Georgia Militia &

Continental Regiments of Infantry

A selected historical timeline of military actions & general events in the colony and State of Georgia, 1775 to 1783, with various notations and items of interest.     1775   Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia began 1775 without significant British garrisons. They were under British governors, however, and regular troops were nearby in Florida. Like their northern neighbors, the southern colonies soon replaced their Royal governments with new political bodies. The new governments raised troops as soon as the deposed governors posed a military or naval threat. Because these early colonial efforts were undertaken with minimal supervision by the Continental Congress, a diversity of regimental organizations emerged. That diversity was wider in the south than it had been in New England and New York because the southern colonies were less homogeneous and had accumulated more varied experiences in the colonial wars.   9 July—Engagement at Cockspur Island   10 July—Habersham and Bowen capture armed British schooner for Georgia   4  November—GEORGIA REGIMENT (GA RGT) authorized in the Continental Army and assigned to the Southern Department.  The regiment was to consist of a total strength of 728 men in 8 companies, with each company having one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four serjeants, 4 corporals, two drummers or fifers, and 76 privates.   In a letter dated 10 May, 1790, Henry Knox reports to Congress a complete accounting of the amount of Continental Line troops serving in Georgia, along with an estimate of the number of state and militia forces.  For the year 1775, no Continental troops served in Georgia units, and there were estimated to be 1000 militia members, who had signed for 9 months of service. These figures from Knox’s letter will be shown at the end of each year in the following timeline.   1776   January—1st and 2d TROOPS OF GEORGIA HORSE (GA Horse) authorized  in the Georgia State Troops   2 January—Georgia Provincial Congress Council of Safety authorizes order for 400 stand of arms with bayonets, 20,000 pounds of gunpowder, 60,000 pounds of ball, bullets, bar lead, grape, swan and goose shot.   It is not noted if this materiel is intended for militia, state, or Continental use.   8 January—Council of Safety orders the confiscation of firearms and powder from all overseers and negroes in the Province (the exception being overseers, who were allowed to retain one gun and 13 cartridges).   20 January-28 April—GA RGT organized at Savannah to consist of eight companies   Georgia, like North Carolina, waited for congressional support before risking military action. It had only 3,000 males of military age and was the most exposed colony. When Congress authorized South Carolina’s three regiments on 4 November 1775, it also directed Georgia to raise a standard infantry regiment. Because communications with the colony took so long, its Provincial Congress was allowed to appoint all officers, not just those of company-grade. After factions within the Provincial Congress fought for control of the regiment, a compromise gave command to Lachlan McIntosh, the leader of the Scottish element in the colony. Two representatives of the Savannah mercantile interests were named as the other field officers. Most of the company positions went to sons of the planters who constituted the “Country Party.” The Provincial Congress and the state government that succeeded it caused continual troubles for senior Continental officers by asserting a right to retain an interest in the regiment’s affairs.   16 February—Georgia Provincial Congress elects officers for GA RGT:    Lachlan McIntosh, Colonel; Samuel Elbert, Lt. Col.; Joseph Habersham, Major; 1st Company:  Francis Henry Harris, Capt.; John Habersham,1st Lt.; John Jenkins, 2nd Lt.; John Rice, Ens.; 2nd Company:  Oliver Bowen, Capt.; George Henley, 1st Lt.; John Berrier, 2nd Lt.;Ensign not named; 3rd Company: John McIntosh, Capt.; Lachlan McIntosh, 1st Lt.; Francis Arthur, 2nd Lt.; John Morrison, Ens.; 4th Company: Arthur Curney, Capt.; Benjamin Odinsell, 1st Lt.; John Emon, 2nd Lt.; Delaplaine John Nilton, Ens.; 5th Company: Thomas Chisolm, Capt.; Caleb Howell, 1st Lt.; Daniel Cuthbert, 2nd Lt.; William McIntosh, Ens.; 6th Company: John Green, Capt.; Ignatius Few, 1st Lt.; 2nd Lt. and Ensign not named; 7th Company: Chesley Bostick, Capt.; John Martin, 1st Lt.; 2nd Lt. and Ensign not named; 8th Company (Rifle): Jacob Colson, Capt.; Shadrach Wright, 1st Lt.; George Walton, 2nd Lt.; Ensign not named.   McIntosh began raising the regiment in February 1776, arming one of the companies with rifles. He correctly anticipated that limited resources would hamper his efforts: two months later the regiment had reached only half strength. Maj. Gen. Charles Lee supported the colony’s efforts to have Congress raise six additional regiments elsewhere and to station them in Georgia. Before this recommendation arrived, Congress voted to have Georgia raise two additional regiments (one of which was to be composed of riflemen) and two artillery companies to garrison Savannah and Sunbury.   February—Engagement at Fort Dartmouth   27 February—GA RGT assigned to the Southern Department   Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia became the Southern Department. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland joined New York as Schuyler’s Middle Department. Three days later Congress placed Charles Lee in command of the former and elected six new brigadier generals as subordinate commanders for the new departments.  John Armstrong of Pennsylvania, Andrew Lewis of Virginia, and North Carolina’s James Moore and Robert Howe went to the Southern Department, while William Thompson of Pennsylvania and Lord Stirling of New Jersey became Schuyler’s subordinates.   1 March—Engagement at Cockspur Island   In the early part of 1776 the Georgia Patriots occupied Savannah and erected two 18-pounders on a bluff that was 40 feet high. Any ship coming near them would be raked with artillery fire. They also sunk a vessel in the narrow part of the channel leading to Savannah, which prevented any large force from going to the town.  When the Georgia Council of Safety had placed him under house arrest the Georgia Royal Governor escaped and took refuge aboard the British man of war Scarborough. At Savannah were twenty British merchant ships full of rice that had been captured by the Patriots. If these ships could be recaptured they would be able to supply the British army in Boston. On March 1st, British marines landed on Cockspur Island in their first step to capturing the rice ships. The Marines skirmished with American militia there. The Americans had one wounded and the Marines had four wounded.   2-4 March—Battle of the Rice Boats (Battle of Yamacraw Bluffs) (Militia action)   Towards the end of 1775, James Wright was powerless to stop the rebellious faction in the Georgia House.  In early 1776 a portion of the British fleet arrived at Cockspur Island to buy provisions. Urging the radical Council of Safety to permit the fleet to purchase the provisions, Royal Governor Wright and others were detained, effectively ending royal rule in the state.   Soon, additional vessels and troops arrived off the Port of Savannah.  Wright boarded a ship, along with almost all his Loyalist advisors.  Further north a group of boats containing rice were the target of a British attack on March 2, 1776.  The Council of Safety reacted quickly, ordering the local militia to set boats on fire and drive the British away.  The Inverness, loaded with rice and deerskins, was fired and cut loose, drifting into the brig Nelly.  As some 500 Whigs from South Carolina joined the 600 Georgia rebels, the two ships drifted downstream, setting three more ships on fire. Governor Wright barely escaped. (Wright’s description of the action was significantly different.)   7 March—Engagement at Hutchinson’s Island   25 March—Engagement at Tybee Island   A raiding party of Georgia militia and Creek Indians under the command of Archibald Bullock attacked twelve British Marines on Tybee Island.  The Marines had been sent to the island, with twelve slaves, to cut wood and get water.  The Americans struck quickly killing one, wounding two and capturing one of the Marines and the 12 slaves.  The Creek Indians with the Georgia militia scalped three of the Marines.   The Royal Navy ships near the island fired three broadsides at the Americans while they sent a landing party on shore.  The Americans kept up constant rifle fire forcing the British to move out of range.  The Georgians also burned two houses on the island.  Shortly after this, all but two of the British vessels left the Savannah River.   28 April—McIntosh writes Washington and informs him that the enlistment bounty has been raised to $8 from $6, but that the regiment is still not at full strength.  McIntosh also reports that the troops have still not been issued arms or uniforms.  Strength return lists 8 captains, 15 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, 24 serjeants, 17 corporals, 5 drummers, 2 fifers, and 236 privates.   Spring—GA Horse organized at Savannah   12-13 May—Engagement at Cockspur Island   At 11 o’clock on May 12 a raiding party of Georgians attacked the British post on Cockspur Island.  They attempted to capture “a White Man a Pilot & some Negroes.”   They were discovered approaching the post and one of the raiders was killed.  The Americans withdrew to their boat.  The Royal Sloops of War Raven and the Cherokee sent sailors in three boats to the west end of the island to cut off any escape.  The British sailors captured a boat and three of the raiders.  The prisoners told the British of an armed schooner that was waiting for them up the Savannah River at 4 Mile Point.                  At one in the morning on May 13 the sailors from the Raven and Cherokee sailed up the Savannah River in a pinnace and two boats.  Two other boats were assigned to guard Cockspur Island while they were conducting their attack.  The British sailor easily captured the armed schooner.  