expedition against Florida, 163-

169. Defeat at Savannah, 174^178. Stric-

Hawking, Benjamin,: TJnJted States Commis tnres on,, 179,180,181^184; 186,197,418; -

sioner, 417,455. Jpnrnal of Indian Congress Hovel), Philip, member of the Provincial Con

at Hopewell, 417-429. . ;..

gress of 1775,106. -'-.-

Hawkins, Lieutenant, exploit of, 193. . ,, Howell, Lieutenant-Colonel, 377.

Hawks Greet, 247.

'--



Howley, Krchard,;323. Chosen Governor, 326.

Hazzard, Major William, present at Indian Extraordinary powers conferred on, 327,328.

Congress at Hopewell, 426V -

: . Requested to take his seat-in Congress, 329.

Hoard's Fort, in Wilkes County, last strong Retires to a placeof safety, 330. Signs ^Ob

hold of liberty in Georgia, 241. Seat of servations," 241.242, 335. Takes his seat in

government removed to, 328-330.

Congress, 243. Hia experiences, 243^,

Heard, Stephen, President of the Executive Hudson's Ferry, 193-195. 241, 242, 329.

Council, 245, 326, 329! Retires to North Hnger, Colonel, 174,176, 216, 219.

Carolina, 331.

Home, Lieutenant, 207.. .

Hendricks, James, Commissioner for' Georgia, 455. ' - ...-- ----.. - -..

Humphreys, Daniel, appointed Indian Com missioner, 434,445. !

Henderson. John, returned a member of the Huske, -----. of New Hampshire; suggests the

Commons' House of Assembly of 1780, 319. idea of the Stamp Act to Grenville, 40.

Henry, Patrick, at the head of the Virginia Hnske, General. 40.

Yazoo Company, 464.

II ussy, Anna, 234.

Herbert, surprise of British.post at 192.

Hutcher, Captain, 161.

Hessians, 172, 175, 203, 204, 211, 216^ 240, 273. Uutchinson's Island, 133,134.

Hillsborough, Earl of; Governor Wright's

letter to, 53. Presents address of Commons' Indians, 18, 21, 24-29, 34, 42, 83-85,93, 94,129,

House to the King, 68. Letter to Governor 136,144, 146, 147,153,169,170,198, 247-249,

Wright, 92.

266, 268, 269, 275, 276, 280,2S2-287, 305.312,

Hinchinbroke, the brig, 133,134,161,162.

314,329,331. 337,360, 364. 365, 368, 376, 380,

Hobson, Matthew, meeting of the Executive 382, 395, 397-400, 402, 404', 405, 410-418, 424,

Council at the house ot 305, 306.

427, 429-434, 438, 442-447, 449-451, 454-456,

Holmes, Abiel, appointed Trustee of the Uni 470, 471, 489. 498, 502.

versity of Georgia. 362.

Indian agents, 410, 411.

Holston River. 421, 422, 425, 444.

Indian claims, 471,489. '

Holzendorf, William, member of the first Exe Indian Congress, 27-29, 415, 416, 417-429.

cutive Council, 300.

Indian Department, 144.

Hopewell, Indian Congress at, 417-429.

Indian treaties, 29, 34, 85, 400, 401, 416, 417,

Horry, Colonel, 217.

429. 436, 442, 443, 445. 455, 456.

Horse-racing, resolve of the Provincial Con Indian tribes, 33.145.146, 360, 405, 410, 502.

gress discountenancing, 111.

Innes. Lieutenant-Colonel, 181.

House of Assembly, the, executive powers Inoculation, practised at Savannah, 317.

conferred upon the Governor until the meet Inverness, the ship, 135.

ing of, 305. Failure of, to organize, 306. Investigating Committee* report; of, on the

Action of members of, 306-310. Present corruptions of the Legislature, 490.

ment of,, by the Grand Jury of Richmond Irvine, John, returned as member of the Com

County, 329,330. Backwardness in .taxing mons' House of Assembly, 1780, 319.

its constituents, 344. Imposes tax on negro Irwin, Jared. candidate for Governor, 390. Or

slaves, 345. Elects John Honstoun Governor, dered to disperse General Clarke's settle

350. Struggles in, with reference to the eli ment. 401-403. Chosen Governor. 409, 429,

gibility of its members, 352, 389.= Vide 453, 484, 497. President of Convention for

Asiembly, General Assemtly, Legislature..

revising the Constitution, 499. 500.

House of Representatives, congratulatory ad Irwin, Jared, member of the first graduating

dress to Governor Telfair. 397. . '

class of the University of Georgia, 364..

617

irwin, Thornaa, member of the first graduating class of the University of Georgia, 364.

mlssionec at Indian

. Jackson.Janies, Lieutenant, 135. Major, 171, King's Moti

kvannah, broken open, ' r^i>. ..- --.",-H

254, 257, 267. Colonel, 269, 270, 274, 278. King's Lieutenant-Colonel, 2S1. Receives the for King's Rangers

mal surrender of Savannah, 289. Clerk of Knights of. Ma

- Court, 294.wlndian Commissioner, 366. De Knox, fends the retention of the records, 368. tthe Creeks, ? Suspended ';from office, 369. Declines eleo tlonsas Governor, 383; -Representative to sfrom ser 5 Oongreaa, 39*. f General, 419. 'M^or-Qeneral, Successor a

y Commissioner-to 487. V Georgia, dismissed ectipns on, 41,,42.

f453. ^OcTOmissionerfori Georgia, 466. v iOp- Knox's Settle

t'pose* Tazob Bale Bill, 479-481; 486-487, 490;

,, : Georgia Commissioner, 496. ? Elected ^Go

vernor, 497, 601. 'f -

* .--.- Lamb, Sir Matthew, King's B^ltoitor, 2L-

Jackson, Professor James, member of the first Land Court, at Augusta, 354. Proceedings at, gradaating class of the University of Geor 355-358,416. .44.., .. . , ...,,._

gia, 36*. .

..

_V : ..... La Fayette, Marquis.tder232,236. i il^:, ) :

J-a'^cckrseodnit,,'3J7o4s.ep- h,

authorized .-,.-.

to

sign .

"bills of . : .^.i-

Lally, Count de, &$$:.

.-;,;-}

Lane, .Major, in wmniand at .Snnbury, 183.

Jackson, Colonel William H, member of the Surrenders

first graduating class of the University of tialled, 185:T

Georgia, 364.

.-...-; >.:*.,,:.,. ,": - Lwigly, Becky, 1

Jackson. County, 363. .,,- &:-, :- -,-.

Liligly, Erdmut

Jacksotfa Legion; 271, 273,? 274j;277. James II, 22/5. ' '.-- !'=? ,*.. Ae-iY-,-.?*-^ t'eil of Safety, 1

Jasper, Sergeant, 217. . -

' La Perouse, 214,'!_

Jefferson, Thomas, Washington's letter to, La Trinity the frigate;-213.