Captain John Brown had commanded the American schooner and had 8 men on board.  In addition to the 8 man crew there was the 1 man killed from the raid and 3 others wounded.  On board the schooner were 6 swivel guns and 6 organs.  An organ was described in the 1769 Falconer Marine Dictionary as “sometimes used in a sea-fight by privateers: it contains several barrels of small arms, fixed upon one stock, so as to be all fired together.”  (This may had been an early version of the Nock Volley gun issued to the British in 1780.)  The schooner was sailed back to Cockspur Island.  At 11 o’clock the British captured three other men from the raid on the island the day before.   15 May—GEORGIA PROVINCIAL ARTILLERY COMPANY (GA PROV ARTY) organized in the Georgia State Troops   June—GA Horse expanded to consist of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th TROOPS OF GEORGIA HORSE   4 July—Declaration of Independence   5 July—GA RGT redesignated as the 1st GEORGIA REGIMENT (1st GA)   5 July—2d GEORGIA REGIMENT(2d GA), 3d GEORGIA REGIMENT (3d GA),1st GEORGIA CONTINENTAL ARTILLERY (1st GA ARTY), and 2d GEORGIA CONTINENTAL ARTILLERY (2d GA ARTY) authorized in the Continental Army and assigned to the Southern Department   24 July—GA Horse adopted into the Continental Army; concurrently redesignated as the GEORGIA REGIMENT OF HORSE RANGERS (GA RGR), assigned to the Southern Department, and expanded to consist of ten troops   10 August—Declaration of Independence publicly read in Savannah by Archibald Bulloch   August- May 1777—First Florida Expedition; Georgia south of Ossawba Sound; East Florida.   The First Florida Expedition departed  in August, 1776, shortly after word of the Declaration reached the state of Georgia.  The expeditionary forces built a line of forts between Georgia and Florida, including Forts Howe and McIntosh, and additional forts at Darien and Beard’s Bluff.   Indians attacked a detachment of men while on the way to Beard’s Bluff.  Commander John Baker later is betrayed by two guards who steal the expedition’s horses and leave the Americans unprotected in the swamps of south Georgia. One of these guards, Daniel McGirth, will become “noted” for a career of rape and murder.   16 September—Continental Congress issues “88 Battalion Resolve” setting regimental quotas for states   The states of the lower south had the easiest time adjusting to the new quotas because their regiments remained in their home states as the Southern Department’s primary combat forces. Georgia did not reduce its force to the single regiment of the 16 September quota but retained the four infantry and one ranger units authorized during July 1776. The Rangers and the 1st Georgia Regiment lost strength during the spring as original enlistments expired, but the 2d and 3d reached operational strength through extensive recruiting in North Carolina and Virginia. The 4th Georgia Regiment kept enlisting men from as far away as Pennsylvania into October 1777.   October—Return of First Florida Expedition   Fall/Winter—2d GA organized at Williamsburg, Virginia, to consist of eight companies, recruited primarily in Virginia; 3d GA organized at Savannah to consist of eight companies, recruited primarily in North Carolina; 1st GA ARTY organized at Savannah; 2d GA ARTY organized at Sunbury.   Per Knox’s letter of 1790 (hereafter “Knox”), 351 troops of Continentals, 750 militia members, and 1,200 state troops served in the year 1776.   1777   1 January—GA RGR reorganized to consist of twelve troops 2 January—Engagement at Sapello Inlet   29 January—Engagement at Augusta   1 February—4th GEORGIA REGIMENT (4th GA) authorized  in the Continental Army and assigned to the Southern Department   2-4 February—Engagement at Fort McIntosh   6 February—GA PROV ARTY adopted into the Continental Army and redesignated as the 3d GEORGIA CONTINENTAL ARTILLERY COMPANY (3d GA ARTY) and assigned to the Southern Department.   17 February—Continental Congress begins ordering ready made uniforms from France, through the Secret Committee. A contract dated Aug 6, 1777 is issued for 5,000 uniform coats in blue or brown, both faced with red and lined in white.   23 February-15 March—Engagements at Fort McIntosh on the Sautilla   March—The brig Mercury arrives at Portsmouth, New Hampshire with 364 cases of arms, 11,000 gun flints, and 1,000 barrels of Levoisier powder.  This wealth of materiel had been exported from France by the shadow company Roderigue Hortalez et Cie.  The fictitious trading company was operated by Caron de Beaumarchais, and through it France, and to a lesser extent, Spain secretly sent arms and materiel to the American insurgents.  Based in Paris, but operated out of St. Eustatia in the Dutch Antilles, the Bourbon Kings of Spain and France each provided one million livres to start the company in May of 1776, six weeks before the Declaration of Independence. The ships from St. Eustatia debarked to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Charleston, South Carolina, and New Orleans in the Spanish Province of Louisiana.  From New Orleans, supplies were sailed up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.   April—200 artillery pieces and 100,000 1763 French Charleville muskets arrive in Portsmouth, New Hampshire   April—Second Florida Expedition departs   By 1777, the Whig government in Georgia began to factionalize.  The conservatives, known as “town Whigs,” are led by Lachlan McIntosh and his brother George.  The radicals, known as “country Whigs,” are led by Button Gwinnett.    In this climate of acrimony, a Second Florida Expedition is authorized to leave for Florida in mid-April, 1777.  When the expedition elected McIntosh to be its leader, a series of events was set in motion that eventually lead to the death of Gwinnett.  Colonel Samuel Ebert is placed in command of the force after the Gwinnett and McIntosh return to Savannah to settle their bitter dispute.  The expedition returned in late May, finding Gwinnett had died from gangrene, the result of bullet wound in his leg suffered during a duel with McIntosh.   4 May—Engagement at Altamaha River   26 May—Second Florida Expedition returns   July—Engagement at Wilkes County   22 July—Engagement at Oconee River   Following is a deposition given against John Cunningham by Isham Ward regarding the action at the Oconee River.  The person receiving the deposition is not named.  Source: Revolutionary Memoirs and Muster Rolls, Mary Bondurant Warren, ed. 1994, Heritage Papers, Athens, Georgia   Georgia Wilkes County   Personally appeared before me Isham Ward, & being of full age was Duly sworn and Declareth that on Tuesday the 22 of July last About seven o’clock in the morning Capt. Thomas Dooley [sic, Dooly] of the 3rd Battalion of foot for the state with three men and Lieut. John Cunningham of the 2nd Battalion of foot with Seventeen Men where attacked and fired on by a party of Indians a few miles off the Oconey [sic] River.   That Capt. Dooley and his Men were in the front when the Attack began Lieut. Cunningham and his men in the rear. That after about two shots being Exchanged from the Whites he the Deponent saw Lieut. Cunningham at the head of about 4 Men running off and at the same time he the Deponent Saw some person who he Expected was an Officer Say Boys make Your Escape upon which Capt Dooley Discovering to the men in Loud words by no Means not to Leave him.   This Deponent further Saith that he thinks on the first fire Capt. Dooley Received a wound which he thinks Disabled him so much as not to Stand as he the  Deponent saw Capt. Dooley twice fire in a Sitting posture on the Ground.   This Deponent further Saith that Capt. Dooley Calling to Lieut. Cunningham & the first party that  was Running Availed Nothing, but that they still continued Running upon which the Whites Continued to retreat until this Deponent saith he thinks there was not more than seven or Eight White men Left on the Ground upon which the Deponent made his Escape and further Saith not— Isham Ward   Sworn to before me this 11th August (1777)   -------------------------------   The following letters are from the Order Book of Colonel Samuel Elbert, commander of the 2d Regiment:   (To General McIntosh)   Augusta, 9th September, 1777.   Dear Sir:  I wrote you pr return Sikes & a few lines by Lieut. Bilbo since which I have not heard from you.  I am just returned from visiting the Forts on the western Frontiers but could find no signs of any Indians near them; they are crowded with the inhabitants who have not yet returned to their habitations which they quit at the late alarm when Capt. Dooly and others were killed.  Inclosed [sic] are some papers respecting Lieut. Cunningham, who I begin to think behaved better in the action than was at first represented; he remains under arrest at Wrightsborough.  Captain Dooley [sic] & Pannell with Lieut. Booker are now prisoners with me on their parole; you will please pr. return of the bearer, give me positive order what to do with them.  I am in hopes the matter may be overlooked as the Indians are by this safe in their own Nation & the gentlemen very sensible of their error in what has been done.  Poor Dooley had lost a brother; Pannell went as a piece [sic] maker to prevent mischief.  Booker & Bilbo, two giddy young men—in fact I think the end answered in putting them under arrest, as it please.    About half of my regiment are now sick in Wrightsborough, the most of them on the recovery, those fit for duty are disposed of as under.  Mrs. Elbert being in a situation which requires her being in Savannah the latter end of this month, I hope you will find it convenient to let me return there shortly.  I suppose Colo. Stirk waits your orders; I will be obliged to you to let him have them.  I wish you happy, & am, dr. General.   Your most obedt. servt.   S. ELBERT   --------------------------------   After Orders.   Headquarters, 13th Oct., 1777.   The general court-martial of which Colo. Habersham was president is approved & dissolved; the court having made the most strict inquiry into the conduct of Lieut. Cunningham of the 2d Battalion respecting the charge brought against him of cowardice in a late skirmish with the enemy, and after examining several witnesses on the occasion, report as their opinion “that Lieut. Cunningham acquitted himself in the said engagement with the honor & valor becoming an officer.”  The commanding officer is happy in agreeing with the above report & orders that Lieut. Cunningham immediately joins his regiment.  Andrew Hays, William Asbey and John Asbey of the Light Horse, John Wright of the Artillery, & Thomas Hodge of the 2d Battalion are ordered to receive the punishment to which they were severally sentenced by the court, this afternoon on the parade, in the presence of all the Continental Troops in town to be drawn out on the occasion; those who belong to the corps having no person present are to be kept in confinement till they can be delivered to the care of their proper officers.  Thomas Dunivant, Michael Hugen & Sergt. Gore to be severely reprimanded and discharged.   Summer/Fall—4th GA organized  at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to consist of eight companies, recruited primarily in Pennsylvania   23 December—1st GA, 2d GA, 3d GA, 4th GA assigned to the Georgia Brigade, an element of the Southern Department   Per Knox, 1,423 Continentals and 750 militia in service for year 1777.   1778   6 January—France allies with the United States   19 February—1st GA ARTY and 3d GA ARTY consolidated and redesignated as 1st GA ARTY.   6 April—Third Florida Expedition departs   In April 1778, a group of 500 Tories moved through South Carolina and Georgia, destroying property and killing Loyalists. A Third Florida Expedition is planned when word of a definite invasion from the Florida stronghold reaches Georgia.  Colonel Elbert moved out on April 6, 1778, shortly capturing the British vessels Hinchinbrooke and Rebecca, which may have been supporting the Loyalist movement.   This expedition has no lack of leaders, among them Robert Howe, Governor John Houstoun, Colonel Andrew Williamson and Commodore Oliver Bowen, each of whom, essentially, refused to take orders from the others. When the Florida Rangers retreated as the expedition approached, Howe and Bowen turned back, and Houstoun and Williamson were forced to follow because they did not feel they could take on the Rangers by themselves.   23 April—From the South Carolina and American General Gazette C H A R L E S T O W N,  April 23, 1778 This afternoon an express arrived here from Savannah, by the whom the following advices were received. Copy of a Letter from Col. Elbert to Major General Howe, at Savannah.   Dear General, Frederica, April 19, 1778 I have the happiness to inform you that about 10 o’clock this afternoon, the Brigantine Hinchinbrooke, the Sloop Rebecca, and a prize brig, all struck the British Tyrant’s colors and surrendered to the American 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 at Fort Howe, on board the three gallies——the Washington, Capt. Hardy; the Lee, Capt Braddock; and the Bulloch, Capt. Hatcher; and a detachment of artillery with a field piece, under Capt. Young, I put on board a boat. With this little army, we embarked at Darien, and last evening effected a landing at a bluff about a mile below the town; leaving Col. White on board the Lee, Capt. Melvin on board the Washington, and Lieut. Petty on board the Bulloch, each with a sufficient party of troops. Immediately on Landing, I dispatched Lieut. Col. Ray and Major Roberts, with about 100 men, who marched directly up to the town, and made prisoners three marines and two sailors belonging to the Hinchinbrooke. It being late, the gallies did not engage until this morning. You must imagine what my feelings were, to see our three little men of war going to the attack of these three vessels, who have spread terror on our coast, and who were drawn up in order of battle; but the weight of our metal soon damped the courage of these heroes, who soon took to their boats; and, as many as could, abandoned the vessels with everything on board, of which we immediately took possession. What is extraordinary, we have not one man hurt. Capt. Ellis [of the Hinchinbrooke] is drowned, and Capt. Mowbry [of the Rebecca] made his escape. As soon as I see Col. White, who has not yet come to us with his prizes, I shall consult with him, the other three officers, and the commanding officers of the galleys, on the expediency of attacking the Galatea now lying off Jekyll. I send you this by Brigade Major Habersham, who will inform you of the other particulars. I am. &c. SAMUEL ELBERT, Col. Commandant   22 June—Engagement at Ogeechee River   July—Third Florida Expedition returns   August—Engagement at Nail’s Fort, Wilkes County   November—Engagement at Nail’s Fort, Wilkes County   19 November—Engagement at Bulltown Swamp, Spencer’s Hill  (outside Savannah)   24 November—Engagement at Medway Church   When in autumn two expeditions of regulars and vindictive refugees were sent by the British Brigadier- General Augustine Prevost from east Florida into Georgia, one Army was stopped at Sunbury, the other at the Ogeechee. The latter on its return burned the church, almost every dwelling-house in Medway, and all rice and other cereals within their reach; and they brought off negroes, horses, cattle, and plate. Screven, an American officer, beloved for his virtues, was killed after he became a prisoner.   25 November—Engagement at Spencer’s Hill 28 November-15 October, 1779, Georgia and South Carolina. Operations relating to the British capture and defense of Savannah and coastal South Carolina.   1 December—Engagement at Fort Morris   23 December—British force lands on Tybee Island   Henry Clinton, in charge of British troop in America, is ordered to move to the South. Intelligence reports in Britain indicated that both Georgia and South Carolina have a large Loyalist population who will side with the British. However, to move meant Clinton would have to reduce his manpower in the North, leaving his troops in the northern theater vulnerable to attack by George Washington.   Clinton and his advisors come up with a plan, and sent troops to Savannah. The troops from New York, under the command of Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell, arrived at Tybee Island on December 23, 1778, a month later than scheduled.  Forces from St. Augustine under the command of Augustine Prevost joined them and together they marched on Savannah.   28 December—Engagement at Salter’s Island, Four Mile Point   29 December—British capture Savannah   Relying on the difficulties of the ground, American General Robert Howe of North Carolina, with only 700 Continental Line and local militiamen, made a feeble attempt to defend the city.  The troops offered resistance to a disciplined British corps, ably commanded, and more than three times as numerous as his own; but, on the 29th December, a British party, guided by a Negro (Quamino Dolly) through a swamp, made a simultaneous attack on the Americans in front and rear, and drove them into a precipitate retreat. As the British forces attacked, the local militias fled leaving the Continentals with little alternative but retreat.  With troops in their rear, the American defense was broken.  With the loss of well over 550 men (100 killed, 450 captured), and all the artillery, Howe was forced to retire into South Carolina.  With a loss of but nine killed and 17 wounded, the British gained the capital of Georgia.  British Lt.-Col. Archibald Campbell promised protection to the inhabitants, but only on condition that “they would support the royal government with their arms.” The captive soldiers, refusing to enlist in the British service, were crowded on board prison-ships, to be swept away by infection. Many civilians submitted; determined republicans found an asylum in the western parts of the state.    29 December—Engagement at Brewton Hill (Girardeau’s Plantation)   29 December -1st GA ARTY captured by British forces at Savannah   Per Knox, 673 Continentals, 1,200 state troops, and 2,000 militia enlisted for 6 months in service for the year 1778.   1779   1 January—Engagement at Zubly’s Ferry   6-10 January—British capture Sunbury Before the American Revolution, the thriving seaport of Sunbury, Georgia, rivaled nearby Savannah as Georgia’s cultural and economic center. Historians record that per square foot, more famous Georgians came from Sunbury than any other place in the American southeast. Yet today, not a single original building of the old town remains.   9 January—Engagement at Fort Morris   10 January—2d GA ARTY captured by British forces at Sunbury   26 January—Engagement at Burke County Jail   26 January—Engagement at Savannah River   30 January—Engagement at Fort Henderson (Spirit Creek)   31 January—Engagement at The Cupboard Swamp   31 January—British capture Augusta   Early in January 1779, British Brig.-Gen. Augustine Prevost (British Commander in Florida) marched north on the “Old Post Road” from Savannah, reducing Sunbury on the way to support British Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell, who subsequently took possession of Augusta on 29 January.  Augusta was a strategically important town situated on the Savannah River. The province of Georgia appearing to be restored to the crown.   3 February—Engagement at Augusta   February—Engagement at Kiokee Creek   9 February—Engagement at Middleton’s Ferry   9 February—Engagement at Brownsborough   10 February—Engagement at Van[n]’s Creek (Cherokee Ford)   8-10 February—Engagement at Carr’s Fort   14 February—British withdraw from Augusta   14 February—Battle of Kettle Creek (Militia action)   The backwoods of Georgia held challenges for the British Army in Georgia.  Many people in Georgia were strongly anti-British, so when Colonel Boyd and 700 Loyalists set up camp along Kettle Creek on February 14, 1779, they know to be prepared for an attack. Only a couple of days before, on February 11, 100 Patriots attacked them while crossing Van(n)’s Creek, in spite of being outnumbered.   Things were not going well for these Loyalists.  