375, 450, 496.

Launitz's monoment to Pulaski, 237.

Jefferson County, 365. 406, 501.

Laurens, Colonel, 217.,

Jekyl,162.

Lawson, Hugh, Trustee of the University: of

Joachim Street, in Savannah, 121.

Georgia, 362,.36pilv,.

Johnson, Captain, 247, 269.

,.

Lavson, John, Jr^J^Bllector of Snnbnry, 840.

Johnson, Governor Robert, 459.

Le Conte, Wllliam,iinember of the Council of

Johnstone, Governor, 138-140.

Safety. 101. Member- of the Provincial Con

Jones, Edward, member of the Provincial gress of 1775,105^.123.

Congress of 1775, 105. Jones, Dr. George, 501.

Lee, Francis, Searcher of Snnbnry, 21. Lee, General, 144,ll46. Plans expedition

Jones,. Henry, member of. the Provincial Con gress of 1775, 105. -

against the Floridas, 148-150. Recalled to the northwardv'160*'

Jones, James, 485, 501.

Lee, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry, Jr., 255, 256,

Jones, Colonel John, 245, 246. Member of first 253. Extract from 'memoirs of. ITS, 179, 260-

Executive Council, 360.

264. Articles of capitulation signed by, 264-

Jones, Colonel (British), 246.

267.

'Iffi

Jones, Colonel Noble. Commander of the mi Lee, Thomas, member of the Provincial Con

litia, 22. Member of the Royal Council, 63. gress of 1775,104.J? ?f

Jones, Noble Wimberly, Speaker of the As Lee, the galley, 161,:162.

sembly,^ 71. Signs address to the King, Legislature, action of,-on Governor Martin's

67. Election negatived, 70, 72, 73. Signs communication, 27J8<279. Members of, 288.

- call, for meeting to sympathize with the Bostonians, 77. On Committee to receive
. subscriptions for the Boston sufferers, 80. Secures military stores at Savannah, 100. Member of Provincial Congress of 1775, 104,

How constituted, SBS,: 300. 301. Review the proceedings of Goyernor Walton, 325. In consistency of, 320. fAppoint Indian Com missioners, 338. ^Address of, to General Greene, 338, 339. SElect civil officers, 340.

106. Delegate to Congress, 114, 117, 119. Resolutions ofi concerning religion, 341, 342.

Reasons for not attending Congress, 125. Address of Governor. Hall to. 343-345. Esta Member of the Council of Safety, 127, 155. blish State institution of learning, 352,358,

Delegate to Congress, 335. President of Con 359. Determine tbe seat of the University,

vention for revising the Constitution, 406. 363. Grant land |to; Count d'Estaing, 366.

Jones, Seaborn, Speaker of the House of Re Present Mulberry^jSrove to General Greene,

presentatives, 391.

371,374. Call a Convention to revise the

Jones, William, member of the Provincial Constitution, 388. f Choose presidential elec

Congress of 1775, 105, 124. Returned a tors, 389. Divide ithe State into Congres

member of the Commons' House of Assem sional Districts, 394,^409. Proceeding with

bly, 1780, 318.

reference to the,(Tazoo Sale, 463-464, 467-

Joyner, Captain, 103.

473, 477,. 478^481^1$;^ .

Judiciary power, defined in ,tt Constitution, Lewan, Lientenani,^?;. -

Judiciary Act of 1799, 502.

Lewis, Benjamin, fmember of the Provincial Congress of 1775^105.

Lewis, David, member -of the Provincial Con

gress of 1776,105^i Kean, John,-Agent of South Carolina in settle " Liberty-Boys," associate to prevent distribu-

ment of. boundary disputes, 385. Keith, Sir William, 39. Kettle Creek, battle of, 190-193.

tionof Stamp Aetjl44i Number of, In Lower iHousej'69.. ; ^,?MH; Liberty County, 80. ^Formed put of the pa

Killibees, the, 438.

rishes of St John; St. Andrew, and fit.

513

INDEX.

James,' 299. Proceedings of the representa of land, 899. Elected Governor, 376. Friend*

tives of,306-310, 394, 399,406,485, 600, 501. ship with Sevfer, 380-382., Representative

Liberty of conscience, secured- by the Consti to Congress, 394. Chosen Governor, 398.

tution, 501.

Vetoes Yazoo Sale Bill, 4G9. Scruples over

Liberty pole (at Savannah), 161,152.

come, 473, 474, 477. Message to, the Legisla

Lincoln, General Benjamin,-commands tbe ture, 481-484.

-4N(-'

Army of the Sooth, 180.. Reaches Purys- Maxwell, Captain, 412.

- -,<},.,-.-

bnrg, 185'. Condition of his army, 185, Maxwell, James, member of the Provincial

186. Plans attack on the British at Hud Congress of 1773,105,106.. Secretary of State,

son's Ferry, 194. Solicits cooperation of 303.

- .-,,

d'Estaing, 201, 235, 240.'' -Letters of Execu Maxwell, William, member of the Provincial

tive Council to, 311-316. Lays siege to Sa Congress of 1775,106.

*,.<--<:-

vannah, 315. .Censored by the Assembly

for .tbe removal of>the Continental troops,

328, Capitulation of, 330. Indian Commis

sioner, 43V43V445F*

Lincoln, AW., f

Levi, ,-;

United States ;f;*i^/>.. -

Commissioner, .

Uaybank, Captain Andrew, 127. -<-r-

Hayham, Lieutenant, 258, "-; :, < -v^:'

Mayham lower, 259.

- - ! ~ ; "<v*<

MeAUister, Matthew, 473.

*-> .a**

Me Arthur, Major, 213,254, >?*-. ^ -,-

McCall, Colonel* 247.

:-=--'-*"

Lincoln' "County, 83,247.

McClure, John, member of the Provincial-Con

Lindsay, John, member of the Executive Coun gress of 1775,104.

cil, 326.

McDowell, Colonel, 245.

Little Ogeechee, list of members of tbe Pro- McGilUvray, Alexander, instigates Indian diffl-

fincial Congress of 1776, from, 105,318.

culties, 401, 429-432,434-446, 449, 453-454.

Long Island of Holston, 421,427.

McQilHvray, Lacblan, Indian trader, 430.

Longswamp Creek, 411,413, 414,

McGirth, Colonel Daniel, 133,170,187,188,192,

Lords of Trade, 31, 32. Declaration of, 88. 193,199.

.

- ,

> Memorial to, 38,39. Action of, neeeoaary to Mclntosh, George, member of the Provincial confirmation of Provincial-legislation, 62. Congress of 1775,105. r , ':* -''"

Returns of population to, 93; 460.

Mclntosb, John, member of the Provlndal Con

Lord, William, member of the Provincial Con gress of 1775,105.

gress of 1775,105.