Boyd expected additional men to assist in a strike against the Patriots. His men were not regulars and dissension filled the ranks. Also, the skirmish at Vann’s Creek alerted Colonels John Dooly and Andrew Pickens to the Loyalist’s presence in Wilkes County.  As was the custom, the Loyalist sent scavengers out to find food.  On the morning of the battle, about 150 men are out searching for food when Pickens attacks.   With a combined total of 340 men, the Patriots attacked in three columns, with Col. Dooly on the right, Pickens in the middle and Elijah Clarke, Dooly’s second in command on the left. A small advance guard was sent in front of the columns to scout the enemy.  Col. Pickens scouts surprised Boyd’s Loyalist sentries and opened fire.   Alerted to the attack by the sound of gunfire, Boyd rallied his men and advanced with a small group to the top of a nearby hill, where they waited behind rocks and fallen trees for the Patriots. To the left and right, the men under command of Dooly and Clarke had problems crossing the high water of the creek and nearby swamps.   Pickens continued his advance to the fence on top of the hill, where Boyd’s men awaited the advancing Americans. On the approach of Pickens, the Loyalists opened fire. Clarke and Dooly, unable to advance quickly through the cane, were helpless.  By all accounts, outnumbered and caught by surprise, the Patriots appeared to be losing the battle.   After the successful ambush, Boyd ordered his men to retreat to the camp by Kettle Creek then fell to the ground, having been mortally wounded by a musket ball.  Seeing this, his troops panicked and an orderly withdrawal turned into a nightmare for the 600 men under his command.   Pickens rallied and advanced his men toward the Loyalist camp.  At the same time, Dooly’s men emerged from the swamp.  Surrounded on three fronts, with the creek to their back, about 450 Tories followed Boyd’s second in command, Major Spurgen, across Kettle Creek.   While the Loyalists crossed the creek, Lt. Col Elijah Clarke emerged on the other side and charged with 50 men. The Loyalists fled, soundly defeated.   Total losses in the battle: Loyalist— 40-70 dead, 70 captured; Patriots— 9 dead, 23 wounded.  The men who fled the battlefield eventually made their way back to Wrightsville, although some were captured and hanged later that year. Pickens, who became famous for his many battles in the Revolution would later write that Kettle Creek was the “severest chastisement” for the Loyalists in South Carolina and Georgia. Dooly was later brutally murdered by British army troops.   18 February—Engagement at Herbert’s Store   22 February—Engagement at Thomas’s Plantation   3 March—Battle of Brier (Briar) Creek (Militia action)   On the same day that Colonel Boyd was defeated at Kettle Creek, and Colonel Archibald Campbell withdrew from Augusta, a large force of North Carolina troops appeared across the river from the Augusta outpost on the Georgia frontier.  A planned rendezvous with Campbell at Wrightsville by Boyd’s Loyalists led to the capture of some of Boyd’s men when Colonel Campbell unexpectedly failed to show up.    The North Carolina patriots, under the command of General John Ashe, smelled blood. With the victory at Kettle Creek, Ashe’s men were are hot on the trail of Campbell’s loyalists.  Unknown to Ashe, however, was that Campbell had received reinforcements from Savannah under the command of General Augustine Prevost.  Together the British forces totaled 2,300 men, although less than a thousand participated in the battle.   Camping at the confluence of Brier Creek and the Savannah River, Ashe’s men were caught unaware by hundreds of handpicked soldiers and loyalist militia on March 3, 1779.  The Tories from North Carolina, along with their commander, Ashe, fled.  Only Colonel Samuel Elbert and his Georgia militia remained.  Outnumbered and overpowered, the men defended the camp until almost all were dead.  The late afternoon action ended at sunset, with the rebellion forces suffering a humiliating defeat. Almost 400 Americans were killed or captured, while the British only lost 5 men.   Elbert, who would eventually be elected governor of Georgia, was captured and served time in a British prison until his release in 1781.   March—Engagement at Fort Morgan   March—Engagement at Newsome’s Fort   20 March—Engagement at Abercorn Creek   21 March—Engagement at The Crossroads (Beech Island)   22 March—Engagement at Rocky Comfort Creek   29 March—Continental Congress adopts “Regulations For The Order And Discipline of The Troops of The United States” (von Steuben’s Drill Manual)   23 April—South Carolina and American General Gazette  Deserter reported from the 4th GA wearing “....a blue coat, edged with white and pewter buttons with No. 4 on them...”   26 June—Engagement at Ogeechee Ferry   27 June—Engagement at Midway Meeting House   28 June—Engagement at Hickory Hill (Butler’s Plantation, Ogeechee Ferry)   July—Engagement at Wilkes County   21 July—Engagement at Savannah   2 August—Muster rolls for 1st GA, 3d GA, 4th GA indicate combined strength of 73 privates, 41 non-commissioned officers, drummers and fifers, and 44 commissioned officers, inclusive of deserters, sick, and captured—the actual effective strength was 9 officers, 11 non-commissioned officers, 2 drummers, 1 fifer, and 18 privates:   A Muster Roll of the 1st Georgia Battallion of Continental Troops Commanded by Col. Robert Rae.  August, August the 2nd 1779   Robert Rae, Col. 1st April 1778, sick Francis H. Harris, Lt. Col., Absent with leave John Habersham, Major, Prisoner of War with the enemy George Handly, Capt., 30 October 1776, present Lachlan McIntosh, Capt., 30 October 1776, present Shadrick[Shadrach] Wright, Capt., Prisoner of War on parole [not listed in Compiled Service Records] Alexander D. Cuthbert, Capt., Prisoner of War with the enemy John Wilten, Capt., Prisoner of War with the enemy [not listed in CSR] William McIntosh, Capt., Prisoner of War with the enemy Thomas Glascock, Lt., 1 July 1777, present Jesse Walton, Lt., present William Low, Lt., Prisoner of War with the enemy James Houston, Surgeon, present  (Five Officers effective)   John Leduck, Quartermaster Sergt., During the War Comm’d John Twedle, Sergt. Maj., present Charles Fields [?] Sergt., present John Evens, Sergt., present John Knight, Sergt., deserted Thomas Jeffryes, Corp., press’t Ethral Fatrul, Corp., press’t [not listed in CSR] Thomas Hart, Corp., during War [not listed in CSR] Daniel Mathews, Corp., deserted William Lowe, drum major, press’d  (3 Non-commissioned Officers effective)   Privates [all enlisted for the war]  Thomas Wilson, Genl. Hosp. August[a] John Priar, present Samuel Ware, furlough John King, Commanded up river John Linn, Genl. Hosp. Augusta [not listed in CSR] John Rain, on furlough William Austin, present Hugh Bell, Genl. Hospital Ch. Town James Burns, present David Fellers, absent wounded [not listed in CSR] Rubin Wandrum [sic], present George Jones, present William Coucksie [sic], deserted Andrew Foster, deserted William Gibbs, furlough Searcey Askew, Prisoner of war, paroled Conrod Frigonier [sic], Prisoner of war, paroled Josiah Bird, Prisoner of war on parole John Futrel, Prisoner of war on parole [not listed in CSR] Jordan Jackson, Prisoner of war on parole James Parks, Prisoner of war on parole Andrew Shields, Waggoner at Shelson [not listed in CSR]  (5 Privates effective)   A Muster Roll of the third Continental Georgia Battalion Commanded by Lieutenant Colo. John McIntosh, Augusta August 2d 1779   John McIntosh, Lt. Col., Prisoner of War with the enemy Joseph Lane, Major, Prisoner of War with the enemy Isaac Hicks, Capt., Prisoner of War with the enemy Clement Nash, Capt., Prisoner on parole William Scott, Capt., Prisoner with the enemy [not listed in CSR] Gideon Booker, Capt., Prisoner with the enemy Rains Cook, Capt., Prisoner with the enemy John Manley, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy John Frazer, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy John Mitchel, Lt., Prisoner on parole Nathan Pearre, Lt., and Adjutant, present Josiah Maxwell, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy John Wagnon, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy Thomas Devenport, Surgeon, Prisoner with the enemy [not listed in CSR]  (1 Officer effective)   John Hoggett, Sergt., discharged Jesse Browder, Sergt., sick in hospital Paskeel Tucker, Sergt., present John Boyd, Sergt., Jan. 7, ‘77, present Samuel Barnet, Sergt., Left sick at Genl. Hospital Stono. Basill Hatton, Sergt., Feb. 20, 1777, present John Connoley, Sergt., left sick on road William Riley, Sergt., absent William Corbin, Corpl., Waggoner, present Griffith Dickenson, Corpl., present George Turner, Corpl., discharged Henry Deshazer, Corpl., Feby. 26, 1777 present William Thompson, Corpl., absent Mansfield Jones, Drum., present Joshua Northington, Drum., discharged Obed Hendricks, Drum., on furlow  (6 Non-commissioned officers and 1 drummer effective)   Privates Joshua Cissle, present Jesse Peters, present James Bryan, discharged James Lane, Stono left at Genl. Hospital John House, present Curtis Linn, absent with leave Parish Lankford, Deserted Terry McHaney, absent C’l White William Hicks, present [not listed in CSR] John Tombolin, deserted absent William King, deserted John Johnston, Augusta, sick at Hosp. John Abbot, deserted absent without leave [not listed in CSR] William Clabruck, waggoner, present Moses Reaves, absent town John Davy, Augusta, sick at Hospital Frederick Thompson, deserted, absent William Coleman, present Nathaniel Eves, present James O’Brien, Augusta at Hospital Thomas McClain, discharged Soloman Draper, discharged Alexander Roberson, absent Town Pat Cockron, In Staff, absent present [sic] Pat Slacks, waggoner present George Thomas, waggoner present Will Osband [sic], deserted , absent without leave John Wedgwood, waggoner present  (10 Privates effective)   A Muster Roll of the 4th Continental Georgia Batalion Commanded by Col. John White, Augusta, August 2nd 1779.   John White, Col., Absent, Camden Joseph Pannel, Lt. Col., Absent, Camden Philip Lowe, Major, Prisoner on parole George Melvin, Capt., In Quarter Master Department John Lucas, Capt., Prisoner with the enemy William Hornby, Capt., Prisoner with the enemy [not listed in CSR] Joseph Day, Capt., Prisoner with the enemy Andrew Templeton, Capt., Prisoner on parole [not listed in CSR] James Stedman, Lt., Present fit for duty Patrick FitsPatrick, Lt., Present fit for duty Edward Cowen, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy William Jordan, Lt., Present Walter Dixon, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy [not listed in CSR] John Carswell, Lt., on parole Arthur Hays, Lt., on parole Christopher Hebery, Lt., Prisoner with the enemy Robert Simpson, Lt., Absent with leave [not listed in CSR]  (3 Officers effective)   James Lett, Sgt., sick about Beach Island Daniel Dampier, Sgt., present George St. George, Sgt., on the Commissary’s Department John Anderson, Sgt., Col. White, Camden Henry Ellis, Sgt., Col. White, Camden John Willard, Sgt., Col. White, Camden [not listed in CSR] George Kane, Sgt., Col. White, Camden {not listed in CSR] Thomas Johnston, Corp., present John Hendrin, Drummer, present Charles Grand, Drummer, present Samuel Rumerfield, Drummer, Charlestown with Col. Nielom [?] David Rowark, Fifer, with Lt. Carswell, Georgetown John Smith, Fifer, present Jeremiah Levering, Fifer, Camden Col. White  (2 Non-commissioned Officers, 3 Musicians effective)   Privates  William Bishop, present George Townsend, present William Haven, Chas. Town sick in General Hosp. Joseph Boys, discharged by Maj. Moore and enlisted during the war John Privite, Absent without leave Christopher Fryther, Absent without leave Charles Clarke, Chas. Town at the Gen Hosp. Patrick Conden, Chas. Town at Head Quarters without Thomas Nichols, taken by the enemy [not listed in CSR] William McCormack, in Charles Town [not listed in CSR] John Farrel, in Hosp. at Augusta John Harris, with Col. White, Camden [not listed in CSR] Smith Carpenter, with Col. White, Camden Adam Grub, with Col. White, Camden Joseph Sissco [sic], with Col. White, Camden William Ball, deserted [not listed in CSR] George Hamelton, deserted [not listed in CSR] Stephen Kindal [sic], deserted [not listed in CSR] Thomas Brown, deserted Isham Cogan, deserted Edward McGinnis, deserted Samuel Wood, In George Town, Prisoner of war William Mitchell, butcher  (3 Privates effective)   14 August—Engagement at Lockhart’s Plantation (Big Buckhead Creek)   19 September—Engagement at Ogeechee Ferry   23 September—Allied forces invest siege of Savannah   The British easily captured the city from the rebels in 1778, following a slave through the marsh to bypass the defenses. This set the stage for the second bloodiest battle of the Revolution. September 8, 1778 a French fleet of 42 ships with 4,000 soldiers, commanded by a cautious Count Charles-Henri d’Estaing, arrived off Tybee Island.  American forces from Charleston under General Benjamin Lincoln approached Savannah from the north.  The British, believing the French fleet to be occupied in the Caribbean, were taken by surprise. With a garrison of about 700, Savannah was ripe for the taking.  d’Estaing’s and Lincoln’s troops probably could have walked into the city unopposed.  Instead, d’Estaing sent a demand for surrender to the British General Prevost.  Prevost responded by quickening the pace at which he was strengthening the fortifications around the city.  The delay allowed the British garrison to be reinforced by Col. John Maitland and the Seventy First Highlanders who had been at Beaufort, South Carolina when the French arrived.  The French shelled the city with little real effect. During the three-week bombardment a great deal of property was damaged but only one British soldier was killed.  During one night of the bombardment the French gunners were drunk and fired on their own men.   1 October—Engagement at Savage Point   2 October—Washington’s general order issued regarding uniform colors and facings   9 October—Savannah attacked by Allied forces and repulsed by British   At dawn, October 9, 1779 thousands of French and Americans attacked the British positions and were slaughtered.  It was the bloodiest hour in the Revolution. American hero, Sergeant Jasper, was killed on the ramparts trying to save his unit’s battle flag.  During the attack both d’Estaing and Polish patriot Casimir Pulaski, fighting for the American cause, were shot.  While the admiral’s wound was less serious, Pulaski’s proved to be fatal.  He was moved to the American ship Wasp, where he died.  Black troops from Haiti in the French reserve came forward to cover the retreat of the shattered attackers. In an hour a thousand casualties resulted.  During a four hour truce, hundreds of French and American soldiers were buried in a mass grave in the vicinity of what is now a visitor’s center.  From an initial force of 5000 men, by the end of the day over 800 French and American soldiers lay dead.  The city was held by the British until 1782.   Admiral d’Estaing returned to sea, and Lincoln began a march to Charleston, South Carolina, realizing the British would likely attack there next.   4 November—Engagement at Tybee River   29 November-1st GA ARTY and 2d GA ARTY disbanded.   Per Knox, 87 Continental troops and 750 militia in service in 1779.   1780   20 January—Reorganization of Georgia state line troops and consolidation with Continental line troops.   Georgia’s troops suffered virtual annihilation during the winter of 1778-79 when the British overran that state in a new offensive. Congress finally empowered Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, who had assumed command of the Southern Department on 4 December 1778, to consolidate the two state lines and to organize them under the new regimental structure. Local political jealousies blocked action until 20 January 1780.  Lincoln reorganized the Georgia units, now existing only on paper, as one infantry regiment and one regiment of mounted rangers.   10 February-29 May, 1780, South Carolina, Siege of Charleston and related occupation of South Carolina through the Battle of the Waxhaws.   25 March—Engagement at Savannah   28 March—Engagement at Sunbury   28 March—Engagement at Ogeechee River   1 April—British invest siege of Charleston, South Carolina   5 April—Engagement at Ogeechee River Ferry (Wright’s Plantation)   12 May—American army surrenders at Charleston.   A perception continued among the British that the South was full of Loyalists just awaiting the call from the British.  At the end of December 1779 General Clinton, who also subscribed to this view, headed south with a small army with the objective of capturing Charleston, South Carolina.  Clinton approached steadily, arriving opposite Charleston on April 1, 1780.  He then began a classic European siege.  The British dug siege trenches ever closer to the wall of the city.  Day by day, week by week, the British got ever closer to the wall of the city.  In the meantime both sides exchanged artillery fire, the Americans trying to make the British task as difficult as possible, while the British hoped to terrify the Americans into submission.  By the beginning of May, the British had advanced within a few feet of the American lines.  Their artillery fire was soon becoming deadly and on May 9 many of the wooden houses in Charleston were set on fire by the artillery fire.  The city elders had enough and requested that the American commander Lincoln surrender, which he did.  The British victory in Charleston was Pyrrhic, however.  There was no popular Loyalist uprising and instead South Carolina degenerated into a period of chaos.   May—British recapture Augusta   June—Engagement at Dooly’s Fort   30 June—Engagement at Fort Anderson   23 July—Second Engagement at Fort Anderson   August—Engagement at Dooly’s Fort   16 August—Battle of Camden (SC)   September-October—Engagements in Wilkes County   14 September—Engagement at Fort Cornwallis, Fort Grierson   14-18 September—Battle at McKay’s Trading Post (White House), Augusta   Elijah Clarke and his force of American regulars attacked Loyalist forces under the command of Colonel Thomas Browne. The siege was broken when a relief column from the British Garrison at Ninety-Six arrived. Browne was wounded in the battle and was so enraged that he hanged the American prisoners or turned them over to the Indians to be tortured.   14 October—Nathanael Greene promoted to Southern Department commander   Per Knox, no Continental troops and 750 militia in service in 1780.   1781   1 January—1st GA redesignated as the GEORGIA REGIMENT (GA RGT [redesignated])   1 January—2d GA, 3d GA, 4th GA, GA RGR disbanded   17 January—Battle of Cowpens (SC)   22 January—Engagement at  Mathews’ Bluff   23-24 January—Engagement at Wiggan’s (Wiggin’s) Plantation   April—Engagement at Wiggan’s (Wiggin’s) Hill   In April, 1781, the Light Company (2/84) under the command of Captain Ronald McKinnon, participated in a skirmish at Wiggan’s Hill, south of Augusta, above the Savannah River.  This fight would have been lost to history except for the cruelty delivered unto the rebel prisoners taken there. The only reason the incident was recorded in rebel documents was because of the humanity Captain McKinnon displayed in trying to stop an act of barbarity.   The fortified town of Augusta received most of its supplies from traffic on the Savannah River. A rebel party of South Carolina militia under the command of a Captain Johnson and Georgia militia under Captain James McKay had taken up positions in the swamps of the river and intercepted unescorted boats, which they pillaged and  sank.  The British forces under the command of Colonel of Militia Browne could not tolerate such interference and sent a small party of 10 to 25 King’s Rangers and 20 militia, under the command of Lieutenant Kemp, to kill the rebel pirates hiding in the swamp.   They were the  vanguard of an expedition led by Captain Alexander Wylly.  Lieutenant Kemp hired a guide named Willie to take him to McKay’s camp on Matthew’s Bluff.  Willie had alerted McKay and Kemp’s troopers rode into an ambush.  The British militia all fled without firing a shot, and the Rangers surrendered.  McKay asked Kemp to join him, Kemp refused, and he was shot.  