Mclntosh, Lachlan, 88. Member of-the Pro

Louisiana, 457.

vincial Congress of 1775,105. Colonel of the

Louisville; meeting of the Senatns Academi- Georgia Battalion, 127, 134. 142, 143, 144,

cns of the University of Georgia, at, 362, 153,154. Duel with President Gwinnett, 158,

406.- Seat of government, removed to, 407. 159,172. General, 190,192,202,214,218, 220,

497. Convention held at, 498. Convention 312, 313. Attempts to traduce the character

of 1798 held at, 499.

of, 324. Mr. Glascoek's letter, 325. Acknow

Loyalists, treatment of, 347-350.

ledgment Of hiS'virtues and merits by the

Lynah, Dr. James, 235.

Legislature, 326. Agent of Georgia on boun

Lyons, Captain, 276.

dary disputes, 340, 341. Commissioner-for

same purpose, 385, 415. United States Com

Haddock, Joseph, member-of tbe Provincial missioner, 417, 458, 426.

Congress of 1775,105. Declines taking his Mclntosh, Captain Lacblan, 158.

seat, 106.

Mclntosh, Roderick, member of the- Provincial

Madison, James, 385, 496.

Congress of 1775,105..

Maitland, Captain, 103. Major, 127, 134. Mclntosh, William, member of the Provincial

Lieutenant-Colonel. 173. Honorable Colonel, Congress of. 1775, 105. Georgia Commis

208, 210, 320.

sioner, 337.

Mann, Luke, member of the Provincial Con Mclntosh County, 399. 406, 485.

gress of 1775,105.

McKay, Charles, member of the Provincial

Manufactures, 53, 55. Resolve of Provincial Congress of 1775,105.

Congress, encouraging, 111.

MeNeil. James, addresses letter to General

Mapp, Captain, 412.

Twiggs, 408, 409, 429.

Marbury, Colonel, 195.

McPherson, Major, 377.

Marbury, Leonard, member of the Provincial Medway, 199, 319.

Congress of 1775,105.

Medway Meeting-House, camp formed at, 155.

Marchant, Captain. 430.

Engagement near, 170,171.

"Marine Certificates," 359.

Meigs, Josiah, First Professor of the University

Marion, Lieutenant-Colonel, 154.

of Georgia, 362. Elected President, 363.

Martin, Clement, 63.

Melvin, Captain, 162. 238.

Martin, John, Naval Officer at Sunbnry, 21. Mercer, Rev. Jesse, 500, 501.

Member ot the Provincial Congress of 1775, " Minute Men certificates," 359.

104. Member of the Council of Safety, 126. Military strength of the Colony, 1760,18,19.

Captain, 249. Governor, 272. Communica Militia laws, revision of. 321,336.

tion to the Legislature, 278, 279. Negotia Milledge, John, Captain," 45. On committee

tions with Sir James Wright, 287. Elected of correspondence with Benjamin Franklin,

Governor, 335. Address of, 335,236. Efforts 63. On committee to select new site for the

to cheek frontier massacres, 336, 337. State University of Georgia, 363. Conveys land

Treasurer, 340. 415.

for the College, 363, 364. Georgia Commis

Martin, Joseph, United States Commissioner, sioner, 498.

418,426. " Colonel." 4*7,-428, '

Milton, John, 340.

Maryland, Historical Society ot 237.

Mississippi River, western boundary line be

Massachusetts Assembly, 41, 58.

tween Great Britain and France. 25. Boun

Massachusetts House of Representatives, cir daries of Georgia enlarged to, 33. Right of

cular letter of, 63, 64. Entered upon the navigation, 334, 384, 386, 461, 462,465,474,

journal of. tHe Georgia House of Assembly, 475.

65. ' Further action thereupon, 65,66, 68.- Mississippi, State of, 415.

Matthews, General George, claims reservation Mississippi Territory, the, 468,495.

-OKgf
*. %=;, - ~,#B,WK'
xet'fx
riudal
S.19. fay lh i land n* beBoon* igbtef

INDEX.

519

Mrtehell, Dartl B.,-appointed on committee on th Yatoo SalfrBiU, 486. -

Wniiam, member of the Provincial Congress of 1778,105. TreaenreT of Georgia,

'Mobile, intrigues of :tbe French at, 18. Be- 303. Defends detention of the records, 868.

moral of French rate from, 2(5. \ ;--* Moncrief, Major, 204,216. -- : '-"< '+

OcSounsepee.nladnead,!ftrto8m,-4o4f6fi.c-e,

369. f.-'vi?.

'

S =.; -^^?'-;;;-

>

Monro, Simon, returned as member of the Commons' House of Assembly, 1780,318.

Oc4o3n5e.e

River, -

2-70,..3-9.,9',40'2,4O4,4 29..-,.

432,434,

Montgotnerle, Alexander, Earl of Eglintonn, Ogeechee Territory fiary, 281.

w^ petition* for land in Georgia, 31-32. Death Ogewhee RiTer,;68,,lTO, Jf6,197. 238,:241, 242,

Of, 82, . -- .-_

.- !;-' ".. <-.-.*

Montgomery^ General -Richard,- -24. vConhty Ogeechee road named for, 399. - ' -,^'. ,*,K'i"Wi?? f"^fr1? Oglethorpe, James,'19;

Montgomery Conaty formed, a99j406>f" *''' Ogletborpe Coun '"

'?M^bpon,B . AnM drew''j member of the'Proviactal Con-

Osborne, Chief J Ositcby, Indian coo

: Moore,

Moore,* General'James,

Pacolette River, 245,3

Moravians, 233,236.

*--r - Palmer, Rev. Mr., of

r __,,_._,

Morgan, General Daniel, letter to the refugees preaches Thanksgiving oSermon before the

of Georgia, 263, 264. . r- *** *i *-'" '-

Governor and Generals Asgembhr; 893.4 Re

Morell, John, member of the Conhdl of Safety:' ceives the thanks of ttiejOsraaMy^" *" J

-161. Member of the Provincial

PaCnotomnm, oWnisl'l,iHam6n,sree:-t>urn'-e-d*~-a ~ ~ ' "

Morrisoo, - Lieutenant,-John, .-;0iieral,:'403, '600. ' Moss. WUHam,cl(t6.

431,437. Pan ton,"

Mosaman, James, 406.*

rM" memher

of the Commons' -

318. -;.

....

.'ilJ' SO, Parker's(Captafn) Infantry,^,,. Parliament, British, 37,38. 110,-H3,114,116,

MouJtrie, Alexander, 48& .,.^. I 4; , : . i 138,140,141,285,292, 297^ 1^%^^' -

Moultrie, General, 148, 149, 154, 16L ,. -

Mount Ventnre, 181.

,t ,' -&'--n :-

Parliamentary Commisaionera on the claims of

the Loyalists, 350.

' V^ V'i "'-

Uoarning^dress, resolve of PrortodaJ Congress concerning, 111;, s.~- . -^-
Mowbray, Captain, 162. . Mulberry Grove, 37.lv 372. .--;.-

Patereon, Simon, returned vtnsmber of the Commons?' House of Assembly of-1780,319.
Peacock, William, member of toe .first Execu tive Council, 300. -,-.-.'

Mohlenburg, Colonel, 150. . Muller, Captain, defeat of, 199.

Pendleton, Nathaniel, delegate from Georgia to the Federal Convention, 386, 387.

Mollry' ne, Johnj.63, 10s 108.,

.

-.

..

Pendleton, Major, attends General Green6*8 last

moments, 372, 373.

.-..,-.-

Negroes in the proTinee, 64, 146j aM,;3B7, 275. Pennsylvania, 118,233. Aeta of attainder and

Carried off at the embarkation of the Britiah, confiscation, 348, 355. "

- ~ -' '-

289. DifBealty from armed, 316,317. Act Pensacola, removal of Spanish role from, 26,

concerning, 3'20, 321. Tax on, 344, 946, 360. 446,447.

Ravages of armed, 376, 37T. , i

Petersburg!*. Tide Fart Jamet,

New England, Mississippi Company, 494.

Petty, Lieutenant. 162.

New Hampshire, 40. Treatment of the Tories, Philadelphia, 77, 104, 123, 127, 156, 200, 243,

348.

.:.!:.. ;--

441,463.

New Hanover, 459. _

,,

Philips, Captain, 37.

New Jersey, 114. Laws ot in reference to the Philips, Lieutenant George, 127.

persons and property of the Tories. 348.

Phoenix, the. ship of war, 172,173.

New Netherlands, remonstrance of the inhabi Pickens. Andrew, Colonel, 188-190, 197, 198,

tants of. against taxation without popular 242, 2*3, 254-257, 261, 262-267. Briga

consent, 36, 37.

dier-General, 267. Expedition against the

New Orleans, 460, 451.

Cherpkees, 2S2-2S5. South Carolina Com

New York, 36, 37. Resolution of Royal Assem missioner in boundary disputes, 385. Expe

bly of, 38. - General Congress of the Colonies dition against Waters's settlement, 412-414.

appointed at, 41. Assembly of, 63, 171, 227, United States Commissioner, 417, 418, 420,

240, 328. Acts of confiscation, 348, 376, 385, 432. "Talk" with the Creeks, 432-434, 438.

434. 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 446, 447, 451. Indian Commissioner, 455, 460.

New York treaty with the Creeks, 445, 481. Pierce, William, delegate from Georgia at the

New York volunteers at the attack on Savan Federal Convention, 3S6, 387.

nah, 172, 1T3, 175, 176, 204.

Piercy, Rev. William, opens session of the Pro

Neckabaehe, Indian council at, 440.

vincial Congress by a sermon, 129.

Ninety-six, 161, 248, 255, 267,. ,v - .*

Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, South Carolina

NoaUles, Viseount De, 209. , , ,r- -.j .

Commissioner in boundary disputes, 385.

North, Lord, 75, 138, 139;,sr^/i.i ,^f--=

Pinckoey, Major Thomas, .201, 211,212. Go

North Carolina >8uffere from iltha.Iiidians, 24. vernor, 432.

Unites in the Southern Congre8s,t2^,OT, 1*4, Pitt. Earl of, Chatham County named for,

147, 143, 243, 244, 330, 331. Confisoation act, 299.

348. Conveys vacant lands to the .United Pitt William, plan for raising revenue from

. States, 378, 379. Action of the Legislature the Americana, 39, 460.

of, with reference to the State of franklin, Poniatowski, 228.

<

.,379, 380, 384. Indian complaints against the Pooler, Captain QuinUn, 124.

people of, 421, 422, 441, 455. ^-^^'-j, Posey, Lieutenant-Colonel, 277r 278.

-

North Carolina, Legislature of, 161, 379, 380. Posey'a Infantry, 281,282, '-

,

North Carolina troops, 180, 192, . ,> -. Powell, Captain, 45.

*

m'*",
fe r

520

IKDEX.

Pray, Captain, 152, -'

& '-.-'

of, 329,330. Requested'to^furnish a guard

Presbyterian Congregation at Savannah, 119. for the Presidentiahd Executive CounciL

President of-Congress, te|ter to, 326.

355, 389, 394-406. s Judge Walton's charge

Proefs,i4d9e9n.t of the Onite..d.*f-S.t-.a--tes-, proclamation

to the grand jury of, 404, 412,601. Richmond, Duke o$,28$f*. .^.^W.-AI.,*?,

>.

Prevost, ^AagnstiiM^

a espedi- Roach, Matthew, Jr;, member; of theIProvin-

tion against Geoi i0, r!73. Reduces cial Congress of 1776,106. &&&&*<!&:?", .

Sunbury, 183. G& Major-General, 1S6. Roberts, Daniel, 92i>'-tMember of the^RntTin*

Abandons Augusta^ >.>SBattle of Brier cial Congress of 1775, 105, 134-136i Lieu-

Creek, K5. .Defence Sketch of the H&of

'tutuaab, 202-218. tenant-Colonel, 17&0'>r *

,<Si;z

j?1 "

Roberta, John, member of the Provincial Con

Prevost, Q America, ......

neral of North

gress 108.

of

1 7-i7^6,,1^05g. ^; Dfeec-lin;*e&sy&ta.k*in-fg-fh^is^Sseaa^t,"

Prevost, Captain Ji

Robertson, James;! 2

__

James Mark, 170- ' .' . *-*.J7Sri --1l^.-l:jr^L'f ilBa-aTZ "^ ,

----

_ 41* A

Returned as memfe

House of Assembly,-1

.

Angnstns, C." l^lotilpih'8,138,141,142.

RockLauding, Qconee] Ro3f0le, s, Denys-, applie''s-- f

, ,. land' i-n Qeorgia ,v2" 9y'

Province of Georgia; re-establishment of royal Rplles, Lord, Baron of Stevenstone, 29,

goyernment'taV'-Ss^ili^fi*-*-' '

Rose, the, ship of war; 172, 202/205. . * ^ ?sc

Provincial Congress ofiGeorgift, meets In 8a- Ross, Major, 195. -iS5^^.; ?'$>> -.-;-'-' -"':

vannah; 88.'eRe^lTo^ot-laid before the As Rosa, William, returned a member of the

sembly, 89,90. Gives,umbrage to the parish Commons' House of Assembly of 1780,819.

of St. John's, 90, eiviDelegates of, to General Royal American Regiment, 47,564,66,67.

Congress, admitted,''"""
i. :-'Ji _ _. .'-: ! _ . - ?