The same fate happened to each of the other Rangers, except one, who pretended to join McKay, then escaped at the first chance and told Browne what had happened.   Browne ordered his Loyalist militia to Augusta to defend it against a possible attack from a large party of Marion’s Partisans under Lieutenant Colonel William Harden, who was operating in the general area. Many men of the Loyalist militia deserted in preference to being besieged and possibly captured and executed.  The only reliable troops present to defend the town were his own provincials and the 84th Light Infantry Company.    As soon as Captain Wylly knew where the raiders were he informed Browne who marched sixty miles from Augusta, in two days.  On the way one hundred Loyalist militia joined him.  Browne had knowledge as to the general location of Harden and his rebels.  Browne sent Indian scouts to pinpoint Harden’s camp and then planned to attack and destroy Harden, once and for all.  The first night out, Browne camped in a field at Wiggan’s Hill, about 30 miles from Black Swamp.  Unbeknownst to both sides, they were encamped within one mile of each other.  Harden had been joined by Captains Johnson and McKay with their small forces. Harden’s scouts located the Loyalist camp first.  Harden promptly moved to attack the Crown camp shortly after midnight, terrifying the militia of the camp.  During the battle, many of the Loyalist militia deserted over to Harden, who attacked again the next day with his “new” reinforcements.   The next morning at eight o’clock Colonel Harden struck again.  His men dismounted then engaged the British with rifle fire.  The British pickets detected the attack and beat the troops to arms. When the rebels attacked in disorder, they found the King’s men formed and waiting for them.  Browne ordered his Rangers and Indians to charge, scattering Harden’s men.  In the half hour that followed, Harden’s men were decimated by superior firepower and discipline (the rebels claimed superior numbers, but this is unlikely).  Harden retreated, carrying off his wounded and sought refuge in the swamp.  The Americans claimed both sides lost seven killed and eleven wounded.   Many rebel prisoners were taken during the two days of battle. One rebel, Leonard Tanner, was murdered by the Tories because he would not reveal where the rebel camp was in the swamp.  Willie, the scout who led Lieutentant Kemp to Matthew’s Bluff, was accused of treachery by the Tories and alleged by the rebels to have been turned over to the Indians who “ripped him open with their knives in Browne’s presence and tortured him to death.” Browne claimed that Willie was killed instantly with a tomahawk by the Indian chief because of his betrayal. The latter is more likely true.   The other prisoners taken were Rannal McKay (son of the rebel captain), Britton Williams, George Smith, George Reed, a Frenchman whose name was not known and seven others whose names were not recorded. These twelve rebels Browne ordered to be hanged the following day in retaliation for the murder of Kemp and his party a few days earlier.  That night, McKay’s mother came to camp to plead for her son’s life. Browne received her, but refused her plea. Things became uncivil, and Mrs. McKay was escorted out of camp.  McKinnon, according to Mrs. McKay, gave her his assurance that he would intervene and that her son would be safe.  Captain McKinnon pleaded for Browne to spare the youth, who was only 13 years old.  Browne told McKinnon that the hanging was a matter that did not concern him.  Mrs. McKay later returned to camp, but this time was not permitted entry.  When time came for the sentence to be carried out, McKinnon, who had greatly opposed the pending execution, was ordered by Browne, his commanding officer, to stand aside.  Then, according to rebel reports, the prisoners were hung until nearly dead, cut down, and delivered to the Indians, “who scalped them and otherwise abused their bodies in their accustomed savage manner.”   To complete his revenge, Browne ordered the houses of the dead rebels to be burned.  Browne then ordered that all of the local inhabitants be turned out of their homes for supporting the rebels.  Their houses were then looted by the Tories and all of the buildings torched.  McKinnon, a professional soldier of long service, had little stomach for partisan warfare and the barbarities that the civilian combatants waged upon each other.   After the threat to Augusta passed, the Light Company marched to join Rawdon, who was engaged at Hobkirks’ Hill, but did not arrive in time. The withdrawal of the Light Company from Augusta weakened the defenses and, thus, made it a tempting target. The Americans besieged Augusta and the fort surrendered with terms in June.   14 April—Engagement at Great Ogeechee River   16 April—Americans invest siege of Augusta   24 April—Engagement at Blackbeard’s Island   1 May—Engagement at New Bridge (Walker’s Bridge)   1 May—Engagement at Beech Island, Savannah River   2 May—Engagement at New Savannah (Bugg’s Plantation)   23-24 May—Second Engagement at Fort Grierson   23 May-5 June—Second Engagement at Fort Cornwallis   4 June—Engagement at Fort George   5 June—Americans recapture Augusta   In late May 1781, British forces under Lt. Col. Thomas Brown held Fort Cornwallis, about where St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Augusta now stands.   At this stage of the war, the British strategy was to dominate the region’s countryside by placing troops in various forts. Such strongholds not only provided a base from which Redcoats could strike, but also a rallying spot for area Loyalists.   Colonial troops led by Gen. Andrew Pickens and Lt. Col. Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee (the father of Robert E. Lee) pinned down the British force in the fort next to the Savannah River, but it was too strong to overtake. The Americans wanted to bombard the British stronghold with their 6-pounder cannons, but the flat, swampy land along the Savannah did not have a hill high enough to loft cannonballs into the garrison.   Lee then suggested a strategy used a month before at Fort Watson in South Carolina. There, a Maj. Hezekiah Mayham (also spelled “Maham”) conceived of building a two-story tower, hoisting a cannon to its top and firing over the walls into a nearby British fort. In his memoirs, Lee described the tower as a “large, strong oblong pen, to be covered on the top with a floor of logs, and protected on the side opposite to the fort with a breastwork of light timbers.”   The Americans decided to try it again. They began building the tower on the evening of May 30, protected from British sight by an old wooden house. The tower was completed June 1, high enough to overlook the wall of Fort Cornwallis.   Brown perceived the danger of the American project. Knowing the tower would be used to bombard his fort, he ordered a night attack to destroy it, but Americans repelled the sortie with bayonets.  Brown then mounted two cannons inside Fort Cornwallis to fire upon the tower, but they were never able to disable the tower’s 6-pounder. The two cannons were quickly disabled by the tower’s gun. It is said one of the British cannons is located near the Celtic Cross marker at St. Paul’s.   The American 6-pounder continued to fire into the fort, forcing soldiers to dig holes for protection. After a few days it became too much. On June 5, the British garrison of 300 surrendered.   After the war, Lee wrote in his memoirs that the tower was the key to overtaking the British in Augusta. Mr. Sutherland writes: “The use of the tower to attack a fortified position is an old practice known to the Romans. But to Hezekiah Maham must go the credit for re-inventing its use in the New World.” It provided the margin of victory, he wrote, in two battles that eventually helped force the British to Yorktown and defeat. 12 July—Engagement at Ogeechee River   8 September—Engagement at Eutaw Springs   18 September—Engagement at Sunbury   17 October—Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown   November—Engagement at Savannah   2 November—Engagement at Ogeechee River Ferry (Indian Old Fields)   6 November—Engagement at Wilkes County   3 December—Engagement at the Fork of the Hooper   Per Knox, no Continental troops and 750 militia in service in 1781.   1782   January 1782—American Gen. Wayne’s offensive in Southern theater   25 February—Engagement at Augusta   12 April—Engagement at Altamaha River   20-23 May—Engagement at Ogeechee Ferry and Ogeechee Road (Browne’s Defeat, Harris’s Bridge)   In the spring of 1782, Captain Parker’s Light Infantry Company was involved in skirmishes with Loyalists and Indians. The following are accounts of a skirmish that took place on the Ogeechee Road near Savannah, Georgia. These accounts were from General Anthony Wayne, and Captain Alexander Parker.   General Anthony Wayne: “On the 21st instant I received intelligence of the enemy being out in force from Savannah, in consequence of which White’s dragoons and Posey’s infantry were put in motion, and at 5 o’clock in the evening arrived at Mrs. William Gibbon’s, six miles northwest of Savannah. At six, an express from Lt. Col. Jackson announced the enemy in force of Harris’s bridge on the great Ogechee [Ogeechee] road seven miles from town, and that a small party were at Ogechee Jersy which he intended to attach as his Corps. Upon inquiry I found that the only route to the enemy’s position was through a thick swamp of near four miles extent, with enemy deep and dangerous morasses to pass, and to intercede the Ogechee [Ogeechee] was of an intermediate distance from Savannah and the bridge. I was properly informed that with the difficulty attending a night march over such ground, as well as the delicacy of a maneuver that placed me between the whole of the enemy’s force in Georgia.”  The enemy force consisted of British Cavalry and a large body of infantry picked from the Seventh Regiment, the Hessians, Tanning’s and Browne’s regulars, with the Choctaw Indian, the whole commanded by Colonel Browne.   