Royal AftBleryi-ajF^ * ^ Royal

schooner ^

Meets

Royal' Council j 19, :2

63, 70, 72, 89, 92,

gates to the Continental Congress, -114. 222,317-320. Tid..,.,..._

Preamble and resolutioiis of, 114-118. Ad Royal Government of ,G

dress from, 126. Georgia in -the hands of, qnies of, 152. Re-establi

. 12&. -Opened by sermpli from Dr. Pierey, lift. '**' " """-

'" '"''^'"^'^^f '' -

129. Organized, SSl^ptonfers full powers Royalists, number ot; ln Lower! House of As

- on the Council of Safety, 291. BesolvtloBa sembly, 59. -' '^/i1p?-*''--Ti': "* .**&3;^f3

of, 291^294. 351. ~\ 1^^- ' ' -

Rudolph, Major, 295i:'2w286:%^,-.-' -- '-,^^S&

Provincial currency, 375&|&r'fS ; -<

Rutherford, General^a*!* 194^283, ^.' v>-'* M

Pugh, James, member of'the Provincial Con Rutherford, James H-, 485,486.*; -- *=;gress of 1775, 10&." : ^^g^3^- - Ratherford, Robert, me'mberybfsthe first gra

Pnrysburg, 185, 184, 269^f;s ''"

duating class of theivU diversity of Georgia,

Pulaski, Count'Caamer#202. 'Wounded at the

siege of Savannah, 2l7t SlSi-'Bketch of the Rntledge, Preddeiit, f^irnlshes'goldiers, 148,':-a|

life.of, 22S; 237:^- ^-S

Ryan, Daniel, member] of the Provincial <3on-

Ptdaski's Legion, 233, 238|

gress of 1776,105. %Jx . ': *.

'

-- 'i-^1- - -$' " ':.-' " '

Qnash Dolly, 17S.

Salzburg, Protestants of, 502. ?'.$,.<. - - -'h

Quebec, 399. -

"Sans Culottes" party; 4Q5. T'

Saltilla River, 166. 1

Ral, Robert, member of 0 Provincial Con Sapello Sound, 198. t -

.-'..:

gress of 1775, 106. ff

Savannah, defenceless state of,-18,19. -Intel-'

Eamsey, David, 239. %m

ligence of Bang's death reaches. 19. Fes

Bamsey's (Dr. J. G. M.) Annals of Tennessee,

380.

;g'

tivities at, 22. Commons1 House of Assembly! convened at, 41. Riots at, 43-47. Clearance

Randolph, Peyton, Speaker of the Virginia of ships at, 48. First wharf built at, 52, 53.

House of Burgesses, letter from, 65. Action Meeting of merchants at, 70. "Departure of

of the Georgia Assembly thereon ordered to be transmitted to, 65. ' '~^'i Bawdon. Lord, 254, 255, 269; 274. Bay, Lieutenant-Colonel, 162. Records, controversy respecting the retention

Governor Wright from, 70. His return to, 74. Meetings at, to sympathize with the Bostonians, 76-80. Treaty with the Creeks signed at, 85, 97,100. v Port of, blockaded, 102,103. Members of the Provincial Con

of, 388-371.-All references to the Yaaoo Sale gress from, 104, 105;" Resolutions of inha

Act expunged from, 491-494.

bitants of, 106-108. -Presbyterian congrega

Rees, David, Collector of Snnbnry, 303. "Refugee Certificates," S5&' Reichel, William C, 233. 5$ Keid's Bluff, 163.- - '%ff|f' " Rescinding Act,B-the,^486r489. . Reynolds, Governor JohngSO, 24, 469.

tion at, 139. Dr. Zubly>s course at, 119-121. Resolutions of the Council of Safety concern ing the burning of, 133." Threatened attack on, 133. Prohibitory bill reaches, 141. De fence of, intrusted to the Georgia Battalion, 136,142,143, Troops of General Lee reach,

Reynolds, Joseph, nwmberSrfSthe ^Provincial 148. Declaration of Independence received

Congress of 1775, lO^t^f5?^?!-;-. -

at, 151,152. General Howe arrives at, 152,

Reynolds, William, petittons'for a tract of land 160,171. Capture of, 172,177. British out

in Georgia, 29. *3j[? -

rages at, 177-180,184,185,187. Siege of, 200-

Rice, Captain, 134, 135. 1361 ' -^

Richmond, 441.

'"--tf-- ^--^- *S'-*-

226, 228, 235-2S7. Negotiations for surren der of, 287. Evacuation of, 288, 296, 297.

Richmond- County, ISe.^Established-by the Legislature convened at, 300; 301, 305, 313,

Constitution, 299, 306PeProceedings of :the 314. Re-establishment of royal government

representatives of, 306-SlOi 329. Grand jury at, 315, 316. Small-pox at, 317. . Members of

INDEX.

521

Commons' House of Assembly,17 80, returned 143,144,145,147, 153, 163, 198, 235. Reso

from, 318. Rebel lines pushed on toward, lutions of, on death of Pulaski, 236,240,245,

322. Number of; booses and inhabitants, 246,353,269,271. Totes *tae for Georgia,

322. Evacuation. of, 322, 323, 328, 331, 332. 279. Proposes union with Georgia, 301-303,

British shut up within the limits of, 336. 316,320. Laws of, respecting Tories, 348, 849.

to-'

Evacuation of, and removal of the Assembly Action concerning boundaries, 384-388, 412, to, 336, 340. 342. . Proclamation of peace at, 430, 432, 438, 459, 461,462, ,464, 465.

3a-


351, 3&5. Retention of .State records at, South Carolina cavalry, 276, 277. % 7

368-371. Washington's visit to, 395, 396, Sooth Carolina,, Legislature 6fil61> 801-303.

434.

Sooth Carolina regiment, 160^217,242.

SHr*

Savannah River, 64, 103, 104, 160, 187-190, 194, South Carolina f*y$^&ftjs$t$j&-*$ty~ *v:!v.

. -195,273,302,329,377,414,459,461.

Sooth C^rc^inaTajw Company, the,1 463-466.

Scarborough, the, man-of-war, 129, 131, 133. Spain, 227, 328: fNegbtiatlonliVritb, 833-334,

Schools ; erection of, in each county, required .447. Claim o4toithe'8ohtherB"fr<mtiera of

-$% the Constitution, 296. x ,

the United States, 468;rKiiig and ebiistitotion

"Seaiins" (General James Jackson), newspaper of, 460. , "

' i

~ article* of, 480.

Spalding, James, returned a'member of the

Scophal, Colonel. 160.

Commons' House of Assembly, 1780,319.

"Scophalites," 160, 166.

Spaniards, exposure to incureionB.frpm, 364.

Scott, General, 312, 315.

" Speaker's" warrants, 37fispi^^f%,' -^-'--,

Scrivetf, General, mortally wounded, 170, 171. Speedwell, the ship ; reaehes^Georgla'irith the

Scriven County, 398, 399, 406, 485.

stamps, 44. Stamps depositea^Bit'Aoard for

Seagrove, 451, 454. -,

o,

security, 47.; Marines and seamen from, mar

Sea .Island District ; list, of members . of the - Provincial Congress fronvlft&i -:#&%&. :-:'-. * :

Spsehnaclelre^dif^oyrttahe defence.of "Sav15a^nn^ah^, 4-7^.<

Seal^JUhe State, th'e;:great,;3Q^;50>M^>;fe

!ofjQeorg*ia& is:S?l-, 39*2, 3'*98%, *41*8*,'48. 7",4 9~0, Spring Hill redoubt, 239.

Senate of the United States, 374, 442, 455, 479, Spargen, Major, 191.

Wft.^

480,481. .,, . -'-?

Stamp Act, the, 86-39,40,41. RioU'ii Savan

Senatos Aeademlcnsof the University of Qeor- nah caused by, 43,44. Peculiarly/ oppressive

;gia; how constituted, 362. first meeting to Georgia, 44, 45, 47, 48.3 Repeal of, an

nounced, 49,50.

vv\' -.,V%" .-.;' .-

Sevter, Colonel John, 283. Governor of the St Andrew's Farish District, Congreaa held at,

Slate of Franklin, 378-382.

86, 87. List of members of Prorinelal Con

Seymour's white boose, 247, 248.

gress of 1775, from, 10*, 136. Name and

Sharp, Major Harry, 186, 187.

boundaries changed, 299, 319. Tide Itarien.

Sheep, resolve of the- Provincial Congress to Stanislaus, Augustus, 228, 229. .* .

improve the breed of, 101.

State-Bouse (Philadelphia), 463. ~*

Sbeftall, Levl, 107. :

State-House, old, 491,493* *,:^ y^y

SheftalljMordecai, treatment of, 183.

St Augustine, removal of Spanish tale from,

Sheftall Sheftall, treatment of, 183.

26,102,129, 145, 148, 163, 154, Gwinnett's

Shelbnrne, Earl of, 49. 53-56, 59, 60.

proposed attack on, 166-169. General Howe'a

Sbelby, Colonel, 240, 283.

proposed attack on, 160-168.

':

Sherrill, tilled by the Indians, 84.

St Clair, General, 269, 270. .-' S ': .

SherrQl'a Fort, attack on, 84.

St David's Parish, deputies from; unite with

Shoulder-Bone Creek, Indian Congress at, 429. the people of St John's in resolution to send

Treaty of, 436.

deputies to the General Congress, 81. List

gimme, James, Georgia Commissioner, 455.

of members of Provincial Congres^of 1775,

Simpson, John, 63, 106, 108. Returned as from, 105. Name and boundariesof, changed,

member of the Commons' House of Assem 299,319.

''. :y<V

bly of 1780, 318.

Steding, Baron de, 219.

;

Sisters' Ferry, 181, 184 186, 272.

Stephens, President William, 124, 202.

Skinner's Corps, 172, 204.

Stephens, Chief Justice William, 294, 803, 329.

a.
sf

Slavery ; expression of disapprobation and ab Defends retention of the records, 368. Sus

horrence of, by the District Congress of St. pended from office, 369. Reads burial service

Andrew's Parish, 87.

of the Church of England over the 'body of

Slaves; resolve concerning importation or General Greene, 373.

l':

purchase of, 109. Proposal to arm the, 119, Stephens, John, member of the Provincial

120. - Nearly half the population, 122. Acts Congress of 1775, 106.

i ?

concerning, 320, 321. Prohibition of further St George's Parish, deputies from; unite with

importation of, 501. "Vide Negroes,

the people of St. John's in resolution to send

Small-pox at Savannah, 317.

deputies to the General Congress, 81. List

I.
j-

Smith, Lieutenant Aaron, 184.

of members of the Provincial Congress of

Smith, John, 63. 80. Member of the Council of 1775, from, 105. Name changed to Burke

k

Safety, 101. Member of the Provincial Con County, 299, 319.

; Y '>

gress of 1775, 106.

Stirk, Samuel, Clerk of Executive Conncil, 801.

s

Smith, Captain John &, 74. Smith, Lieutenant Joshua, 127.

Delegate to Congress, 336. State .Commis sioner, 337. Attorney General, 840. Defends

Smith, Rev. Mr., Rector of Christ Church, Sa the retention of the records, 868. Suspended

vannah; contumacious conduct of, 126.

from office, 869.

Snyder, Mr., gallant conduct of, 279.

Stirk, John, member of the Provincial Con

Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign gress 6f,177&, 105.

. ^ ._.

Parts, The ; cond act of the missionaries of, 341, St James's Parish; name and boundaries

South Carolina, success of the Cherokees in, 18. changed, 299.

'5#, _S

Chiefsufferer in Indian war, 241. Unites in St John's Parish furnishes supplies for the

Southern Indian Congress, 26, 27. IDjustice suffering Bostottiaas, 80-81. Resolve to send

of, towards people of Georgia, 48, 114, 121, deputies to the General Congress, 8L Course

VOL. II.

34

522

INDEX.

of the delegates from, at the Provincial Con ministration of; 368-371. Advises issuing of

gress, 90, 91. Seek exemption from the non- bills of credit, 374, 375, 378, 380. First Go

interconrge proclaimed by South Carolina vernor under new Constitution, 392. Ad

with Georgia. 92. Wealth and character of ministration of, 392-398. Indian Commis

the people of, 92, 93, 123, 148. Name and sioner, 415. Attempts expedition against

boundaries o( changed, 289,319.

the Creeks, 453, 454.

St John's Hangers, 134,135.

Tennessee, 252, 378, 382.

St. Jobn'a Riflemen, 135.

Tennessee Company, 468,476.

St. Mark's, Florida, 443.

Tennessee River, 382, 423, 465, 468, 475, 476.

St. Mary's Parish, list of members of Provincial Tennessee 7azoo Company, 464*466.

Congress of 177$, from, 105,165. Name and Tensaw Lake, 474.. ..*

boundaries changed, 299, 300. List of mem Temple (on the St Mary's), 405.

bers of Commons9 House of Assembly, 1780, Thanksgiving, day of, appointed by Congress,

returned from, 319.

393. Its observance in Georgia, 393.

St Mary's River, boundary of Georgia, 33,93, Threadcraft, George, 88, Member'of the Pro

148, 163,166, 319,337; 360, 384,415,446,461, vincial Congress of 1775,103.

462,466r496,504.

Thomas, Colonel; 186."1' 1?

St. Matthew's Parish, list of members of the Tombigbee RiTer, 474, 475.

Provincial Congress of 1775, from, 105. Name Tondee's Long Room, 104,127.

and boundaries of, changed, 299, 319.

Tonyn, Governor Patrick, 93, 337.

Stokes, Anthony, Chief Justice, 318.

Toulouse, Fort, 430.

St. Patrick's Pariah; name and boundaries of, Treaties with the Indians. See Indian Treaties.

changed, 299,319.