Captain Alexander Parker: The [our] van consisted of one company of light infantry and a section of dragoons, under the orders of Captain Alexander Parker. This officer was directed to hasten his march through woods and swamps, and to seize a causeway on which Browne must necessarily pass. Parker was ordered, whenever he met the enemy, to reserve his fire, and to fall back upon him with sword and bayonet.  Wayne followed with the main body, to support his van. About ten in the forenoon Captain Parker reached the causeway, when he discovered a small patrol of cavalry in his front. Each advancing, the two parties soon met, when Captain Parker accosted the leading file, and demanded the countersign. Confounded or deceived, the British officer, instead of falling back upon Browne, approached Parker in the attitude of friendship. He now discovered his mistake, but too late to extricate himself, and was with his patrol taken, except one dragoon, who got back to Colonel Browne, moving in column to sustain his van, with cavalry in front. Lieutenant Bowyer, who commanded our horse, was ordered to charge, which was executed with decision. Bowyer was supported by Parker with his infantry. The British cavalry were thrown into confusion; and as Browne’s whole force was in column on the causeway, from whence there was no moving, to the right or left, the substitution of his infantry for his cavalry became impracticable, and the British colonel was obliged to fall back.   General Anthony Wayne: The precipitate flight of the enemy prevented any part of the troops from coming into contact with them, except Lt. Colonel Posey’s light company under Captain Parker and a few dragoons under Captain Hughes and Lt. Boyer, conducted by Col. White. This small vanguard put to route the whole of the enemy’s force without the use of powder. The almost impenetrable thick woods, deep swamps and morasses into which they plunged in a dispersed state and under cover of the night screened them from total ruin at the expense of a giant fragmentation of their arms and horses which they abandoned to secure personal safety. The few of our troops that had an opportunity to engage introduced the American sword and bayonet with such effect as to kill many and wound some; a number of prisoners also fell into our hands, among which is Lt. Col. Douglas dangerously wounded.   Captain Alexander Parker: This was accomplished without loss, as General Wayne did not get up in time to improve the advantage gained by Parker. Two of our van were killed and three were wounded. We took Major Alexander, second in command, and eighteen dragoons, with their horses and furniture. Wayne had been delayed by the swamps, which in the South invariably presented stubborn difficulties to the march of troops. As soon as he reached Parker he pursued the enemy; but all his endeavors to renew the action proved abortive, and Browne made good his retreat to Savannah.   General Anthony Wayne: Even Col. Browne and Lt. Col. Ingram did not find the way to town ‘til the second night after the action, and then unattended. After refreshing the troops at Mrs. Gibbon’s, we advanced within view of their lines, yesterday [May 23rd] morning detaching a few infantry and dragoons to draw the enemy out, but they declined the invitation, contenting themselves with advancing a few Indians and regulars to the skirt of a swamp, from whence they commenced a scattering and ineffectual fire. Finding that General Clarke was not to be enticed from his Redoubts, I returned with the troops to this place, where the last arrived this morning with the news of only five privates killed and two wounded. We had also two dragoon horses killed and three hurt, but these we shall replace with part of the cavalry taken from the enemy. I feel myself under the highest obligation to every officer and soldier for their good conduct, zeal, and perseverance during a very fatiguing march of near forty miles performed in a few hours to effect this enterprise.   Captain Alexander Parker:  The Indians, whom Lieutenant-Colonel Browne expected to meet, would have rendered his corps superior to that under Wayne, when the encounter might have terminated differently. General Wayne seems either to have unapprised of this intended junction, or to have disregarded it; for he pressed forward to strike his foe, regardless of ground or number.  The fortuitous success of such conduct, encourages the ardent soldier to put himself upon his fortune and his courage – overlooking those numerous, sure, and effectual aids to be drawn from accurate intelligence and due circumspection. Fortune at length forsakes him, no prop remains to support him but his courage, and he falls a victim of his own presumption; honored for his bravery, but condemned for his temerity.   Some weeks before General Clarke made this attempt to secure the safe entry of his Indian friends into Savannah, Wayne had intercepted a trading party of the Creeks on their way to the British garrison. Of these, the American general detained a few as hostages, and permitted the rest to return to their own country. This generous treatment seems to have inspired apprehensions in Savannah, that its effect would diminish the British influence among the Creeks; an event deprecated by the enemy in case of continuance of the war, which, though improbable, might nevertheless happen. Therefore it was thought proper to prevent, by suitable succor, the interruption of this second visit.  To that end Browne had been detached. Not only, as has been seen, did the effort fail, but it was followed by a disaster very unpleasant to the enemy, and in its conclusion pregnant with cause of regret to ourselves.   Guristersigo, a principal warrior among the Creeks, conducted the party of Indians lately expected by Clarke. Although he did not arrive at the appointed rendezvous so as to meet Browne, he reached in the latter part of the succeeding month. This warrior, accompanied by his white guides, passed through the whole State of Georgia unperceived, except by two boys, who were taken and killed; and having reached the neighborhood of Wayne on the 23rd of June, he determined to strike at a picket of the requisite intelligence, with Negroes for the execution of his purpose.  Wayne, in pursuance of a system adopted to avoid surprise (of which the Indian chief was uninformed), moved every night; and consequently the calculation that he would be on the 23rd where he had been on the 22nd, was unfounded. The reverse was the fact, which would undoubtedly have been perceived by Guristersigo had he been acquainted with the custom of the American general, and his plan of attack would have been modified accordingly.  Decamping from Gibbons’s late in the evening of the 22nd, Wayne exchanged positions with his picket, and thus fortunately held the very post against which the Indian warrior had pointed his attack.   Here the light infantry under Parker (who had been for several days close to Savannah) joined, and being much harassed by the late tour of duty, was ordered by the brigadier to take post near his artillery, in the rear. Knowing but one enemy, the garrison of Savannah, Wayne gave his entire attention to that quarter; and conscious, from his precautions, that no movement could be made by the enemy in Savannah without due notice, he forbore to burden his troops with the protection of his rear, because in his opinion unnecessary. A single sentinel only from the quarter-guard was posted in the rear, on the main road leading through the camp to Savannah, and the very road, which Guristersigo meant to take.   Soon after nightfall the Indian chief at the head of his warriors emerged from the deep swamps, in which he had lain concealed, and gained the road. He moved in profound silence, and about three in the morning reached the vicinity of our camp.; here he halted, and made his disposition for battle. Believing that he had to deal with a small detachment only, his plan of attack was simple and efficient. Preceded by a few of the most subtle and daring of his comrades, directed to surprise and kill the sentinel, he held himself ready to press forward with the main body upon the signal to advance.  This was not long delayed. His wily precursors having encompassed our sentinel, killed him, when Guristersigo, bounding from his stand, fell with his whole force upon our rear. Aroused from sleep, the light infantry stood to their arms, and the matrosses closed with their guns. But the enemy was amongst them; which being perceived by Parker, he judiciously drew off in silence and joined the quarter-guard behind Gibbons’s house at headquarters.   The general had about this time mounted, and, concluding that the garrison of Savannah was upon him, he resorted to the bayonet, determined to die sword in hand. Orders to this effect were given to Parker and dispatched to Lieutenant-Colonel Posey, commanding in camp, distant a few hundred yards. Captain Parker, seconded by the quarter-guard, advanced upon the foe; and Posey moved with all possible celerity to support the light troops, but did not arrive in time to share in the action. Wayne, participating with his light corps in the surrounding dangers, was now dismounted, his horse being killed; the light troops, nevertheless, continued to press forward, and Parker drove all in his way back to our cannon, where the Indian chief with a part of his warriors was attempting to turn our guns to his aid. Here Guristersigo renewed the conflict, and fought gallantly; but the rifle and tomahawk are unavailing when confronted by the bayonet in close quarters. We soon recovered our artillery, and Guristersigo, fighting bravely, was killed. Seventeen of the warriors and his white guides fell by his side, and the rest fled.   The Battle account though Lieutenant Colonel  Thomas Posey:  “The whole of the troops had for several weeks been doing hard duty, every night lying down in their rank with clothes and accoutrements on, and their arms by their sides, and almost worn out with fatigue in watching and loss of rest, in constant expectation that the British would either come out of Savannah in force for action, or that we might have an opportunity of falling in with foraging parties. When the attack was made, it was with such fury and violence, at a dead time of the night when the men were in profound sleep (except the guards), with yelling and the use of their tomahawks, spears, scalping-knives, and guns, that our men were thrown into disorder. Wayne and Posey had thrown their cloaks about them and lay close to each other. The alarm soon roused them, and they had proceeded but a few steps hen Capt. Parker met Col. Posey, and informing him that the suddenness of the attack had confused his men, wished to know if the colonel had any particular orders. Posey immediately ordered that the Light Infantry should be rallied behind the nearby house, and his exertions, united with Parker’s, in a short space of time collected the men. Posey then placed himself with Parker at their head, and ordered a charge through the enemy to the regiment; the charge was made with celerity and firmness; though the conflict was severe, many of the Indians falling by the force of the bayonet.   One or more of the enemy fell by Posey’s own arm, and unfortunately for Sgt. Thompson of Parker’s Light Infantry (who, contrary to orders had taken off his coat and tied up his head with a handkerchief who manfully engaged and had immediately next to Posey fired at an Indian), Posey took him, from his appearance with his coat off and his head tied up, for an Indian and thrust his sword through his body and laid him at his feet. But he greatly lamented the circumstance when he visited the hospital the next morning, and learned from the brave but incautious sergeant the particulars of his wounds. General Wayne with the cavalry followed by Posey, who had filed off to the right to gain his regiment, which he had met on its march to the scene of action, and placing himself at the head, charged immediately upon the rear of the enemy and put them to flight. General Wayne filed off to the left, where he fell in with a considerable body of Indians, and compelled them to retreat after a severe conflict. Thus, with the untied force and much bravery of both officers and soldiers, the whole of the Indians were defeated and routed.” Chief Guristersigo was killed by bayonet. Corporal William Rhodes was once again a casualty of war and was one of Parker’s Light Infantry men wounded that night. In October of 1782 Posey’s regiment marched home to Virginia in. On about July 3rd 1783, William was discharged at Richmond, Virginia after serving for nearly eight years. His tour of duty had taken him north to New York and as far south as Georgia.  (Thanks to Todd Post of the 2d Virginia Regiment http://patriot.net/~tpost/2va.html)   21 May—Engagement at Fort Galphin (Fort Dreadnaught)   24 May—Engagement at Sharon   23 June—Engagement at Ebenezer (Three Sisters)   10-11 July—Americans recapture Savannah after British evacuation   Greene faced greater problems than Washington during 1782, although the British evacuated Savannah on 11 July and Charleston on 14 December. The Southern Army only engaged in skirmishes, but the provisional regiments, less stable than Washington’s units, deteriorated. Washington directed Greene to rebuild the lines allotted to the Carolinas and Georgia, but he stopped the movement of replacements from Pennsylvania and Maryland.    Georgia planned to form a single regiment in 1782, and on 29 July it decided to mount two of the companies. Maj. John Habersham recruited some pardoned Loyalists, but Congress took no formal action in regard to the regiment since the regiment never reached operational strength.   September 16 - October 17—Campaign against the Cherokees   A force of 414 men led by Brigadier General Andrew Pickens, and Colonel Elijah Clarke marched against the Cherokees who were under the command of a Loyalist Colonel named Thomas Waters that had aroused the Indians to attack settlements. Waters was defeated, but many Indian towns were burned. Chiefs of the different Nations negotiated a treaty that was ratified by the Governor of Georgia.   Per Knox, no Continental troops and 750 militia in service in 1782.   1783   1 January—GA RGT [redesignated] reorganized and redesignated as the GEORGIA BATTALION (GA BN), to consist of three companies Summer—GA BN furloughed at Charleston, South Carolina   3 September—Treaty of Paris ending hostilities between England and the United States   15 November—GA BN discharged   Per Knox, 145 Continental troops and no militia in service in 1783.   ENGAGEMENTS   1st GA, 2d GA, 3d GA, GA Horse—Florida   1st GA, 2d GA, 3d GA, 4th GA, GA RGR, 1st GA ARTY—Florida 1778   GA RGR—Georgia 1778   1st GA, 2d GA, 3d GA, 4th GA, GA RGR, 1st GA ARTY, 2d GA ARTY—Savannah   1st GA, 2d GA, 3d GA, 4th GA, GA RGR—Charleston 1780 SOURCE NOTES:  Terry Oglesby, "Georgia Militia & Continental Regiments of Infantry," The Georgia Refugees, April 5, 2001, Online:  http://georgiarefugees.tripod.com/ Reproduced by permission - 2007.    Authors Notes: The following timeline is a compilation of material from a variety of sources, the majority found on the Internet.  The accuracy of the information is generally acceptable, but I’m sure there are some odd bits that are wrong.  Please recognize that the majority of work published on the Internet is pretty far removed from primary source material, just like this document.  The use of divergent sources also means that some of the information reads with different grammar from spot to spot in this document.  I have not tried to edit these entries to one common style.  The intent of this is simply to create a framework of information regarding the service of various Georgia Continental Line and militia units during the course of the Revolution, to record sundry contemporary information which would effect Georgia units, and to place people and events accurately in time.    This should be especially useful in determining the uniforms and equipment necessary to create a plausible impression of a particular person or unit.  There being little concrete information regarding the equipping of the Georgia Continental units, the best we have right now is the knowledge that at least one company in the 4th Georgia Regiment did have white trimmed blue regimental coats with French-style pewter numerical buttons in April of 1779.  The use of the Washington’s “General Order uniform” of blue with blue facings by any Georgia unit before the fall of Charleston is highly unlikely (except as a coincidence), since this order was promulgated on 2 October, 1779 and Charleston fell only a few months later.  Afterwards, the Georgia regiments were consolidated and it is possible they were issued new uniforms, but this has not been found out yet.  Likewise, the drill of von Steuben came only a few months prior to the fall of Savannah and Charlestown, and it would be unlikely that all of the Georgia units would have been familiar with it.   One thing that should be noted is that the vast majority of the military actions in Georgia were conducted by militia, not Continental Line units, so the emphasis placed on Continental units is a bit out of character with their overall contribution to the progress of the war. The sources mentioned often call the same military action or incident by several different titles, such as “Battle of...” or “Engagement at..” “Siege...” etc.  Often the term “battle” was applied to anything from the ambush of a militia scout party by a cow to full-scale combat by thousands of troops.  Generally,  I have adopted “engagement” for any action that looks to have been minor, and I base my definition of minor on how much information can be found out about it.  Little information= “Engagement;” Lots of information= “Battle.”   Thanks to all for your insight and assistance in this effort.  Terry Oglesby Sources:  The Augusta Chronicle Website http://augustachronicle.com/history/mayham.html  The Continental Army, by Robert K. Wright Jr. published by The Center of Military History U.S. Army, Washington DC 1989  First New Hampshire Regiment Website http://www.crosswinds.net/~firstnh/page3.html   French Volunteers in the American Revolution Website http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/volunt.htm Georgia’s Roster of the Revolution, by L.L. Knight, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore 1967  Glynn County, Georgia, History Website http://petersnn.org/petersnn/revwar.htm#A Short History    North Georgia History Website http://www.ngeorgia.com/history/nghistar.html  O’Kelley, Patrick J., goober.com@juno.com  2nd Regiment of the North Carolina Line http://www.2nc.org/ , entries for 1 March, 1776 and 12-13 May, 1776—Engagements at Cockspur Island and 25 March, 1776— Engagement at Tybee Island copied with permission from Revlist postings titled “225 Years Ago in Georgia.”  Also provided a portion of the April 1781 Engagement at Wiggan’s (Wiggin’s) Hill, along with Kim Stacy.  Patrick will be releasing a book in the Summer of 2001 tentatively titled “Nothing but Blood and Slaughter”  Military Operations and Order of Battle of the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas  1775-1782 containing these and other dated entries about the multitude of battle fought in the Carolinas and Georgia. Post, Todd, tpost@patriot.net , 2d Virginia Regiment http://patriot.net/~tpost/2va.html , entry for 21-23 May, 1782—Engagement at Ogeechee Ferry and Ogeechee Road (Browne’s Defeat, Harris’s Bridge)  Revolutionary memoirs and muster rolls / transcribed and edited by Mary Bondurant Warren. Heritage Papers, Athens, GA., 1994.  Revolutionary records of the State of Georgia, The, compiled and published under authority of the Legislature by Allen D. Chandler, The Franklin-Turner Company, 1908 Revolutionary War Website http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/EMS/RevWar/AmRevolution.htm#Table of Contents  Stacy, Kim, rhq84@flash.net 84th Regiment of Foot, Commanding http://www.84th.com/units.htm , entry for April 1781—Engagement at Wiggan’s (Wiggin’s) Hill.  “The Use of Regimental Type Buttons in the Continental Army (1775-1783)” E.B. Bower  http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/issue2/revolution.htm