Treaty between France and the United- States,

St. Paul, Parish of; list of members of the signed at Versailles, 200.

Provincial Congress of 1775, from, 105; name Treatv. bet-ween Great Britain and tie United

changed to Richmond County, 299.

States, 462. :;":$.'

St. Paul's Church, Augusta, 267, 393.

Treutlin, John Adamj member of the Provin

St. Philip's Parish, Hstof members of the Pro cial Congress ofM776,105. Governor, 300.

vincial Congress of 1775; from, 105. Name Proclamation of,302,303. Dictatorial powers

and limits of, changed, 299,318;

conferred upon, 304,405. * ^ '.

St. Thomas's Parish, list of members of the Trial by jury, secured by the Constitution, 298.

Provincial Congress of 1775, from, 105,152. Trustee's patent, 94.

Name and boundaries of, changed, 299,300, Tuckasee, speech of, at the Indian Congress at

319.

Hopewell, 424.

Stuart, Alien, member of the Provincial Con- Tugaloo River, 384, 386, 399.

gress,of 1775,105.

Tushegatahee, speech of, at the Indian Con

Stuart, Captain .John, Superintendent of In gress at Hopewell, 427, 428.

dian Affairs; 27. Speech at Indian Congress, Twiggs, ColoneL.John, 186, 187,192,198,199,

28. Efforts for another congress at Augusta, 24-2, 243. General, 269, 270, 328, 363, 400,

83. Interview with the Creeks at Savannah, 403. 404. Letter addressed to, 408, 409, 416,

85, 93,103,144, 203.

417. Major-General, 453, 468.

St Vincent captured, 201, 223.

Tybee, 45, 127, 128, 136, 173, 201, 203, 240,

Sullivan, Captain, 463.

319.

. I.":

Sullivan County (North Carolina), 378.

Tybee Light-house, iOi;

Sunbury; made port of entry, 21,150,151,168,

171,172,173,179. Last remnant of Ameri United States, 242, 365, 366,477, 495.

can Army in Georgia at, 183. Reduced, 184. University of Georgia; establishment of a se

Name changed to Fort George, 184, 276, 313, minary of learning recommended, 344; Le

340.

gislative action therefor, 352-354. Act of

Sumter, Colonel, 157,161, 270.

Assembly for the more full and complete

Supreme Court of the United States, suits in establishment of, 360-362. Appointment of

equity in, against Savannah, 466, 467.

" Board of Trustees," 362. Site determined

Supreme Executive Council. Tide Executive upon, 363, 364. First class of, graduated,

Council.

364. Remarks on the establishment of, 364,

Sugar or molasses act, 40.

365. 490.

Upper Mississippi Company, 475,476.

Taliaferro, Benjamin, trustee of the University

of Georgia, 362, 501.

Vaudreuil, Marquis de. 220.

Taliaferro County, 83.

Vernonburgh, list of members of the Provin

Tamar, the man-of-war. 141.

cial Congress of 1775, from the District of,

Tammany Society, 441.

105, 319.

Tarlin, Peter, member of the Provincial Con Versailles, treaty between France and the Uni

gress of 1775, 105.

ted States signed at, 200, 228.

Tarleton, defeat of, at the Cowpens, 254.

Vestrymen, choice of, recommended by the

Tarleton's Legion, 254.

Legislature, 342.

Tassel of Chata, the speech of, at the Indian Vigilant, the, ship of war, 172.

Congress at Hopewell, 429-423.

Virginia, 24, 26, 27, 36, 41, 114, 144, 147, 151,

Tatnail, Josiah, 106, 377.

239, 348, 359, 396, 421,422.

Tatnall's plantation, 175. 203, 204.

Virginia Assembly, deny the right of Parlia

Tauche, Captain, 405,406.

ment to tax the Colonies, 41. Letter from,

Taylor, Major Samuel, 247, 248,426.

placed on record, 65, 68. Adopt resolve of

Tel fair, Edward, 80. Secures military stores at non-importation, 70.

Savannah, 100. Member of the Council of Virginia, Legislature of, 151.

Safety, 101,126. Member of the Provincial Virginia Troops, 150, 277, 278,

Congress of 1775,104,150. Delegate to Con Virginia Yasoo Company, the, 464-466, 468,

gress, 335. Agent to settle boundary ^dis 476.

putes, 340, 341. Indian Commissioner, 365.

Governor, 367. Early history o 367. Ad Wade, Captain Hezekiah, 127.

-

-

ri:::fil*3tSsr/4aE^'"--

m

INDEX.

523

Wade, Nehemiah, Treasurer of Georgia, 353. Williams, William, Sr., member of the Provin

Wallace, Sir Junes, 201.

cial Congress of 1776,105.

Walsh (alias Thomas Washington), 463, 466. Wniiamson, Colonel Andrew, 144, 16L Ge

Walton, Colonel, 175. General Clarice's letter neral, 16*-167, 244,

to, 403.

Williamsonj WUliam, member of the first

Walton, George, 77. Member of the Council graduating class of the University of Geor

of Safety, 102,128. Member of the Provin gia, 364.

cial Congress of 1775,105. President of the Williamson's Settlement, 246.

Council of Safety, 118, 123, 127, 291. Dele Winn, Captain Richard, 163,154. '

gate to Continental Congress, 129. Excites Wissenbach Battalion of Hessians, 172; 175,

discontent towards the existing government, 203.

- * ,.-:' -.-.-.

323, Governor, and delegate to Congress, Witherspoon, John, "88. Member, of-the

.323.. Attempts to traduce the character of vincial Congress of-'177

'

General Mclntosh, 324, 325. Chief Justice, Witherspoon, JobiiiSfrV

326, 340. Signs th "Observations," 332, Wren, Matthew,

363. Agent of Georgia in boundary dis Wren, Sir ChTis

putes. 385. Delegate to Federal Convention, Wright, Alexander, returned as member of

386. 387. Speech of, 390. 331. Retirement the Commons' House of Assembly of 1780,

Of, 392,444,445.

319.

Walton, John, member of the Provincial Con* Wright, Ambrose, member of the-Provincial

gress of 1775,105. Member of first Execu Congress of 1775,104. Member of the Coun

tive Council, 306, 404. Wardens of Savannah, Board of, 444;

cil of Safety, 126, 127.- Major^268i%0ommissary-General,-31& ~ " f* ^Wl^Jb. '-*

Warren County, 363, 399, 406, 485, 501: Washington County, land set apart in, for the

W7ri4g. ht, Anne, 'daugh-t'-er o.-f.- G -o?v>efrtn^oftrWw^rig}h*tf,.-

endowment of a college. 354, 389,891, 398, Wrigbt, Weutenani^overnor^a^lii^elif

399. Laid out, 416, 486.

Jf -

in Georgia, 17. Ancestors of, It.^Eaflylife

Washington County (North Carolina)," 378.

of, 18. Peculiar quabfi<ttons'forshi6/post

Washington, George, 114, 151, 158, 224, 225, tion, 18. Opening speeh of, to General As- :

232, 233, 373, 375, 393. Visit to Georgia, sembly, 18. Discourages removal of the seat

395-397, 434, 437-439, 441-444, 452, 454, 455, of government, 19. Congratulates the As

456.

sembly on the accession of. George III, 20.

Washington (Wflkes County). Vide Heartfs Secures emission of bills of credit,'-20,21.

fort.

Attends to fortifying Cockspur,: &t, 21.

Washington, Thomas (alias Walsh), 463, 466.

Made Captain-General and Governor-inr

Wasp, United States brig, 235-237.

chief, 21, 22. Festivities in honor of, 22.

Waters'8 Settlement, 413.

Difficulties with Chief Justice GrWer, 22-24.

Watkins, Mr., report to the Legislature on the Indian Congress at Augusta, 27-29. -En

Yazoo Bill, 470-472,501.

larged powers conferred on, 32,33. Prevents

Wauldhauer, Jacob, member of the Provincial the sending of delegates to- tile New. York

- Congress of 1775,105.

Congress, 41. Calms excitement concerning

Way, Lieutenant Moses, 127.

the.Stamp Act, 41. Issues proclamation

Wayne, General, 269-273, 372, 373.

condemning the Savannah riots, 43. Writes

Wells, Andrew Elton, 80. Member of the to the Board of Trade, 43, 44. Opposes the

Provincial Congress of 1775,105.

measures of the "Liberty ( Boys," 44, 45.

Wells, George, 323. President of Executive Menacing letters sent to, 46, 47. Burned in

Council, 326. Invested with gubernatorial effigy, 47. Termed a "parricide" by .the

' powers, 329. Death of, 329.

Carolinians. 48. Course of, approved by the

Wells, Humphrey, member of the Executive King, 49. Speech to the Assembly on the

Council, 308, 326.

repeal of the Stamp Act, 49, 60. Letters of,

Wellworth Battalion of Hessians, 172,175.

53-56,57. Desires the appointment of Mr.

Wereat, John, 280. Member of the Executive Cumberland as Colonial Agent, 68,59. Let

Council, 308. President of the Executive ter of, to Earl of Shelburne, 59, 60. -Refuses

Council, 311. Foreman of Grand Jury of his sanction to further emission of bills of

Richmond County, 329. Commissioner, 337. credit, 60, 61. Dissuades the Assembly from

President of Convention, 387, 388, 468.

countenancing the circular letter of the Mas

Wesent, John, member of the Provincial Con sachusetts House of Representatives, 64,. 66.

gress of 1775,105.

Dissolves the Assembly, 66. Letter to the

West Florida, 146,147, 447, 460, 462.

Earl of Hillsborough, 68. Struggle with the

West India Company, 36, 37.

Assembly, 70, 72. Goes to England, 72.

West Indies, 111, 114, 122,123, 200, 201.

Created Baronet, and returns, 74. Procla

Wharf, first; built at Savannah, 52, 53.

mation of, 77, 78. Counter petitions pro-

White. Colonel John, 162, 171, 238. 339, 270, cared by, 81, 82. Attends to Indian affairs,

278, 281, 282, 381.

82. Secures cession of lands, 83. Anticipa

White's Dragoons, 281, 282.

tions, S3,84. Makes treaty with the Creeks,

White, Dr. Jame?, United States Commis 85. Speech of, 88, 89. Adjourns the As

sioner, 432.

sembly, 90. Review of. his administration,

White, Lieutenant (Indian chief), 440.

94. 95. Further, prorogues the Assembly,

Wilkes County, 83,190, 241, 242, 285^300,306- 95. Instructions and reply. at, 99.-, Offers

310, 328, 329, 331, 354, 363, 389, 394, 399,402, reward for the detection of persons concerned

403, 405, 407, 414, 418, 500, 501.

in breaking open the King's magazine, 100.

Wilkes, John, county named for, 300.

Writes for help, 101-103. Appoints day of

Wilmington, 77, 319.

fasting and prayer, 106. Or. Zubly's letter

Wilmington Island, 173.

to, 120. Letter to, from the Council of

Willan, Dr. Robert, 29.

Safety, 123-126. Arrest of, ordered; 127.

Willet, Colonel Marinus, mission to the Creeks, Accomplished by Major Habershun, 128.

407,441.

Escape of, 128,129. .Letter to the Council,

Williams, Colonel, 246.

'

131,132. Departure, 143. Returns, and re-

524

INDEX.

5 _!

enters upon his duties, 186, 201, 206. Ap Wylly, Alexander,, returned' a member of the

points a day of thanksgiving, 222, 223. Re Commons' House of Assembly of 1780, 319.

inforced, 241,268. Letter to General-Way ne,

285, 286. Negotiation* with, 287, 292, 315, Yazoo Act, 498, 499.

316. Re-establishes royal government, 316, Yazoo Sale, 497.

317. Difficulty with armed negroes, 317. Yazoo speculations, 457-495.

Convenes the Assemblies, 31T-322. Receives Yeardly, Sir George, Governor of Virginia, 36.

orders for evacuating the province, 322. Act Yonge, William, 107,123,

of Attainder of, 345. Value of, property of, Yonge, Philip, returned a member of the Com

confiscated, 347. Made President of the mons' House of Assembly of 1780, 319.

Board of Agents of the Loyalists, 330, 460, Young, Isaac, member of the Provincial Con

462.

gress of 1775,105.

Wright, Sir James (son of the Governor), 350. Young, William, 80. Member of the Council

Wright, of Kilverstone, family of, 17.

of Safety, 104. Member of the Provincial

Wright, Mary (daughter of the Governor), 74. Congress of 1775,104.

Wright, Hon. Robert, Chief Justice of South Young, Captain, 162.

Carolina, 18.

.

:

Young Corn, Indian guide, 438.

Wright, Sir Robert, Knight, Chief Justice of

the King's Bench, 17.

Zubly, David, member of the Provincial Con

Wrightsborough, 189.

gress of 1775,105. Returned a member of

Wylly, Richard, Speaker of the Commons' the Commons' House of Assembly of 1780,

House of Assembly, convenes the House, 41. 319.

s

Appointed on Committee of Correspondence Znbly, John J., D.D., preaches opening sermon

frith Benjamin Franklin, 63. Replies " as a of the Provincial Congress, 104. A member

private person," to the Massachusetts cir of that body, 106. Delegate to Continental

cular letter, 64. Lays before therHouseof Congress, 114, 117, 119, 125. Defection of.

.Assembly letters from Massachusetts and 119-121.

Virginia, 64, 65,107,155. Defends the re Zubly's Perry, 186, 205,220, 252, 377.

tention of the records, 368. Suspended from Zubly Street, in Savannah, 121.

office, 369.

THB END.